10 Texts to Send for More Revenue in December
December can be a bit of a puzzle for marketers. The holiday season brings valid concerns—think brand fatigue, shipping cutoffs, and the lingering aftermath of BFCM. But here's the truth: with the right approach, brands can match or even exceed their November revenue by boosting their SMS sends by 15-20% in December.
Yes, it might feel counterintuitive to keep up a high texting frequency after the BFCM rush, but the data shows that there’s real potential revenue at stake. To finish the year strong, you’ll need targeted segments, inventive campaigns, and a watchful eye on your unsubscribe rates. We’ve compiled some of our top December campaign ideas to help you easily round out your 2023 SMS strategy.
Company Holiday Card
While we believe brands should continue sending plenty of texts in December, not all of those texts need to be promotional. Earnest, down-to-earth messages go a long way in building rapport with your customers and reminding them that the humans behind those texts are grateful for their business.
The team at Elavi cracked us up with this card:
We were also struck by this sweet message from Bella Ragazza Boutique last December. Chances are, some folks in your subscriber base won’t have much reason to be merry and bright. Your text may be one of the few they receive this December, and the chance to encourage them is a real gift.
12 Days of Sales
A "12 Days" campaign offers a seamless way to bundle all your holiday promotions into a single, festive series of texts. It’s an ideal approach for keeping your holiday sales top-of-mind with a cheerful, consistent theme that lets you keep promoting without overdoing it. Plus, setting up this kind of campaign as an SMS automation can save you both time and stress once December sales really start to take off.
Gift Guide
Sometimes, subscribers need you to connect the dots for them. By pairing your products with potential gift recipients, you may just give them an “ah-ha” moment and help check someone off their list.
Opt-Out & Holiday Segments
As we advise every year, allowing subscribers to opt out of holiday messaging is a smart way to lower unsubscribe rates and keep brand fatigue at bay—especially if you’re planning to maintain a high send volume.
For a festive, creative approach, consider creating a flow that invites subscribers to share which holidays they celebrate. This lets you gather zero-party data while building segments for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even for those who prefer a holiday-free inbox. Your audience might appreciate the gesture, and these segments make it easier to tailor your messages accordingly.
Toy Drive & Charitable Giving
Tis’ the season, after all. If you have brick-and-mortar locations, it’s easy to partner with organizations like KGW Toy Drive to act as a drop spot for toy donations. Incentive your subscribers to participate with a message like these:
MIT Sloan says, “Giving, when done right, is the ultimate marketing incentive, drawing shoppers and increasing consumer spending.” According to data from MINTEL, 73% of Americans consider companies’ charitable work when making a purchase. While we hope your brand participates in a giving campaign for more reasons than profit, it’s certainly a big motivator for shoppers!
Shipping Deadlines
This one is pretty straightforward, but it’s a must for brands who want to move inventory up until the last minute. Shipping times are always unclear, with holidays and weekends falling on different dates each year, so clarify timelines with your subscribers and do so with plenty of time to spare. Infamous Paintball did a great job visualizing their shipping cutoffs with an on-brand design and a friendly reminder from Santa:
Native tapped the power of urgency and sent out a final call for orders:
We love the copy here from Little Bug, reminding customers there were only “15 Sleeps until Santa is here”. They also reassure subscribers that orders placed by December 15th are guaranteed to arrive before Christmas–a great call to action:
Last-Minute Gift Cards
With gift cards, customers don’t have to worry about delivery delays or stock shortages; they can give a thoughtful present that’s ready instantly and also allows the recipient to choose exactly what they want. Gift cards are an easy, appealing sell for brands to capitalize on those final shopping days of December, capturing extra revenue from shoppers who don't have time for the FedEx truck.
Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanza
Crafting inclusive holiday copy can be challenging when not everyone celebrates the same way. While “Happy Holidays” has become a reliable, inclusive greeting, getting specific can be a great way to personalize your messaging—especially if you’ve taken the time to segment your audience as we recommended earlier. Tailoring your messages shows thoughtfulness, but it’s important to strike a balance; no matter how you choose to connect with your list, aim to respect the range of traditions your subscribers might be observing. A little sensitivity goes a long way in making everyone feel valued during the holiday season.
Treat Yourself & Boxing Day
When dad has discarded all the wrapping paper and everybody has put their new socks neatly away in their sock drawers, subscribers may be ready to buy the gift they were hoping to get all along. Enter a “Treat Yourself” campaign.
New Year’s Eve
This will likely be your final send of the year, so make it count! People are ready to party and take advantage of end-of-year deals. So make sure you have a promotion or two for the final moments of 2024! Tula Boutique threw an in-person NYE party for their customers:
After the whirlwind of BFCM, it’s tempting to take a breather—but December is the time for brands to push through and finish strong. Increasing your sends can directly drive more revenue, but to keep your list engaged, strategic segmentation and targeted messaging are a must for keeping unsubscribe rates low. This season, add charitable twists to your campaigns, spruce up your campaigns with festive hooks, and time your offers thoughtfully so that they connect. Keep up the momentum, make your campaigns memorable, and, most of all, have a wonderful holiday season!
