A Step-by-step Guide to Holiday Season 2022 - 2023

Viber mariia-martyrosian
Mariia Martyrosian
Global PR & Marketing Innovations Director at Rakuten Viber
A Step-by-step Guide to Holiday Season 2022 - 2023

'Tis the season to be jolly, and also the season to be busy! The holidays are a crazy time for everyone, and businesses are no exception. That's why Rakuten Viber has some advice on how to make the most of your time. Not only do we provide brands with the opportunity to always stay in touch with their customers, but we also know a thing or two about festive spirit and the best ways to add it to your marketing toolbox. There are a few things you can do in the lead-up to the holidays to make your clients feel special and appreciated, and in this article, we discuss them in detail.

Rakuten Viber Team's Guide To A Stress-Free Holiday Season

This should be a no-brainer, but it's easy to forget to keep your Rakuten Viber Business Account up to date. Make sure your account information is accurate and that your profile photo and cover image are festive and seasonally appropriate. You may also want to consider creating a holiday-themed greeting message for your account or set a specific auto-reply message. 

Here is a checklist that Rakuten Viber clients follow every year:

  • Start planning early: Begin thinking about and planning for the holiday season well in advance. This will ensure that you have plenty of time to execute your plans and make necessary adjustments.
  • Define your goals: What do you hope to achieve with your holiday marketing efforts? Be specific and realistic in setting your goals. Is it sales, or brand building, or lead generation, or all of these? List your goals in a document, quantify as much as possible, and review during the holiday season to check if you are on track.
  • Identify your target audience: Who are you trying to reach with your holiday marketing? When you know your target audience, you can better tailor your marketing messages and strategies. Do you want to reach more people for awareness or less people but who are more likely to convert?
  • Develop a marketing plan: Once you know your goals and target audience, you can start putting together your marketing plan. This should include your overall strategy, specific tactics, creative, and a timeline.
  • Execute your plan: Put your plan into action and make sure to track your progress and results. This will help you adjust your tactics as needed and ensure that you’re on track to meet your goals. Keep track of adjustments you make to your campaign to use these learnings next year.
  • Celebrate your successes: Take time to celebrate your successes and learn from your mistakes. This will help you be even more successful in future holiday seasons.

Stay connected with your audience through Rakuten Viber

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. But for some, they can be a time of sadness and loneliness. If you think your customers might be feeling down during the magic season, there are ways for you to beat their blues. Especially this year, with so much going on in the world, it is an important time to provide support.

One way is to stay connected with your audience through Rakuten Viber regardless of where they are. With us, you can cheer them up with marketing messages, share all kinds of media, and even create special holiday-themed discounts. Those are the simple ways you can interact with your customers that could really make their day and build a stronger connection between them and your brand.

While the holidays are a great time to relax and spend time with loved ones, if someone is not prepared, it can be a time of stress. That's why you might create an ultimate packing list for your Rakuten Viber audience. It can include your best-selling products that are relevant to the situation - from warm clothing and extra blankets for snuggling up on the couch to decorations and the most modern gadgets (because let's admit it, they're always a great gift idea). These are just some ideas, but they can be adjusted for any business. 

And don't forget to use holiday-themed Rakuten Viber sticker packs to spread celebration cheer in your conversations! If you're feeling creative, you can even design your own - this will only add more points to the success of your marketing strategy. And you still have time to do it for your brand in this season! Just reach out to our team right now.

Examples of Viber stickers for 2022 - 2023 holiday season (to be available soon)

Another creative approach you can take that your customers will surely appreciate is adding your own Branded Rakuten Viber Lenses. They can be a great way for your brand to stand out from the competition and build a stronger connection with your clientele. With this fun and innovative tool, you will give your customers the opportunity to add masks and special effects to their pictures, which is an interactive and engaging way to promote your business. Besides being original and creative, Rakuten Viber Lenses are also fun. And what can be a better way to share festive cheer than a cute holiday-themed selfie or two?

Examples of creative and cheerful Rakuten Viber Lenses 

And when it comes to your marketing messages, be sure to add some holiday emojis to spice them up! There are all sorts of them available, from Santa Claus and reindeer to Christmas trees and presents. Your customers will be sure to appreciate the extra bit of holiday touch! 

Tips And Tricks To Make The Most of Your Brand on Viber During The Holidays

Rakuten Viber is a perfect app to stay connected with your customers, regardless of the time of the year. But there are sure a number of advantages to using our app for your holiday season marketing, including the ability to reach a wide audience, create engaging content, and track its performance. With over 1 billion downloads on Android alone, Rakuten Viber offers brands the opportunity to reach a large audience with their marketing campaigns.

Here are some tips on how to make the most of it this holiday season:

  • Use Rakuten Viber to send holiday greetings to your customers. This is a great way to show them that you care and to build brand loyalty. Plus, it's a fun and easy way to stay in touch with your clients. As a creative twist, create several branded holiday greetings variations and inspire your customers to share those with their friends and loved ones.
  • Run holiday promotions. Reach out to your customers and offer them discounts and deals on your products and services. Some of the most popular types include percentages off all purchases, free gifts, BOGO (buy one, get one) deals, discounts on specific items or product categories, and free shipping. Just choose the option that suits your business the most.
  • Use Rakuten Viber to click with your customers on a personal level. Interact with your clients and create a connection that goes beyond just business. Our messaging app lets you chat with your clients in real time, and it is available on all major platforms, so you can reach people regardless of where they are and let them know how special they are to your brand and your business. Be authentic. Be different. Be special. People will notice that they are not just a check box for a company, but that you truly care about them.
Examples of holiday season marketing on Rakuten Viber via business messages and chatbots

When The Holiday Season Is Over

When the holidays are over and it's time to return to reality, for most of us that means getting back to work and into our routines. But it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom! Here are a few tips to help you and your brand ease back into the swing of things:

  1. Get organized. Take some time to go through your projects and tools and get rid of anything you don't need. This will help you declutter your marketing toolbox space and make it more manageable, so you'll feel lighter and more in control. Plus, it will free some space for new ideas.
  2. Set some goals. Now that the holidays are over, focus on what you want to achieve in the new year. Write down your marketing objectives and make a plan to reach them. This is the perfect time to analyze data and see what campaigns of yours drove the most results in the past. Based on this analysis,you can adjust your strategies for the upcoming year. By getting a head start, you can be sure to have a successful post-holiday season.
  3. Keep your customer connection strong. The holidays are a great for boosting your following. Keep the momentum going by creating interesting and engaging content. Think about what kind of content will be most relevant and interesting to your audience, and be sure to post regularly throughout and after the holidays. Your content is a valuable asset, so make the most of it. If you can keep it strong during this busy time, you'll be in a great position to start the new year off on the right foot.
  4. Be grateful! The celebrations are over, but that doesn't mean the good vibes have to end. Show your customers some love by saying "thank you" for sticking with you through thick and thin. Let them know you appreciate their business and that you're looking forward to a great year ahead. Fill them up with positive emotions and show people how valuable they are. And don't forget to keep the festive feeling going by running post-holiday sales or promotions.
  5. Get ready for the next holiday season. It may seem early, but the sooner you start planning for the next holiday season, the better. Take some time now to brainstorm ideas and start putting together a plan. This will give you plenty of space to make adjustments and ensure that your campaigns are as successful as possible. Take inspiration from all the holiday excitement and create something that will leave a lasting impression on your customers. By thinking outside the box, you can come up with some truly unique campaigns that will make your brand stand out in the new year.

If you're following these tips, getting back to reality after the holidays doesn't have to be so daunting. So take a deep breath, and jump into the new year.

Share the holiday cheer with Rakuten Viber

It's been a long year and we are all mentally ready for the 2022 holiday season. There are so many things to look forward to: getting together with family and friends, decorating the house, cooking festive meals, and, of course, buying and exchanging gifts. It is a great time for brands to connect with their customers and share their holiday spirit. Use Rakuten Viber for Business to make the most of this festive time. From sending holiday greetings to running special promotions and hosting themed contests and giveaways, there are plenty of ways to show your customers some love during this magical time. So get creative and start spreading the cheer today!