Creative marketing ideas with Advent Calendars for business
It’s that time of year again, when the countdown to the holidays begins, and the excitement of surprises grows with every passing day. But here’s the twist, what if I told you that the countdown isn’t just for kids anymore? It’s part of a clever marketing strategy that brands are using to engage and excite customers. The Advent Calendar, a holiday tradition that has now evolved into a powerful marketing tool. So, what exactly is it, and why is it becoming a marketing staple for businesses? So let’s find out with Boztech.
What is an Advent Calendar?
The Advent Calendar is a long-loved Christmas tradition, dating back to the 1800s. What started as a way to mark the days before Christmas has evolved into a fun countdown filled with surprises. Now, it’s not just about chocolate or toys, many brands use Advent calendars to reveal everything from beauty products to special deals.
In marketing, Advent calendars offer a great opportunity for businesses to connect with their audience. By using the countdown concept, brands engage customers through social media, email campaigns, and websites. This daily excitement not only promotes your products in a fun way but also keeps customers coming back to see what’s next.
Advent calendars are a powerful marketing tool because they help build brand loyalty. By offering daily surprises or exclusive deals, brands can create a sense of excitement and keep customers interested. This daily engagement makes customers feel more connected to your brand. Plus, as they share their discoveries on social media, it helps spread the word, increasing your brand’s reach. Every time you reveal something new, you’re not just showing off your products, you’re building anticipation and excitement that lasts all season long.
Top marketing strategies using Advent calendars
Here are some innovative marketing ideas that businesses can use, and are already using, to make the most out of their advent calendars. Let’s explore a few examples:
Social media campaigns
As we know, social media platforms have the power to engage your audience with an Advent calendar. Each day, share a post revealing a new product, offer, or fun fact. For example, beauty brands like Sephora can use their Advent calendar to post beauty products or skincare samples, to engage followers daily and drive traffic to their website.
Using relevant hashtags and countdowns on platforms like Instagram can also help create excitement. Influencers often purchase brand calendars or collaborate with companies to post about them, gaining free marketing in return. Some are also paid for their efforts, which helps drive traffic. For example, beauty brands might take Sephora’s calendar to expand their reach.
Email marketing
Email marketing is another great way to use the advent calendar idea. Send out daily emails with exclusive discounts, content, or sneak peeks of your upcoming product releases. Brands must send personalized emails with relevant tips, product recommendations, or sneak previews of their advent calendar items, encouraging customer interaction.
Discounts and offers
An Advent calendar with daily discounts is a great way to boost sales. For example, a fashion brand could offer a 10% discount each day, with a special surprise or bigger discount at the end of the countdown. This not only keeps customers coming back every day but also creates excitement and anticipation around your products. It’s a fun way to encourage repeat visits and increase overall sales during the holiday season.
Brands often discount products that aren’t selling well. To boost sales, they may offer promotions like “buy this, get a free perfume.” This is a marketing strategy to move slower-selling items and attract more customers.
Podcasts and audio content
Podcasts are a great way to engage with your audience and build excitement. For example, if you are a fitness brand you could release a “12 Days of Fitness” podcast series, where each episode shows new fitness tips, challenges, or product promotions, creating a fun, interactive experience for subscribers.
Sharing company culture
An advent calendar can also be a way to share behind-the-scenes content about your business. A tech company, for example, could show a new aspect of their team or workplace each day, giving customers a peek into the culture that drives the brand.
10 day challenges or quizzes/polls
Engagement is best achieved through direct communication with your audience. Interactive challenges or quizzes are perfect for building excitement and involvement. For example, you could create a “10-day challenge,” where each day offers a new task or prize, motivating customers to return daily. A lifestyle brand might ask followers to participate in a quiz each day to win a special holiday-themed product, while Netflix has used polls to keep their audience engaged in the lead-up to Christmas.
Develop a montage of yearly posts and create a reel or blog post
By the end of the year a business can also present itself in a more creative and engaging way. Consider creating a montage of your best moments of the year, or share a “year in review” post on your blog or social media. This could be a video reel, a blog post, or a carousel of photos that shows off your brand’s journey.
Leverage memes and trends (Like Spotify wrapped)
One of the most creative ways businesses have tapped into advent calendars is by leveraging memes and trends. Just as Spotify taps into its annual “Spotify wrapped” trend, your business could create a holiday-themed meme or trend that aligns with your audience’s interests.
Brands using advent calendars for marketing
Many global brands have successfully used advent calendars as part of their marketing strategy during the holiday season. Luxury brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton have released limited-edition advent calendars, featuring small accessories or exclusive items that appeal to their high-end clientele. Similarly, Maybelline and Sephora offer beauty advent calendars, each day revealing a new makeup product or sample, encouraging customers to indulge in their beauty routines during the festive season. Netflix has introduced advent calendars with exclusive content previews or special member offers, while Heinz and Cadbury have created fun, holiday-themed calendars with unique, seasonal products like special edition sauces or chocolates. Red Bull has also jumped on the bandwagon, with a calendar that gives fans a chance to win exclusive merchandise or attend exciting events.
As the holiday season approaches, Boztech wishes you a Happy Christmas in advance! Take time to relax, enjoy, and reflect on the year’s successes with your loved ones. Whether it’s sipping hot chocolate or spending time with family, make the most of this festive season. And as you look ahead, remember it’s a great time to plan for an even better year for your business, let’s connect!
Wrapping up
If you want your business to succeed in the digital world, partnering with a digital service provider like Boztech is a smart move. At Boztech, we offer a comprehensive suite of digital services, from web development and SEO optimization to social media marketing and e-commerce solutions.
Our expert team is ready to help you develop innovative strategies like advent calendars to engage customers, drive sales, and elevate your brand presence. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, Boztech can help you achieve success in the ever-evolving digital world.
