Email MarketingHints & Tips

Topic: Holiday Email Marketing

'Tis the Season - Eight Holiday Tips

In this article learn how to use email marketing to make the most of the spike in holiday traffic and spending, and create a positive impression of your company that will last long into next year.

8 Holiday Email Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits

Fall is not too early for nonprofits to start planning their holiday email marketing campaigns.

With Thanksgiving and the December holidays around the corner -- and time ticking for charitable givers to make tax-deductible donations before the New Year -- now is the time to plan how to thank your supporters, highlight your year's accomplishments, suggest other ways they can support your organization and tap into their holiday spirit of giving.

Here are eight ways to use email marketing to stay top of mind with your subscribers this holiday season:

Festive Friends

Three years ago, longtime friends Barbara Watkins and Cheryl Headley seized an opportunity to purchase an existing business. Today, that venture, Monogram Lane, is an online retail business that offers many personalized items -- from jewelry to car accessories to cell phone cases and much more. Monogram Lane remains a two-person business, and the duo say they are living their dream.

Barbara and Cheryl send two emails every week, on Mondays and Thursdays, that promote various products. They couple that with posts to a Facebook Page and Twitter account, plus promotion on a blog and the ladies' own channel on YouTube. The marketing plan is working, and Barbara says a large part of that is due to fun use of email marketing.

Holiday Email Tips--Go Beyond Simply Sending More

If you're like most businesses, you're counting on this holiday season to be a massive success...Success can be measured in many ways, but it all ties back to revenue. And regardless of what your business is selling, email can play a very significant role in terms of revenue. But it's important to remember that impacting your bottom line requires more than just filling up inboxes. Your success depends on earning trust and putting the subscribers first to ensure they receive emails that are timely, meaningful, and relevant.

Here are five business-to-consumer (B2C) and five business-to-business (B2B) holiday email tips that go beyond simply sending more.

Holiday Greetings Are Not Enough

Email greetings are less expensive, easier to create, quicker to deliver and likely have a better chance of being opened than any direct mail these days. But, a holiday greeting alone cannot compare to the results you can achieve with, say, an email newsletter.

Holidays Ahead of Time

It's still warm and sunny in much of the country right now, but an unfortunate truth is that the end of the year will be here before we know it. That means the next four months will likely be a bit busy (and I know I don't have to tell you that). These still-slow days of summer are the perfect time to start ramping up and planning for the holiday rush.

One benefit of being a small business or a nonprofit is that you can more easily differentiate yourself from the big-box retailers and businesses that will all be offering exclusive coupons and their lowest prices ever.

It's the Time of the Season

Many people may cringe at the notion of getting ready for the year-end holidays when Halloween hasn't even passed, but if you're a nonprofit organization gearing up for donation drives and holiday events, now is the time to get cooking on your email marketing plans.

Keep It Going

When the calendar changes again in three short weeks, don't step off the gas and coast into 2010. Instead, continue your November/December momentum into January -- and beyond -- with some simple planning that will help you get the New Year started on the right foot.

Stand Out from the Holiday Crowds

Now that Labor Day has passed, it's time to start thinking about your holiday marketing efforts -- if you haven't already started, that is. Yes, it's still warm out across the country and many businesses are thinking more about making this month's revenue goals rather than what's happening a few months from now. However, the earlier you get started with your holiday promotion planning, the better results you'll have.

To start, get out a calendar and mark down what item or service you want to promote each week leading up to the holidays. I say those words in the singular sense because if you are going to be sending weekly emails, you'll want to keep them as short and to the point so as to not overwhelm your customers' inboxes and ability to consume information. You'll also want to target dates for any special events you may want to hold (e.g., customer appreciation events, open houses) on the calendar.

Success Story - Breeze Concepts

Customized e-Greeting Cards help this Marketing firm's holiday campaigns stand out

The Holiday Gift That Keeps On Giving

The holiday season is fast approaching and with it comes a strong demand for shopping, both online and offline. Don't leave your customers out in the cold! Use email marketing to make the most of the spike in holiday traffic and spending, and create a positive impression of your company that will last long into next year.

This Holiday, Say it with an E-card

Why spend money on paper cards and postage when you can send an e-card? The holidays are a perfect time to send one to the people on your list. Here are ten ideas that will help you do more than just say, "Happy Holidays" with your e-card. Instead, you'll send one that makes your subscribers smile.

Trust Me

Excessive holiday email isn't just bad behavior -- it shows a lack of strategy, and it's ineffective.

Using Email Marketing for the Holidays

Ready for the holidays? You still have plenty of time to purchase all your gifts. You can even do your shopping as late as December 24, if you dare! But when it comes to holiday communication from your business or organization, now is the time to take action.

Wrapping It All Up

There's a buzz in the air: The holidays are coming. Soon, businesses and organizations from all corners will descend upon your inbox offering 20% off, then 30% off, then free shipping, then another generic offer that will be indistinguishable from all the rest. How will your business or organization -- big or small -- separate itself from the herd at such a busy time of the year?

You'll do it by effectively using all your communications channels -- particularly email and social media -- to reach customers, clients, and supporters.

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