7 Ways to Use Social Media to Attract Holiday Shoppers

How can social media help businesses drive traffic to their ecommerce or bricks-and-mortar sites this holiday season? CIO.com posed that question to dozens of marketers and social media experts. Following are their top seven strategies for how to use Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube to engage customers and get them – and their friends – to check out (and hopefully buy) your holiday offerings.

1. Use a festive cover photo on your Facebook page (Twitter, too). “One of the best pieces of real estate to leverage [this holiday season] is your Facebook cover photo,” says Melissa Ward, managing partner, NewWard Development, which provides social media and Internet marketing and website design help. “Change your Facebook cover photo to [something that you are promoting this holiday season] and be sure to include a link to the URL in the description.”

[Related: How to Use Email Marketing to Increase Sales This Holiday Season ]

When choosing a holiday cover image, “consider seasonal photos that will connect emotionally with your audience, highlighting both your brand and message,” says Jay Hawkinson, senior vice president, Emerging Products, SIM Partners, which provides digital marketing solutions. Just remember to “be subtle and discerning with holiday colors and themes, and avoid being garish.”

2. Create holiday-related boards on Pinterest. “Create gift idea boards on Pinterest with gifts from all around the Web and a few of your own products thrown into the mix,” say Michelle Friedman, director of Marketing, Medical Scrubs Collection. “Add Pin It buttons to product pages on your site and feature ‘most pinned items’ on your home page.” And “make sure that your Pinterest pins feature well photographed, [attractive] images” that will appeal to holiday shoppers.

[Related: 9 Digital Marketing Tips for Connecting With Teens

3. Create a fun holiday YouTube video and include a hidden offer code. “Create a fun [holiday] video with a hidden offer code,” for, say, 10 or 20 percent off a purchase, or free shipping or a free gift, suggests Juan Velasquez, marketing specialist, DoItWiser, a provider of toner cartridges and green office supplies. Just be sure to “let people know there is a discount code hidden somewhere in the video to encourage active viewing and sharing” – and include a link to a dedicated landing page in the description.

4. Use holiday-related hashtags on Twitter and Instagram. On both Twitter and Instagram, “be sure to research and use appropriate holiday hashtags, e.g., #HoHoHo and #Christmas2014, with your posts,” says Michelle Garrett, owner, Garrett Public Relations. “Experiment to see what works best. And include a dedicated URL to track those who click through.”

Other popular holiday Twitter and Instagram hashtags include #holidayshopping, #christmasgifts, #stockingstuffer and #wishlist.

5. Blog or post about holiday-related topics of interest to your audience. “Write blog posts that tie into the holidays,” suggests Garrett.

[Related: 9 Inexpensive Ways to Get Your Business Noticed Online ]

For example, you could “provide advice on what to wear and/or bring to family parties or corporate events or [provide suggestions on] gift giving,” says Adam Forrest, senior director, Americas Marketing, Demandware, a scalable commerce platform for enterprise retail.

6. Ask followers to share their holiday tips and memories on Twitter. “People love to share their Christmas tips and hints,” says Velasquez. So “get people talking about their festive habits, purchases and activities [on Twitter].” To get people talking (or tweeting), start discussions with open-ended questions like, “What are some fun stocking stuffer ideas?” “What’s your favorite holiday cocktail?” or “What’s your favorite Christmas song?”

To keep track of conversations, use hashtags like #stockingstuffers, #ChristmasMusic, #holidaycocktail.

7. Hold a holiday-themed Facebook contest or giveaway. “What better way to ignite the holiday spirit than with a holiday-themed contest?” asks Cliff Corr, director of Client Marketing, Rockhouse Partners, which provides digital solutions for live events. “Photo contests [especially with prizes for, say, the funniest holiday photo or ugliest holiday sweater,] are a fun way to gain new followers and increase engagement. And according to SociallyStacked, 63.4 percent of Facebook users say they are likely to share a link to a holiday contest or giveaway.”

You could also host “a holiday-themed daily prize draw campaign, such as, ‘The 12 Days of Christmas,’ [held over 12 days leading up to Christmas,] to encourage followers to visit your Facebook page every day,” suggests Velasquez.