The holidays are a very special time of the year. They involve family and food. For retailers and brands, this time of the year also means fighting for their consumers’ attention. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, brands and retailers are becoming incredibly competitive. That said, it’s crucial to have an effective holiday social media marketing strategy.

4 Holiday Social Media Marketing Tips for Instagram
In this post, let’s focus on Instagram.
Instagram is one of the best social media platforms that can help you boost sales and leads these holidays.
1. Ask them
The most highly recommended way to generate engagement is to ask your followers some questions. These holidays, try asking them with “which one would they choose.”
In this strategy, you’re going to put similar themed products.
Place these two products in one image.
Then, ask your followers which one of these two they would prefer for these holidays.
For example, you can put a fried turkey photo and a roasted turkey image. Or you can ask them whether they prefer a green dress or the blue one.
To compile photos in one image, you may use Layout of Instagram.
This will make it easier for you to generate more engagements with your users that may lead to a better conversation with them.
2. Create fan content campaign
There are several benefits of creating a fan content. It increases user engagement while it builds loyalty and rapport.
One of the companies that utilizes this strategy is Starbucks. The company has successfully used it in sharing user-generated content. Remember its Red Cup Contest? The company asked their users to share their images of how they’ve celebrated the return of the red holiday cups. Then, they asked their followers to use the hashtag #Redcupcontest.
If you do create a fan content, make sure that you reward your followers. Starbucks gave their winners a Starbucks gift card. Although Starbucks had to shell out money for it, it did generate tons of great contents.
To follow what Starbucks did, you may encourage your audience on Instagram to create a holiday-themed content with the use of a certain hashtag. Then, offer them a reward. One of the tools you can use is Iconosquare. It’s a tool that can help you run a contest to improve your fan content.
But before you repurpose your audiences’ contents, make sure that you have asked permission from them.
3. Promote discounts and sales
To do this, make sure that you use high-quality images and highlight your promotions and giveaways. You may tell them how to find those exclusive deals or add a coupon code in the description.
4. Give donations
The holidays can be about giving back to the community. When you partner with a cause, your brand’s reputation will improve. Your audiences will surely participate with you as they know that by participating, they are doing it for a charitable work and donations.
Final Thoughts
The holiday social media marketing has already started. If you’re not doing any holiday SMM, then you’ll surely be left behind. You’ll face great competition just to grab your audience’s attention. If you do incorporate those tips, your content will surely perform better this holiday season.