SURVIVING THE HOLIDAZE: The power of creative holiday branding
The holiday season is just around the corner, and while it's tempting to coast on auto pilot through the end of Q4, it's the perfect time to focus on creative branding strategies that will help your business stand out.
The holidays give you an opportunity to connect with customers on an emotional level, inspire goodwill, and create a memorable experience. Let's take a look at why creative holiday branding is important and check out some great examples to inspire you!
Build Emotional Connections
During the holidays, people are feeling the positive vibes. So, let's infuse your brand messaging with joy, gratitude, and celebration. Think Starbucks' Red Holiday Cup. It's a classic example of how a simple cup can spark joy and encourage customer engagement on social media.
“When we were looking at trends when designing this year’s holiday, we kept seeing bright, bold, uplifting colors,’” said Kristy Cameron, creative director at Starbucks. “We found that magenta alongside the holiday reds and greens lifts the traditional holiday colors and makes the red look even brighter.”
Give Back to the Community
The holidays are also about giving. Let's use your brand to make a difference in people's lives by participating in charitable acts. Have you seen Coca Cola's 'Holidays Are Coming' campaign? It's a classic example of how a brand can connect with its audience by giving back to the community through donations and charitable campaigns.
Laura Moon, Senior Brand Manager at The Coca‑Cola Company, Great Britain, said: “Coca‑Cola has always been synonymous with Christmas, particularly the iconic Truck Tour and Holidays Are Coming advert. This year, the magic of Christmas is needed more than ever, and we are excited to bring back our famous truck tour to fans nationwide.
Personalize the Shopping Experience
Why keep your offerings generic when you can make your customer feel special? Spotify's "Wrapped" Campaign does a fantastic job of using user data in a fun and engaging way to personalize user experience and boost user-generated social media content, encouraging users to share their top songs of the year.
Shine a Light on Your Values
The holiday season is the perfect time to showcase your brand's values and mission. Use storytelling to share your company's impact on your community. Highlight the ways that your brand is making a difference in people's lives. Whether it's by sharing employee stories or showcasing your community involvement, storytelling is a powerful tool to increase your brand recognition and reputation.
Patagonia's 2011 Black Friday "Don't Buy This Jacket" ad in the NYT and their current "Gifts For a Good Story" campaign are top-tier examples of this strategy done to perfection.
Feeling inspired yet?
Successful holiday branding can create lasting memories, foster customer engagement, and increase brand visibility during the holiday season. With a creative and strategic approach, brands can truly make the most out of this magical time of year. So don't be afraid to get into the holiday spirit with your marketing campaigns. Who knows, you may just become a holiday tradition for your customers too!