I. Love. The Holidays. I live and breathe for November and December.

Everyone is so holly and jolly, twinkly lights are everywhere, and there are a million holiday-themed activities to do around the city…

But more than anything, I think the best part of the holidays is the music. Worry not, dear reader! I follow a rigid moral code of “no holiday music until after Thanksgiving.”

Nevertheless, there are actually quite a few marketing lessons to be learned from these tunes. So throw on your Pentatonix or Michael Buble, sit back, and let the sound of holiday music teach you a lesson or two…

Be Iconic

Let’s be real for a moment: I bet right now if you really tried, you could probably sing all the words to just about any holiday song.

Why? Because they’ve staked their claim as the quintessential songs in their industry.

Much like these songs, when it comes to a business, you need to use your marketing to stake your claim in whatever industry you’re in.

Maybe your marketing is a bit like “Home for the Holidays” – classic and timeless.

Or it could be a bit like “Jingle Bell Rock” – new, different, and exciting.

Or perhaps your strategy is more like “Santa Baby” – a little edgy, and pushing the envelope.

Whatever it is, you just need to have a marketing plan in place so you’re not like the “Mr. Grinch Song.”

Don’t Try and Please Everyone

To put it bluntly – much like holiday music – not everyone will like you. If I play holiday tunes at home, my boyfriend is not a happy camper. And I know there are plenty of other people out there who don’t much care for this genre.

But that’s ok!!

Because there are just as many people like me – absolutely enthralled with these songs!

This is something you have to keep in mind when it comes to your business and your marketing strategy. Some people just won’t be a fan, and there’s not really much you can do to change their minds.

You still have a loyal audience of followers that LOVE you and your business – tailor your messages to them, and they’ll be singing your praises. (See what I did there??)

Know your business cycle

As stated previously, I listen to holiday music strictly between Thanksgiving and the New Year. No more, no less.

Much like holiday music, businesses flourish at different times of the year. If you want your business to succeed, you must know your business cycle.

Moreover, your marketing strategy should reflect your business cycle. Does your business die down in the spring? Then post once or twice a week to Facebook, rather than four or five times.

Whatever you do, just don’t try a force something that isn’t there. Otherwise, you’ll end up putting in a whole lot of time and effort, and get minimal ROI.

Mix it up

A great thing about holiday music is that these songs are not afraid of a good remix (Side note, check out this remix of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s kind of amazing – but my favorite remix will always be from the California Raisins).

Maybe it’s not to that extreme, but just think about how many people in the history of holiday music have sung “Jingle Bells.” Each and every cover brings with it a new twist on the original.

Much like these songs, sometimes you need to shake up your marketing! If it stays too stagnant or monotonous, you’ll end up losing your audience and followers.

Mix up the content, present it in a different way, do something to stray from your norm – and I’d bet you’ll see your audience’s interactions increase!

So you see, although it may not seem like it, there’s actually quite a few marketing lessons we can learn from these holiday jingles. And if you still need some help, give us a call.

Happy Holidays!