According to the article “7 Tips for Promoting Your Business During This Holiday Season” by Kristen Vanstrom of Personal Branding Blog and featured on smallbiztrends.com, holiday marketing campaigns are an opportunity to bring great profits to your business. Vanstrom offers these seven holiday marketing tips:

• Remember that there are various holidays and believers. Not all customers are happy to hear “Merry Christmas” this time of year, so be sensitive to the beliefs of others. At the same time, know who your demographic is and who you are. If, for instance, you are a faith-based organization or will perhaps work with a faith-based charity during the season, it is both expected and appropriate to add religious connotations to your marketing promotions. “Understanding who you are, what you want to represent and the temperature of your audience will make sure your campaign resonates with customers,” Vanstrom states.
• Use the right platform for your campaigns. Consider the timing of your promotion. If you are marketing a week-long deal, for example, send out an email blast or newsletter. However, for shorter timespans such as a three-hour promotion, send out your advertisement via text messaging or post it on social media.

Related article: Wash Wisdom: Last minute holiday advertising

• Be aware of differences. As mentioned earlier, remember that all people celebrate differently. While you can celebrate the holiday that the majority of you and your staff celebrate, be aware of other preferences and apply them to your marketing efforts when applicable to show that you’re broad-minded.
• Use traditional symbols. Traditional symbols such as the Christmas tree are already firmly cemented in the minds of your audience, so feel free to use these symbols and create marketing campaigns around them.
• Make new traditions. New traditions allow you the opportunity to strengthen your brand. Think, for example, of the Coca-Cola polar bear or the red Starbucks cups.
• Use word-of-mouth marketing. There’s no need to overspend on a holiday marketing budget. The holidays are a time when people come together and converse. Take advantage of this time and create a campaign that stands out in their minds and that will make them talk. If you want a memorable campaign, Vanstrom says that at least one of the following three features should be present: relatability, where consumers can relate to a past experience; a storyline that elicits an emotion (such as nostalgia) or a reaction (such as laughter); or customer interaction that allows them to share their own thoughts and stories in the campaign.
• Find what works. Some campaigns may not work as well as others. Adjust your campaign each year, and once you find one that works, stick with it.

You can read the full article here.