How Brands Can Reach More Holiday Shoppers

The holidays are the most beautiful time of the year and also the busiest for brands, whether Wholesale, Retail, or Service brands, as getting and keeping the attention of holiday shoppers is of utmost importance to businesses looking to thrive during the holiday season. Holiday shopping is a competitive and crucial time of the year for many brands, especially (D2C).

Read More: How To Do A Giveaway As A Small Business.

In this guide, we will explore the effective methods your brand can apply to engage and reach more holiday shoppers, including what the brand is, the concept of holiday shopping, the types of holiday shoppers and their priorities, and how brands can capitalize on this to increase their customer base by using creative ways to boost their visibility and foster lasting connections that will extend well beyond the holiday season.

So, buckle up, dear reader, as we dive in.

What Is A Brand?

A brand is a product, service, or concept publicly distinguished from other products, services, or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and usually marketed. In other words, it is a product or business with a distinct identity and can influence customers’ perceptions of other products or businesses.

A brand is created through design, packaging, and advertising, which helps distinguish the product from its competitors. Brands are often expressed in the form of Logos and graphic representations of the brand.

Brands are usually created to help consumers identify their products and give them reasons to choose that product over their competitors. For example, a brand may convey that its product is cheaper, better tasting, healthier, or more effective than its competitors. A company’s brand and the public’s awareness of them are commonly used in evaluating a company, and corporations also hire market research firms most of the time to study public recognition of brand names and the public's attitudes, including competitors toward their brands.

Different types of brands range from product brands like Coca-Cola, Schweppes, and KFC Fried Chicken to service brands such as Microsoft, Amazon, Jumia, etc., as well as corporate and personal brands built through social media.

The Concept Of Holiday Shopping And Holiday Shoppers

From hosting family to planning holiday travels, the holiday season is a special and unique season that usually brings with it a kind of shopping frenzy known as “Holiday Shopping” because virtually everyone loves giving themselves or their families, friends, staff, colleagues, pets, etc. a treat during this season, the number of holiday shoppers is usually on the high side.

Brands And Holiday Shoppers

The way people shop may change with time, but one thing remains constant: the types of shoppers making these purchases. From making spontaneous purchases to buying gifts at the last minute, consumer shopping behavior will continue to play a significant role in effective holiday marketing.

Holiday shoppers are different. i.e., no two shoppers are alike, and each expects a specific type of customer experience when searching for the perfect holiday gift. By understanding these different personas, brands tailor their sales and marketing approach to meet the needs of their customers.

Types Of Holiday Shoppers

Holiday shoppers can be categorized into various types based on their shopping behaviors, preferences, and habits. Here are some common types of holiday shoppers:

1. The Early Shoppers: Early Shoppers are the holiday season’s planners and strategists. From thorough product research to comparing prices and reading reviews, they aim to finish shopping as early and quickly as possible.
2. The On-The-Fly Shoppers: On-the-Fly Shoppers only purchase some holiday gifts on one trip—they shop throughout the season instead. Unlike the Early Shoppers, On-The-Fly Shoppers are less likely to keep a strict shopping list or budget, and they are more inclined to purchase gifts when they see something they like or when the mood strikes.
3. The Last Moment Shoppers: Last Moment Shoppers tend to find holiday shopping daunting and burdensome. They usually habitually bide their time to see what discounts emerge closer to the holidays. However, in most cases, they simply don't know what to buy. Whatever the reason, their time and attention on shopping increases as the holiday catches up with them.
4. The Holiday Traditionalists: These holiday shoppers have been compiling their list for months and are now ready to buy. However, they're looking for much more than gifts and look forward to picture-perfect holiday events.
5. The Impulse Shoppers: Impulse Shoppers can't resist a sale, discount, or deal, and they also love features that give them the freedom to indulge in their impulses without taking too much risk, such as Easy return policies, Warranties, Money- back guarantees, etc.
6. The Brand Loyalists: They love personal touches such as samples or handwritten notes and always desire a personal connection to the brand they patronize. Research has shown that 80% of consumers gradually gain brand loyalty.
7. The Experiential Shoppers: These holiday shoppers love the shopping experience. They want to go, see, do, and give something that creates lasting memories.
8. The Ethical Shoppers: Also known as the Conscientious Shoppers, Ethical Shoppers are more mindful of their shopping choices than other holiday shoppers. They prioritize sustainability, fair working conditions, zero waste, and charitable giving, to mention but a few. They also love to get personally involved in the shopping process.
9. The Bargain Hunters: Bargain Hunters have the habit of hunting for bargains, usually to make the shopping experience fun and challenging. They are not impulsive, and unlike the Impulse and On-The-Fly Shoppers, they will patiently put off purchasing something until it goes on sale.
10. The Networked Shoppers: These shoppers are more online-oriented. They want genuine and authentic products or services, real-life photos, and reviews from other customers via Retailer’s Apps and Social Media. They value other people’s opinions and like to share their own.
11. The Procrastinators:  Procrastinators need your help, and they need it urgently because they’ve put off all their shopping to the last minute and are searching online for something they can get practically overnight.

How Brands Can Reach More Holiday Shoppers

The most effective way for brands to reach more holiday shoppers, especially during the holiday season, is by delivering exceptional and top-notch services tailored to the needs and expectations of each category of holiday shoppers across each touch point your customers and potential buyers use in interacting with your brand. These touch points include:

Giveaway.com

Take your brand visibility to the next level this holiday season with Giveaway.com, the ultimate platform for engaging shoppers and driving sales. By running interactive promotions like sweepstakes, contests, and instant-win games, Giveaway.com helps you capture the attention of a broad audience. With seamless social media integration, your campaigns will reach even more potential customers, encouraging shares, likes, and comments that amplify your brand's presence.

Not only does Giveaway.com enhance engagement, but it also provides valuable insights into consumer behavior, allowing you to fine-tune your marketing strategies. Collecting participant data through entry forms turns your promotions into powerful lead-generation tools, giving you a pool of qualified leads to target with personalized email campaigns. This cost-effective platform ensures a high return on investment, making it the go-to solution for brands eager to maximize their holiday sales. Start your campaign with Giveaway.com and see the difference it makes in reaching and engaging holiday shoppers.

Live Chat

Can you plug a Facebook Messenger or a WhatsApp Chat into your E-Commerce website? You can use tools like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp chats on your website to respond to holiday shoppers with questions, inquiries, or opinions about a product or its price.

Shoppers always seek help, especially during festive periods and the holiday season. A live Store Assistant is a great way to help them sift through many choices, as one of the significant concerns of holiday shoppers when shopping is needing to know what gift item to buy. Shoppers value good customer service; when they receive such service, they will always remember your brand name.

Discount Offers

In addition to a Live Chat on your website, you can surprise your customers, potential buyers, and even visitors with pop-up mats that offer them a discount on your popular products. Offering a discount during the holiday season is a great way to attract customers to your store and increase sales during the busiest time of the year.

In addition, this would be an opportunity to promote your brand by giving shoppers an offer they cannot refuse.

Thank You/Welcome Emails and Product Updates

A Welcome email is one of the most important emails you’ll send to first-time buyers. It gives you and your marketing team a chance to say “Thank you for your purchase,” you can also introduce them to other products they might like or be interested in. You can also send them updates on product categories they purchased and suggest related products on your website.

These can be done via Email Marketing Solutions and Marketing Automation such as Mailchimp, which can help you send automated welcome emails to first-time buyers.

Social Media Campaigns

Social media increases brand awareness and contributes to online and offline conversions. Run targeted ads and interactive content on Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

In addition, research has shown that 3 out of every four-holiday shoppers learn about brands and specific products through Social Media.

Webroom Your Products

Like a Store Showroom, where customers go when they want to see a product in person, a Webroom also allows customers to view your products, albeit on the internet, rather than in person. It is a powerful holiday marketing strategy, especially concerning expensive purchases. In most cases, a Webroom allows the customers to view a product from every angle, providing them with the complete in-person showroom experience online.

Summary

The holiday season is significant for many shoppers, and brands can capitalize on this to create a more extensive customer base. Although many brand marketers may have less information about holiday shoppers when compared to other types of shoppers, they should always keep in mind that holiday shoppers are different. i.e., they have different mindsets, needs, expectations, values, and even shopping locations and use this information to create effective marketing strategies. This will help them reach more holiday shoppers and increase their customer base.

Understanding holiday shoppers' different behaviors, preferences, and values is crucial for any brand looking to impact during the holiday season and reach more significantly. Holiday shoppers. By combining the strategies listed above, brands can effectively capture, hold the attention of, and reach out to more holiday shoppers, and “Giveaway.com” is here to help you achieve that.