The holiday season is a great opportunity to connect with your online students and show appreciation for their hard work and commitment. Incorporating a festive touch in your online course strengthens relationships and keeps your audience excited for what’s next. Here are five actionable ways to celebrate the holidays with your online students. Let’s get started!
1. Host an Online Holiday Event for Your Online Students
Online holiday gatherings are an effective way to engage your students and build community. Research shows that live events foster deeper connections by creating interactive experiences. According to Statista, the market size of virtual meetings and conferences reached USD 1 trillion in 2020. All the more reason to incorporate online events into your teaching strategy or membership offerings to draw your online students in and create memorable moments that leave a lasting impression.
How to Execute:
- Host a Festive Q&A Session: Focus on practical, job-ready skills. For example, if you teach graphic design, guide participants in creating a holiday-themed portfolio. Show them how festive branding can help attract freelance clients.
- Offer Exclusive Content: Surprise attendees with resources like templates for holiday cards, branding guides, or freelance pitch scripts. These gifts feel personal and actionable, motivating participants to apply what they’ve learned immediately.
Pro Tip: Use festive slides, holiday accessories, and shout-outs to create a fun atmosphere while staying focused on delivering value.
2. Offer Limited-Time Holiday Discounts for Online Students
The holidays create urgency and excitement, making it the perfect time to offer exclusive discounts for your online students. Limited-time offers can significantly boost course enrolments. A study conducted by Dr. Neha Patel and colleagues found that 74% of respondents purchased a product due to scarcity-based promotions.
How to Maximise Your Offer:
- Celebrate the Holidays with a Smart Investment: Make this season count! Grab 25% off Freelance Design Mastery and step into the new year with confidence. This limited-time holiday offer is the best gift you can give yourself—don’t miss it! 🎁
- Include Bonuses: Add festive extras tailored to your audience. A business coach could offer a Business Planning Guide or a graphic designer could provide a Holiday Graphics Toolkit
Proven Impact: A survey by RetailMeNot revealed that 57% of consumers shop during holidays specifically for discounts. By combining price cuts with bonuses, you cater to both practical and emotional motivators.
Pro Tip: Promote your discount through emails, social media posts, and countdown timers on your website. Use testimonials to showcase how past online students benefited from your courses.
3. Launch a Holiday Challenge for Online Students
Challenges are short, focused activities designed to inspire action and keep your students motivated. They’re a brilliant way to help learners stay on track and achieve clear, tangible results. It’s a simple yet effective way to turn passive participants into active, goal-driven achievers.
Ideas to Launch a Successful Challenge:
- Choose a Focused Goal: A graphic design instructor could run a 5-Day Festive Branding Challenge where participants create a logo, banner, and email header.
- Provide Daily Resources: Include tutorials or cheat sheets, such as guides on festive colour palettes or typography tips.
- Foster Community Engagement: Use a Facebook group just like Wisdome’s Social Wall for participants to share progress, ask questions, and celebrate achievements.
Pro Tip: Recognise top contributors with shout-outs or small rewards like free resources or discounts on future courses. This encourages active participation and creates memorable experiences.
4. Send Personalised Holiday Messages to Your Online Students
Personalised messages create strong emotional connections. According to Salesforce, 84% of customers value being treated like a person, not a number.
How to Add a Personal Touch:
- Celebrate Achievements: Celebrating achievements is a powerful way to motivate your students. Whether it’s a student hitting a milestone or a client reaching an important goal, these wins deserve recognition. It shows you care about their progress, not just their participation.
You can do this in simple ways. Send a personal email. Give them a shout-out in your next live session. Or feature them in your success stories to inspire others.
When you celebrate someone’s progress, you build their confidence and remind them they’re capable of more than they thought. It’s also a great way to inspire others in your program to stay focused and keep moving forward.
- Record Video Greetings: A short, heartfelt video can make your message stand out. Thank your audience for their efforts and share hopes for their continued success.
Pro Tip: Include a small gift, like a downloadable goal-setting template or festive calendar, to add extra value.
5. Use Social Media and Email Templates to Engage Online Students
Simplify your holiday campaigns with our ready-to-use templates that save time and ensure consistency. Enjoy!
Social Media Templates:
Holiday Discount Post: 🎁 The season of giving is here! Treat yourself to [X% OFF] on [Your Course/Program] until [Date]. It’s the perfect time to invest in your goals and start the new year feeling confident. 🎄 Click here to get started: [Link]
Event Invitation: 🌟 Let’s celebrate together! Join us for [Event Name] on [Date/Time]: a special session packed with inspiration and festive cheer. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow. Save your spot: [Link]
Challenge Announcement: 🎯 This holiday season, let’s make it count. Join our [Challenge Name] and achieve [Goal] in just [# of Days]! It’s your time to shine, and we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way. Kickstart your journey: [Link]
Email Templates:
Festive Greeting Email: Subject: A Special Thank You This Holiday Season
Body: Hi [Name],
As the holidays roll in, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our [Course/Community]. Your dedication inspires us every day, and we couldn’t be prouder of what you’ve achieved this year.
We hope this season brings you joy, rest, and time to dream big for the year ahead. You’re an important part of our journey, and we’re so grateful to have you with us.
Wishing you and your loved ones a truly wonderful holiday season.
Warmly, [Your Name/Business Name]
New Year’s Goals Email: Subject: Let’s Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet!
Body: Hi [Name],
A new year is almost here, and we’re so excited for what’s to come! Whether you’re setting new goals, building on your progress, or starting fresh, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
This holiday season is the perfect time to reflect on your growth and plan for the year ahead. You’ve already achieved so much, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for you.
Here’s to an incredible 2025; let’s make it your year!
Cheers, [Your Name/Business Name]
Special Holiday Gift Email: Subject: A Little Something Just for You
Body: Hi [Name],
The holidays are a time for giving, and we couldn’t let the season pass without showing how much we appreciate you. As a special thank you, we’ve got a little something to help you keep growing: [gift or offer, e.g., “25% off your next course” or “a free resource to inspire you”].
You’re part of our community, and that means so much to us. Your dedication and growth this year have been incredible, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next.
Click here to claim your holiday gift: [Link]
Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season.
Warm regards, [Your Name/Business Name]
Bonus: Out-of-the- Office Email Templates:
Don’t let your out-of-office message be a snoozefest! Check out these funny ideas to keep your email personality shining even when you’re on the barbie.
Email Template 1:
Subject: Out of Office: Riding Waves and Dodging Seagulls
Hey [Recipient Name],
I’m currently riding the waves and dodging seagulls. I’m also trying to avoid getting sand in my swimsuit and sunscreen in my eyes. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!
I’ll be back in the office on [Return Date].
For urgent matters, please contact [Contact Name] at [Contact Email].
Aloha,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
Email Template 2:
Subject: Out of Office: Building a Snowman and Chasing My Little Ones
Hi [Recipient Name],
I’m currently building a snowman with a bunch of little helpers who are more interested in throwing snowballs at each other than actually building. I’m also trying to keep them from eating too much snow and getting frostbite. It’s a full-time job!
I’ll be back to normal on [Return Date].
For urgent matters, please contact [Contact Name] at [Contact Email].
Stay warm,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
Subject: Out of Office: Chasing Zen and Sipping Tea**
Email Template 3:
Hey [Recipient Name],
I’m currently trying to find my Zen while sipping on endless cups of tea. I’m also trying to ignore the mosquito bites and the sound of the jungle. It’s a peaceful retreat, right?
I’ll be back to reality on [Return Date].
For urgent matters, please contact [Contact Name] at [Contact Email].
Namaste,
[Your Name]
[Your Business Name]
Key Takeaways:
You’ve got the chance to make this holiday season something your students won’t forget. Host a gathering. Offer a discount. Kick off a challenge that gets them excited and motivated.
It’s more than just holiday traditions; it’s about building genuine connections and sparking the drive your students need to hit the ground running in the new year.
Looking for tools to make it easier? Start with our Free Plan or future-proof your growth with our Lifetime Plan.
How do you like to celebrate the holidays with your audience? Share your ideas below, and let’s make it happen!
