Oh yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year. The weather's turning colder, people are spending more time with loved ones, exchanging gifts, sharing fond memories, and the good cheer flows like egg nog.
It's the perfect opportunity to stay fresh in your customers' minds with a holiday-themed greeting, whether it be on your company blog, social media page, in an e-mail blast, or via good, old-fashioned snail mail.
At Rise, we believe in always exceeding expectations. If you're going to take the time and resources to contact your customers directly, why not deliver something truly special? Here are four ways we think you can make the most of your holiday shout out.
Share Something Useful that Reinforces Your Company's Perspective
Getting a Happy Holidays postcard in the mail is nice, but easily forgotten. Receiving useful tips for ways to de-stress during the holidays, untangle holiday lights, or make the perfect cup of mulled wine will stick better in your customers' minds.
Consider the message that your company shares every day. Is it based around smart spending, saving time, or entertaining guests? Everyday advice can turn holiday with just a bit of imagination. For example, for Thanksgiving this year, along with its good wishes, Sterling Finance Company sent out tips for serving a great Thanksgiving dinner on the cheap. Sterling turned its everyday task of helping customers to save money and reduce debt into a holiday campaign that had useful implications to every person on their mailing list.
Make it Fun
Anything you can do to further draw in your customers will be especially important this time of year. Investing the resources into designing a fun interactive online game or app may pay off in the long run if it means a stronger, more positive associations for your company in the minds of your customers.
For example, Macy's department store annually donates $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter to Santa that is placed in their special mailboxes. This year, they've taken it one step further with an app that allows letter writers to take an augmented smartphone or tablet photo with the Believe-o-Magic animated characters, and send it as a holiday card. Donating a ton of money to charity around the holidays? Good. Also making it fun for children and their families? Even better.
Showcase Your Brand in a New Light
The new year is about starting over. If you're looking to revamp, now's a great time to release that new campaign and get customers interested in making you a part of their 2012 resolutions.
Not looking to do a 180? Showing a different facet of your company may bring about fresh interest from your customers. If it's appropriate, tell a story or fond memory, share about holiday charity work, or new sustainability efforts. The more your customers see your company as run by people they like and can relate to, the merrier your new year will be.
Show Them the Love
Thank your customers! Like you to us, they are the reason you get up in the morning, love your job, and have a nice place to go back to at night. Embrace the warm fuzzy spirit of the holidays and take a moment to tell your customers what they mean to you. Everyone likes to feel loved!
