Skip to content
For the BIG FISH team, it’s always the season to think ahead. As consumers enjoy summer sunshine without a thought of holiday shopping, we’re busy getting ready for Christmas in August.
Above making Santa’s ‘nice list,’ earning a spot in a media gift guide offers both long- and short-term ROI, including:
- Building brand awareness
- Educating readers about a product
- Fostering media relationships
- Supporting sales
With high PR value at stake, the BIG FISH team starts the holiday gifting season in the summer. Here’s what you need to know: as early as August, editorial directors at print and online outlets start curating their holiday gift guides, carefully selecting which products to feature and share with their readers. That’s why the BIG FISH team is fully immersed in our planning, collaborating closely with our clients to come up with winning strategies to maximize exposure and generate buzz.
Holiday gift guide campaigns are only a fraction of our always-on media relations. When summer comes, we’re already in touch with the top editors for guides and have extensive research on competitors and the industry landscape that informs our strategy and positioning to land in the year’s holiday conversation. We anticipate gift guides in top publications such as Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily, and WIRED, and make sure that our clients are on editors’ radar with compelling pitches, supportive images, and samples when needed.
Gift guides start publishing as early as October and continue just until December 25. Throughout the season, we engage in deskside conversations with reporters behind the lists and brainstorm unique and creative ways to pitch clients for top lists, such as by tapping into gifting trends, identifying interesting use cases, and incorporating last-minute discounts to capture attention. We also keep our fingers on the pulse of gifting trends and track new lists as they publish for inspiration and to continue a steady cadence of outreach. Key gift guide tactics include:
- Media relations
- Desksides
- Newsjacking
- Product positioning
- Reviews
- Deals and promotions
Securing a steady drumbeat of holiday coverage is only half our objective; we also ensure that we’re building awareness with the right editors, outlets, and audiences who need to know about our clients. With relationships at lifestyle, tech, broadcast, and niche publications, BIG FISH ensures that gift guide coverage is relevant to our clients and will make a lasting impression.
While thinking ahead is crucial to receiving optimal coverage, the BIG FISH team has holiday gift guide success down to a science. Whether you’re looking for gift ideas or seeking advice on how to successfully navigate the holidays, our team delivers strong holiday coverage. Contact BIG FISH PR today about your brand’s holiday gift guide PR strategy.
