Standing Out in a Crowd: Getting that Hallmark Movie "Main Character Energy"

Making your marketing and your brand stand out at the busiest time of year.

Create your signature Christmas moment. In Hallmark movies, there’s always that one thing that makes the main character stand out. What makes your business special, or “limited edition”? Refine what you do better than your competition, and create a short-term holiday offer using social media to amplify it.

The combination of scarcity and seasonal relevance grabs your customers’ attention and drives them to make a quick decision. Use holiday-themed copy, and target warm audiences like past customers and website visitors, with small, focused Facebook and Instagram campaigns. 

Creative tip - vertical video (15 seconds or less) will capture your viewers attention best at this time of year. Everyone is busy; short, easy-to-understand videos can be your best asset.

Be engaging and create community. The Holidays are a great time to show off your softer side and give back. Consider running an interactive holiday contest, requiring some kind of audience-building action (new page follows, tag a friend, or join an email list), and offer a prize that ties directly into what you sell. 

Strategy tip - take advantage of local Facebook groups and community pages to maximize your reach. The environment naturally lends itself to sharing, and groups can be a great way to expand your influence with a like-minded audience.

Treat every customer like a returning movie character. Be the one they can’t forget with a mini email or SMS campaign. While it’s true that inboxes tend to explode in November and December, you can still stand out and be seen. Make sure your offer is helpful, clear, concise, and has a slight hint of urgency.

Personalize messages offering gift ideas or solutions that solve your customers problems, featuring festive, but simple visuals - and click through to a frictionless landing page to generate fast mobile conversions. 

Copywriting tip - use phrases like “early access” or “subcriber only” to pique your readers interest. The promise of premium, or limited edition offers make subscribers feel special, and lead to higher email open rates.

Share your story like you’re narrating the movie. 2025 Year in Review posts will be all over social media soon, build emotional connection with your customers through staff and customer stories, behind-the-scenes moments/highlights, or bloopers that show off the personality of your business. 

The end of the year isn’t just a countdown, it’s a great opportunity! These last few weeks give us a chance to build momentum, wrap up wins, and set ourselves up for an even better start in January. We show our audience, our customers, and our community that we’re here, we’re engaged, and we’re excited for what’s next. Happy New Year!