Around 30% of consumers will shop for gifts this holiday season year-round by 2026, encouraging brands to plan innovative holiday marketing campaigns. As an outcome, they extract valuable insights from customer data to shape their marketing objectives.
As the jingle bells start their annual serenade, brands dust off their ‘tech’ tinsel and decking the digital halls with festive cheer. Holiday-themed campaigns have always been an important brand segment to improve customer engagement, significantly contributing to the business’s seasonal revenue.
We’ve picked a few thought-provoking ideas that brands have incorporated into their holiday marketing strategy in 2023. But before we spill the beans, let’s explore how these holiday marketing campaigns help brands and why they are the need of the hour.
Why are holiday marketing campaigns important?
A survey by Gartner predicted that 30% of consumers will shop for gifts this holiday year-round by 2026. What does it imply? A chance for brands to be more innovative while shooting their holiday marketing campaigns down the years. They can prompt target audiences to make holiday-related purchases as an effective repercussion of their festive-themed marketing offers and special discounts.
Brands leverage the outcomes of such campaigns and extract valuable insights from customer data to shape their marketing objectives. Furthermore, they harness the power of marketing automation tools and the capabilities of generative AI, machine learning, and other cutting-edge technologies to enhance and optimize their outcomes.
5 Inspirational Holiday Marketing Campaigns That You Shouldn’t Miss
1. Coca-Cola‘s Santa Heavy Holiday Campaign with AI Integration
Have you added Santa to your Christmas card this year?
Coca-Cola’s “The World Needs More Santas” campaign is just what you need to share your festive cheer with the world. The brand has expanded its generative AI-fueled “Create Real Magic” platform, featuring digital and experiential elements, letting consumers design digital holiday cards with brand assets. Besides that, it represents their iconic depictions of Santa Claus. Coca-Cola also promises to feature consumer-created artwork on digital billboards throughout the world.
This global effort is set to be adapted to over 80 markets worldwide. The motive is to create a larger marketing push through other engaging activities, such as digital quizzes, Christmas truck tours, on-pack competitions, and out-of-home elements.
For instance, QR codes on product packaging direct users to the quiz, providing them with opportunities to win prizes, including a trip to Rovaniemi, Finland, recognized as Santa Claus’s “official” hometown.
Developed with WPP Open X, led by VML and supported by Grey, Ogilvy, Essence Mediacom, Hogarth and JKR.
2. Air Canada‘s Traditional Holiday Drive with a CGI Technology Twist
Here’s a story: Two button-cute nutcracker bears find themselves on separate sides of the tree after a year of being tucked away together. Distraught at the thought of spending the holidays apart, they make a series of heroic efforts to reconnect, including zip-lining along a string of lights and collapsing a gingerbread house.
Now, with a little help from Air Canada, the tiny wooden bears reunite with a heartwarming embrace in a dramatic and final leap of faith.
As an initiative to reunite customers with their families, Air Canada incorporated CGI technology into its video marketing strategy to deliver an exceptional user experience for customers who onboarded its flights.
Developed with FCB handling strategy and creative; animation by Hornet; audio by Cult Nation & OSO.
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3. Target‘s Digital Campaign with Media Mix Optimisation Strategy
Target got its priorities right. Observing the concurrent nature of its consumers—spending more and less—the brand created a marketing strategy that catered to mindful spending customers and also converted those with tight pockets.
The brand’s “However You Holiday, Do It For Less” campaign focuses on inspiring shoppers with a message about affordability. It promotes the seasonal assortment of day-to-day items, leveraging media mix optimization strategies.
The campaign encompasses over 100 spots, with creatives running across TV, digital, video, social, digital display, paid search, and audio channels. The strategy is implemented in response to the fact that 75% of Target customers now initiate their digital shopping journeys on mobile devices, emphasizing the significance of platforms such as social media.
In addition to prioritizing dollar value, the “do it for less” message aligns with Target’s same-day services, encompassing complimentary order pick-up, drive-up options, and delivery facilitated by the retailer’s Shipt platform.
Developed with Agency Mother
4. Pizza Hut‘s “Leave a box, get a box” with QR Code Facilities
When did you last show your gratitude to your late-night pizza delivery driver? Pizza Hut has an idea that is fresh out of the oven!
The “Leave a box, get a box” campaign serves its customers and delivery partners.
The chain doled out 50 of its doormats to its target consumers, featuring their food items throughout the holiday season. Consumers can order online by scanning the QR codes on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once the delivery driver brings the order, they can scan the QR code, which directs them to a microsite where they can redeem gift cards. Through the doormat concept with a QR code system, the chain also wants to encourage the habit of gratitude among young consumers while offering them enhanced digital experiences.
5. O Boticario’s “Make Your Love Present” Campaign with 360° communications strategy
O Boticario’s strategy was to tug at people’s heartstrings. A film set to I’ll Be There by the Jackson 5 invites people to “Make Your Love Present” and fully experience everyday life.
For its official launch, the brand took to the skies! In front of the obelisk in Ibirapuera Park, 350 drones formed a QR code in the sky.
The campaign sparked an illustrative approach with a promotional video to generate a deeper connection with the target audience. Consequently, this helped the brand to collect responses from their customers on social media and gather behavioral insights from target audiences.
Developed with AlmapBBDO and LIVE
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In summary, brands have always been juggling tech-based and emotional triggers in their marketing strategies to drive target audiences and successful ROIs. The holiday season is among the best opportunities to experiment and spread love.
