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The holiday shopping season is fast-paced, competitive, and crowded. Shoppers are scrolling, comparing, and buying on the go—while brands are vying for attention in an environment where distractions are endless. That’s why smart advertising is crucial.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/blog/post/what-is-viber-advertising/">Viber Advertising solutions </a>provide a way to reach shoppers directly in their messaging app with visibility, interactivity, and a seamless path to action. With ad placements designed for visibility and interactivity, plus creative tools like Gems and Lenses, Viber helps brands connect with shoppers at every stage of the holiday journey.Here are the best strategies for advertising on Viber this shopping season.<h2>Advertising challenges during the holiday rush</h2>Even experienced brands face hurdles during peak shopping periods. Between competing for attention among millions and battling fragmented communication on traditional channels, efforts often result in wasted ad spend, missed conversions, and lower ROI if campaigns aren’t carefully planned.Choosing the right channel to set up your campaigns is a critical first step in shopping season success. And since mobile devices accounted for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-online-holiday-sales-rise-nearly-9-mobile-shopping-boom-report-shows-2025-01-07">over 54% of all online holiday purchases</a> last year, a mobile-first strategy might be the right approach.<h2>How to overcome advertising challenges with Viber</h2>Viber provides solutions designed specifically for the mobile-first, messaging-focused shopper. Here’s how setting up your ad campaigns on Viber can help you reach your goals this season:<ol><li>Cut through the clutter with high-visibility solutions: Branded Viber Gems appear directly in users’ chats—the area they visit most. By placing your campaign where attention naturally lands, you become part of the conversation.</li><li>Capture fleeting attention and guide decisions: Viber Lenses create interactive, shareable AR experiences that engage users and make your brand memorable. Meanwhile, Click-to-Message provides an immediate way for your customers to connect with your brand, get answers, and make a purchase, helping you capitalize on short decision windows during last-minute shopping frenzies.</li><li>Provide instant interaction and support: Messaging apps excel where email often falls short: immediate two-way communication. Click-to-Message campaigns allow brands to offer personalized advice, confirm stock or delivery, and even provide chat-based discounts. Shoppers get real-time assistance, reducing friction and boosting conversion.</li></ol><h2>5 strategies for advertising on Viber this holiday season</h2><h3>Build awareness early with native ads</h3>The shopping season doesn’t start on Black Friday. It starts weeks earlier, when shoppers begin researching gifts and making shortlists. And native ads help you stand out by blending in.<ul><li>Why native ads work: They look and feel like part of the user’s natural content feed, which boosts trust and engagement. They also appear across the most-visited areas of the app, such as chats, calls, and other screens, ensuring maximum visibility.</li><li>Best use: Promote your upcoming sales, tease holiday collections, or tell the audience about gift card options. It’s about planting the seed before the rush begins. For example, a spotlight on “Top 5 Gifts for Her” or “This Year’s Bestsellers” featuring your products.</li></ul><h3>Create emotional connections with video ads</h3>The holidays are about storytelling, and nothing tells a story better than video.<ul><li>Why video ads work: Up to 30 seconds of motion and sound give you space to connect emotionally, show products in action, or highlight festive campaigns.</li><li>Best use: Showcase holiday collections, demonstrate “perfect gift” ideas, or highlight limited-time promotions. Pair with a strong CTA like “Shop Now” or “Gift It Today.”</li></ul><h3>Convert interest with Click-to-Message</h3>Once you’ve captured attention, you want to make it easy for customers to connect. That’s where Click-to-Message comes in: it takes users directly from an ad into a private conversation with your <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/blog/post/viber-chatbots-everything-you-need-to-know/">Viber Chatbot</a>.<ul><li>Why Click-to-Message works: During the shopping rush, a seamless chat experience builds trust and accelerates conversions. Set up predefined responses that speak to your audience segment and lead customers to complete their purchase on your website.</li><li>Best use: Train your chatbot to be festive, fast, and helpful. Provide gift guidance, order assistance, and exclusive deals via chat.</li></ul><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7ipOlDXPw"></oembed></figure>Example of a holiday click-to-message campaign on Rakuten Viber<h3>Stay top-of-mind with branded Viber Gems</h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/success-stories/story/fanta-greece/">Viber Gems</a> are high-impact animations triggered by specific keywords that appear directly in users’ chats — one of the most frequently visited spaces in the app. Because people open Viber daily to check messages, Gems put your brand front and center.<ul><li>Why branded Viber Gems work: They appear in users’ chats, making your brand a subtle but constant presence.</li><li>Best use: Use festive branded visuals that feel celebratory (snow, ribbons, lights) to build an emotional connection between the holiday and your brand. Tie your Gems theme to a special event or a holiday to increase awareness and visibility of your brand, and stay top of mind when customers are making purchases around the date.</li></ul><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM6whghsXVU"></oembed></figure>Examples of holiday branded Viber Gems that drove results globally<h3>Spark shareability with Branded Viber Lenses</h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/blog/post/how-to-use-viber-lenses-a-guide-for-marketers/">Viber Lenses</a> bring augmented reality (AR) into the shopping season. They’re fun, interactive, and perfect for campaigns that need a creative, shareable boost.<ul><li>Why Branded Viber Lenses work: People love to share AR experiences with friends and family. Every Lens interaction spreads your brand organically, turning shoppers into advocates.</li><li>Best use: Launch a holiday-themed Lens, like trying on festive accessories. Use them to gamify shopping experiences, for example, “Snap your festive look and unlock a discount.”&nbsp;</li></ul><figure class="media"><oembed url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd1LxhX07O8"></oembed></figure>Examples of how to use branded Viber Lenses for the shopping season<h2>Best practices for a holiday campaign on Viber</h2>The shopping season isn’t one moment; it’s a series of waves. And the real magic happens when you connect these strategies:<ol><li>Start early: Launch Viber Ads in early November to announce your campaign and keep your brand visible.</li><li>Layer engagement: Introduce a holiday lens mid-season to spark sharing and fun around your products. Then launch Branded Viber Gems around the same date to build an association between your brand and the occasion.</li><li>Close the sale: Use Click-to-Message during peak weeks (Black Friday through the final days before Christmas) to help last-minute shoppers choose gifts quickly.</li><li>Extend post-season: Repurpose your messaging to promote clearance sales or loyalty offers in January.</li><li>Leverage precise targeting: Narrow down by geolocation or user interest to boost relevance and ROI during crowded holiday spend windows.</li><li>Keep campaigns dynamic and testable: Shift different visuals or copy during Black Friday, last-minute gifting, or New Year promos — then optimize based on performance.</li></ol><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:8000/4500;" src="https://env-stage-hosting.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Shart_Graphics_e01fe7038a.png" alt="Сhart Graphics.png" srcset="https://env-stage-hosting.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Shart_Graphics_e01fe7038a.png 245w,https://env-stage-hosting.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_Shart_Graphics_e01fe7038a.png 500w,https://env-stage-hosting.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_Shart_Graphics_e01fe7038a.png 750w,https://env-stage-hosting.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_Shart_Graphics_e01fe7038a.png 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="8000" height="4500"><figcaption>Example of a shopping season roadmap with Viber advertising solutions</figcaption></figure><h2>Set up your holiday campaign on Viber</h2>Viber Advertising solutions are not just about one placement — it’s about choosing the right mix of solutions and formats at the right time. By combining high-visibility ads with in-app experiences, you can guide shoppers from discovery to decision in one place.The combination of visibility, interactivity, and seamless messaging solves the top challenges brands face during the holiday rush. Your campaigns are not just seen—they’re engaged with, shared, and acted upon. Consumers can interact with your brand directly, making the shopping process easier and increasing your chances of converting attention into sales.Whether you're building holiday hype, driving click-throughs, or reinforcing your brand's festive feel, Viber makes it easy to be seen, remembered, and loved.Ready to launch your holiday campaign on Viber? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.forbusiness.viber.com/en/viber-for-business/">Talk to us!</a>

Convert holiday browsers into buyers with these proven Viber Advertising strategies. Learn more!

Viber Advertising: Best strategies for the shopping season

Convert holiday browsers into buyers with these proven Viber Advertising strategies.

Viber Advertising strategies for the shopping season

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Viber Advertising strategies for the shopping season

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