8 Proven Easter Promotion Ideas for eCommerce

Modern eCommerce specialists drive a significant share of their sales during the holiday season. November and December, in particular, are huge months that produce major profits. That being said, opportunities abound throughout the remainder of the year. Easter ideas for business, in particular, promise to drive huge revenues if they’re creative and tailored to your unique customer base.

The value of Easter promotions is simple: Consumption for this beloved spring holiday goes far beyond eggs and candy alone. Research from the  National Confectioners Association reveals that 87% of parents buy or create Easter baskets, with 73% adding non-edible items such as books or stuffed animals to the mix. The spending continues long after children are small, with a  study commissioned by HI-CHEW indicating that more than half of parents continue to send their children Easter baskets after they’ve left home.

The takeaway? Easter provides a great opportunity to capitalize on consumers’ eagerness to celebrate with many types of purchases. Let them know that your business intends to celebrate as well — and grab their attention with splashy visuals and creative marketing events. Add a few engaging social media updates or marketing emails, and you’ll be sure to capture the spirit of enthusiastic Easter customers.

COVID-19 and its impact on consumers’ Easter spending plans

No discussion of Easter promotion ideas would be complete without addressing the looming issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s impact on the eCommerce sector has differed from one year to the next, but there’s no denying that it’s made things difficult for businesses and consumers alike. The supply chain is a constant source of concern, as are evolving practices related to social distancing and mask mandates.

Despite all this, holiday spending has actually been a high point for many types of eCommerce. In the midst of a pandemic, consumers were always on the hunt for ways to celebrate, even if it was limited to online shopping and at-home celebrations. 

In 2021, Easter spending was projected to increase considerably as compared to past years. A report from the  National Retail Federation (NRF) revealed that nearly eight in 10 respondents hoped to celebrate Easter that year, with anticipated spending of more than $179 per person. The majority of these anticipated purchases revolved around food and candy, although non-edible gifts, cards, and decorations were also priorities for many respondents. 

Based on the new updates we have from the NRF’s annual survey, Easter spending is anticipated to hit a record high of $24 billion this year, which is an increase from $20.8 billion in 2022 and the previous record of $21.7 billion in 2020.

8 Proven Easter Promotion Ideas for eCommerce specialists

Given the strength of holiday spending this past year, it behooves eCommerce specialists to capitalize on this trend and get consumers as excited as possible about the spring season. Easter provides a range of digital and in-person opportunities that can attract new customers while also building engagement with long-time consumers. The following strategies are among the most effective  Easter marketing campaign ideas worth implementing.

Easter promotion idea #1: Set up Easter-themed chatbot conversation triggers

Why this works: Chatbot conversations provide the perfect opportunity for playing up the Easter holiday. This is one of the easiest promotions to implement and, done right, can also be one of the most impactful. Options for making the most of this strategy include:

• Adjust conversation openers to reflect the upcoming festivities. This could be as simple as wishing customers a happy Easter in the leadup to the holiday.
• Don’t be afraid to use silly wordplay to make customers chuckle. For example, chatbots might let customers know that they’re “egg-cited” to help shoppers take advantage of “egg-cellent deals.”

Channel: Chat.

Benefits: Tailored chatbots improve engagement, reflecting the best of the in-store experience for online shoppers. Chatbots can also personalize online Easter shopping by asking customers to share their preferences or holiday plans. Furthermore, tailored chatbot conversations may entice customers to sign up for marketing emails and generate new leads.

Expected reach: All daily website visitors will be greeted by Easter-oriented chatbots.

Easter promotion idea #2: Create a dedicated landing page at your eCommerce store

Why this works: Take this opportunity to switch up your eCommerce landing page so that it reflects your latest Easter egg promotions. Keep in mind:

• A vibrant design with pastel colors is essential, as are Easter-themed graphics. 
• Catchy text can get customers excited for Easter shopping. 
• This page can also direct customers to some of the Easter initiatives highlighted below, such as event marketing sign-ups or bundle offers. 

Channel: On-site.

Benefits: A dedicated landing page will provide a far more cohesive experience for those who arrive at your page by way of marketing emails, paid ads, or social media updates. This keeps customers in the sales funnel, thereby more efficiently driving them toward quick conversions.

Expected reach: If an Easter-oriented landing page is included on the main navigation menu, all daily visitors will be exposed to it. Besides your website visitors, your landing page will be seen by your social media followers or your paid ads audiences that have clicked on your marketing easter campaigns. 

Easter promotion idea #3: Create Easter product bundles to increase your average order value

Why this works: Many customers are willing to splurge a bit for Easter — particularly if given the opportunity to invest in specialized baskets. Encourage them with promotional newsletters, push notifications, and pop-ups to indulge in product bundles that include items they might not otherwise purchase alone. 

Channel: On-site retargeting, push notifications, email.

Benefits: Not only could this simple strategy dramatically increase average basket values, but it should also get customers excited about new products. Once they’ve made the most of the items included in their basket, they may be inclined to purchase them again in the future. 

Expected reach: Again, all daily visitors could potentially be exposed to Easter product bundles if they are highlighted through dynamic pop-ups. These can also be promoted on social media and in marketing emails, reaching even more contacts. Lastly, push notifications are an additional channel that responds to devices, not contacts, increasing your reach even more. 

Easter promotion idea #4: Add an in-store Easter installation to create a memorable customer experience

Why this works: Much of the appeal of holiday shopping stems from the vibrant displays found throughout stores during the months of November and December. Unfortunately, some eCommerce specialists neglect to play up in-store visuals to the same extent during the spring. This makes Easter shopping feel like far less of an event. 

• Give customers something new to appreciate with an in-store installation that celebrates the renewal of spring and the excitement of Easter. 
• Cute and whimsical designs are ideal, although there are plenty of opportunities for playing with bold, contemporary looks as well. Either way, the goal is to get customers to take notice. 
• Use QR Codes that will redirect your in-store customers to landing pages that will endorse promotional offers, bundles, or exclusive benefits with an appealing design. 

Channel: In-store.

Benefits: Shopping among vibrant displays will get consumers in the spirit, ensuring that they remember their enjoyable shopping experience — and encouraging them to return for more. 

Expected reach: All brick-and-mortar customers will take notice of your storefront’s Easter installations and interior decorations. Don’t overlook the fact that the QR Codes can increase your conversions and further nurture your existing customers.

Easter promotion idea #5: Host an Easter-themed marketing event

Why this works: Event marketing dominates during the holiday season, but business leaders often forget that it can be just as effective throughout the remainder of the year. This is an especially useful option for service-oriented businesses. With a few small adjustments, however, marketing events can also have a huge impact in the eCommerce sector.

• With Easter, family-friendly events tend to be the most enticing. Your business could host an egg hunt for kids, in which young participants seek candy-filled eggs or other treats hidden throughout your business premises. 
• Meet-and-greets with the Easter Bunny are also a prime option for family-friendly Easter events. Add a backdrop with your company logo ⁠— and encourage customers to post any photos they may take on social media, complete with a strategically selected hashtag.
• Amp up the social media effort by capturing footage of your marketing event, share it on Instagram Stories, and encourage your followers to reshare your post increasing your user-generated content. 
• Easter events don’t necessarily need to be centered around children to be effective. Adults also enjoy posing for silly pictures or hunting for treats.
• Add coupons or free samples to the mix to get attendees especially excited. For example, instead of searching for candy eggs alone, they can seek out eggs adorned with QR codes, which can then be used to redeem special deals.
• Adults-only events can go a step further and get “hoppy” with craft brews or other beverages. 

Channel:  In the physical store, with online promotions through social media encouraged.You can implement this strategy using email, pop-ups or push notifications to inform your contacts. Additionally, you can create segments based on mobiles and target your contacts in a more personal way via SMS or Viber. 

Benefits: Event marketing improves customer engagement while also providing valuable content for online marketing. Many events boosts community awareness and may even lead to new email list sign-ups or social media follows.

Expected reach: This varies depending on the desired size of the event, but promotional content stemming from the occasion can reach all social media followers, customers who receive email newsletters or SMS, and the brand’s website visitors that will be notified through pop-ups. All in all, this idea increases your reach so keep in mind that the more channels you use, the more audience you engage. 

Easter promotion idea #6: Don’t forget post-Easter sales

Why this works: Some people look forward to shopping after the holiday in question more than they enjoy it on the actual day. This trend is most evident after Christmas when customers hit the stores to use their gift cards. 

Similar spending is possible in the immediate aftermath of the Easter holiday, but customers might need a little extra encouragement. 

• Build a sense of urgency with last-chance newsletters detailing how customers can still get in on special deals that were exclusively designed for Easter.
• Post-Easter sales naturally have a built-in scarcity mentality, which can be further increased through urgency-oriented messaging or with a countdown widget, namely a pop-up or a Viber message.

Channel: Email, on-site retargeting, Viber, push notifications, and in-store with QR Codes.

Benefits: Multiple studies verify the value of a countdown timer for encouraging procrastination-inclined customers to make purchases.  Case studies involving the use of timers before and during Black Friday, for example, reveal that implementing a countdown in on-site remarketing messages or cart-abandonment automations can improve conversions by 200%. 

Expected reach: Adjust your landing page after Easter to reach 100% of daily visitors and make good use of your contacts from all your selected channels for optimal reach.

Easter promotion idea #7: Build excitement with an Easter countdown

Why this works: Another option for building urgency, countdowns to Christmas are common among today’s eCommerce specialists, many of which provide special discounts every day in December or, at minimum, for the 12 Days of Christmas. A similar strategy can prove to be effective as Easter approaches. 

• Count down the days until Easter on social media or add a timer widget to your website with dynamic pop-ups. 
• A countdown-themed blast of daily marketing emails designed to build up suspense and anticipation can work wonders, particularly if these are equipped with catchy subject lines.
• For the two weeks leading up to Easter, use this opportunity to clue customers in on current product bundles or other seasonal purchases. 
• On the final day of the countdown, reveal the results from the aforementioned giveaway before letting customers know how they can score free samples or other special Easter deals. Don’t forget that giveaways are one of the most efficient ways to increase your social media followers, boosting brand awareness and user-generated content. 
• Design in-store banners with QR Codes that will build up the excitement of your in-store customers. 

Channel: On-site, social media, email, in-store QR Codes, push notifications.

Benefits: Like post-Easter sales, countdowns build a sense of urgency. They can also drum up excitement for special Easter sales or events, thereby improving the day-of engagement on the actual holiday.

Expected reach: Website-based countdowns should be visible to all daily visitors, and all your contacts should receive countdown messages via different channels, either digital or physical.

Easter promotion idea #8: Partner with non-competing businesses for co-branded initiatives

Why this works: The cliche “two heads are better than one” definitely applies to holiday marketing. If you and another local business share similar company cultures or philosophies, you may be well-positioned to team up and, ideally, expose a broader customer base to your respective brands. 

• Provide samples or coupons to be used in your store. Both businesses should promote such events heavily on social media, tagging each other in all digital updates. 
• Develop a unique product line that incorporates elements from both partners. This should be exciting enough to attract extra foot traffic to your eCommerce space or get new customers shopping online. 
• Think carefully about which types of Easter-themed, co-branded products might be compelling to customers or clients from both businesses. Again, be sure to promote via digital channels while encouraging existing followers to support all businesses involved. 

Channel: On-site, newsletters, social media, and event marketing.

Benefits: A study conducted by  Worldwide Business Research and commissioned by Partnerize indicates that more than half of participating businesses have seen partnerships drive more than one-fifth of their total revenue. This strategy improves brand awareness and may also increase loyalty through the power of association.

Expected reach: Astounding reach is possible, including not only all of your social media followers but also all of your partner’s followers and contact lists. Both brands can inform their subscribers about the upcoming collaboration and mutually benefit from this initiative. 

Break Some Eggs and Growth Will Follow

Annual patterns vary dramatically from one business to the next, but all eCommerce specialists can benefit from implementing creative Easter promotion ideas that boost engagement and help them stand out in a sea of holiday marketing messages. Strategic selection is essential, however; without it, the return on investment for Easter marketing campaigns may be limited. With an omnichannel customer engagement platform you can design a truly impressive marketing campaign and using all available channels you can reach different audiences and demographics.

Look to ContactPigeon for insight and support every step of the way. One of the few  360-degree omnichannel customer engagement platforms built intentionally to reflect the unique needs of the modern eCommerce sector, ContactPigeon boasts a strong reputation among many of the world’s most trusted brands. 

Ready to take the next step? We’d love to discuss exciting opportunities for building customer engagement.  Reach out today to book a session with our experts and find out how you can scale your business and meaningfully engage with customers.