With over 20% of industry-wide music sales taking place in the last 6 weeks of the year, ‘tis the season to give your content a year-end boost. When it comes to driving revenue, the holidays are often the most hectic and important time of the year. If you’re looking to bring joy to your audiences while generating extra cash, here are 5 holiday marketing tactics to help you break through the noise and spread cheer this holiday season:
Holiday Marketing Tip #1: Cover a classic
The holidays bring out a sense of tradition and nostalgia among consumers, which is why musicians across every genre and generation have turned towards covering classic holiday songs to connect with their audiences. From Elvis Presley to Mariah Carey, the best (and most popular) holiday marketing in the form of covers are those that offer a unique or personal twist. Keep in mind, if you are looking to cover a classic without having to pay for the rights to the music, here is a list of holiday songs that are currently available in the public domain.
Holiday Marketing Tip #2: Create your own holiday single
Covering a classic is a quick and easy way to generate holiday marketing buzz around your work, however, if you have more time consider writing your own holiday single. New music will stand out amongst the variety of covers. For example, Spotify revealed that Ariana Grande’s ‘Santa Tell Me’ is the #5 highest streamed holiday song, beating out Christmas classics like Andy Williams ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and Frank Sinatra’s ‘Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’. The right holiday single can help artists extend their careers and earn music immortality long after their non-holiday releases are transitioned out of current playlists.
Holiday Marketing Tip #3: Make a holiday playlist
Playlists have become one of the primary ways music lovers discover new artists and music. Regardless of whether you cover a classic or create your own single, take advantage of this holiday marketing trend and organize a themed playlist to help generate more traffic to your work. By infusing one or two of your custom tracks with some well-known holiday favorite you will increase your content discoverability across the streaming platforms. Once your playlist is live, be sure to share it across your social networks to encourage your fan base to tune in.
Holiday Marketing Tip #4: Send an email blast
Email marketing during the holiday season remains one of the most effective ways to boost sales. In fact, email marketing is responsible for over 20% of online holiday site visits. If you have new holiday music or merchandise you want to share with fans, send out an email blast to give fans an idea of the perfect gift they may not have thought of. Remember, holiday shoppers love a discount, so if possible, try to include an incentive along with your holiday sale (i.e. free shipping, bundled music or a surprise piece of content).
Holiday Marketing Tip #5: Gift your fans
The holidays are a great time to show appreciation for your most loyal fans. Strengthen the relationship and reward your most devoted followers with a small holiday gift that will send them smiling into the new year. Gifts can range from material items like customer holiday merchandise to more sentimental items like a personalized video holiday greeting. Going the extra mile to show the fans you care, will keep them listening for years to come.
Got a holiday single you’d like us to share? Send us a tweet (@vydiaoffical) for a chance to be featured as we deck the halls with new music. Don’t forget to check our weekly blogs to learn more tips to maximize the reach of your music.