The Countdown is On: Preparing for the Biggest Shopping Time of the Year

Published November 7, 2024

With Black Friday and the Christmas shopping season just around the corner, brands and consumers alike are gearing up for what promises to be the most competitive retail period of 2024. While holiday shopping always brings a rush, this year’s trends show that financial concerns and early shopping are key factors in shaping consumer behavior. As we approach the holidays, it’s crucial for businesses to understand these shifts to make the most of the shopping frenzy.

3 Shopping Trends We Are Seeing in 2024

As we look at the forecast for the 2024 holiday season, several emerging trends stand out. These trends are driven by both economic pressures and changes in consumer expectations, offering brands an opportunity to tailor their strategies.

  1. Budget-Conscious Shopping
  2. Early Shoppers Are On the Rise
  3. Seamless Omnichannel Experiences

1. Brands Must Be Mindful of Pricing and Consumer Financial Difficulties

While it’s tempting to push for high-margin products during the holidays, brands need to be conscious of the financial strains many consumers are facing. Shoppers are more aware than ever of their spending habits, particularly when their budgets are stretched. Offering a range of price points is key. Brands that can provide affordable options alongside premium ones are more likely to retain customers.

Discounts and promotions are expected, but they shouldn’t sacrifice perceived value. Instead, focus on highlighting how your products are worth the investment—whether it’s through quality, durability, or added benefits such as extended warranties or sustainable features.

Additionally, offering flexible payment options like buy-now-pay-later can make your products more accessible to consumers facing financial challenges. This gives shoppers the confidence to make purchases without feeling the immediate financial strain, increasing the likelihood of completing the sale.

2. Shopping Early: The Best Move for Everyone

Encouraging early shopping is beneficial for both brands and consumers. For consumers, shopping early means having access to the best deals and avoiding the holiday rush, while brands benefit from smoother inventory management and reduced pressure on fulfillment systems.

We’ve all heard the stories of shoppers waiting anxiously for UPS deliveries on Christmas Eve, hoping their gifts arrive on time. Shopping early helps avoid the headaches of shipping delays, out-of-stock items, or settling for something less than perfect because your original gift idea wasn’t available. Brands that promote early shopping through reminders, countdowns, or early access deals will position themselves as helpful partners in reducing holiday stress.

From a brand perspective, early shopping allows for better logistical planning. Businesses can spread out orders, reducing the risk of bottlenecks and shipping delays that often plague the holiday season. Promoting early bird deals or exclusive pre-holiday offers also creates excitement and drives early conversions, reducing the reliance on steep last-minute discounts.

3. Seamless Omnichannel Experiences

Consumers are expecting a smooth transition between online and in-store shopping. Brands that can blend digital and physical shopping experiences, offering flexible pickup and return options, will capture the attention of customers seeking convenience. Personalized recommendations based on browsing and purchase history will also play a significant role in increasing sales.

Additionally, integrating mobile technology into the shopping experience is becoming essential for brands aiming to enhance omnichannel experiences. Mobile apps that offer features like in-store navigation, real-time inventory checks, and mobile payment options bridge the gap between digital and physical interactions. By enabling customers to easily switch between browsing on their devices and shopping in-store, brands can offer a seamless, consistent experience that keeps shoppers engaged and satisfied.

The Bottom Line

The 2024 holiday shopping season is set to be unique, shaped by emerging consumer trends and ongoing economic pressures. Brands that recognize the importance of budget-conscious shopping, sustainability, and omnichannel experiences will stand out from the crowd. By encouraging early shopping, businesses can ensure a smoother, more enjoyable shopping season for everyone involved. The countdown is on—are you ready for the biggest shopping time of the year?

6 Black Friday Marketing Ideas to Get Noticed on Social Media

Published October 29, 2024

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping events of the year, making it a prime opportunity for brands to get noticed by their audience and drive sales. With social media’s highly visual and interactive platforms, you can create engaging campaigns that not only promote your Black Friday deals but also build long-term customer relationships. Here are 6 marketing ideas to maximize your Black Friday success on social media.

1. Countdown to Black Friday

Build anticipation for your Black Friday sale by posting countdowns. Instagram has countdown stickers in Stories that are fun to use. 

  1. Just open up your Instagram and go to where you would create a story. 
  2. Click on the arrow on the left side of your screen so you can click create. 
  3. From there, click on the sticky note smiley face at the top center of your screen and search Countdown. 
  4. Set a name and end date and time for your countdown! Followers can click on the countdown and be reminded of your event.

Facebook has Facebook Apps such as:

  1. Countdown Timer by Timer+ (Facebook App
  2. Countdown Clock by Countdown Timer (Facebook App)
  3. Event Countdown by Event Countdown (Facebook App)

To add a countdown clock to your Facebook post or event:

  1. Choose an option from above.
  2. Customize the countdown clock with your desired date, time, and design.
  3. Copy the link or embed code.
  4. Paste the link or embed code into your Facebook post or event.

Announce your deals early and encourage followers to set reminders so they don’t miss out. This is a great way to generate excitement and keep your audience engaged leading up to the big day.

2. Host a Black Friday Giveaway

Create excitement by hosting a giveaway leading up to or during Black Friday. Ask followers to like, comment, and tag friends to enter, or have them share your post in their Stories for additional entries. This is a great way to increase engagement, grow your audience, and generate buzz around your deals. Be sure to look up specifics for each platform’s rules on giveaways. There might be specific text you need to include with your giveaway.

 

3. Use Stories and Reels to Tease Your Deals

Stories and reels are an engaging and entertaining way to showcase your Black Friday deals. Create short, creative videos highlighting your top-selling products, best deals, or limited-time offers. The Reels format is perfect for attracting new customers through Instagram’s Explore page. Stories are awesome ways to remind your current audience of what is coming!

4. Collaborate with Influencers

If there is someone on social media who you feel could be a great partner for your brand, reach out to them to discuss collaborating. Partnering with influencers to help promote your Black Friday deals can bring in a whole new segment and audience that you never knew needed your products. Influencers can create authentic content that will help drive traffic to your brand and hopefully boost sales. Be sure to do your research though, making sure that the influencers you choose align with your brand and target audience.

5. Offer Free Shipping

No one loves paying for shipping. Even though everyone understands the cost of doing business online, free shipping can save someone an extra $5 that could be used for something else instead. Free shipping can be a huge motivator for online shoppers, especially during Black Friday. Promote your free shipping offer across your social media posts and stories. Free shipping could be the deciding factor between you and a competitor. Money saved is almost like money earned! Put that shipping cost back in the pocket of your customers.

6. Post Behind-the-Scenes Content

If there is something new coming out for the holidays, show the behind-the-scenes action of it in  your Black Friday preparations. Don’t have a new product? People love to see what it takes to find what they are ordering, packing it up and prepping it to get to them. It adds a personal touch and opens a new way for your audience to be a part of your company.

The Bottom Line

By incorporating these ideas into your Black Friday campaign, you can create a highly engaging experience for your followers while hopefully boosting sales and growing your brand’s online presence. Ready to implement these tactics? Start planning your Black Friday strategy today and watch your engagement soar! 

Mixing Politics and Business: The Pros, Cons, and Facebook Advertising Rules for This Election Year

Published October 3, 2024

Business owners often face a tough decision on whether to mix politics with their brand. The impact can be significant, both positively and negatively.

Pros

  • Engaging Customers: Aligning with certain values can deepen customer loyalty.
  • Brand Differentiation: Taking a stand can distinguish your business in a crowded market.

Cons

  • Alienation Risk: You risk losing customers with opposing views.
  • Reputation Damage: Political stances may overshadow your product or service.

 

Election Year Rules

Platforms like Facebook enforce strict advertising regulations during election years. For instance, there’s a restriction period for political ads, requiring businesses to comply with transparency rules and limits on ad targeting. Ensure your ads follow these policies to avoid disruptions. For more details, check Facebook’s Election Ad Guidance.

What Can You Post

Here are some “Switzerland” election posts that businesses can use to encourage voting without taking a political stance:

  1. “Your Voice Matters”:
    “Voting is a privilege and an important way to have your voice heard. No matter where you stand, make sure to cast your vote this election!”
  2. “Celebrate Democracy”:
    “Voting is the heart of democracy. Let’s come together and celebrate this important right. Don’t forget to vote!”
  3. “Your Civic Duty”:
    “Voting is not just a right, it’s a responsibility. Exercise your civic duty and make sure your vote counts this election.”
  4. “Freedom to Vote”:
    “The freedom to vote is one of our nation’s most valuable rights. Take part in this democratic process and make your voice count.”

You may have to police posts should there be a comment about either side, but overall, general reminders to vote can be a nice way to connect to your community and clients.

The Bottom Line

Unless your business truly depends on the outcome of an election, it would probably behoove your brand to stay neutral in all social media posts. Remember that even if a social media post gets deleted, it still lives on forever, somewhere on the Internet.

The 3 Best Strategies for Using CTA in Social Media Posts

Published June 17, 2024
The Best Strategies for Using CTAs in Social Media Posts

As with every good social media post, the author is surely putting a Call To Action (CTA), right? Yes and no, but we have to be smart and sly about it these days. We see it on Instagram everyday. “Like, share, save, comment, use this or that emoji..” etc. Instagram even came out and recently said don’t “hack engagement” or they won’t push it out as much. So what are the best strategies to using CTAs in social media without being pushy?

Provide Value First and Foremost

People are following you for a reason. Whatever that reason is, it is important to remember to give your followers something they value first to get them to want to give back to you in the ways of a CTA. When you post meaningful content, that is when the organic engagement happens. 

The 3 Best Strategies for Using CTAs in Social Media PostsDon’t Have Demanding CTA

There are certainly social media pages that demand engagement. Sometimes there are certain reasons why. Contests come straight to the top of the mind here. But otherwise, demanding likes and comments just gets stale. We know the YouTube phrases of, “Like and subscribe to my channel…” It just goes in one ear and out the other now. Our advice: Use softer phrases such as, “Check out my latest post,” or “Others you know might be interested in this too…” We’ll call these idea prompts instead of CTAs. Still the same concept but just a softer approach.

Highlight How They Can Benefit

The average person truly wants something in return for giving you something. Prime example is an email address. If you are going to provide a company with your email address so that they can email you whatever they want, then you want something of value in return. Companies need to make it clear how taking action will benefit their audience. If the CTA involves downloading a resource, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase, explicitly state what they will gain. For instance, “Get our free eBook to learn expert tips on social media marketing,” or “Be a part of our weekly newsletter with social media post templates to help you.”

The Bottom Line 

There are ways to integrate CTAs into your social media content without being pushy but instead organic and respectful. The key is to keep your audience’s needs and preferences at the forefront of your strategy, ensuring that every CTA adds value to their experience. Additionally, continue to test different approaches to see what resonates best with your audience. A/B testing different CTAs can provide insights into what works without overwhelming your audience.

Social Media “Holidays”: Weird and Crazy but Filled with Opportunities

Published May 31, 2024

In the age of digital connection, social media has become the epicenter of global interaction. Birthdays, anniversaries, and major holidays have long had their place in our timelines. But in recent years, a new trend has emerged: quirky, obscure, and downright bizarre social media “holidays.” While some of these days foster fun and creativity, others are so strange that they leave us scratching our heads—or laughing out loud. Let’s talk about posting about these social media “holidays” and how they can work for your brand.

Increased Engagement

The Internet is bombarded with so much that even the most important messages can get lost. But you know that the most ridiculous and obscure posts gain the most attention. This is why social media holidays often trend across various platforms, leading to higher visibility. By participating, a business can join the conversation, potentially increasing likes, shares, comments, and overall engagement. They can also bring a human element to the conversation, hopefully making the business more relatable and approachable to clients.

Enhanced Brand Awareness

Leveraging trending topics can help a business reach a broader audience. Hashtags and keywords associated with social media holidays can make posts more discoverable to people who might not follow the brand yet. Sometimes these holidays with hashtags can be relevant to your brand. Just one example: February 18 – National Drink Wine Day, would be perfect for a wine company, a company that sells wine glasses, or even a bar and restaurant. According to nationaltoday.com, the best hashtags to use are: #NationalDrinkWineDay #DrinkWineDay #WineDay #Wine #WineLover #WineTasting #WineTime #WineFest. You can even get the backstory of how this became a holiday and other random information when you search the Internet for this social media holiday.

Content Calendar Filler

Here’s where it can get weird. There are your typical holidays to post about, many of which can be found through HeyOrca and can be shared straight to your Google calendar. Christmas, New Year’s, Halloween, President’s Day, and so on. And then there’s the social media holidays that provide ready-made content ideas that can fill gaps in your content calendar. Literally anything you can imagine is likely to be a social media holiday. And if it is not, you can submit your idea to create your own holiday!

Community Building

If there is something that brings people together, it is surely a holiday. Celebrating social media holidays can also foster a sense of community among followers. It can encourage interactions and conversations, helping to build a loyal and engaged following. If there is something that brings your community together, think about making a social media holiday for it. You can submit your idea and be the leader of this holiday!

Just Have Fun With It

Life is short. It is great to just have fun with whatever social media holiday it is. Our team here at True Fit Marketing participated in the infamous June 2nd holiday where you are supposed to face south and yell FUDGE to make sure all the Cobras that are heading to North America turn around and head back to where they were coming from. Crazy, weird, not really a holiday and obviously something completely made up or just old folklore, but regardless, it was fun for our team to create this video together and hopefully join a social media community who wish for those Cobras to leave us alone!

The Bottom Line

If the social media holiday makes sense for your brand to post about, then do it! Any way to try to enhance a business’s online presence, foster engagement, and drive various marketing goals by tapping into trending conversations and showcasing the brand’s personality and values is A-OK by us!