With a month left before we go on festive holidays, many a communications manager should be planning and working on seasonal messaging, events and communications. It sets the tone for the slowing down, wrap up of the year and fosters deeper connections. This is the moment to say thank you. Acknowledge your supportive clientele or hardworking organisation. It also gives you an opportunity to continue to invest and build your relationship with your customers/clients or employees. In this article, I discuss seasonal communications (if you are considering it) and present practical actions and recommendations.
What’s in it for your employees / clients?
- Builds and strengthens relationships. Seasonal communications gives you a unique opportunity to reconnect with old or connect with new clients, customers, colleagues and employees. Sending thoughtful messages and greetings, displays appreciation in support of your business/ project/ goals, expresses goodwill and highlights the bond that is essential for any thriving business to exist. It puts you on top of the mind of your client.
- Reinforces brand identity and values. This is an ideal time to market your brand amongst your clients, customers and employees in an easy and savvy way, promoting your brand image. Seasonal messaging can have a motivational, grateful and positive tone, creating a lasting impression that contributes to a confident brand image.
- Improves employee morale. 2023 has been a particularly difficult year to move through. Much is happening both locally and abroad, impacting how we think and feel about work life and challenges on the daily. Celebrating and acknowledging the hard work done during these changing and challenging circumstances, can have a significant impact on your staff’s morale. It is a good time for you to recognise their efforts, say thank you, reiterate and foster a healthy work environment, and prepare and motivate them for a fresh year ahead.
What to include/ consider in your seasonal comms:
- Personalised Greetings: If you are able to, and don’t have hundreds or thousands of employees or customers/ clients, a personalised, handwritten note can go a long way. Over the years, I have kept the handwritten cards that I have received from previous leaders I reported into. Its personal and says a lot about the character of the leader. This simple gesture makes the recipient feel valued, appreciated and seen. And an awesome keepsake to look back on years later.
- Multichannel Approach: If you are communicating to a large audience, diversify your seasonal communications by using many channels like email, social media, traditional mail or face-to-face communication. A broader audience will receive the message and it will likely be more noticeable. This would be a good time to put something together that is funny, sweet and/or leaves a long term memory in the minds of the audience.
- Incorporate visuals: Use seasonal graphics, images, colours (on brand) that align with the theme of the festive occasion. It appeals and captures the attention of an audience by evoking positive emotions. Again, using a gimmick or subtle joke or sincere note will enhance your communications and make it more memorable.
- Use interactive content: This encourages participation, opens the channel to healthy conversation, continues to strengthen your relationship with your client/ customer or employee/s and is entertaining.
Wording Recommendations:
- Begin your messages with warm and genuine wishes. Whether it’s “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays,” the sincerity of your well-wishes sets the tone of the entire message.
- Take the opportunity to say thank you for the support, collaboration, or patronage received throughout the year. Acknowledging the contributions of others creates a positive and enthusiastic culture.
- Share/ showcase your highlights and achievements from the past year. This includes and involves your audience in your success journey.
- Offer a glimpse into the future by sharing your plans for the upcoming year. Whether it’s new initiatives, projects, or goals, communicating your vision fosters transparency and keeps your audience informed and engaged.
Effective seasonal communications is a powerful tool to continue to build and foster healthy relationships with your internal or external audience, promote your brand image and increase employee morale. As we step into the festive season, embrace the opportunity to write or plan thoughtful and well-crafted end of year communications, express gratitude and reinforce healthy relationships that should endure well beyond the holiday season. Remember, your choice of words and images, plays a pivotal role in conveying warmth, sincerity, and appreciation at the end of a busy and chaotic year, encouraging others to look forward to what is still to come. May you fill your seasonal communications with warmth, joy, and the spirit of togetherness.
If you need someone to write or plan your seasonal communications, reach out and let’s have a chat.
