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Celebration periods are a time when businesses have the chance to connect with customers in ways that stick. People are in the mood to shop, celebrate, and indulge, so it makes sense for brands to be visible and appealing during these periods.
Companies often see a significant boost in sales because many customers make decisions based on the seasonal promotions they come across. The key to effective festive marketing is using the right tools and ideas to stand out, and digital signage offers a modern, dynamic way to engage with audiences.
Why Festive Marketing Matters
The festal period is also one of those rare times when people are actively looking for offers and experiences. According to the National Retail Federation, festive sales in the US amounted to $964.4 billion in 2023 - a 3.8% increase from 2022, which is huge.
Research further indicates that consumers are more likely to make impulse purchases during the jolly season, driven by the spirit of giving and the desire to create memorable experiences. A report by Salsify found that 15% of shoppers plan to spend more during the holidays in 2024 than they did the previous year.
Businesses can tap into this heightened consumer spending and capitalize on the increased willingness to try new products or services. Festive marketing allows brands to build emotional connections and build loyalty during a time when people are more receptive to brand messaging.
The Power of Digital Signage in Festive Marketing
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year and it makes it difficult to stand out in a crowded market. But business can elevate their marketing initiatives by using real-time updates, engaging visuals, and interactive features.
Unlike static displays, digital signage offers the flexibility to refresh content instantly and keep your messaging relevant throughout the entire season. It combines high-impact visuals with tailored messaging to attract attention and engage customers.
This in turn builds an emotional connection with consumers and enhances the atmosphere while driving sales. Research shows that 80% of businesses using digital signage report a noticeable increase in sales which is especially true during festivities.
Festive Marketing Ideas for Different Industries
Retail
Holiday-Themed Window Displays:
People love window displays that bring the joyful spirit to life, and the best way to do that is by telling a story with your display. You can capture the magic of the season by setting up digital windows with moving elements like snowflakes that match the weather outside or Easter characters that wave at passersby.
Limited-Time Promotions and Flash Sales:
The buzz of seasonal shopping often revolves around exclusive deals and flash sales. Customers are always on the lookout for the next big offer. Here is where you can tap into FOMO by offering special discounts on popular items or bundling products together for an Easter package deal. Make use of the countdown timer app on Look DS to build anticipation.
Interactive In-Store Experiences:
Shopping should be fun, especially during the merry season when the joyful spirit is in full swing. Set up touchscreens in-store where customers can engage in games like spinning a digital wheel for discounts or virtual "unwrap a gift" experiences.
You could also use digital signage software to create interactive Christmas wish lists where customers browse through your products on a touchscreen display and create their wish list, which can then be sent to their email or printed out. This type of experience engages them on a deeper level and gives them something to take away from their visit.
Hospitality
Seasonal Menu Highlights
Seasonal dishes and drinks are always a hit, and the right presentation can make them irresistible. Feature your menu items on digital screens with high-resolution images and rotating visuals. Position the displays near entrances or at the bar, where guests can see daily specials or limited-time treats. Consider adding pairings like a cocktail of the day or themed desserts that rotate on-screen throughout the evening to spark interest.
Festive Event Promotions
Making sure your guests know what’s coming up— and making it look enticing helps secure reservations and keeps excitement high. Use digital signage in the lobby, dining areas, or near elevators to promote upcoming events. Include visual countdowns to key dates like Christmas Eve dinners, and highlight exclusive packages or early booking incentives. Rotate event schedules, seating availability, and sneak peeks of entertainment to keep guests informed and eager to participate.
Interactive Guest Engagement
Guests love engaging in activities that make them feel like part of the celebration. To achieve this, create interactive content on digital displays in common areas where guests can play Halloween-themed trivia, or create personalized virtual cards to send to loved ones. For a social media boost, add a digital photo booth with themed backdrops and filters, encouraging guests to snap and share their photos online.
Corporate
Employee Recognition and Appreciation
The year-end is a perfect time to recognize and appreciate employees. Corporate digital signage helps create a celebratory atmosphere while acknowledging the contributions of your team. That includes rotating messages about employee achievements, yuletide greetings from leadership, or shout-outs to teams for their hard work throughout the year. You can also use corporate lobby digital signage screens in common areas to announce company-wide events or team-building activities to reinforce the spirit of appreciation during the season.
Festive Corporate Announcements
Celebratory-themed corporate announcements create an engaging workplace environment that keeps employees informed while celebrating the season. Use digital signage in break rooms to announce season-related schedules, parties, or charity initiatives.
Charity Drives and CSR Initiatives
Corporate social responsibility takes on even more meaning during the Thanksgiving season. Engaging employees and customers in charitable efforts adds purpose to your activities. Consider setting up live donation trackers on digital signs across the workplace to keep employees engaged in charity drives. Include information about the causes being supported, progress bars showing donation goals, and reminders of how to participate. Highlight volunteer opportunities and encourage involvement through compelling, informative displays.
Entertainment Venues
Holiday Event Countdown
The excitement of upcoming performances or themed events starts long before showtime. A visible countdown builds anticipation and encourages early bookings. Use large digital screens in lobby areas or near ticketing booths to count down to performances or events. Include behind-the-scenes sneak peeks or performer interviews to engage visitors and build excitement.
Festive Movie Marathons
Christmas-themed entertainment, especially movies, draws people into the spirit of the season. To create an experience everyone will enjoy, use cinema digital signage software to feature a rotating schedule of holiday movie classics on digital screens throughout your venue. Highlight ticket availability, movie times, and special promotions like themed concessions or group discounts. Display trivia about each movie or quotes from iconic scenes to keep guests engaged between showings.
Interactive Polls and Contests
Engagement doesn’t stop at the event itself—inviting guests to participate in polls or contests makes the experience more memorable. Take advantage of the screens in entry areas to run interactive polls that ask visitors to vote for their favorite seasonal songs or movies. You can also add contest elements, where guests submit ideas for future events or participate in quizzes, with winners announced on-screen in real-time.
Education
Festive School Announcements
The merry season brings excitement to schools, and making announcements engaging keeps both students and staff informed. Use school digital signage in hallways or common areas to display important schedules, such as winter break dates or exam periods. Add themed designs, countdowns to vacation days, or reminders for upcoming events like concerts or school fairs. This keeps everyone in the loop with a touch of seasonal cheer.
Student-Created Holiday Content
Feature student-made art, poetry, or multimedia projects on digital signage around the school. Rotate through different student contributions daily or weekly, giving students a platform to display their work. Add interactive elements like QR codes where other students can vote on their favorite projects or share messages of seasonal cheer.
Interactive Learning Experiences
Celebration periods provide opportunities for learning through fun, engaging activities. Interactive displays in classrooms or common areas enhance the learning experience through holiday-themed educational games, quizzes, or puzzles related to subjects like history or science. For example, a trivia game on the origins of various Yuletide traditions or interactive math problems with themes.
Fitness Centers
Holiday Workout Challenges
Staying fit during celebrations can be tough, but turning workouts into a seasonal challenge adds motivation and fun for gym-goers. Use your digital signs to promote fitness challenges, like a "12 Days of Fitness" workout routine or a group challenge to complete a certain number of miles or exercises by New Year’s. Display daily progress, top performers, or leaderboard rankings in real time to encourage competition.
Seasonal Membership Offers
Seasons of cheer often inspire people to start or renew fitness goals, which is a perfect time to introduce special offers for new members or seasonal packages. To do this, highlight special membership rates or packages on digital screens at the gym entrance or throughout the facility. Use visuals to emphasize limited-time offers and special perks for signing up before the New Year. This will help you attract both new and returning members.
Interactive Fitness Tips
Fitness centers often see an influx of visitors during times of cheer, making this a great time to offer fitness tips that keep people on track with their health goals. Use digital displays to present quick, easy-to-follow fitness tips. Include interactive touchscreens where members can explore workout ideas, healthy recipes, or wellness challenges. Create daily fitness "advent calendar" tips that reveal new exercises or nutrition advice leading up to the New Year.
Healthcare
Healthcare facilities may not seem like obvious places for celebratory marketing, but there’s always room to make patients feel a little more at ease during what can sometimes be a stressful time.
Seasonal Health Tips
In the waiting rooms or lobbies, keep patients informed about health tips tailored to the season by displaying advice on managing stress, maintaining a balanced diet during festivities, or avoiding the flu. Rotate through different tips throughout the day to keep content fresh and informative for patients.
Holiday Greetings for Patients
Bringing warmth and cheer to healthcare environments can make a big difference, especially during the merry season. One way to achieve this is to display warm Christmas greetings, messages of hope, or even video messages from staff. That includes uplifting quotes that brighten the atmosphere in waiting rooms or patient care areas,
Charity Drives and Volunteering
The Christmas season is often a time for giving back, and healthcare organizations frequently lead community charity efforts. Digital signage can aid in this aspect by promoting charity drives, blood donation events, or volunteer opportunities.
There should be live updates that show donation totals or volunteer hours to encourage participation. Also, include information about how patients or staff can get involved in outreach programs.
How to Create Engaging Festive Content with Look Digital Signage
Designing Eye-Catching Visuals
Look DS gives you the tools to design visuals that'll turn heads and spread the joyful spirit. It has a festive template library filled with ready-made layouts that capture the spirit of the season. Find one you like and then add your own personal touch. Change the colors to match your brand, add your logo, and tweak the text to make it your own.
The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to adjust the layout and play around with elements until you design a visual that fits your business style and brand.
Scheduling and Automation
The digital signage scheduling feature allows you to plan and execute your seasonal content strategy with precision. If you have a time-sensitive promotion or announcement, simply create your content, select the desired screens, and schedule it for the specific date and time you want it to appear. You can even define precise start and end times to ensure the promotion runs only during the intended window.
For content, you want to display consistently throughout the season, set up recurring schedules. This could be a daily morning greeting, a weekly special offer, or any other content you want to show regularly. Look DS will automatically play the content according to your chosen schedule.
User-Generated Content (UGC)
It’s incredibly easy to tap into the power of user-generated content (UGC) and showcase it on your digital signage with Look DS. With built-in social media apps, there's no need for complicated integrations or third-party tools. Simply log in to your social media accounts directly within the Look DS platform and start spreading your brand-enhanced seasonal spirit.
Encourage your customers to share their experiences, photos, and videos on social media using a specific hashtag related to your brand or the season. Then, use Look DS to display a live feed of these posts on your digital signage. It's a fantastic way to build community, showcase authentic customer experiences, and add a personal touch to your display.
Conclusion
As the Christmas season approaches, this is your opportunity to engage with customers and boost sales with digital signage. Regardless of your industry, we have outlined the best strategies to make your digital signs elevate your messaging and set you apart.
With Look Digital Signage, all of this is within your reach. Our user-friendly platform empowers you to tap into your creativity and effortlessly implement impactful campaigns.
Don't miss out on the season’s marketing potential! Start your 14-day free trial of Look Digital Signage today and elevate your brand presence, drive engagement, and achieve remarkable results this season.
