5 Holiday Contest Ideas to Boost Customer Retention & Loyalty This Christmas

Ever wondered why Coca-Cola cans are suddenly redder during Christmas? Or why Starbucks cups don't just hold coffee during the holidays – they also carry memories, tiny sparks of joy? Well, here's a marketing story for you.

In 1931, Coca-Cola saw a golden opportunity to ride the wave of holiday cheer. They revamped Santa Claus – previously a grumpy-looking fellow – into the jovial, red-suited guy we know today, all in a catchy red outfit just slightly suspiciously resembling their own soda cans. Not only did this put Coke in the center of Christmas culture, it connected with people's happiest memories of the season. It wasn't just about the drink anymore; it was about the experience, the warmth, the nostalgia—an emotional splash of soda joy for every sip. The results? A brand that sees a loyalty boost every holiday season, year after year.

Marketing takeaway? Making people feel good during festive times is an almost guaranteed way to get them to come back. And no, you don't even need Santa on the payroll.

Why Customer Retention Lasts Far Beyond One Holiday Season (Hint: It's About Loyalty)

Alright, so marketing pros, holiday strategists, and those of you on your third gingerbread latte, let's dive into what really matters here: customer retention. Because, sure, it's awesome to win customers during the holiday madness, but if they trickle out come January? That's heartbreak.

And here's the kicker: a holiday marketing strategy that doesn't include building long-term relationships is like dressing Santa in flip-flops. You're missing the vibe. So, here's how we turn seasonal excitement into year-round loyalty – and maybe slip in a few nifty Christmas door decoration contest ideas for good measure.

1. Create a Holiday Contest that Sparks Social Sharing

Who doesn't love a good contest? Especially when it practically screams, "Share me to win!" Enter the magic of viral marketing. Launch a Christmas door decoration contest where participants not only submit photos of their holiday decor but also share it with their friends. The key is to create a level of excitement that spreads faster than Mariah Carey's holiday tunes in November.

Think grand prizes like holiday getaways or gift bundles. But here's the pro-tip: let the sharing be the real prize. Terms like "bonus entries per share" or "tag a friend for extra entries" should be your bread and butter. It's simple – they spread the word, and you get more eyeballs on your brand. Plus, the social validation from tagging others builds a sense of community that'll have them coming back for more, well after the Christmas lights come down.

2. Three Words: "User. Generated. Content."

Imagine someone sends in an amazing photo of their meticulously decorated front porch: fairy lights, massive wreath, and a life-sized inflatable snowman that'll probably deflate by midnight. Now multiply that by hundreds. You've got a gold mine of user-generated content (UGC) that you can share on your website and social media, which, in marketing terms, is like finding the last turkey in the grocery store on December 24th.

Not only does UGC help with content generation (because who has time to create custom posts every day during holiday chaos?), but it also builds trust. When your customers see that other real people (just like them!) are involved with your brand, it boosts their confidence – and their likelihood of sticking around long after the holidays are over.

3. Personalize Your Holiday Greetings with a Twist

If you're sending out generic "Happy Holidays" emails like your digital pen-pal diploma depends on it, your audience is probably hitting that unsubscribe button faster than they can say "Fa-la-la-la-nope." But fear not, instead of going generic, consider using a gamified approach: tie it back to a fun twist like a Christmas door decoration contest idea, or even an exclusive offer for participating in a festive quiz (cue the "What Magical Holiday Creature Are You?" quiz on your socials).

People love to feel seen and unique, and when you personalize your holiday campaigns based on their past engagement or even something as simple as their name, it adds a little sparkle to their inbox – and makes them less likely to ghost you come New Year.

4. Leverage Limited-Time Loyalty Rewards

No one can resist the lure of a countdown timer. Whether it's for a limited-edition gingerbread latte or free shipping if you buy in the next 24 hours, it taps into the same psychological trigger: FOMO (fear of missing out). So how do you ride this magic sleigh? Hit your audience with time-sensitive rewards.

Here's an example: for customers who participate in your holiday-themed contests (you know, the ones where they're flexing their best Clark Griswold decorations), send them a special loyalty discount that expires at midnight (perhaps with a snowflake animation for extra flair). Even better? Build in tiered loyalty rewards: the more activities they participate in, the bigger the prize. Before long, they'll love not just your holiday campaigns, but your brand.

5. Keep the Festivity Rolling with Post-Holiday Appreciation

Here's the often-missed step – follow up after the tinsel hits the storage box. Run campaigns that thank your holiday participants, maybe showing off the best Christmas door decorations or giving a shoutout to contest winners. This is a prime opportunity to introduce your brand new product lines, New Year's specials, or an early-bird offer on, say, Valentine's Day promo packages.

You'll build community vibes and brand loyalty that stretch longer than stale candy canes. And honestly, that's the endgame – creating lifetime customers who'll keep coming back, decorating doors, and participating in your epic contests.

Customer Love, Real Feedback & Why It Matters

We're not just yanking on holiday bells here – real customers see real success using these tactics. "Our Christmas campaign last year had such amazing engagement because of the holiday decoration contest you suggested!" said one marketing head. "We saw repeat engagement stretching even into February, and it was so much easier to upsell after the holiday fun was over."

Another user shared, "The personalization techniques we integrated completely upped our open rates and click-throughs, and those gamified loyalty tiers? Game-changing. Literally!"

See? It's not just about decking the halls with boughs of evergreen… it's about investing in creative, engaging experiences that get your customers sticking around long-term. And that's as evergreen as it gets.

Faisco: Your Ally in Holiday (and all-year-round) Marketing Success

FAISCO takes marketing beyond the basics, making it ridiculously easy to create engaging, interactive campaigns in just minutes. Whether you're running a Christmas door decoration contest or a full-scale holiday giveaway, FAISCO has the tools you need to build it – and make it shine – within three minutes. Trust me, your budget-limited, time-crunched marketing team will thank you.

The hot features?

• Game Templates: Create viral contest games that your audience can't resist.
• Quick Setup: No need to spend hours coding or designing – just pick and play.
• Social Task Integration: Build contests where sharing is rewarded, creating massive social media exposure.
• User Analytics: See how your contests perform in real-time with data that empowers smarter decisions.

And that's not all – with expert tools that foster long-term brand loyalty, you're not just attracting customers for one season. You're bringing them back month after month, holiday after holiday. So, get a head start on your next holiday campaign and let FAISCO do the heavy lifting, while you dream up your next brilliant Christmas door decoration contest idea… or whatever festive fun comes your way.

Ready to build loyalty that lasts all year? Let's make it happen with FAISCO!