The holiday season is upon us, also referred to as the ‘silly’ season, and for small to medium businesses, it's a golden opportunity to boost sales and strengthen customer relationships. But with the digital landscape buzzing with festive promotions, how can you ensure your brand or business stands out without breaking the bank? Here are some practical, no-nonsense strategies to make the most of this silly season: Flash Sales & Social-Only Deals The end-of-year rush is prime time for exclusive deals. Flash sales, especially those exclusive to your social media followers or website visitors, can create a sense of urgency and reward loyalty. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are your chances to offer irresistible deals that drive traffic and conversions. Boxing Day is a perfect opportunity for customers to grab items they missed before the holidays now at discounted prices. To maximize impact, use compelling calls to action like “Hurry, limited time only!” or “Exclusive deal for our followers.” Consider adding perks such as free shipping, gifts with purchase, or buy-one-get-one-free offers to sweeten the deal. Stick to What Works The holiday season is not the time to test unproven marketing tactics. Rely on the strategies that have worked for you throughout the year. Consistency in messaging and branding helps maintain customer trust and recognition. Pay attention to what your customers have shown interest in leading up to the holiday period. Focus your campaigns on these popular items or services to increase the likelihood of conversion & leave testing new waters to the new year. Engage Through Social Media Social media is a powerful tool for reaching your audience during the holidays. Utilise both paid and organic posts to promote your seasonal offers. Paid ads can target your audience with creative campaigns that highlight your holiday deals. Organic posts can encourage engagement with messages like “Tag a friend to win a holiday gift” or “Share your holiday shopping list with us.” Optimise Your Website For Holiday Traffic Ensure your website is ready to handle the increased traffic during the holiday season. A seamless online experience can make the difference between a sale and a lost opportunity. Fast loading times are critical as slow websites can drive customers away. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate so customers can find products and complete purchases quickly. Clear contact information including customer support and store locations is also essential. Build Relationships, Not Just Sales While the holiday season is a prime time for sales, it is also an opportunity to build lasting relationships with your customers. Personalized communication, exceptional customer service, and a genuine brand voice can turn one-time buyers into loyal patrons. Remember, the goal is not just to boost sales but to create memorable experiences that keep customers coming back long after the holidays are over. By implementing these strategies, you can navigate the silly season with confidence, ensuring your business not only survives but thrives during this bustling time of year. Want To Learn More? Sign up with your email address below to download your free “Silly Marketing Season 101” handbook, and get all the tips you need to make this holiday season a success.

Thinking of running a Black Friday or Cyber Monday email blitz but worried your messages will get lost in the noise? That’s a very fair and real concern. But if you’re going to play along with BF & CM here’s a little go-to cheat sheet from us to you. Warm Them Up Early Don’t wait until the week of. Start teasing your offers weeks ahead. Send sneak peeks, early-access invites, or countdowns to build anticipation and prime your list for action. Segment Smartly One size doesn’t fit all. Use behaviour, purchase history, or customer value to segment your list. Reward loyal customers with VIP access, treat cart abandoners differently, and tailor offers based on what your segments care about. Diversify Your Offers Don’t just stick to one type of discount. Mix it up with bundles, buy one get one, freebies, or free shipping. Sometimes perceived value, like a gift or bundle, outperforms a straight discount. Make Scarcity Work For You Flash sales, quantity limits, or time-limited deals spark urgency. Use countdown timers, low-stock alerts, or “only a few left” messaging to push people to act. Tell A Story If offering steep discounts isn’t viable, tell a story. Share your brand’s journey, product inspiration, or customer stories to create emotional pull, especially when discounts are limited. Reward Your Top Customers Make your best buyers feel special. Give them early access, exclusive offers, or sneak-peek emails before you open sales to everyone else. Keep Your Emails Clean & Bold Your email needs to be scannable in a sea of promotions. Use strong imagery, short but clear copy, and visible calls to action. Include animation only if it enhances the message. Use Dynamic Content Trigger urgency with live elements like countdown clocks or low-stock messages. Personalised content such as product recommendations from past purchases can help drive clicks. Show Off A Little Include reviews, testimonials, or trust signals in your emails to reduce hesitation and enhance credibility. Craft Subject Lines That Cut Through Your subject line must grab attention fast. Use intrigue, urgency, and relevance to the offer to stand out in crowded inboxes. Time It Right During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, inboxes are overflowing. To cut through the noise, experiment with sending your emails at less common times. Early mornings, late evenings, or even weekends can help your campaigns land when competition is lower and visibility is higher. Pick Your Audience It’s also worth being strategic about who you send to. Instead of blasting your entire database, focus on the subscribers who are actually engaging with your emails. Clean Your List Before The Big Push Remove unengaged contacts ahead of time. It improves deliverability and reduces the risk of hitting spam filters during heavy sending periods. Multi Channel It!!! Don't Rely Only On Email Combine your emails with SMS, push notifications, or social media to maximise reach. Multiple touchpoints help when inboxes are overloaded. Follow Up After The Sale Once Cyber Monday ends, don’t stop communicating. Send thank-you messages, request reviews, promote related products, or start a welcome journey for new customers to keep them engaged. Want A Little More Help? Sign up with your email below for a free Klaviyo audit on your account & find out how to get the most out of your email marketing this Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Only 3 spots available in first week of November 🏃🏻🏃🏼‍♀️