Autumn is well and truly here and with it comes a sense of focus and energy. We have lots of seasonal events that happen around this time of year, including Halloween, Bonfire night and Christmas, all of which provide us with lots of opportunities to connect with our ideal clients. Whether you are promoting a large-scale event or running a café that would like to create something special at this time of year, it is worth taking time to plan for your seasonal campaign.
Of course, this approach may not suit all types of business, but even if you are an accountant or a less obvious candidate, using these events can still be a great way of reconnecting with your audience. Why not run a 12-days of Christmas campaign on social media with some great prizes (eg: branded notebooks, fleeces, travel mug or beanie hats), coordinate a 2025 branded calendar or send Christmas cards for example?
Plan, plan and plan some more
If you are a business that can maximise this as an opportunity, such as a café, pub, restaurant or online shop, seasonal marketing campaigns can create a sense of urgency, not only boosting your brand awareness but sales as well. Whatever sector you are in, it is important to take some time to plan for your seasonal campaign to ensure you get the most from the activity, here are some things to consider:
Define the objectives. From attracting more people into your business to increasing your event attendance start your planning by identifying what you would like to achieve from the campaign. Don’t forget to set SMART (Specific, Measured, Achievable, Relevant and Timed) goals and make sure you include clear metrics so you can evaluate the impact of your campaign.
Know your audience. Take time to understand your customers and the kind of messaging and content they would resonate with. If you are creating a spooky Halloween menu, for example, ensure you have lots of options available to cater for all ages and preferences.
Research competitors. Consider what your competitors or some of the bigger brands are doing for their seasonal campaigns, if they have already started to be promoted. If not perhaps review what they did last year and think about how you might be able to do things differently.
Reflect on previous campaigns. If you run a yearly seasonal marketing campaign, look back at how well they performed for you in previous years. Did you achieve your objectives? Have the current trends shifted from previous years? Consider what learnings you can you take to apply to this campaign.
Implement the plan. Once you have an idea of what your campaign is going to look like, it’s time for the fun part – putting your plan into action! Print materials, branded merchandise, digital brand assets, this is when you design and place orders for the marketing materials needed to make it a success. And of course, this is where we can help, get in touch and we will be happy to talk through your next proect and help you continue your brainstorming to make sure you get the most from your activity.
Build some anticipation. With everything in place for your campaign, build excitement and awareness amongst your audience. Alongside building awareness in the digital marketing space, you could also organise external signage, local ads or PR and door drops to a local audience. Plan out the right media with your audience and objectives in mind. Bear in mind that different sectors will work in different ways.
Review the results. Once the busy festive period has passed, carve out time to review how well your campaign performed. Did you achieve your objective? What would you repeat or do differently next time? Don’t forget to make a note of this insight for safekeeping so you can refer to it next year.
Promotional Item Ideas
‘Tis the season for giving! To help with your seasonal planning, here is some print inspiration to bring some branded joy to your campaign:
1. Posters
Posters are an easy and cost-effective way to advertise your seasonal event in various locations. These need to be informative but messaging should be catchy and to the point so the passer-by can instantly see your promotion.
2. Banners
Ideal for temporary signage or to share your future events with customers and local footfall. Make the most of the large print area with an impactful message and design.
3. Leaflets
Perfect to back up any promotion or event over the seasonal celebration period. Why not do some door drops in your local area to share the details of your upcoming Halloween party, fireworks display or Christmas meals? Leaflets come in all shapes, sizes and paperweights so talk to us about your next project.
4. Menus
Tantalise the tastebuds of your customers by showcasing your delicious menu. With a variety of materials, we can really help you think outside the box by using recycled paper to create disposable menu placemats or waterproof menus that can withstand spills and rough handling, not to mention the hygiene benefits. Wipe them down and they are ready to be used again.
5. Christmas Cards
Show your appreciation for your client’s business over the year by sending them a Christmas card. Send them out early and they double up as some advertising too!
6. Calendars
Calendars, diaries and wall planners are not just a useful and practical promotional gift but they keep your brand at the forefront of minds 365 days of the year. There’s a huge choice of sizes and styles from hanging calendars to handy desktop calendars and various sizes and layouts on diaries too.
In Summary
Now is a great time to start to plan your seasonal marketing campaigns. We can help not just with the print element but if you also need to create the artwork or brainstorm ideas to make the most of the opportunity, do get in touch. Be quick though for some items timings are starting to be close, even for the festive season, please book a FREE no-obligation discovery call to see how we can help.
