During the most wonderful time of the year, people enjoy relaxing, spending time with family, and eating delicious holiday meals made with love.
But they also revel in the fun of shopping for gifts. Whether the gift is for a significant other, child, parent, or friend, it’s something about seeing that person’s face light up with joy when unwrapping their present.
Many business owners often ask: How can I attract these holiday shoppers? How to stand out from all the other brands competing for attention?
The answer is a holiday marketing strategy. From promotions to holiday-themed giveaways, holiday marketing campaigns not only help you attract and engage customers, but they’re also fun.
In this blog post, we offer 16 holiday marketing ideas to get you and your target audience in the holiday spirit. We’ll also introduce you to the best marketing channels to run these festive holiday marketing campaigns.
16 Holiday Marketing Ideas We Love
Any marketing campaign takes careful planning and execution. And promoting your business during the busy holiday season is no different. With these holiday marketing campaign ideas, we hope to take the guesswork out of your holiday marketing strategy.
1. Unmissable Holiday Promotions
A huge part of holiday messaging is irresistible promotions that excite shoppers about hitting stores. People are always on the lookout for incredible holiday deals. In fact, price is the top consideration for holiday purchase decisions, influencing 50% of purchases.
And in some cases, the more shoppers feel like they’re saving, the more items they purchase because they feel like they’re getting more for their money. Plus, research says that saving money makes people happier.
And this happiness can’t come at a greater time than the holiday shopping season. Join in on the holiday cheer by offering unmissable holiday promotions.
Let’s look at some examples of promotions to offer this holiday season.
Holiday-Specific Rewards or Loyalty Programs for Loyal Customers
Spruce up your loyalty program by offering gift bundles to give customers an incentive to buy. As a result, customers get more bang for their buck, and you get a boost to your average order value.
Plus, your loyal customers will spread the word about your promotion and refer their family and friends.
Free Gift Wrap or Gift-Wrapping Station
For many holiday shoppers, gift wrapping is the least favorite part of the holiday gift-giving season. This is especially true if they have to wrap up a lot of gifts.
Perhaps they’re selecting gifts for their loved ones or colleagues online. To enhance their shopping experience, provide the option for their cart items to be packed in gift boxes or offer special online packaging solutions.
For example, take inspiration from Nordstrom and their holiday offer of “gift wrapping made easy.
Why we love it:
- Free gift box wrapping encourages Nordstrom purchases;
- Customers love the added convenience during the holiday rush;
- Opens the door to an additional revenue stream ($15 per gift) for wrapping non-Nordstrom purchases.
Gift Discounts
In 2023, 70% of holiday shoppers plan to shop for themselves, while 67% will also shop for their immediate family. Take advantage of this trend by offering gift discounts.
For example, you could offer a buy-one-get-one half-off special on holiday products. That way, customers won’t feel like they have to choose between themselves and a loved one when buying gifts. They can have the best of both worlds.
Holiday Classes or Tutorials
A lot of the holiday marketing tips we’ve offered so far may seem like they’re only useful for retailers. Well, service-based businesses, this one is for you.
You can offer holiday classes or tutorials related to the service you sell. For example, if you’re a small business offering a catering service, you can promote a holiday home chef masterclass. You can host these classes for free, fostering community engagement and positioning your business as an authority in your field.
By providing valuable insights and expertise, you contribute to the festive spirit and build trust and loyalty among potential customers who may later seek your services. And the people who sign up can get special discounts on your catering services for holiday events.
This also applies to businesses selling physical products. For example, a flower shop can host a holiday flower arrangement class.
A bakery can offer a series of classes, all with different themes, such as a holiday pastry-making class or a cake-decorating class.
Holiday Email Marketing Campaigns
This holiday promotion works exceptionally well for businesses that take advantage of customer data. You can send personalized promotions that resonate with your audience by segmenting your audience based on demographics, preferences, or buying behavior.
For example, for a customer who purchased a winter coat the previous year, you can offer a discount on matching accessories like hats, gloves, earmuffs, and other winter apparel.
2. Early-Bird Discount
Besides personalization, a feeling of exclusivity is another factor that drives customers to purchase. When customers feel special, they’re more likely to engage and convert.
Offering early-bird discounts during the holidays is a great way to make potential customers feel valued and like appreciated insiders. Doing so gives them exclusive access to special savings and a headstart on their festive shopping experience.
Plus, you build a sense of urgency as customers don’t want to miss out on the chance to save big on their holiday shopping.
Clearly define the discount period to make the most of this marketing holiday strategy. That way, customers know exactly when it ends and how soon they need to take advantage.
Then, share the early-bird special on online and offline marketing channels. This includes social media blasts, targeted emails, ad campaigns, and in-store signage.
As a result, more customers will see your special offer, whether they prefer to shop on your online store or at your brick-and-mortar location.
Travel Pirates offers holiday travelers early-bird deals to exciting destinations.
Why we love it:
- Early-bird deals tap into travelers’ natural inclination to plan and anticipate holidays in advance;
- Offering discounts on holiday packages provides a tangible financial incentive to purchase and taps into the fear of missing out (FOMO);
- Limited-time early-bird deals create a sense of exclusivity and urgency.
3. Holiday Gift Guide
64.2% of shoppers say they need help when it comes to holiday gifting. This is understandable because everyone has different preferences, and it can be difficult to find the perfect gift. Simply asking them can ruin the surprise and defeat the purpose of gift-giving.
What’s the solution? Offer your customers holiday gift guides to help them make a decision. Most people just need a little holiday inspiration to help jumpstart their creativity.
Follow these tips to create a meaningful gift guide for your customers:
- Analyze data from sales and email marketing campaigns;
- Consider targeting specific segments of your audience who are likely to be interested in one category of your products;
- Create a list of products;
- Organize your product list based on different factors, such as interests/personality, product category, age, price, specific problems the product solves, or recipient type (e.g., kids, parents, partner, friends, co-workers, etc.);
- Take certain products from your list and decide which ones to send to different audience segments (e.g., gifts for her, gifts for him, etc.);
- Consider bundling your products into gift sets to increase your average order value and make it easy for your customers to find perfectly curated sets;
- Build and format your gift guide, and determine how to distribute it (e.g. landing page, downloadable PDF, blog post, email newsletter).
Here’s an example from Warby Parker’s holiday email marketing campaign.
Why we love it:
- Festive colors catch the attention of holiday enthusiasts looking for the perfect gift;
- The all-encompassing gift guide inspires more gift purchases vs. a segmented one;
- Featuring popular trends and influencers helps inspire impulse purchases.
Want to create stunning holiday email newsletters in just a few clicks? Try Sender’s drag-and-drop email builder.
4. Gift Cards
Gift cards are one of the best holiday marketing ideas. Why? Because 35% of consumers would be happy to receive a gift card as a holiday present.
Gift cards are the second-most popular gift category after clothing.
Many holiday shoppers don’t know what to get their loved ones.
So, make the gifting experience stress-free by offering gift cards. That way, their loved ones can use the gift cards to buy whatever they want.
You can promote your gift cards in the following ways:
- On your website, add a banner with a link to your gift card product page;
- Reward your customers for buying gift cards with a ’buy one get one’ (BOGO) promotion’
- Give your customers the option to personalize their gift cards’
- Offer e-gift cards to reassure customers that they’ll always arrive in time for Christmas.
Why we love it:
- Simple steps outline how the bonanza works and how to qualify for a reward;
- Festive graphic reminder readers that gift cards are the perfect holiday gift;
- Adding an end date adds a sense of urgency to encourage quick purchases.
5. Complimentary Shipping
Free shipping influences 22% of holiday purchase decisions. Also known as complimentary shipping, free shipping gives customers the chance to save on their purchases, which boosts customer satisfaction.
So, consider adding this strategy to your holiday marketing plan. Using social media platforms, email campaigns, influencer marketing, and other channels, spread the word that you’re offering free shipping on all purchases.
In your holiday message, clearly communicate to customers that you’ll include the cost of shipping in the overall purchase price.
Target takes things to the next level by offering free 2-day shipping.
Why we love it:
- Minimum spend requirement encourages customers to spend more to qualify;
- Customers know exactly when to expect their package at their front door;
- Banner displays on all pages as a reminder to customers.
6. Festive Photo Competition
Photo competitions are another element you can add to your holiday campaign. They help to boost customer engagement and spread holiday cheer.
Encourage your social media followers to enter a contest to win an epic prize, such as a $500 gift card, the latest Apple iPad model, or a free holiday retreat.
To enter the contest, you can require users to take a specific picture and upload it with a branded hashtag. Whoever gets the most likes, comments, and engagements wins the prize.
Here are some ideas for creative photo contests:
- Invite participants to share their beautiful homes decked with holiday decorations;
- Encourage pet owners to showcase their furry friends dressed in festive gear;
- Have participants share photos of their favorite holiday recipes;
- Host a contest for the ugliest Christmas sweater;
- Have existing customers capture the excitement of unboxing your product during the holiday season.
Why we love it:
- The reward for the five-star luxury resort is hard to pass up;
- Caption entices the user to learn more;
- Link in the bio offers an easy way to enter the competition.
7. Holiday Event Promotion
A festive event is another tool to add to your holiday marketing efforts. These event promotions can create excitement and draw attention to your brand, helping you boost holiday sales.
Here are some ideas:
- 12 Days of Deals: Offer a different promotion or discount each day leading up to Christmas. These might include flash sales, BOGO offers, or exclusive discounts on select products;
- Virtual Holiday Market: Host a virtual holiday market that features your products and services. Include live demos, product showcases, and exclusive holiday deals for attendees. Use social media marketing to promote and host the event;
- Exclusive VIP Shopping Night: Host an exclusive VIP shopping night online or in-store to boost sales. Give customers early access to discounts and special promotions;
- Interactive Workshops: Host virtual or in-person workshops related to your products or industry.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a major annual holiday event featuring giant balloons, exciting entertainers, and more.
Why we love it:
- Bright colors capture the attention of website visitors and excite them to purchase;
- Verbiage of rain or shine encourages participation regardless of the weather;
- Clickable links allow online shoppers to easily purchase parade favorites.
Also read:
8. Expertise Bundle
Consider bundling your products and/or services to help customers learn a new skill and give them the biggest bang for their buck.
These could be packages that combine products, services, or resources related to specific areas of expertise. For example, if you’re a marketing agency, you can create bundles that cater to different marketing expertise areas such as social media, content creation, and SEO.
Or as an ecommerce brand, you can offer bundles that tap into the latest holidays gift trends.
Why we love it:
- Clear call-to-action buttons make the online shopping experience seamless;
- Leverages a simple up-sell opportunity by showing advanced functionalities;
- Encourages customers they’ll save more while boosting average order value.
9. Contest and Giveaway
Host holiday-themed contests and giveaways to get customers in the holiday spirit. Examples could include photo contests, caption contests, trivia quizzes, and creative challenges.
Offer winners a grand prize, such as a high-value product, a luxurious experience, or a bundle of prizes that truly stands out.
Why we love it:
- Strategic use of hashtags increases reach;
- Multiple prizes help appeal to a wider audience to encourage signups;
- Formating the tweet to include text and images improves engagement rates.
10. Limited-Time Offer
Limited-time offers are a key addition to holiday campaigns because they create a fear of missing out (FOMO).
This is especially true during the holiday season when customers purchase gifts early to ensure they arrive in time for Christmas.
Consider these tips for a successful holiday marketing campaign:
- Promote free shipping for a limited time;
- Offer free gifts and use “limited time only” messaging;
- Use countdown timers to create FOMO;
- Give email subscribers early access to discounts for the upcoming holiday season, but emphasize that the offer is available for a limited time.
Normandy Beach Tours, an agency specializing in WWII historical sites throughout Europe, such as Utah Beach Museum, offers a great example of how to promote limited-time offers.
Why we love it:
- Limited-time offer to enjoy a 10% discount on all tour packages;
- Applicable for tours scheduled for any year;
- Must purchase by December 26 to qualify for the discount.
11. Advent Calendar Giveaway
Set up an Advent calendar daily giveaway promo to give customers the chance to unwrap a new “prize” every day leading up to the Christmas holiday. The prize can include discounts, exclusive products, or unique experiences.
Consider using virtual advent calendar plugins to promote your giveaway. These customizable plugins allow you to create an advent calendar branded for your business and tailored to your customers’ preferences.
For example, Worderbly, the savvy publishing company, brilliantly integrated an Advent calendar into their newsletter:
Why we love it:
- The calendar not only features a lively design but also perfectly aligns with Worderbly’s vibrant brand colors;
- This strategic move is bound to elevate their click-rate and boost customer engagement;
- The email doesn’t have any special code or heavy design solutions. Instead, it uses an unmissable CTA to give away the gifts.
12. Countdown Campaign
Build excitement and anticipation leading up to the holiday season with a festive countdown campaign. Ideas include:
- Interactive social media countdowns;
- Festive daily challenges;
- Instagram Stories Advent calendar;
- Countdown emails;
- Daily giveaways on live streams;
- Product launch countdown.
This Instagram illustrator and printmaker combines a festive creative challenge with a 12-day Christmas countdown.
Why we love it:
- Instagram Carousel boosts more engagement compared to a static image;
- The caption is detailed but properly formatted and easy-to-ready;
- Emojis further add to the holiday allure of the post.
Another great way to induce the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is to use a countdown timer in a holiday newsletter. Easiest way to do it is by using Sender’s email drag-and-drop builder:
13. Holiday-Themed Content Creation
Some of the most successful digital marketing strategies for the holiday season include festive content. To get started, develop a holiday-themed content marketing strategy.
You can write festive blog posts that add a touch of joy to your customers’ online experience. Examples include feel-good success stories, gift guides to help find the perfect gift, DIY decorations and crafts, or tips for setting New Year’s resolutions.
For social media, your content could include:
- Festive behind-the-scenes (BTS) posts
- Festive special offers and promotions
- Holly-jolly Reels and TikToks
- Seasonal Instagram Stories
- Christmas competitions
- Holiday-themed photos
- Holiday hacks
Google promotes the Lunar New Year and its features with this festive email.
Why we love it:
- Appeals to another winter holiday other than Christmas or Hanukkah;
- Eye movement is pleasant as it bounces back and forth along the email;
- Ends with encouragement to learn more about how to use Google Assistant.
14. Charitable Initiatives for the Holidays
Encourage your customers to give back with charitable holiday giving campaigns. Host a holiday raffle, create a donation page, or let customers know that a percentage of their purchase is going towards a charitable cause.
Or, if you’re a local non-profit, you can hold in-person fundraising events, such as:
- Charity or silent auctions
- Casual dinner parties
- Sporting events
- Bake/cook-offs
- Benefit events
- Holiday galas
- Charity runs
Donating to charities shows customers that you’re more than just a business looking to attract new customers and make sales.
Engaging in these selfless initiatives demonstrates that you care about important causes, especially during the holiday season when joy and the idea of giving dominate.
Zareen Fashion not only offers a discount on outerwear but also puts 5% of customers’ purchases towards BC Children’s Hospital.
Why we love it:
- Adds hashtags to increase awareness for a good cause;
- Bundling with a discount further encourages spending;
- Strategic use of images pulls at the heartstrings.
15. Seasonal Landing Page Showcase
Any successful holiday marketing strategy should include a dedicated seasonal landing page. No matter which marketing channels you use to attract your target audience, you should have a landing page that enhances their holiday shopping experience.
To improve the customer experience and boost holiday sales, your landing page should feature:
- Easy navigation
- A sense of urgency
- Highly engaging visuals
- Vibrant, festive colors
- Rich media (e.g., GIFs, infographics, or videos)
- Social proof
- Links to your social media handles
- Incentives
Bath & Body Works dedicates its entire homepage to Black Friday deals.
Why we love it:
- Colorful imagery gets the viewer in a festive mood for purchasing;
- Advertises sales prices for two different deals;
- A banner at the top of the landing page gives a sense of urgency.
16. Cross-Promotions for Festive Success
Include cross-promotions in your holiday campaign to reach your target audience, build relationships, and spread good cheer. This holiday marketing strategy involves working with other businesses to drive more sales.
All you need to do is find a company that sells to the same audience but sells a different product. Then, offer their customers a discount, and have them offer your customers a discount. After that, send cross-promotion emails to both of your email lists.
Starbucks and Uber Eats partner together to bring a magical holiday deal, that encourages to share the gift code with your friends and family.
Why we love it:
- Both brands have matching brand colors, which results in a consistent email design;
- Simple headline and a single hard-to-miss CTA;
- Caption shares easy-to-follow instructions on how to receive the gift.
Best Marketing Channels for Holidays
Even if you have the best idea for the greatest holiday marketing campaign, doing it through the wrong channels will produce lackluster results. A marketing idea is only as good as the people it reaches. Therefore, picking something that has the potential to reach the most prospects is a necessity.
There are four channels that most businesses should leverage:
- Social media. All businesses should do some form of social media holiday marketing as it’s cheap, effective, and easy to manage;
- Emails. Emails are still the preferred way for many businesses to communicate. Sending out newsletters with holiday-related materials will still be massively effective. You can use Sender to get full email marketing benefits;
- SMS. An often-forgotten avenue of digital marketing, SMS has been on the rise due to the massive effectiveness of the channel. With open rates of 98%, sending out promotional offers through SMS is nearly guaranteed to deliver great results;
- Online ads. Nothing is as measurable and equally as effective as old-school advertisements. Since you can easily measure ROI, doing a holiday-related ad campaign through this channel (i.e., Google Ads) is almost guaranteed to bring great results.
Key Takeaways
Follow the holiday marketing strategies we discussed in this article, and the sales will start rolling in. Don’t forget to get creative with your holiday marketing campaigns and add your take on your holiday marketing messages.
Remember the following points to ensure your holiday campaigns are a smashing success:
- Offer your customers value they can’t live without;
- Cross-promotion can result in big wins for both businesses;
- Get creative with holiday themes but stay within your brand style;
- Stress the urgency of the season by including time limits and deadlines on promotions.
Also read:
- 10 Holiday Email Marketing Tips & Email Campaign Examples
- What are SMS Campaigns? Definition, Examples
- Ecommerce Holiday: Prepare Your Store for the Festive Season
- 15 Hot 4th of July Marketing Ideas & Promotions to Boost Sales
- 125+ June Newsletter Ideas
Author bio
Jeremy is the co-founder & CEO at uSERP, a digital PR and SEO agency. He also buys and builds SaaS companies like Wordable and writes for publications like Entrepreneur and Search Engine Journal.
