The summer is officially over. Cue the holiday music!
Before we all start getting into the spirit, marketers are using this short gap between summer and the onset of the holiday season to prepare their campaigns for the biggest retail opportunities of the year. Unfortunately, this season is looking like it might not be as strong as in years past?election years are typically a tough time for retailers?which is why it?s even more important this year to have a strong social media strategy that will help brands to stand out from the competition.
Hashtags
One of the most important elements of a social campaign is the hashtag. Marketers should be identifying catchy and creative hashtags early in the season and owning them throughout the season. Accompanying these hashtags with existing hashtags that are already trending over social media will help build momentum and increase followers. Hashtags should also be incorporated into all paid and organic social media posts. Consistency is very important, as is the relevancy and creativity of the hashtag.
Special offers
Consumers are now accustomed to getting special offers on social media. Creating special offers only for the holiday months and announcing them specifically on social media will help to keep followers engaged, as well as build excitement for a brand or specific product.
A critical element for special offers is a sense of urgency that compels consumers to buy products as soon as they see an ad. Examples of such offers are...