Guide To Effective Christmas Email Marketing To Increase Holiday Sales

Guide To Effective Christmas Email Marketing To Increase Holiday Sales in 2024

The holiday season is the perfect time to boost your online sales through effective email marketing. During this time, consumers eagerly anticipate holiday deals and promotions. If you are able to devise the right email marketing strategy, you may be able to promote your deals more effectively and trigger more sales than usual.

During Christmas and New Year, the average open rate goes over 22%! This means you have a higher chance of reaching more customers and eventually getting more sales.

Today, you will learn how to set up an effective Christmas email marketing strategy to boost your sales every year during the holidays.

So let’s begin.

What Is A “Christmas Email” In Marketing?

A Christmas email refers to an email campaign designed to engage subscribers and drive sales during the holiday season. It is a strategic way to connect with your customers, offer special promotions, and spread the festive spirit.

Typically, a Christmas email marketing campaign can be divided into three stages: pre-Christmas, Christmas Day, and post-Christmas.

Pre-Christmas emails are used to warm up subscribers and promote early shopping, while Christmas Day emails often feature special promotions and festive greetings. Post-Christmas emails may include thank-you messages, clearance sales, or New Year’s promotions.

But whatever email you’re crafting, the goal is always the same – to boost open rates, increase sales, and strengthen customer relationships.

Crafting Compelling Christmas Emails

Following are a few effective ways you can create compelling Christmas Emails.

1. Personalized Email Copy For Christmas

When creating Christmas email copy, personalization is key. Start by addressing your subscribers by their names and segmenting your email list to deliver tailored content based on their preferences and shopping behaviors. Use language that resonates with the festive spirit while highlighting the value of your products or services in the context of gift-giving and celebration.

Powerful elements to add to your email:

  • Express gratitude by thanking your subscribers for the year gone by, potentially offering special discounts or early access to Christmas sales. This not only adds a personal touch but also strengthens emotional ties with your audience.
  • Make your subscribers’ lives easier during the hectic holiday season by providing helpful tips and advice, such as gift ideas, ways to save money, practical advice, creating wish lists, and offering last-minute deals.
  • Integrating personalization through emotions and practical assistance not only enhances customer loyalty but also adds a human touch to your business.

2. Optimized Christmas Email Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing your subscribers see, so make it count. Incorporate holiday-themed emojis, create a sense of urgency, and highlight any exclusive offers or promotions. As simple as it may sound, it is tricky. You have to make sure you live upto the hype and expectations after pressing the send button. Using naturally powerful words can do the job right.

Following are a few ways you can optimize Christmas email subject lines:

  • Use Urgency and Scarcity
    Phrases like “Last Chance,” “Limited Time Offer,” or “Act Now” are great ways to use the “Fear Of Missing Out” (FOMO) strategy. Use these in the subject lines to trigger open rates, while creating an expectation of something great in store that they may miss out on.
    • Examples:
      “Last Chance for Christmas Delivery!”
      “Only 2 Days Left to Save for Christmas”
  • Personalized Greetings
    Incorporating the recipient’s name, location, or past purchase history can add a personal touch to your emails and significantly increase open rates.
    • Examples:
      “John, Get Ready for a Merry Christmas with Our Exclusive Deals!”
      “Open Your First Advent Gift, [FirstName] !”
      “Happy holidays, [Name]: Your wishlist, our command!”
      “Join The Festive Journey In [Location] This Christmas”
  • Gift Ideas/Shopping Guides
    You may monitor the customer’s past transaction history and plan to prepare great gift guides or shopping ideas. Reflect the intention in the subject lines.
    • Examples:
      “Christmas Gifts that do well… and feel good”
      “Are You Ready With Your Christmas Gifts? Here are things you can explore… “
      “Find the perfect holiday gift for your spouse!”
      “Gift ideas for everyone: Celebrate the season with thoughtful presents!”
  • Festive Spirit With Emojis
    You may actively use emojis to convey the excitement of Christmas and holidays in the subject lines while making them more noticeable in the inbox.
    • Examples:
      “🎄🎅 Unwrap Joy: Festive Savings Inside! 🎁🌟”
      “🎉✨ Merry Christmas! Celebrate with Exclusive Deals! 🎁🎅”
      “🦌🔔 Jingle All the Way to Big Holiday Discounts! 🎄❄️”

3. Christmas Themed Email Banner Or Design

You may use a special Christmas email banner or templates to maintain the festive spirit throughout the email campaign for more engagements. The idea is to connect with people emotionally through this exciting occasion.

This will involve using the common Christmas colors such as Red, White, Green, Silver, or Golden, and using elements such as Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, snowflakes, stars, baubles, mistletoes, etc.

Here’s an example of a great Christmas-themed email:

Christmas email example

Remember, even if you use the Christmas theme, don’t forget to maintain your branding in some way either through a logo or with company details in the footer.

4. Make A Special Christmas Offer To Grab The Attention

Certain offers can help you attract and retain customers during the holiday season and drive sales for your business. Some ideas are given to inspire you –

  • Email-only discounts
    Offer special discounts that are exclusive to your email subscribers. This can incentivize recipients to make a purchase and also make them feel valued for being part of your email list
  • Special holiday packages
    Create Christmas-themed packages or bundles that are specifically designed for the holiday season. This can include curated gift sets, limited-time offers, or bundled products at a discounted price
  • Gift cards or vouchers
    Provide the option for recipients to purchase gift cards or vouchers that they can use for their own holiday shopping or gift to others. This can appeal to those who may be unsure of what to purchase and prefer to give the gift of choice
  • Gift guides and product collections
    Feature a curated collection of products in an email gift guide to help recipients find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. This can provide inspiration and make the shopping process easier for your customers
  • Free shipping or gift with purchase
    Offer free shipping or a free gift with purchase to sweeten the deal for your customers. This can make your offer more attractive and encourage recipients to complete their purchase.
  • Christmas giveaway
    Run a Christmas giveaway to engage customers and create excitement around your brand

5. Adding A Creative CTA & Offer Deadline

To trigger motivated actions to make a purchase, adding a creative Call to Action (CTA) and a deadline is necessary. Though there is no one rule one approach as to how you can create the best CTA, there are certain tried and tested formats you may use.

  • You can start by segmenting your audience for personalized offers and reward loyalty.
  • Optimize your email design for mobile users, use contrasting colors, and keep the messaging clear and concise.
  • Encourage social sharing and continually test and optimize for improved performance.

Then, you will be able to tailor great CTAs in the email copy, button, and even images. Following are some CTA approaches for Christmas email copies:

  • Storytelling Approach
    Example: Embark on a festive journey with us! Unwrap exclusive deals before Santa’s sleigh leaves. Act now – these magical savings disappear like snowflakes on [Offer Deadline].”
  • Interactive Element
    Example: “Click the snow globe to reveal your Christmas surprise! Hurry, our gift to you expires in [Countdown Timer]. Don’t miss out on the joy—unwrap your savings!”
  • Personalized Countdown
    Example: “Your Christmas countdown starts now! Only [X] days left to sleigh amazing discounts. Click to discover your personalized offer. Time’s ticking!”
  • Themed CTA Buttons
    Example: “Sleigh the Savings! 🎅 Click Santa’s hat to reveal your exclusive gift. Hurry, the magic ends on [Offer Deadline]. Jingle all the way to joyful discounts!”
  • Festive Emoji Integration
    Example: “You’re on the nice list! Unwrap your gift before it melts away – the offer ends on [Deadline]. Click Rudolph’s nose to sleigh your savings!”

Planning Effective Christmas Email Campaigns

You justed learn the basics about a typical Christmas email and how to optimize it. Now, let us look at how you can plan and execute an effective Christmas email campaign.

1. Pre-Christmas Invitation Series

You may sending a pre-Christmas invitation email series strategically, ranging from a week to a day before Christmas. This will serve as a teaser for the impending big offer.

This email should captivate recipients with curiosity, hinting at something exciting on the horizon. Emphasize the forthcoming deal without revealing specifics, aiming to generate anticipation and prompt recipients to eagerly await the launch.

Use compelling language to create a sense of excitement, enticing subscribers to visit the designated deal page upon its unveiling.

Example:

Subject: Sneak Peek Alert! Big Christmas Offer Coming Soon 🎁

Dear [Subscriber's Name],

'Tis the season for surprises! Get ready to unwrap something truly special because an exciting Christmas offer is on its way. At [Your Company], we've been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring you an exclusive deal that'll make your holidays merrier. Stay tuned for our upcoming Christmas offer that will be launching in just a few days. Trust us, you won't want to miss out!

Get ahead of the festive rush and mark your calendars. Be the first in line to explore the amazing deals waiting for you on our dedicated Christmas deal page. Keep those eyes peeled and your spirits high for what's to come!

Warm Regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Company]

2. Deal Launch Email

The deal launch email serves as the grand reveal, unveiling the awaited offer.

Craft this email with an enthusiastic tone, focusing on the benefits customers will get from the offer. Highlight the unique value propositions, exclusive discounts, or special perks tied to the deal.

Use vibrant visuals, persuasive copy, and clear CTAs to prompt immediate action, driving recipients to capitalize on the limited-time offer.

Example:

Subject: 🎉 Unwrap Your Exclusive Christmas Deals Today! 🎁

Dear [Subscriber's Name],

The moment you've been eagerly awaiting has arrived! The Christmas magic is here at [Your Company], and we're thrilled to unveil our exclusive holiday offers just for you. Dive into the joy of savings and incredible deals that'll make your celebrations even brighter!

🌟 Exclusive discounts on a wide range of products
🎄 Limited-time offers on your favorite items
🎅 Special surprises for our loyal customers

Hurry, these deals won't last forever! Visit our Christmas deal page now to grab your favorites before they vanish like snowflakes in the sun. Make this festive season unforgettable with [Your Company]!

Warm Regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Company]

3. Post-Christmas Follow-ups

Following the initial launch, maintain momentum with well-timed follow-up emails spaced at 2-3 day intervals.

Each subsequent email should showcase different best offers, emphasizing the ongoing value and relevance of the deals.

Tailor the content to spotlight diverse product categories or services, ensuring each email presents fresh incentives to entice recipients back to explore further offerings.

Personalize content where possible, addressing specific customer preferences or previously browsed items to enhance engagement.

Example:

Subject: Still in the Festive Spirit? Here Are More Christmas Offers! 🎅🎁

Dear [Subscriber's Name],

We hope your Christmas was filled with joy and laughter! But wait, the festivities aren't over yet. Keep the merriment going with our extended Christmas offers, specially curated for you! From must-have gadgets to exquisite gifts and everything in between, we've got something for everyone.

Explore our post-Christmas deals and find even more reasons to celebrate. Don't miss out on these fantastic savings - it's our way of spreading cheer throughout the season!

Warm Regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Company]

4. Final Call Before The Christmas Deal Ends

As the deal’s closes in to the deadline, intensify urgency with two final call emails dispatched 24 hours and 6 hours before the offer expiration.

Employ a Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) strategy in these emails, emphasizing the limited time remaining and the before the miss out on the lucrative deal.

Use compelling language, scarcity-driven messaging, and relevant visuals to convey the urgency, urging recipients to take immediate action before missing out on the exclusive opportunity.

Example:

Subject: ⏰ Last Chance! Christmas Deals Ending Soon! 🎄🎁

Dear [Subscriber's Name],

Time is running out! Our incredible Christmas deals are about to bid farewell, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on the festive joy. This is your final reminder – seize the opportunity before it's gone for good!

Act now and treat yourself to savings that'll make this holiday season unforgettable. Hurry to our Christmas deal page and grab your favorites before the clock strikes midnight!

Warm Regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Your Company]

Crafting and scheduling a sequence of strategically crafted Christmas emails will undoubtedly enhance excitement, engagement, and conversions for your seasonal promotions.

Reliable Tools To Execute Christmas Email Campaigns

A key factor in the success of your Christmas email marketing strategies is the tool you use. You need a tool that will allow you to design beautiful emails while sheduling them into sequences as per your plan. The tool should allow personalization in the email subject line and copy, and include features to create automated email workflows for additional transactional emails to support your campaign.

Following are a few reliable tools to help you do that.

1. Mail Mint

Mail Mint is a WordPress email marketing automation tool that helps you run targeted email campaigns, manage leads, and simplify automation flows. The plugin comes with attractive Christmas and Holiday email templates which you can start using with little changes. Plus, you will have full control in designing and scheduling your email campaigns without any complications.

If you are using a WordPress website or running a WooCommerce store, then Mail Mint is one of the best choices to run Christmas email campaigns or any prmotional campaigns throughout the year.

2. Brevo

Brevo is a SaaS solution for relationship marketing that offers a cloud-based marketing communication software suite with SaaS email marketing, marketing automation, and more. Brevo provides an easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor and customizable HTML options to create attractive Christmas email marketing campaigns.

Additionally, Brevo offers exclusive features such as countdown timers, limited-time offers highlights, and direct automation for eCommerce to help you drive sales during the busy holiday season.

  • Learn more about Brevo.

3. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is a brilliant email marketing tool, mainly designed to run email automation for e-commerce sites. Using this plugin, you will be able to set up email sequences with well-designed Christmas templates, add countdown timers, and initiate conditional email journeys for your customers.

It’s a great choice if you want to set up a sophisticated Christmas email campaign along with personalized email automation flows.

Conclusion

It’s high time you focus on optimizing your efforts and resources toward Christmas email marketing campaigns. Compared to the rest of the year, Christmas campaigns are only second to Black Friday campaigns when it comes to generating more sales.

But, make sure you are using the right tactics to make your overall Christmas email strategy a success.

If you are using WooCommerce, then we recommend you give Mail Mint a try. It will ensure you have the best email marketing strategies in place for maximum conversions.

So go ahead and plan your next Christmas and holiday campaign with effective email marketing strategies to drive more sales.

Cheers!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best practices for holiday email marketing?

Focus on mobile-friendly designs, craft compelling subject lines, and create a sense of urgency. Personalize content, offer exclusive promotions, and segment your audience for targeted campaigns. Use festive visuals and clear CTAs. Test and optimize emails, monitor analytics, and express gratitude. Respect privacy and adhere to anti-spam regulations. Overall, the idea is to make every Christmas email exciting and optimized for conversions.

2. How do you write a holiday sales email?

Start with a festive greeting and mention the holiday. Highlight exclusive deals, discounts, or limited-time offers. Create urgency with phrases like “limited stock” or “act fast.” Use engaging visuals and a clear call to action. Keep the message concise, expressing gratitude and holiday cheer. Test and optimize for maximum impact.

3. Can Mail Mint help me with Christmas email marketing campaigns?

Mail Mint is an easy-to-use email marketing automation tool in WordPress that can help businesses create and manage effective Christmas email marketing campaigns. With Mail Mint, you can set up and schedule emails, create targeted campaigns, and analyze the performance of your Christmas email marketing efforts.

Srabonti Barua

Srabonti is a good observer but never an absorber. Unless she decides to be SpongeBob.

Srabonti Barua

Keep reading