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Posted on10 December 2024

Elevate Your Christmas Marketing Campaigns with Localisation and Cultural Nuance

By Rachel Lambert | rachellambert.biz | Copywriting | Content Creation | White Papers | Technical Writing

Rachel Lambert

Because who doesn’t love a bit of cultural nuance? The holiday season offers a golden opportunity for businesses to connect with global audiences. But if you really want to make an impact, your message needs to make sense to the culture you’re speaking to.

At Atlas Translations, we know (insert minor humble brag) how to help businesses get it right! Maybe it’s the mulled wine talking, but localising your brand’s holiday campaign involves realising you need to do more than simply translate words. This week’s blog post, “Elevate Your Christmas Marketing Campaigns with Localisation and Cultural Nuance,” invites you to do just that. We’re going to help you make sure your message feels like home—no matter where in the world it’s read.

Why Localisation Matters During the Holidays

You may notice a tinge of irony as we discuss “Christmas” marketing as a global translation and localisation agency. At Atlas, we know there are many different holidays and even more different traditions celebrated around the world. In fact, after a quick check on the interwebs of information, we counted over 25 different celebrations in November, December, and January alone. That’s a lot of different beliefs, traditions, and holidays.

This is why tailoring your company message during the holidays is vital, and localisation is the answer. Our team will help your organisation to:

  • Understand Cultural Differences
    • Holiday traditions aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some countries go all out for Christmas, while others focus more on the New Year. Some countries focus on a religious celebration before or after a December Christmas. Knowing what matters to your audience makes all the difference.
  • Avoid Missteps
    • A poorly translated or culturally insensitive campaign could miss the mark—or worse, cause offence. Colours, symbols, and even phrases carry different meanings across the world. Proper localisation helps avoid turning your Christmas marketing campaigns into a Krampus-fuelled nightmare.
  • Building Connection
    • When your content feels culturally relevant, your audience feels seen. And when people feel seen, they’re more likely to trust and engage with your brand.

Adapting Your Holiday Campaigns for Global Audiences

Language is Key

🗣️ Your words matter. A professional translator can make sure your slogans, social media posts, and email campaigns don’t just make sense—they make an impact.

Visual and Cultural Relevance

🎆 It’s not just about the words. Imagery and colours need to fit, too. Think traditional marigold garlands for Diwali in India or bold red and gold designs for Lunar New Year campaigns in China.

Holiday Timing Differences

🗓️ Not everyone celebrates the same holidays at the same time. While Christmas takes centre stage in many countries, holidays like Orthodox Christmas or Lunar New Year might be more relevant to your audience. Tailoring your campaigns to align with local calendars ensures they’re seen at the right time.

How Atlas Can Help Localise Your Brand This Holiday Season

You’ll be working with native-speaking translators to make sure your messages feel natural and convey the right tone.

We’ll dig into local traditions and find out how holidays are celebrated in your target markets, and then we’ll reflect that in your translation project.

Your website is your “digital face”, so we can update your social media and online presence with festive greetings in your audience’s language(s).

Teams like ours at Atlas Translations know how to make your holiday campaigns shine globally.

Examples of Successful Localised Holiday Campaigns

Don’t let the onslaught of AI-inspired Christmas campaigns dampen your company’s holiday spirit. A bit of thought, a dash of caring, and a sprinkle of translation can make the magic happen.

  • Coca-Cola’s Festive Ads: Coca-Cola nails it (just about) every year by adapting its holiday campaigns to reflect local traditions, from music (“I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke”) to cultural imagery. In the Holiday Spirit, we’ll forgive this year’s offering 😏
  • Luxury Fashion for Lunar New Year: Big brands like Gucci and Prada create special collections for the Lunar New Year, blending traditional elements with their signature styles.
  • Music Makes The World Go Round: Every year, Spotify releases its “Wrapped” campaign featuring a global round-up of your personal and eclectic music tastes.
  • It’s Not Christmas In The UK: Until John Lewis releases its annual tug on the heartstrings. One of our faves is the Hedgehog being gifted foam packing peanuts so they can join in on their classmate’s fun. A perfect way to make sure everyone is included during the holidays!

It’s a Wrap!

The holidays are all about connection, and that’s precisely what localisation can help you achieve. A well-localised campaign shows your global audience that your brand understands and respects their culture. That’s a gift they won’t forget.

Contact Us

We’d love for you to contact Atlas Translations. We’re here for a chat or to answer questions!

The A-Team (missing Amy)

Call us on 01727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk to let us know what you need. We respond quickly to all enquiries!

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Use the Live Chat option during UK working hours to ask us any questions. You’ll chat with an actual, live human—no bots, only elves here! Just click the little icon at the bottom right of your screen to start chatting with us.

If you need a quick quote, we have a handy Get a quote button located at the top of our website where you can get an estimate for your needs.

Can I Trust Atlas Translations?

Yes, you can! We’re not risking being put on Santa’s Naughty List by telling you fibs. But if you’re after something a little more concrete, here’s some info:

Atlas Translations holds two ISO certifications — ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100:2017 (Translation Services).

If the project is highly confidential, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for added peace of mind.

Are you wondering if we’re up to date on privacy? We registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over 20 years ago and have always placed a high importance on data protection.

You can read more about our commitment to quality here.

Atlas Translations prides itself on providing fast, friendly, and high-quality language services. But don’t just take our word for it—see what our clients are saying about us.

We’re also on TrustPilot, and you can read our reviews here.

Global Voice, Local Touch

If you’re looking for some top tips for partnering with Atlas Translations, we have some top tips to share! We answer 25 of our clients’ most frequently asked questions, ranging from typesetting queries to discussing reference materials.

Click to download Global Voice, Local Touch

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