Managing your company's social media presence during the holidays can get tricky, especially for small businesses that don’t yet have the resources to hire a full-time social media manager. And while it can be tempting to say, "see you next year," and ignore social media altogether, there are several reasons you shouldn't.

First, neglecting your accounts could make you lose favor with social media platform algorithms. That means fewer people will see your posts when you resume in January, which is not how you want to kick off your social media marketing efforts in the new year. The holidays are also a great time to try new things like contests, promos, and personal posts that show followers what your company and staff are all about. 

Do People Even Check Social Media During the Holidays?

Yes! You may think having a social media presence during the holidays is a waste of time because people are busy doing other things, but the opposite can be true. People are off work and school, so when they're not shopping and planning festivities, they're often scrolling Instagram and TikTok, looking for content to watch. And how many gatherings have you been to recently where many of the guests spent at least half the party on their phones? Exactly. 

Of course, staying on top of social media doesn't mean keeping your phone in your hand as you navigate the busy holiday season. There are ways to keep your social media steam going while enjoying all the fun this season can bring. 

Put Your Social Media on Auto-Pilot 

There are plenty of ways to preschedule your social media posts so they can go live any time you want, whether you're near your phone or out caroling with the family. In fact, plenty of free social media management tools are available to help you plan posts and track your engagement and other vital stats. Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Agorapulse are just a few tools that let you sign up for a free account and create multiple admins so you and your team can work together on a winning social media strategy year-round. 

Plan Ahead for Holiday Social Media Success

Planning ahead helps you plan for success, especially during the holidays. The week before Thanksgiving is notoriously slow for many businesses, so take advantage of that quiet time to plan your social media posts and put together any graphics you need. If you're stumped on what to post, here are some ideas:

• Festive graphics with thoughtful holiday wishes.

• Funny holiday memes. Bonus points if you can come up with your own. Great memes tend to go viral, and what better way to stuff your stocking with more engagement?

• Reels of each employee talking about why they love the holidays. They can discuss family traditions, cultural traditions they enjoy, their favorite things about the season, and more. 

•  "Caption this" photo contests. Post photos of staff members in their ugly Christmas sweaters or participating in other silly and festive activities, then encourage followers to come up with the best caption and give a prize to the winner. 

Fill Your Accounts With Holiday Cheer 

It's proven that warm messages of holiday cheer inspire positive emotions, so use social media to build goodwill toward your business and make clients feel like you're always thinking of them. Post greetings for any holiday you choose, photos of company holiday parties, your festive office decor, and anything else you can think of to spread holiday cheer. Not only will it make followers and clients feel joy when they look at your social media pages, but it will also build engagement and brighten up your feeds so they look more polished. 

Run a Holiday Promo

People are always looking for a good deal, especially during the holidays, so appeal to savvy holiday shoppers by giving them an offer they can't refuse. Discounts, coupon codes, and free shipping are all simple things that can turn a follower looking for a bargain into a paying customer who comes back again and again. 

Stay tuned for more tips next month, and happy holiday planning to you all!