As pumpkin spice lattes make their comeback, it’s hard not to think about the upcoming holiday season. Halloween is just around the corner, marking the beginning of the festive period. What’s not to be excited about? You might think it’s too soon to prepare for winter, but it’s not! Starting early is always best. After all, even Mariah Carey has already put up her Christmas tree!

While not everyone enjoys baking reindeer-shaped cookies and belting out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” the holiday season offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with your customer base cheerfully. Whether you’re showing appreciation to loyal clients, nurturing existing leads, or attracting new ones with impactful branding campaigns, the holidays present a fantastic marketing advantage. To inspire your holiday marketing efforts, here are 14 captivating ideas: P.S.: Don’t miss our Complete Guide to Cliche-Free Holiday Copywriting

#1: Develop Seasonal Google Ads Campaigns

Google Ads (formerly AdWords) is an excellent platform for spreading holiday cheer, regardless of your industry, whether retail, B2B, finance, or insurance. How do you achieve this? By designing a campaign that targets holiday shoppers! Let’s say your business sells women’s clothing. You can target keywords like “gifts for mom” or “holiday sweaters.” Create tailored ads and landing pages offering special incentives for shopping at your store during the holiday season.

Imagine offering free shipping for purchases exceeding $100 or complimentary gift wrapping. You could even provide a $20 discount for gifts ordered before a specific date. Emphasize these benefits and ensure your landing pages capture the holiday spirit. Not in B2C? No worries! There are still creative avenues to leverage Google Ads during the holidays. As holiday shopping picks up and everyone seeks cost savings, promote special seasonal discounts on AdWords. Utilize ad extensions to enhance your visibility in search results, increase website traffic, and highlight your company’s special holiday offerings. Here are some concise Google Ads holiday marketing tips:

• Incorporate seasonal language in your ad copy! Use terms like “holiday” and “tis the season.”
• Steer clear of cliches! Draw inspiration from these 64 ideas for cliche-free holiday copywriting instead.
• Maximize your presence on the search engine results page (SERP) during this competitive time by utilizing ad extensions.
• Emphasize special offers and seasonal deals.
• Create a sense of urgency with phrases like “40% off if you order before Nov 15!” or “Don’t Miss Out!”
• Ensure relevance – Conduct holiday-specific keyword research.
• Implement ad scheduling to bid strategically when your target audience is actively searching.

Remember that everyone appreciates a good deal during the holidays! Combining attractive offers with a sense of urgency in your ad copy is a winning strategy to attract busy seasonal shoppers.

#2: Treat Yourself to Shopping Campaigns

If your business involves physical products, and you haven’t explored Google Shopping yet, now’s the perfect time to invest in your first Google Shopping Campaign! These campaigns cater to busy online holiday shoppers with their convenience, often leading to almost instant purchases. Naturally, standing out from the competition visually will be key. However, with appealing product images and a well-structured campaign, Google Shopping can work wonders in converting shoppers during the festive season. If you’re new to Google Shopping, our guide can help you get started.

#3: Venture into Instagram Ads

Instagram is an ideal platform to make your holiday marketing sparkle! Users are already sharing family moments and decorations, so why not stand out with a cheerful holiday ad? While organic posts are valuable, investing in Instagram Ads with your best holiday visuals will amplify your reach. Whether it’s a photo of your team sporting ugly sweaters or your office dog in a monster mask, embrace creativity and holiday cheer to garner those Instagram hearts! Take inspiration from this example of a local restaurant. Not only did they create a festive drink (pumpkin margarita, anyone?), but they also staged it with a carved pumpkin and incorporated seasonal emojis in their ad copy.

For more ideas, check out these tips for marketing a restaurant on Instagram. This year, social shopping is predicted to be a major holiday marketing trend. Get insights on how to leverage it!

#4: Host a Holiday Giveaway on Social Media

While we’re on the topic of Instagram, running a social holiday giveaway is another fantastic way to engage your audience on the platform. To maximize visibility, consider launching a social campaign across all major platforms where your business is active (Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.). Everyone loves freebies, especially during the holidays (re-gifting is a thing, right?)! Whether it’s a significant discount, a complimentary add-on, or a completely free item, embrace the spirit of giving. Encourage engagement by asking followers to comment, share, or like your posts.

For guidance on using Instagram giveaways to grow your following, check out Dan’s guide. For even more ideas and inspiration, explore some of our favorite Instagram Marketing Campaigns!

#5: Infuse Holiday Spirit into Your Emails

Neglecting to incorporate holidays into your email marketing campaigns is a missed opportunity! Holidays evoke strong memories for shoppers, making festive emails a powerful tool to connect with them. For instance, this marketing email from Rent the Runway immediately caught my eye. While I may not have rented an outfit for Halloween, it reminded me that their service could be useful for an upcoming wedding.

Pay close attention to your email subject lines during holiday marketing. Similar to your Google Ads copy, incentivize shoppers and create urgency. Here are some effective examples:

#6: Enhance Your Remarketing Strategy

Have you ever almost purchased an item, only to see it pop up again later, convincing you it was meant to be? Well, that’s the magic of remarketing, not fate! Remarketing uses cookies to remind potential customers about products or services they previously viewed. If you haven’t already incorporated remarketing into your strategy, now is the time! It allows you to re-engage potential customers who abandoned their shopping carts or landing pages. I call the holiday season the “mandatory remarketing season” because people are busy and making quick decisions. A gentle nudge might be all they need if they left your website or an incomplete cart.

That’s where remarketing comes in. When setting up your remarketing lists for the holidays, shorten the membership duration. For instance, if you usually add users to your list for 30 days, reduce it to 15 days. This ensures individuals see your ads more frequently as the holiday approaches. Additionally, implement remarketing across all platforms where you’re running holiday advertising campaigns (Facebook, Google, Instagram, Bing, etc.). RELATED: 8 Perilous PPC Mistakes to Avoid During the Holidays

#7: Utilize User Data for Segmentation

As digital marketers, we understand that you possess a wealth of user data that can be leveraged for future campaigns. The question is, are you utilizing this data effectively? The holiday season presents an ideal opportunity to get creative with segmentation messaging! Personalized messages resonate more deeply with consumers. If you have a large segment of mothers who show interest in your products or services, create content that acknowledges the stress of managing a household full of children during the holidays. Target a segment of leads with similar hobbies by using ad copy relevant to their interests.

Begin by leveraging the data gathered through platforms like Facebook, Google Analytics, and Google Ads. Additionally, take advantage of lookalike audiences on these platforms to reach new potential customers who share characteristics with your high-converting audience.

#8: Organize a Holiday-Themed Webinar

Does your company host regular webinars for customers or prospects? Webinars provide a personalized approach to educating your audience, potentially leading to sales or upsells. However, webinars are commonplace. My inbox is flooded with webinar invitations every month, many of which go unnoticed. Incorporating a holiday theme can make your webinar invitations stand out. HubSpot understands this strategy well. They often leverage the festive season to promote seasonal webinars like the one below.

To sweeten the deal, entice your audience with a freebie. For instance, offer attendees a holiday discount code or complimentary shipping on their next purchase at the end of the webinar.

#9: Evoke Emotion in Your Marketing

When I think of the holidays, I envision twinkling Christmas lights, delicious cookies, jolly Santa Claus, and his reindeer. However, what truly resonates is the warm, fuzzy feeling of spending quality time with loved ones. While not everyone adores the holidays, most people have an emotional connection to them. Emotions drive action, so now is the time to infuse your marketing with emotion. Emotional marketing doesn’t necessarily involve bringing your audience to tears. Even incorporating humor in your messaging during the holiday season can be incredibly effective. For inspiration, check out these resources:

• 120 of the Best Words and Phrases for Marketing with Emotion
• 273 Emotional Trigger Words for Compelling Content

#10: Explore Creative Video Marketing

Video marketing is an unparalleled way to convey a holiday message. Whether it’s a festive webinar invitation sent via email, a video greeting on your customer page wishing everyone holiday cheer, or a lighthearted social media video featuring your CEO dressed as a reindeer, embrace creativity and use video to spread holiday cheer throughout your marketing campaigns.

Check out this fun fall-themed video from our friends at Wistia!

#11: Host a Holiday Gathering

Throwing a holiday party might sound expensive. While that’s a possibility, you can be strategic with your guest list. For instance, consider focusing on a select group of your most promising local leads and inviting them to your office for holiday drinks, appetizers, and games. Nothing beats face-to-face interaction for building strong relationships with prospects and customers. The holidays offer the perfect excuse to do so. Create festive e-invitations and get the eggnog flowing!

#12: Advertise on Amazon

Retail businesses should allocate a portion of their budget to Amazon Ads.

James Thomson, President of Prosper Show, offers valuable advice for Amazon advertisers during the holiday season: “If you’re selling on Amazon, ensure your Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) inventory reaches Amazon no later than November 10th," advises Thomson. “If you anticipate selling through most of your inventory, weigh the cost of a stockout against holding excess inventory. In most cases, it’s more beneficial to have ample inventory in FBA. Also, don’t forget to plan for inventory you expect to sell in January. Many companies experience stockouts in early January when suppliers are slow to replenish." If you’re new to or uncertain about Amazon advertising, this comprehensive guide can help you navigate the details.

#13: Design Festive & Engaging Display Ads

Do you have an in-house designer? Excellent! If not, consider seeking external design resources soon to prepare for your holiday display campaigns. Festive imagery on Facebook and the display network effectively establishes a cheerful connection between your brand and potential customers. This example from Hotel Tonight’s holiday campaign last year is a prime example. The eye-catching image instantly grabs your attention and evokes laughter. After all, who doesn’t have that one (or several) eccentric relative? This ad manages to be relatable, entertaining, and festive simultaneously.

#14: Foster Customer Loyalty with Personalized Gifts

Last but certainly not least, remember to market to your existing customers. In my previous role managing a portfolio of high-value clients, I dedicated several weeks to planning personalized physical gifts to mail out. I also ordered a batch of family-themed holiday postcards featuring festive pictures of my colleagues and organized a card-writing party (complete with homemade holiday cookies and Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, of course!). Small gestures of personalized appreciation go a long way with customers, strengthening relationships and potentially turning satisfied customers into brand advocates.

#15: Send a Heartfelt Customer Appreciation Email

The holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your customers, expressing gratitude for their loyalty and wishing them well. While a customer appreciation email is typically brief, there are still dos and don’ts to keep in mind. For helpful tips and templates, check out our post on 11 Creative Holiday Greeting Messages to Send to Your Customers.

#16: Consider a Year-in-Review Email

Unlike a general holiday greeting, a year-in-review email offers a more focused recap of the past year and can take various forms. When done well, it can engage readers, attract new customers, and encourage existing ones to continue their journey with your brand in the coming year. For inspiration, explore these unforgettable year-in-review email examples and tips. Implement these holiday marketing tips to transform your holiday marketing aspirations into a resounding success! Looking for more insights? Explore the 16 Best (& Easiest) Ways to Increase Holiday Sales.