By: Taylor Graveline
The holiday season brings a unique mix of opportunity and fierce competition for tech startups eager to stand out. While 93% of SMBs recognize the importance of retaining holiday customers, only 18% feel their strategies are effective.
Swati Dayal, the founder of Eternal Creations and a leader in technology and marketing spaces, offers a clear path forward with strategies that help startups connect meaningfully with audiences and lock in growth that extends far past the holiday rush.
Leverage Technology for Festive Flourish
According to Dayal, technology is essential for startups that want to offer a competitive and memorable customer experience. “Tech can dramatically enhance customer experience, especially in high-traffic sectors like hospitality,” she explains. This includes using real-time data and AI to provide instant, personalized solutions for customers. “For example, a SaaS application developed for bars could provide real-time updates on occupancy, events, and on-site service options, leveraging AI and machine learning to offer personalized recommendations and operational insights to maximize efficiency and customer draw,” Swati detailed.
In practice, tech startups can use automation to handle high volumes of orders and customer inquiries seamlessly to ensure no opportunity slips through during the busy holiday seasons. Customer data transforms each interaction into a unique experience with specific product recommendations that resonate. This targeted strategy drives immediate engagement and sales, all while strengthening connections that extend well beyond the holiday season.
Build Sustainable Campaigns
While short-term holiday campaigns may generate a temporary boost in visibility, Dayal advocates for campaigns that build ongoing brand loyalty and keep customers engaged well after the season ends. “It’s essential for companies to craft festive messages that resonate beyond the holiday season. Sustainable messaging should be foundational, allowing brands to continue building upon it even after the holidays are over,” she advises.
A sustainable campaign might start with a holiday theme but focus on a message that aligns with the startup’s broader mission. For example, if a startup’s core value is sustainability, its holiday campaigns could highlight eco-friendly product features or encourage customers to reduce waste. As Swati said, “This approach avoids the ‘one-and-done’ trap, ensuring ongoing brand recall and engagement.” For tech startups, sustainable messaging can be a way to tell a larger story about who they are and what they offer, using the holidays as a platform for a message that has a lasting impact.
Harness the Power of Partnerships
The holiday season is an ideal time for tech startups to collaborate with other brands and reach new audiences. “The holidays are an excellent time for tech startups to explore partnership marketing. Collaborating with aligned businesses can deliver more integrated solutions and a superior customer experience,” Dayal points out.
A tech startup with expertise in customer data analytics, for instance, might partner with a popular e-commerce platform such as Macy’s, eBay, or Home Depot to enhance personalized product recommendations for holiday shoppers. Another example is working with hotels to launch targeted, personalized campaigns that can attract new guests while optimizing marketing spend and resources.
Partnerships like these allow both brands to benefit from each other’s reach and resources. In addition, they create a more complete and compelling customer experience, as each partner offers something unique yet complementary.
To get the most from partnerships, startups should seek out companies with similar target audiences but distinct offerings, allowing both to broaden their reach without direct competition. Let’s say a joint holiday campaign could mean co-branded content, limited-time offers, or bundled services that provide added value to customers. For tech startups, this strategy can also serve as a low-cost way to increase visibility and credibility, especially if the partner is more established.
Future Trends to Watch
Swati Dayal sees technology such as VR and AR making a significant impact on holiday marketing strategies. “Technologies like VR stand out as potential game-changers for holiday marketing, offering immersive experiences that can significantly differentiate brands.” For tech startups, this could mean investing in virtual reality experiences that allow customers to interact with products or spaces in entirely new ways, even from home.
Furthermore, advanced AI and machine learning are expected to continue reshaping customer engagement by enabling predictive insights and highly personalized interactions. As Dayal notes, these tools can turn even challenging situations, like delayed flights, into opportunities for positive customer engagement by offering timely, automated solutions. Startups can be better prepared to capture and retain customers by staying ahead of these trends, creating memorable experiences that go beyond traditional marketing.
Published by: Annie P.
