Let's be honest, we've all at some point seen a National Holiday and considered jumping on the bandwagon (I know I have). But before we get carried away, sometimes it's worth asking yourself, "How relevant is this day to my business?". I absolutely recommend showing your personality through your brand, for example, you could participate in National Donut Day with your team in the office and share it on social media, this can be a fun way to connect with your online audience on a more personal level! That being said, you don't need to participate in every national day and posting about something like "International Nose Picking Day" isn't likely to get you the results you want...
There's a difference between posting about a holiday from a place of obligation versus thoughtful reflection. Brands need to really think and see if their work pairs with the ethos of a holiday before leveraging it for content. Of course, there's always room for timely, seasonal fun, but many holidays come with a deeper sense of purpose. Will your audience notice if your voice is missing from the conversation? Being honest with yourself sooner than later will prevent you from turning sensitive topics into branding with poor taste.
Does our ad or post reflect the traditional holiday theme? Every holiday has their theme of colors. Any diversion from the color palette can distract the intent of the ad or post. If it is advertisement around Christmas, the color palette should not be blue and white. The color palette should align with the original colors that are associated with that holiday. People are already expecting to see that theme in their timeline so it is important for social media professionals to stick to those respective colors.
Every piece of content you create for social media requires resource, of people and /or money. Before jumping onto the ‘Holiday’ band wagon, ask yourself whether your business, or social media team, has the time to jump on this trend effectively and with credibility. Is posting about this on social media a priority compared to other topics you have planned or wish to cover? Every team has a finite resource, so these judgement calls are imperative to effectively prioritising your social media efforts. A well thought out campaign or content piece on a topical subject like Christmas can do wonders for your brand visibility. Conversely, a poorly executed response (E.g. one that is in bad taste) could damage your brand and cost your business time. Make sure you consider these aspects before deciding to post on social media.
When you post about holidays it reveals who your consumer base is and your target audience. A brand may celebrate "Galentine's Day" if its consumer base is younger single women. Maybe a brand celebrates a specific holiday for a country, like Boxing Day in Canada. Does that mean the brand has a lot of Canadian customers? Probably. Brands try and post about relevant content to their consumers to build that trust and relationships with them. Before you post about a holiday, ask yourself does this holiday coincide with the majority of your consumer base. We will post silly holidays too for laughs. People in general find days like "National Cat Day" or "National Drink a Beer Day" fun. We try and bring in engagement through posts like that.
Often companies post about holidays just because "everyone is doing it". Honestly, every post on a company's social media timeline should be relevant to their target audience's interests, and should not be filler or fluff. People follow accounts to read informational, educational, and/or entertaining content. Reading the same holiday greeting from 25 different social media accounts on the same day does not generally provide any value to the viewer.
It's important that the tone of the message, for example formal or informal, serious or playful should align to the holiday in question. So for a religious holiday like Easter, the tone should be more serious than playful in respect of the fact that the holiday is likely to hold strong meaning for some people. The tone should not be out of step with the regular tone of the brand. So if this is usually sarky and playful then it might be best to avoid posting all together on religious holidays but others like Valentines Day and St Patricks Day could work well. The other consideration for tone would be the channel. At the more light hearted, entertaining end of the spectrum you have TikTok and Reels whereas the tone on TikTok is more formal.
Brands should ask themselves if the post they create will share a positive message before posting on social media about a holiday. It is important because whatever message they send out can make an impactful impression on their audience. It reveals the brand's values and how it connects with its customers, which can set the tone for future interactions. Therefore, it is essential to consider the impact of a post before publishing it and ensure that it aligns with the brand's mission and values. Moreover, understanding the implications of posting on social media during a holiday can help brands create meaningful connections that build trust and loyalty over time.
Outside of understanding how relevant the holiday is to your business, it's important to understand what you're actually trying to convey. Where brands utilize holidays the best is when they integrate themselves seamlessly into the already existing conversation around this holiday, with something of actual value to say. If you're just slapping a #holiday onto your typical content, people are going to tune you out. If you're bringing something new to the conversation, whether it be a statement about how this holiday relates to your business, something people (your followers as well as those following this holiday) don't know about this holiday, or ways to celebrate. Your goal is to connect to the culture behind the day. As with any content on social, people need to get something from what you're putting out there in order to stay engaged.
Before posting on social we should ask ourselves is this relevant to the brand. Also what is the outcome we are after? Is it likes or engagement? It should form part of our social content strategy so that it is consistent and with purpose. Be relevant and be meaningful!
When posting on Social Media about a holiday, it's always important to sound as inclusive as possible. Though you may naturally market to certain demographics, you want to take care not to exclude any potential customers who fall into other demographic categories. While it can be fun to celebrate the holidays over Social Media, it's important to use the right verbiage to be all-inclusive.
Before posting on social media about a holiday, a brand should ask themselves one crucial question: Is this relevant and appropriate to my brand's message and audience? This question is essential as it helps the brand ensure that their content aligns with their values, tone, and target audience. Additionally, it also ensures that the brand is not just posting for the sake of posting but instead is adding value to their followers' feeds. This question reveals that the brand is taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to their social media content and understands the importance of maintaining brand consistency. Furthermore, it also reveals that the brand is prioritizing their audience's needs and interests rather than solely focusing on their own agenda. In conclusion, asking this question helps the brand create meaningful and impactful social media content that resonates with their audience and strengthens their brand image.
One important question a brand should ask themselves before deciding to post on social media about a holiday is "how does this relate to our brand?". This question is important because it helps to ensure that the content posted is relevant to the brand's message and values. It also helps to reveal what type of content the brand wants to create, and how they can use social media to reach their target audience. Additionally, it helps the brand to determine how they can use the holiday as an opportunity to engage with their followers and create content that will be well-received.
One question that any brand should ask themselves before deciding to post for a holiday is: "Does this holiday align with our brand values and message?" If a holiday doesn't align with its values or doesn't fit with its overall message, the brand may come across as inauthentic or opportunistic. The holiday posts should be meaningful and relevant to the brand audience, ensuring that they feel genuine. This strategy enhances the brand image and increases social media traction.
Marketing & Outreach Manager at ePassportPhoto
Answered 3 years ago
One question every brand must ask itself before posting about a holiday on social media is: Does this holiday truly align with our brand values and message? Your audience can smell inauthenticity from a mile away, and if your holiday post feels out of place or insincere, you risk alienating your followers and damaging your brand's reputation. For example, a brand focusing on environmental sustainability may want to reconsider posting about a holiday promoting excessive consumption or wasteful behavior. It's essential to take a step back and evaluate whether the holiday aligns with your brand's identity. Remember, it's not just about capitalizing on a holiday trend, but about creating genuine connections with your audience that support your brand's long-term success.
Is this conversation appropriate for my brand? Including your personal brand in the mix is usually a good idea. Consider this: What is your brand? What are your branding objectives? And how does this post fit in with those objectives? It is not worth sharing if it's out of character or unsuitable. This is also important to consider if you are looking for work. "Everything you share becomes a part of your professional brand," Artis explains. Therefore, consider whether what you publish will hinder or improve your chances of finding your ideal job—and whether that's a risk you're willing to take. This may seem like a lot to consider, but it all boils down to one thing: Make wise decisions. It's as easy as that. You are the expert on your company's social media policy (as well as your brand), so you know what is and isn't acceptable to publish.
Co-Founder and CEO at Layla Sleep
Answered 3 years ago
One question a brand should ask before posting about a holiday on social media is: "Does this holiday align with our brand values and messaging?" This is important because it ensures that the brand's posts are consistent with its overall image, and it reveals whether the brand is simply trying to capitalize on a holiday for marketing purposes or genuinely celebrating it. It also helps the brand avoid potentially offensive or insensitive content.
One question a brand should ask themselves before deciding to post on social media about a holiday is: "Does this holiday align with our brand values and messaging?" This question is important because it ensures that the brand is being authentic and consistent in its messaging. Posting about a holiday that doesn't align with the brand's values or messaging can appear disingenuous and may even harm the brand's reputation. For example, a brand that promotes environmental sustainability may not want to post about a holiday that involves excessive consumerism or waste.
One important question a brand should ask themselves before deciding to post on social media about a holiday is: "Does this holiday align with our brand values and messaging?" This question is important because it ensures that the holiday post is not just a random or forced attempt to jump on a trending topic, but rather a genuine reflection of the brand's identity and purpose. Asking this question reveals whether the brand has a clear understanding of its values and how it wants to communicate with its audience. If the answer is yes, the holiday post can reinforce the brand's message and strengthen its connection with its audience. However, if the answer is no, the brand may risk coming across as inauthentic or out of touch with its audience. By being mindful of their messaging and values, brands can create meaningful and impactful holiday content on social media.