It's officially that time of year! The holiday season is in full swing! I love this time of year. There's just something about the festivities, the decorations, the celebrations, and the pure joy that exudes during this time of year.
Ok, maybe I'm a little bit of an optimist. In all reality, we're all stressed out. Plans to close out the year, being pulled in multiple directions between business and family commitments. It's a time of year that can make us all go a little crazy.
But even with that reality, I still love this time of year. My hubby and I usually go on multiple candy cane lane tours around San Diego to just stop and take in the joy of houses bathed in Christmas lights. There's just something about stopping to enjoy the decorations and enjoy the holiday presence that makes me feel like a kid again.
In all seriousness, if you follow me on Instagram, be prepared for an abundance of Christmas light displays in the next month!
If you've ever taken a tour of a candy cane lane, you know what I'm talking about. All these houses on the street(s) are beyond decorated with lights and displays. In fact, many of these houses actually set up special electrical panels and breakers just for this one month. It seems like every house out does the last one. Lights connect houses and cross streets. Everyone participates and exudes holiday cheer.
Except for those one or two houses that don't. They may string up a couple strands, or maybe even nothing at all. Everyone that walks by those houses joke about grinches or party-poopers.
When it comes to your social media presence, do you want to be one of the houses that excites the passers-by or do you want to be the grinch on the block?
If you don't want to be a grinch, here are some tips on how you can find ways to spice up your social media platforms for the holidays.
Cover Photos
On the sites that provide cover photo space, this is the best real estate to proclaim your holiday cheer! Update your cover photo for the holidays. Heck, you could even change it weekly if you wanted to go really festive!
And just because you go festive, doesn't mean you have to lose your branding. Incorporate your logo, your color scheme, or even your font styles into the cover photo. Find fun and unique ways to display your holiday message to your audience.
If you're not a Photoshop expert or creative genius, check out Canva for a simple and effective way to create custom cover photos.
Profile Photos
If you really want to get into the holiday spirit, consider changing out your profile photo for this month. Dress up in holiday attire or add holiday decorations to your background. Just remember that as a professional photo on sites like LinkedIn, you'll still want to keep a professional demeanor to the photos. And don't forget to change the photo again come January!
Holiday Contests
To really engage your audience in the holiday spirit, consider hosting a holiday themed contest. Invite your audience to share holiday themed images, participate in holiday recipe suggestions, or other fun ways to spark holiday conversations on your page.
Holiday Posts
Spice up your regular posting schedule with unique, holiday themed posts. Ask your audience questions like "what's your favorite Christmas song?" or "what's your favorite dish for the holidays?" Get creative with Photoshop and convert your products into holiday ornaments and other festive items. Mix in videos of your employees signing Christmas carols, share images of your office pets dressed up in holiday costumes, or post images of holiday decorations around your workplace. With all of the excitement going on, share it with your audience!
Holiday Tips
Find ways to incorporate holiday tips into your social media and blogging strategy. If you're a landscape or home decor business, share tips on how to keep a Christmas tree fresh and alive longer. If you're in the hospitality industry, share a "secret" recipe for a unique dish or holiday cocktail. Provide advice on how to easily wrap presents - or provide a list of local gift wrapping locations for the wrapping-challenged fans.
Holiday Hashtags
If you really want to track engagement or measure holiday conversations around your brand, consider creating a unique holiday hashtag for your business. Promote it, advertise it, use it, share it! Get the word out there and get your fans using it. Just make sure no one else is using it first.
Holiday Greetings
Remember that we're talking about "social" media. What better way to be socially engaging then to send something a little more personal to your audience? Consider sending an e-card or custom holiday message to everyone on your email list. No selling, no boasting. Just a simple message wishing them a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.
Holiday marketing is one more aspect to consider at this time of year. It's one more thing to keep you busy. But if you plan ahead and get involved, it will pay off for your social media strategy. You don't have to use all of these tips but the more of them you incorporate, the more your audience will join you in participating.
So, happy holidays and happy holiday marketing!
If you would like any assistance in crafting a holiday marketing plan, please contact me for a customized strategy.
Great ideas here Jenn! I have started with the holiday tip posts (I need all the help I can get!). I do plan on changing up cover photos too. And I am all about the holiday greetings!
Despite all the chaos, it is certainly my favorite time of year too Jenn. I enjoy everything about it ~ even the craziness!
That’s great Kim! And I agree, even amidst all the craziness, it’s still such a wonderful time of year 🙂
And have fun with all the holiday posts and new cover photos! I look forward to seeing what you put out there.
Jenn, thought your email and blog to be a really warm and “connecting” message, have a great holiday and enjoy those Candy Lane lights but don’t be too harsh on those not lighting up their homes – being different isn’t always the equivalent of being grouchy…… I’m disabled….a no legged one armed wheelchair using newly very early retired social media mgr…….very different but not grouchy…..well my wife calls me an old goat sometimes so maybe some reassessment needed there !!! One wonders about those Candy Laners and the pressure to be part of the mainstream ? I wonder why they hold out ? Could it be cost or cultural reasons? or yep maybe they really are miserable grouches !!! Things are not always what they seem, a bit like Facebook changing its rules every five minutes or Twitter messing with your timeline / feed…..!!! Have a great Thanksgiving. Cheers, Mark at http://www.promove.uk.com or as we say here in wet cold UK… “The Promove Sling, for when you can’t take your hoist with you”.
Thanks Mark! I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog 🙂
And, you’re absolutely right. Being different is by no means grouchy! Many of the houses who don’t participate in candy cane lane festivities likely aren’t really grouches. Some of the well-lit houses see their electric bills reach into the thousands of dollars for the month of December so the cost is obviously high. And there are cultural or religious issues that likely play a factor as well. I definitely don’t want to hate on them or anything, but they do get passed over by visitors. And in terms of social media, we are just as entitled to not participate in holiday postings or festive photos. But again, those not participating will get passed over for the others unless they find a way to participate or stand out.
Congrats on your recent switch to being a social media manager. I hope you enjoy it!
Excellent tips Jenn! I agree that implementing holiday spirit through custom photo or greetings is a great way to engage people. Organizing a holiday contest is also an excellent strategy for increasing your visibility and influence on Facebook.
Thanks so much! Those are definitely great ways to increase visibility and influence.