Whether it’s winter holiday time or other seasonal sales event, special customer promotions rule the game. Strategies like bundled offers and personalized email outreach, among others, are proven activities that can propel your businesses forward. With these best promotion tips, you can create holiday promotions that resonate with customers and maximize your seasonal success.
Offer Exclusive In-Game Items
One holiday promotion that really exceeded our expectations was when we offered exclusive in-game items for a limited-time winter event. The key was actually coming up with something that felt special and time-sensitive.
We built anticipation with sneak peeks of the items leading up to the launch and tied them to a larger event, so players felt like they were part of something bigger.
The success came from a mix of timing and community engagement. We involved our players in the process, asking for feedback and ideas, which made them feel invested. The event not only boosted engagement but also increased in-game purchases during the holiday season.
What we learned was that listening to your community and making them feel included can lead to promotions that resonate far beyond expectations.
Marin Cristian-Ovidiu, CEO, Online Games
Implement Dynamic Discount Schemes
I experienced profound success with a holiday promotion that exceeded my expectations and generated a great deal of buzz among our customers. For Black Friday, we decided to implement a multiple-discounts scheme where we offered varying de-escalating discounts every two hours, starting at a 50% discount.
The key to its success was a well-executed, dynamic marketing campaign backed by thorough planning. This included engaging email newsletters counting down to the promotion, robust social media marketing, and timely customer support.
The principal insight I garnered from this promotion was how urgency and exclusivity can fuel customer engagement and conversions. Customers loved the thrill of the time constraint, and our sales surged. Moreover, this promotion strategy created a huge influx of subscribers for our email newsletters, significantly improving our long-term customer relationship management.
Kunal Madan, Founder, Amarra
Launch Digital Resolution Kits
One holiday promotion that really knocked it out of the park for us was our “New Year, New Site” campaign. It’s like we struck gold with this one!
We offered a comprehensive website audit and a tailored action plan for businesses looking to revamp their online presence in the new year. The twist? We packaged it as a “digital resolution” kit, complete with a road map for implementation.
The planning was key. We started brainstorming in October, analyzing past years’ data to identify what our clients struggle with most post-holidays. We realized many businesses want to start fresh in January but often don’t know where to begin.
Execution-wise, we drip-fed teaser content throughout December, building anticipation. We used email marketing, social media, and even personalized video messages to past clients. It was like creating a drumroll for the big reveal.
The results? We exceeded our target by 200%, with a 40% conversion rate from audit to full website redesign projects. But here’s the real kicker: it positioned us as strategic partners, not just service providers, leading to longer-term engagements.
My advice? Start planning early, focus on solving a real pain point, and create a narrative around your offer. It’s not just about discounts; it’s about providing value that resonates with your clients’ goals for the new year.
Remember, a great holiday promotion isn’t just about boosting short-term sales. It’s about setting the stage for long-term relationships. That’s how you turn a seasonal spike into sustained growth!
Harmanjit Singh, Founder & CEO, Website Design Brampton
Align Promotions with Trade Fairs
One successful holiday promotion I ran for my custom-lanyard business coincided with the bustling trade fair season. We decided to launch a “Buy More, Save More” campaign during this period, targeting both new and returning customers attending various conferences.
The idea was to offer tiered discounts: 10% off on orders of 50 lanyards, 15% off for 100, and 20% off for 200 or more.
The planning involved creating visually appealing promotional materials, both online and offline, and ensuring our website reflected these discounts prominently. I also leveraged email marketing to inform our existing customer base, highlighting the advantages of ordering in bulk during the trade fairs.
The execution was seamless, and the results were astounding. We saw a 35% increase in holiday sales compared to the previous year, which translated into an additional $3,000 in revenue.
This experience taught me the value of aligning promotions with industry events, making it easy for customers to see the benefits of purchasing at that time.
Joanneke Schuurman, Sales Executive, Custom-Lanyards.net
Promote Natural Hair Care Solutions
One of our most successful holiday promotions was our “Holiday Hair – Nature’s Care” campaign in 2019, which exceeded our biggest expectations. We focused on promoting Batana Oil as the perfect natural solution to combat dry and damaged hair during the harsh winter months.
Our strategy was to weave a compelling narrative around the sourcing story of our product, emphasizing our organic Honduran roots while highlighting its benefits in maintaining hair health during the holidays.
This campaign was planned meticulously by leveraging cross-platform marketing on various social media channels, email newsletters, and our website with engaging content and interactive quizzes. However, the key to our success was authenticity.
By genuinely showcasing our ethical sourcing process and pure ingredients, we were able to build trust with our customers and solidify our brand image. The campaign resulted in a 30% increase in sales and boosted our customer engagement significantly over the holiday period!
Ashley Smith, Owner, Batana Babe
Run Buy-One, Give-One Campaigns
One of our most successful holiday promotions came in the form of a special “Buy-One, Give-One” campaign during the December festive season. This exceeded our expectations by driving a 35% increase in sales compared to the same period the previous year. The success of this promotion was fueled by a well-coordinated planning process. We harnessed the power of our social media channels to spread awareness, while email marketing drove repeat purchases.
Furthermore, we incorporated our commitment to corporate social responsibility into the campaign: For each pair of eyeglasses purchased, we donated a pair to Vision Aid Overseas. This resonated with our customer base, who not only benefited from the sale but saw that their purchase was making a positive impact. The crucial insight we got was a confirmation of the power of coupling business promotion with a social cause. It turns out customers appreciate not just great deals but also initiatives that enable them to help those in need.
Mark Agnew, CEO and Founder, Eyeglasses.com
Bundle Pest Control Services
One successful holiday promotion that exceeded our expectations was a “Holiday Pest-Prevention Package” that we ran during the winter months. We offered a discounted rate on a year-long pest control plan, which included free initial treatments and an added bonus of a mosquito-control service for the upcoming summer. The holiday promotion appealed to homeowners who wanted to ensure their homes were protected year-round, with an extra incentive for future pest concerns.
The success came from a few key planning and execution strategies. First, we targeted current customers through email and text campaigns with personalized messaging, emphasizing the value of securing their homes during colder months when pests tend to seek shelter indoors. We also bundled services in a way that made it easy for customers to see the long-term benefits, which increased the perceived value of the offer.
The insights we gained were that timing matters—offering a promotion right before the holidays, when people are focused on their homes, made the offer more relevant. Additionally, bundling services and creating a clear, enticing value proposition helped drive higher conversions. Finally, using multiple communication channels, such as emails, texts, and social media, ensured we reached a broad audience, which contributed to the campaign’s success.
Faith Rock, Marketing Specialist, Alta Pest Control
Optimize for Black Friday SEO
One of our most successful holiday promotions was a Black Friday SEO campaign that drove thousands of customers to our site.
The key to its success was ranking our pages for Black Friday-related keywords well in advance of the actual holiday.
Here’s how we did it:
- Early keyword research – months before Black Friday, we identified high-volume, relevant keywords like “Black Friday deals [SEO]” and long-tail variations. The earlier you start optimizing, the better your chances of ranking when the big day comes.
- Creating the dedicated landing pages – we created specific landing pages optimized for those Black Friday keywords. Instead of updating the same page every year, we built long-term pages that accumulated SEO value year after year.
- Regular content updates – leading up to Black Friday, we regularly updated these pages with fresh content, like product teasers, customer reviews, and FAQs, to keep Google interested and maintain relevance.
- Heavy internal linking – We also supported the landing pages with blog posts, guides, and internal links, ensuring our entire site worked to boost those rankings.
By strategically planning and focusing on SEO early, we ranked high for key Black Friday terms and saw a massive surge in traffic during the week and a 160% growth in sales.
Vukasin Ilic, SEO Consultant & CEO, Linkter
Bundle Digital Marketing Services
Last holiday season, I ran a successful promotion by collaborating with local businesses to create a “Digital Makeover” package. We bundled services like SEO optimization, social media management, and website redesign at a 50% discount. This promotion led to a 35% increase in new client leads over the holiday period and a 30% conversion rate into long-term contracts.
Our success stemmed from tapping into the end-of-year rush when businesses are keen to improve their digital presence for the new year. We targeted local businesses, using geo-targeted social media ads and direct emails to engage decision-makers looking to refine their online strategies. The exclusivity and timing of the offer made it irresistible.
Effective execution involved personalized follow-ups with leads and showcasing our case studies—demonstrating tangible improvements from past projects. The key takeaway is to design promotions that address immediate client needs and leverage your strongest services while enhancing value through strategic partnerships.
Dan O’Keeffe, Owner, SPX Marketing LLC
Offer Free Consultation Packages
During the end-of-year equipment auction season, we offered a free consultation and valuation package for clients looking to appraise their machinery before selling. The key to its success was positioning it right when clients were preparing for auctions or year-end tax evaluations. We pushed the promotion through email marketing and our industry network, and the offer appealed because it took one of the most stressful parts of end-of-year planning off their plate.
What made it work was understanding our clients’ pain points at that specific time of year and addressing them directly. We didn’t push a generic holiday sale, but we created a solution they actually needed during a busy time.
For small businesses, my advice is to know your customers’ seasonal challenges and tailor your promotion around solving those problems. It’s more effective than discounting randomly or running with generic holiday themes.
Tracie Crites, Chief Marketing Officer, HEAVY Equipment Appraisal
Share Safety Tips
Last year, we decided to try something different for our holiday promotion. Instead of the typical discount or special offer, we ran a “12 Days of Safety” campaign. The idea was to focus on electrical safety tips leading up to Christmas, with each day featuring a new tip or small guide on how to prevent electrical hazards during the holiday season. The holidays can be a busy time, and people don’t always think about the extra strain on their electrical systems. So, we figured, why not offer value by educating our customers rather than simply pushing for sales?
We shared these tips through our social media channels and email newsletter, and to our surprise, the response was great. We got messages from people saying they had no idea about some of the dangers, like overloading power boards with Christmas lights or the importance of checking smoke alarms before having family over. What made it work, I believe, was that it wasn’t just a sales tactic. We were genuinely sharing important information that people could use to keep their families safe. We did offer some deals on safety inspections and surge protectors, but those were like natural add-ons, not the main focus.
The takeaway from this promotion was that not everything needs to be about pushing a sale. Sometimes offering something useful or helpful can be even more effective. People are already bombarded with ads, especially during the holidays, so taking a different approach—where we were giving instead of taking—really resonated. And I think that’s why it exceeded our expectations, both in terms of engagement and the number of bookings we got. It was a reminder that connecting with your audience and providing real value can have a lasting impact, even beyond the holiday season.
Daniel Vasilevski, Director & Owner, Bright Force Electrical
Send Personalized Emails
Our most impressive, overachieving holiday campaign was actually for “National Beer Day,” where a simple, personal touch made all the difference.
I sent an email to subscribers with the subject line, “Let me buy you a beer?” and kept the content straightforward, written as if from one friend to another. Inside, I offered a discount with the message that I’d love them to use it to treat themselves to a beer that evening in honor of National Beer Day.
This out-of-the-box, personal approach was a hit, making it our best-performing email of the entire year. The response showed us that subscribers appreciate unique, relatable content and that even simple, well-timed promotions can exceed expectations when they connect on a personal level.
David Mathews, Company Director, FitstrapsUK
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