We’re digging out sweaters and chasing down flavored lattes, which means it’s time for business owners to kick off their holiday marketing campaigns. When it comes to driving revenue, Q4 can be the most wonderful time of year. But with nearly 50% of consumers looking for product videos before they make a purchase, a strong holiday season is nothing without a well-planned video marketing strategy. That’s where Vimeo Create — our actually easy, one-stop-shop video making tool — comes in.
To help you get ready for the holidays (and succeed with video all year ‘round), we’ve launched a series of guided templates*, to give you a new way to craft high-impact promotional videos effortlessly. Simply answer a few questions, let Vimeo Create work its magic, then sit back and watch your sales grow. Driven by our creation-based AI, these templates will help you scale your video production while ensuring that your content still feels like you. And to give you even more options, we’ve also released dozens of ready-to-customize seasonal templates, created with small businesses in mind.
With more than one-third of consumers reporting they now shop online weekly, there’s never been a better time to ramp up your seasonal plan of attack. That’s why we’ve gathered eight crucial tips to help you rock this holiday season — and hand-picked some beautifully designed video templates to match.
1. Announce a sale
Nothing piques customer interest quite like slashing your prices. When made strategically, those cuts in price can translate into a major jump in sales. That influx of cash can help you purchase more stock, stay liquid ahead of tax season, and give you the tools to invest in your next line of products!
Be intentional about structuring your sales, though. You want to build a loyal customer base, not a fair-weather one. Consider capturing an email or asking for a social follow before issuing a discount code. This tactic can help you generate leads and build your return customer base.
Announce your latest sale in style with this video template –>
2. Keep social in mind
According to a recent study, 40% of people in the U.S. say they’re spending more time shopping online following the pandemic. Not only that, but so-called mCommerce (mobile online shopping) is projected to account for nearly half of the total U.S. eCommerce market by the end of 2020.
With more people looking to shop via their phones or tablets, it’s crucial you format your videos — and other digital campaign elements, like emails and inline ads — with mobile in mind. When designing your videos, prioritize the right ratios (square for most social feeds, portrait for stories) to make sure your imagery pops.
Customize the ratio of any video template to drive more sales on social –>
3. Launch something new
Did you know that 60% of shoppers surveyed in the U.S. and Canada say they explore new products more during the holidays than the rest of the year? If it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (or Black Friday, or Hanukkah), capitalize on that energy by launching a new product or offering.
Bonus points if it ties into the season! If you’re in the beauty industry, consider introducing a new range of scents — for retail, think sweaters, boots, and other cozy apparel. Even if your latest release isn’t relevant year-round, offering specific products for a limited time can increase perceived scarcity and boost sales in the short-term.
Use this template to drive your people to new products –>
4. Bring back your seasonal hits
PSL, anyone? While the holidays can be a great chance to add new customers to your base, it’s also an important time to build your relationship with existing clients. If you ran a successful holiday initiative last year, bring it back! If not, consider starting an initiative you know you can replicate in the years to come.
Increasing reliable, recurring offerings can help boost short-term sales, word of mouth, and help you build a loyal customer pool that keeps coming back for more.
Step into the holiday spirit with this video template –>
5. Make your products easy to get
If there’s one thing we often find ourselves short on during the holidays, it’s time. Offering free delivery, expedited shipping, or additional discounts can help alleviate stressors for your customers.
Plus, providing a dollar minimum for free shipping or offering a cash discount on delivery can help increase the median price of your orders. Not able to discount your shipping entirely? Consider sweetening the pot by offering a free item with purchase or a code for a future order.
Use this template to announce your new delivery (and shipping!) offers–>
6. Go big with holiday spirit
The holidays are a great opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your customers. Go big on the holiday spirit with seasonal social posts that prompt user engagement and encourage return visits. The better you can connect with your audience now, the stronger their connection will be with your brand all year.
Easily connect with your customers using this video template –>
7. Increase buyer urgency with timed messaging
Nothing helps drive sales like a hard deadline. So if there are only five shopping days ‘til Christmas, remind your customers that time is running out! Timed messaging can help get your people to commit to purchases they might otherwise wait on, which should help you drive maximum conversions.
Use this video template to drive sales in no time, flat –>
8. Participate in big sales days
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales aren’t just for big box stores. With many consumers shopping from their couch this year, 2020 is a great time for smaller retailers to get in on mega-sales.
If you’re going all in, announce early (think weeks before!) with fun, product-oriented videos. Ramp up your promo cadence a few days before the actual event with countdown messaging to drive maximum numbers.
Gear up for a big sales day with this video template –>
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