Thanksgiving is over, and as we skyrocket toward Christmas, it can be difficult to make your voice heard among the clamor of holiday advertising. Online shoppers get bombarded by thousands of advertising campaigns each day, and many of those are dropped into their Facebook newsfeeds or plastered across their Pinterest walls.

A great sale might not be enough to get you noticed among the festivities this time of year, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. By getting your creative juices flowing and capitalizing on the holiday spirit, you can make your social media campaign stand out in the midst of all the distractions.

Have Fun With It

Yes, your customers want amazing deals on Christmas presents, but they also want to have a little fun. Take a cue from Office Max’s popular Elf Yourself campaign and give your followers a chance to get a little crazy and then share what they’ve created with friends. It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as the Elf Yourself app, but how about creating a Wish List of products from your website that can be shared via Facebook or Twitter?

Last year, Sephora created a hugely successful campaign based on the Wish List idea. They invited customers to tweet their wish lists with the hashtag #sephoraclaus. Then, they granted one beauty wish every day for 30 days. Both Office Max and Sephora proved that it’s possible to successfully promote deals during the holidays in a fun and engaging way.

Get Status Savvy

There are varying opinions about how to get the optimum reach on Facebook, but it’s been demonstrated time and time again that asking questions and/or soliciting feedback boosts your visibility and fan engagement. Brainstorm what will get your followers chatting about the holidays, and start the ball rolling with a personal touch. Remember: Facebook fans like to feel as though they’re talking to a real person, not a business, so use personal pronouns like I and me. Share your experiences, and don’t be afraid to ask for likes, comments, and shares.

Here are a few status ideas to help you start the brainstorming process:

• We’re decking the halls tonight! Click “Like” if your decorations are up!
• Tell us about your favorite holiday tradition.
• Post a picture of your tree on our Facebook wall!
• What’s your favorite recipe for Christmas dinner leftovers?

Engage in a Little Friendly Competition

Christmas is a great time to run social media contests. People are already online, they’re looking for bargains, and they’re hoping to save a little cash. Give them a chance to win big and promote your business at the same time by running a contest on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

To the great relief of many businesses, Facebook recently changed its contest policy so that you no longer have to run the contest through a third-party app. Try a sweepstakes or photo contest to get fans involved and talking about your business.

If you want to try something a bit more creative, consider an idea like Forever 21’s Pin to Win contest. This year, they asked fans to create a Pinterest board and pin 21 favorite items for a chance to win a $1000 gift card. This was a unique way to incentivize customers to promote the Forever 21 brand utilizing Pinterest alone. Try to think of an out-of-the-box way to promote your product through a contest while simultaneously providing some sort of an incentive for customers—it’s a win-win situation.

Use Customer Feedback Creatively

One of the best ways to get your Facebook fans talking is to let them know their opinions will make a difference. Don’t just ask a question—let them know how you plan to use that information so they’ll be more likely to give a thoughtful answer. Here are a few ideas for including fan feedback in your marketing:

• Create a blog post based on answers to a Facebook question.

Ask fans for their opinions on a relevant topic (such as “What’s your favorite strategy for Christmas shopping with kids?) and compile the best answers into a blog post.

• Use quotes from fans to create a holiday-themed Pinterest image.

Ask fans to submit a favorite holiday quote or to describe why they love your company’s products. Choose one (or more) to promote on Pinterest.

• Ask your most-engaged fans for testimonials and post their stories on your Facebook page.

Take note of which fans regularly interact with you on Facebook and Twitter. Ask them to describe why they love your company or to talk about a positive experience they’ve had.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas will fly by as always, but you can make the most of them by creatively engaging with your social media fans and followers. Winning with social media has many meanings, but can ultimately be defined as coming up with unique ways to encourage fans to interact with you and engage with your posts. It’s not just about posting sale information and holiday gift guides—it’s about helping your customers stay lighthearted during a season that can so quickly become stressful.

What strategies have you successfully used to boost social media engagement during the holidays? Tell us what’s worked for you (or what hasn’t) in a comment!