This year, the holiday shopping season is short by nearly a full week. The season got off to a late start because Thanksgiving, which traditionally launches the shopping frenzy with Black Friday, landed relatively late in the calendar.

But surveys show that 70 percent of all shoppers don’t begin their holiday shopping until the end of this month. Even then, people will be rushing to complete their gift lists all through the rest of this month, so now’s the time to kick your last-minute holiday marketing efforts into overdrive.

And this year, it appears shoppers are ready to spend after the pandemic-suppressed holiday season last year, with holiday sales projected to grow at least seven percent over last year.

So if you’re out of ideas for how to grab more of that holiday cash, our social media management experts want to offer some last-minute holiday marketing ideas to boost your bottom line.

1. Decorate your “store front.”

Even if your sales are strictly online, make sure your profile pages include plenty of holiday imagery: Santas, snowmen, icicles, jingle bells, and so on. Or redo your logo with a holiday image. People love that sort of thing, and will be attracted to anything that gets them in the mood.

2. Don’t be afraid of memes.

If you’re clever with memes, the holidays are almost tailor-made to launch a few memes that have the potential to go viral. Don’t spend a ton of time on them, and don’t overdo them, but memes are always popular. If you can make your fans smile, that will put them in the mood to shop from you.

3. Get them in the holiday mood.

Try nostalgic photos and videos of holidays long past, pictures of your store decorations, or a video of you and your staff singing goofy holiday songs. Classics like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” or “Jingle Bells” by the Singing Dogs are always crowd pleasers.

4. Keep them posted on deliveries.

Everyone has had a terrible time with the supply chain in recent months, so be sure to use social media to keep your customers up to date on your inventory, what you have in stock, and items that might be good substitutes for things that haven’t arrived yet. Or suggest gift cards for items like that, to be redeemed when they come in. And keep them apprised of last-minute deals or flash sales. Don’t oversell to the point of annoyance, but present it as you letting them in on exclusive discounts or freebies.

5. Catch the attention of younger fans.

Gen Z is deeply involved with environmental issues. And the holidays spark many to give to others less fortunate. Can you offer tips on recycling the tree or how to decorate or wrap gifts sustainably? Is there a local animal shelter or rescue group you could highlight that needs extra supplies this time of year? Is there a particular charity or worthy cause you know of that you’d like to help publicize? Giving to others makes people feel good, and supporting such efforts helps your brand be seen in a positive light.

7. Give some DIY inspo.

Speaking of giving, offer your fans helpful suggestions for do-it-yourself crafts and holiday decor, safety tips for fire prevention, and recipes for your favorite cookies, cakes, and pies. Provide some ideas for hard-to-shop-for friends and family members, or ideas for shopping on a budget.

8. All hands on deck for customer service.

Be especially available to customer questions or concerns in the days leading up to the holidays. Everyone is frazzled right now with trying to get everything done, so be sure to monitor your social media several times a day, which will enable you to respond quickly to comments or messages from your customers.

9. Run a contest.

Contests are always popular on social media, because people love the chance to win something, and they’re a sure-fire way to boost engagement. Plus you can get your fans to provide user generated content (UGC) by asking them to post about their favorite childhood present they received, or the gift they wanted but never got, or what they’d ask Santa for today, and so on.

10. Feature your products.

Remember that social media is all about the visuals, so be sure to post plenty of photos and videos of your products or services, especially if they’re on sale. Include unique ways to use your products, and how-to’s, if necessary, just as you would as if they were in a brick-and-mortar store.

Our social media management experts can help you with more last-minute holiday marketing ideas and ways to boost holiday engagement, so contact us today!