Waiting for that WOW Christmas marketing idea to supercharge conversions and brand awareness without an unbelievable budget? Well, this is exactly what you need: 10 successful showcase ideas across industries.
One example we supercharged site traffic, conversion, and brand awareness was via content marketing. We managed to supercharge it by integrating content distribution channels, building a brand personality, and aligning the funnel to optimize the site traffic. As a result, the site traffic rose to 300% in 3 months. We believe we can help you achieve this too with our 10 innovation Christmas Marketing ideas.
1. #Hashtag Campaign
Starbucks launched a DIY-friendly holiday cup, inviting amateur artists to share their unique artwork on Instagram with the dedicated hashtag #GiveGood. A hashtag campaign is an example of user-generated content (UGC), a good way to engage your target customers.
KPIs:
- Number of hashtag mentions
- Number of likes and comments
- Brand awareness
Pros:
- Increase brand awareness
- Increase engagement
- Easy to see how well your campaign is doing
Cons:
- Hashtags are overused
- Hard to create a representative hashtag
2. Augmented Reality (AR)
“Elf Yourself® App” by Office Depot [source]
Dress up easily with Facebook’s AR filter! Office Depot incorporated Facebook integration to its well-known festive app “Elf Yourself”, allowing users to “elf” themselves with their Facebook’s camera AR filter. Users can then share the videos with friends and family.
KPIs:
- App download rate
- Number of video sharing
- Brand awareness
Pros:
- Increase brand awareness
- Highly engaging
Cons:
- Requires creativity
- Costly production
3. Instagram Filter
“Getting Reindeer Ready” Snapchat Camera Filter by Mcdonald’s
Similar to “Elf Yourself” but simplified, “Getting Reindeer Ready” allows users to transform into a reindeer through the AR face filters. Meanwhile, the AR Filter Creation tool is also available on Facebook and Instagram.
KPI:
- App download rate
- Brand awareness
Pros:
- Engage a wide range of audiences
- Low-cost production
Cons:
- Suitable for retail brands only
4. Organic Social Feed
Instagram feed by Porsche [source]
You will see Christmas trees everywhere soon, but one made up of the world’s most luxurious automobiles? For instance, Porsche has done a great job associating festive anticipation with the brand.
Pros:
- Keep fans and followers engaged
- Low-cost production
Cons:
- Organic reach is in decline
- Keen competition
5. Christmas Gift Guide
Instagram feed by Zara Home [source]
Make your products the effortless choice for Christmas gifts like Zara Home! For example, in the retail industry, a gift guide is a perfect solution for your fans who are currently searching for gift ideas. Moreover, a gift guide caters to more customers by creating a series of gift guides for different age groups and gender.
KPIs:
- Number of likes
- Number of comments
- Conversion rate
Pros:
- Engage a wide range of audiences
- Low-cost production
Cons:
- Best used by retail brands only
6. Multi-sensory Experience
Instagram feed by M&S [source]
Create a brand experience that lasts. M&S released a short video clip with music that sticks in the heads of the audience.
Moreover, apart from visual elements like text and still images, the use of animated video and audio will help get your audience in the seasonal mood with your brand associated with it. In addition, the goal is to engage the senses holistically to make your brand stick in the heads of your audience.
KPIs:
- Number of views
- Number of likes
- Brand Awareness
Pros:
- Enhance customer experience
- Connect with the audience emotionally
Cons:
- More costly than feeds with still images
- There is sound only when it is turned on voluntarily
7. Video Campaign
Youtube video by Samsung [source]
The details can be easily forgotten, however emotions last. Boasting over 4M views, this clip successfully associates the brand with positive emotions—by portraying the wonder, shock, and surprise of those receiving Galaxy VR set as a Christmas gift.
KPIs:
- Number of shares
- Brand awareness
Pros:
- High-quality videos can have a viral impact
- Connect with the audience emotionally
Cons:
- Costly production
- The audience today has a lower attention span
8. Online Event
Youtube video by Playlist Potluck from Sonos & Spotify [source]
Christmas is the time of coming together. Instead of everyone bringing a dish to share, Sonos and Spotify are inviting us to contribute songs to a collaborative playlist. As a result, online events are great alternatives to offline campaigns in times of pandemics.
KPIs:
- Participation rate
- Brand awareness
Pros:
- Highly engaging
- Lower event cost
- Lessen the impact of pandemics
Cons:
- Suitable for brands with a large fans base only
- Requires advertising
9. WeChat H5 Minisite Campaign
WeChat H5 Campaign by JD.com [source]
For those targeting the China market, the H5 campaign is a must-have. H5 is an interactive platform on WeChat with a range of interactive features including games, invites, animations, mobile shaking triggers, etc.
Furthermore, aiming to push holiday sales, China’s leading eCommerce site JD.com’s latest campaign features a cartoon character “Xiao Liu Ya” with engaging UGC content like customized avatar makers to encourage sharing among peers.
KPIs:
- H5 Page Traffic
- Number of shares
- Conversion rate
Pros:
- Offers a range of interactive options
- Easy to share on WeChat, the largest social mobile platform in China
Cons:
- Costly production
- Limited to WeChat users
10. Advergaming
WeChat H5 Game by Weiyun [source]
Game creation sounds incredibly completed. However, Weiyun (Cloud Service by WeChat) makes it accessible for marketers. In addition to last year, Weixun released a series of H5 interactive games that allow customization of background and prize redemption. Therefore, businesses can design their own branded games easily as if you are creating a Powerpoint.
KPIs:
- Game Traffic
- Conversion rate
Pros:
- Increase brand awareness
- Highly engaging
Cons:
- High cost
- Requires creativity
