Holidays like Christmas brings businesses an opportunity to connect with both existing and new customers, boost sales, and strengthen relationships. A great way to achieve all three is through email marketing, as it can boost sales and establish a two-way communication.
Now let’s see how you as a business owner can use email marketing this Christmas to give your business the holiday season boost.
What makes a great Christmas email
A great Christmas email isn't just about fancy designs; it's about combining elements like design, copy, and timing in the right way.
Email copy
Email copy is undoubtedly one of the most important elements in creating an effective email. A compelling copy can leave a lasting impression on the reader and develop a connection with your business that cannot be achieved through design or generic messages alone.
When drafting your Christmas email, keep it simple and engaging to grab your reader’s attention. Also, try to use a warm, festive tone to convey the holiday spirit and excitement.
You can also take inspiration from other successful email campaigns for ideas and inspiration. These examples can show you what good email copy looks like and help you create your own unique copy.
Design
After your copy is ready, make sure your email has a matching design too. This improves your email's look and also strengthens your message. When design and copy fit well together, your email becomes more memorable and effective.
A good design is key to catching the user's interest right when they open your email. It grabs their attention and makes them want to read the whole thing.
Timing
Last but not least, the timing of when the email is sent plays an important role too. Sending it too early can cause people to skip it, and sending it late can cause a loss of possible revenue, as many people avoid digital distractions during family time.
It’s also a good idea to send your email at different intervals with a bit different content. For example, your first email can be a bit early, talking about your offers; then a second right before Christmas; and the last after Christmas to notify them of your offers' end date.
Christmas email ideas
Your Christmas email doesn't always have to be fancy or follow the same promotional email template; there are many ways to create a unique Christmas email. Let’s go through some examples and learn.
Pre-holiday notification
It's not a great idea to send emails on the 24th or 25th, if you're trying to sell something. During this time, most people are offline and spending time with family. Instead, it's better to send a pre-sale email, so your subscribers know about the sale ahead of time.
As shown in the example above by Everlywell; they use email to have a wider distribution and then move the interested subscriber to their SMS flow so they can directly notify them when the sale goes live. This way, their customers are notified about the sale even when they are not actively checking their emails.
Promote holiday-specific products
Another great way to get in on the holiday trend is by launching season-specific products. For example, if you are in the clothing business, then you can launch a Christmas-themed holiday dress, or if you are a snack business, then you can create a hamper of items put together for Christmas gifting.
Email with product discounts
Offering discounts and special offers in your emails can also significantly boost sales during the holiday season. Highlight attractive deals and limited-time offers to grab your audience's attention, such as buy-one-get-one deals or great discounts. Ensure the discount details are clearly stated and easy to understand, prompting quick action from your subscribers.
Use compelling visuals to showcase your products, while ensuring the promotional message remains the focal point. Combining this with a strong call to action can drive conversions and increase your holiday sales.
Simple email with just a warm wish
Sometimes, less is more. A simple email conveying warm holiday wishes can leave a lasting impression on your subscribers. Express gratitude for their support throughout the year and wish them joy and happiness for the holiday season.
This gesture fosters goodwill and strengthens your relationship with customers. You can include a heartfelt message, accompanied by a festive image or graphic, to spread cheer without any promotional content.
Things to keep in mind
- Personalise your email: It’s an old tip, but it always works. Try to begin the email with the subscriber’s name and, if possible, add the same to your subject line as well. Apart from this, try to tailor the content inside based on their profile, past purchases and any other relevant data.
- Include a clear call-to-action (CTA): Every email needs a purpose, whether it’s to check out your Christmas sale or share a holiday greeting. Make sure your CTA is visible, actionable, and related to the main message of the email.
- Keep it simple: While your email should have a festive feel, avoid overwhelming your subscribers with too much information. Less is more. Prioritise your main message and keep the layout easy to navigate.
- Proofread your email: Proofreading is vital, especially during the holiday season when all hands are on deck. Make sure your content is free of grammatical errors, broken links, and incorrect details about offers or gifts.
- Test your email: Before hitting the send button, always test your email. Send it to yourself, or a colleague, to see how it appears on different devices and whether all things are working correctly.
- Add personality: Adding personality to your Christmas email is a great way to connect with your audience on a more individual level. This acts as a way to build long-lasting connection and a perception of the brand in the user’s mind.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to get started with a successful email campaign for this Christmas.
If you still haven’t made a plan for this Christmas, now is the time to start. Feel free to sign up for EmailOctopus and start sending your marketing emails for free.