Heading home for the holidays is a tradition for people around the world but not everyone can make the trip this year. This ability to connect people at some of the most important moments of their lives when they can’t be together is one of the main reasons people love Skype. It gives them a place to gather with friends and family in a way that’s far more intimate than a simple phone call or email. They can’t get a kiss under the mistletoe but they can blow you a kiss over Skype! Many people are staying connected over Skype when they’re forced to spend the holidays apart. Compared to SkypeOut average daily users, Skype gets double digit spikes during special occasions like Christmas and New Year’s.

Skype is a great place for advertisers at any time of the year but over the holidays it’s one of the few places where brands can cut through the clutter and get up-close-and-personal with their customers when there’s an opportunity to make a real impression and truly be remembered. At Skype, your brand appears as the human senses are on full alert and primed for new possibilities. Our Conversations Ads, which we announced last spring, and Homepage Takeovers are some of best ways to make an impact. Many global brands are advertising on Skype this Holiday. Peugeot is running a campaign on Skype to promote the Peugeot 208, the latest model the auto maker has been gradually unveiling around the world. The campaign uses a Skype Homepage Takeover to take advantage of peak usage during the holidays in Germany.

Skype has proven it can drive double digit lifts in some of the hardest to move metrics like intent to purchase and intent to recommend and brands around the world are taking note. Audience engagement on Skype is one of the keys to our success. The average Skype call lasts about 30 minutes – more time on Skype equals more engagement with your brand.

So whatever your traditions, I encourage you to reach out to someone you love over Skype for the holidays. Once you try it, you’ll understand how powerful and engaging the experience is for brands and consumers alike.

Sandhya Venkatachalam, General Manager, Advertising & Monetization at Skype