How to Use the Holidays to Boost Your Online Business
Share
Holidays are magical moments, full of emotions and… opportunities for your business!
Whether you are an artist, a craftsman, a company or a future digital entrepreneur, using these opportunities strategically can help you capture the attention of the public and transform simple curious people into loyal customers. Let's see how to do it, with a mix of creativity and free tools.
1. Planning: Plan ahead!
Holidays are predictable (luckily!), so use them to your advantage. Prepare a calendar with the most relevant dates for your industry: Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, but also more niche events like World Music Day.
Helpful free tools:
-
Trello or Notion to organize your editorial plan.
-
Google Calendar to mark important dates.
-
AnswerThePublic to find out what people are searching for at that time.
2. Engaging graphics and content
Holidays are synonymous with emotion, so your content must convey warmth and involvement. Use eye-catching graphics, animated GIFs and maybe a touch of irony!
Free Content Creation Tools:
-
Canva : to create themed posts and stories without the need for graphic design skills.
-
Pexels and Unsplash – for free high-quality images.
-
Giphy : Find fun and engaging GIFs.
Practical example: If you are a photographer, you can create a carousel on Instagram with "The best Christmas shots of 2024" or "Valentine's Day: 5 ideas for unforgettable couple photos".
3. Hashtags and SEO: Make your content findable
People are looking for holiday ideas and deals, so use the right hashtags on social media and optimize your blog for Google.
Hashtag Research and SEO Tools:
-
RiteTag : Find viral hashtags on Instagram and Twitter.
-
Ubersuggest – For SEO keyword research and catchy titles.
-
Google Trends : to discover the most searched seasonal trends.
Practical example: If you are a craftsman and sell handmade items, an SEO-friendly article with the title "Handmade Christmas Gifts: 10 Original Ideas" could attract users interested in your products!
4. Engage your audience with contests and giveaways
The holidays are the perfect time to increase engagement with contests and giveaways!
Free tools for organizing contests:
-
Rafflecopter or KingSumo to run giveaways on Instagram and Facebook.
-
Instagram polls to vote for the best product or service.
-
Google Forms to create surveys and collect emails.
Practical example: Are you a musician? Create a contest where your followers have to guess the title of your next song and reward the winner with a small gift or a special mention!
5. Automate and Save Time!
To avoid losing your mind with a thousand posts and updates, use automation tools.
Free Automation Tools:
-
Meta Business Suite to schedule posts on Facebook and Instagram.
-
Later or Buffer to plan social content.
-
Mailchimp (free up to 500 contacts) to send eye-catching Christmas newsletters.
Practical example: Do you have an online store? Automate a series of emails with suggestions on the perfect gifts for each type of customer!
6. Harness the Power of Collaborations
The holidays are a great time to team up! Collaborate with influencers, other artists, or complementary businesses to expand your visibility.
How to find collaborations:
-
Facebook Groups related to your industry.
-
Instagram and TikTok : Reach out to micro-influencers with communities similar to yours.
-
LinkedIn for B2B partnership deals.
Practical example: Are you a photographer? Collaborate with a fashion company for a thematic photoshoot!
7. FOMO and Urgency: Limited Time Offers
Nothing drives a purchase like the fear of missing out on a special offer. Use urgency to push users into action.
Free countdown and offer tools:
-
Canva's Countdown Timer to create eye-catching timers.
-
MailerLite Email Marketing to Send Last Minute Deals.
-
Stories with countdown stickers on Instagram .
Practical Example: Are you a video maker? Offer a discounted package for Christmas videos available only to the first 10 customers!
Bottom line: combine strategy and creativity to shine this holiday season!
Using the holidays to promote your business online means more than just posting generic greetings, but creating content that will attract and retain your audience. Plan ahead, take advantage of free tools, and focus on engaging content and strategic collaborations!
Now it's your turn! Which holiday will you use for your next viral content? Leave it in the comments or share it with me on social media!