Maintaining Momentum Over The Christmas Break

Christmas is fast approaching and many business are both trying to get on top of the pre Christmas rush AND preparing for the summer break and inevitable January slow down. But just because your office may be quieter or shutting down over this time, it doesn’t mean your website should be.

Whether you’re in ecommerce or a service-based business, keeping the momentum going on your website over Christmas can help maintain your brand’s visibility and keep your audiences engaged. To say nothing of course of the Boxing Day sales and the opportunity to help your customers spend their Christmas gift cash!

We have a few tips and tricks to help you keep the momentum going over pre and post the Christmas break.

1. Plan Your Content Calendar in Advance

The holiday period can sneak up on you, so it’s essential to plan (and create) your content in advance. Create a content calendar that includes blog posts, newsletters, social media updates, and promotional content. Having content scheduled will ensure that your website continues to be fresh and relevant even if your team is taking time off. Most social media channels and WordPress allow you to schedule content in advance.

Tip: You can use content that is not tied to specific dates or trends but remains relevant year-round.

2. Leverage Holiday Promotions

Christmas is the perfect time to run special offers, discounts, and promotions. Whether it’s a limited-time pre Christmas or Boxing Day sale, make sure these are prominently featured on your website and social channels. Where possible, focus on what your customers will be doing at this time of year and make sure you factor that into your promotions. For example, will they be at the beach with family, or might they be having a ‘staycation’ since budgets are tight.

Tip: Use banners or pop-ups to highlight holiday promotions without being too intrusive.

3. Automate Customer Communications

During the busy holiday time, you might not have the capacity to engage with customers in real-time. To maintain momentum on your website, set up automated email sequences or newsletters that nurture leads, welcome new subscribers, or remind customers of abandoned carts if you run an ecommerce site.

4. Focus on User Experience

The last thing anyone wants during the holiday rush is a frustrating website experience. With fewer people around to address customer service issues, it’s more important than ever to ensure your website is easy to navigate, fast, and mobile-friendly – before the seasonal rush.  Make sure you are up to date with any core or plugin updates to your website before shutting up shop.

5. Update Your Stock and Delivery Information

Customers appreciate transparency, especially when it comes to shipping and product availability over the holiday season. Make sure your website is up-to-date with accurate product stock levels and clear shipping deadlines.  Make sure you let them know in advance of any last order deadlines or shipping close off dates for delivery before Christmas.

Tip: It also important to update your Google Business Profile with any changes to normal working hours, holidays or shutdown dates.

6. Refresh Your Social Proof

During the holiday season, people are more likely to shop based on recommendations. Boost your website’s credibility by featuring positive customer reviews, testimonials, or user-generated content.

Tip: Create a holiday-specific review campaign, encouraging past customers to share their experiences with your brand.

7. Offer a Holiday Gift Guide

A gift guide is a perfect way to showcase your products or services, making it easy for customers to find the ideal present for loved ones. These guides can be product-focused or even theme-based (e.g., “Top Gifts for Dads,” or “Best Stocking Stuffers”). This year we have also been seeing more Advent Calendars than ever before, for a huge range of different products.

Tip: Make your holiday gift guide visually appealing and easy to navigate. Consider featuring bundles or discounts for purchasing multiple items, which is especially attractive during the gift-giving season.

8. Make Post-Christmas Plans Early

Many businesses experience a surge in activity after Christmas, particularly if you offer after-sales or New Year promotions. Prepare for this by making sure your website can handle a potential increase in traffic.

Tip: Ensure that your website’s hosting plan can handle a surge of visitors in the days following Christmas. Also, consider planning your first big post-Christmas sale well in advance to capture the post-holiday spending.

9. Keep Your SEO Fresh

While you’re planning for the holidays, don’t neglect your SEO. Make sure your content is well optimised for holiday search terms like “best Christmas gifts,” “holiday sale,” or “New Year’s discounts.” This helps keep your website visible in search engines during a time when many people are looking for gift ideas and special offers.

While the Christmas break can mean a time to unwind and enjoy the warm summer weather, your website can still be a powerful marketing tool if you take the right steps.

If you plan ahead and automate communications where possible, you can keep the momentum going and make the most of the Christmas holiday season.

Need help with optimising your website for the holidays? Reach out to our team at Happy Monday for help.