The holiday season is a time of giving and joy, but also the most lucrative time of the year for businesses. The National Retail Federation has reported that holiday sales in 2020 totalled a record $789.4 billion in the US alone. With a deal this big, it’s vital for businesses to make sure they have a great holiday email marketing campaign in place to increase conversions. In this article, we will discuss five new holiday email templates to engage your audience and increase sales.
1. Themed Countdown Emails
Making it feel like it is an effective strategy is one of the best ways. A countdown email series based on a theme is a good way to do it. You can, for example, run a “12 Days of Christmas” promotion where each day is dedicated to a specific product or promotion. Not only does this generate buzz, but also keeps your readers enthralled with daily posts. Feature colorful graphics to make it feel like a holiday and fill each email with relevant product recommendations based on customer preferences. Remember to include a clear CTA in every email so that users will jump on special offers before they’re gone.
2. Gift Guides Based on Customer Interests
Connecting with customers is all about personalization. If you break down your audience by what they have purchased before or how they have browsed, you can create gift guides to address different audiences. For example, if a customer had expressed an interest in eco-friendly goods, provide them with a gift guide that contains sustainable gift ideas. This customized model not only makes recipients feel special but increases conversions since customers are offered what they really want.
3. Holiday Flash Sales
Flash sales are a great way to create urgency and intrigue. For example, send flash sale emails to your subscribers with massive discounts for a limited time. The excitement of the ‘too-good-to-miss’ offer can entice buyers to make snap decisions. Stick with festive, eye-catching artwork and a clear message to make the sale seem urgent. If you want to amplify the urgency, add a countdown timer to the email to remind customers that they have just a few hours left to secure the deal.
4. Engaging Storytelling Campaigns
Beyond advertising and marketing, narrative can establish an emotional connection with your target. Share your brands’ stories — whether it’s the artisans who craft your products, or the sustainable sourcing strategies that align with your brand’s mission. An email sequence of storytelling emails in the lead up to the holidays can create a strong connection with customers. This culminates in a discount that feels genuine and speaks to your audience’s heart strings, leading them to buy as a way of saying thanks for the brand’s cause.
5. Interactive Emails: Engage and Explore
In the information overload era, it can be hard to hold your readers’ attention. You can try to add a little interactive elements in your emails to hook your customers. Think about polls, or quizzes, or even select-your-own-adventure situations. Such a strategy not only entertains, but also entices customers to check out products that meet their needs.
For instance, a gift-giving quiz can provide customers with personalized recommendations based on their answers. Additionally, feedback from these engagements can help you gather insight about customer preferences, and optimize your future email marketing and product development efforts.
6. Customer Appreciation Highlights: Celebrating Loyalty
This time of year, make sure you’re appreciating your regulars. Send out a few emails to highlight your top customers with testimonials or stories of how they’ve used your products. This not only cements their loyalty, but also helps build a community around your brand.
You could also give these featured customers a discount or reward. It will not only show them they matter but could also entice people to spend more time with your brand in the hopes of being noticed on future emails.
7. Lost Cart Memos with a Holiday Spin
abandoned cart emails are a cornerstone of any email marketing strategy, but this holiday season give them a holiday touch. Personalize your subject lines with Christmas-related graphics that evoke a sense of gift-giving.
Try saying something like “Don’t Give Up on Your Holiday Wishes!” or “Your Cart is On Hold, Like Santa!” To make it even better, you can give them a special one-time discount for any products left in their carts. This Christmas spirit can drive shoppers to complete purchases, and unfinished transactions become successful sales.
8. Donations or Charities: Giving Back.
Holidays also mark a time of giving. Your brand can appeal deeply to customers who value socially conscious brands by aligning with a charity. Make sure to create emails that include information about the ways in which your company is giving back whether that’s from purchase donations, helping shelters, or planning community events.
Bringing attention to these efforts will generate goodwill among your customers, motivating them to support a brand that does something positive for the world. Also, why not offer a matching donation program; every time someone makes a purchase over the holidays, agree to donate a percentage of the proceeds. This not only creates community, but it also encourages conversion by tapping into customer values.
9. Exclusive Subscriber-Only Offers
Make it feel like an exclusive sale to your email list. Email these offers with images and compelling text about why joining your subscriber list will help. This not only generates direct sales but it also drives sign-ups for your email list and thereby expands your target audience for future campaigns.
10. Year-in-Review and New Year Preview
At the end of the holidays, create a year-end email that your customers love to read. Be sure to include your top-selling products, customer testimonials, even future events or sneak peeks at upcoming products for the next year. That way your brand stays relevant to your customers and opens the door for new year conversions.
Conclusion:
During the holidays, conversions and sales are extremely important for businesses. With fresh and original holiday email ideas as part of your email marketing strategy, you can connect with your readers, establish trust and authority, and give them incentive to buy. Whether you are giving away discounts, posting holiday content, or taking advantage of user-generated content, it is important to keep your brand voice and vibe consistent across the entire campaign to create a seamless experience. Happy Holidays!
