Are You Using It?
December 1st, the beginning of a longtime tradition of counting down the days until Christmas. In our house, it was Grandma’s gift of an Advent Calendar, every day we’d open a new window of the 3-D cardboard house, and we’d read a tiny scroll, containing a new episode of the story of Christmas with a savory new piece of chocolate. Yes, right before bedtime, Grandma would send us home on a nice sugar high.
Actually, when you think about it, this was the first viral app.
Kids couldn’t wait until the next day to “log on” and open the app. Grandma was the genius too, as she knew we’d want to come see her everyday (talk about a cheat code).
Today, many companies and brands are borrowing this concept of counting down the days of December and their final month of the fourth quarter as an innovate marketing tool.
The thought is actually pretty brilliant. Replace the candy behind the windows and unwrap a daily promotion on your website, social media or on your casino floor. Each day brings a small moment of engagement, limited time offer, a new roll-out announcement, a themed holiday gift or message and discounts or point multipliers.
Why does this work so well?
It taps into something we all naturally love this time of year: Tradition, anticipation, routine and a sense of celebration.
And just like Grandma, Mimi or Nonna, it creates a built-in reason for your customers, guests, followers or players to come back every day…for a small series of surprises.
You can use the countdown for stocking stuffer giveaways, such as Gift Cards, short videos with upcoming hotel renovations and package stays, branded SWAG or tips on how to play Bubble Craps.
It reminds us of simpler times.
Taking tradition, allowing it to change and grow and comingling old practices with innovative ways of staying connected.
It may be too late to roll out your 2025 Marketing Advent Calendar, but now you’ve got plenty of time to think and budget for 2026.
Rick Harshman is the CEO of H2R Agency, the leading marketing agency specializing in inspired creative and results-driven strategies in the gaming industry. For more information, call (720) 226-3229 or e-mail RickH@H2RAgency.com.