So, if you’re reading this, we might assume you didn’t prepare your Christmas campaigns in August. But that’s okay! You still have time to prepare a solid Christmas plan and follow it to get the best marketing results this holiday season.
But since you won’t have much time for market analysis or developing an entire range of Christmas products, we’ll provide a very basic, very straightforward to-do list to help you stay on track with your promotional efforts. So grab a pen and let’s start checking off the “not-as-fun-as-Santa’s-list-but-equally-important holiday checklist.”
Always start with KPIs.
We can’t stress this enough: never start a marketing campaign without knowing what you want to achieve. Do you want to increase your sales? Perfect. Write that down. Or maybe you’re aiming for brand awareness—that’s a perfectly fine target for this period too. New customers? Go for it. Once you’ve chosen the right KPI for your campaign, identify the metrics that will help you measure your results and we are good to go.
Prepare the technical details.
Carefully review your website. Ensure it’s fast, mobile-friendly, and ready to handle a surge in traffic when your campaign peaks. Then move on to design and copywriting. Create Christmas-themed banners and pop-ups for the website. Maybe even craft a landing page with a holiday vibe that aligns with your brand.
Think of it like this: your website should be decorated for Christmas just like a physical store or your own home would be.
Create excitement.
Give your customers an extra reason to choose your brand this holiday season. Design enticing promotions like flash sales, bundle deals, or free shipping days. In the Christmas frenzy that starts right after Black Friday, offering something extra—like a free gift with certain orders or complimentary gift wrapping—can make all the difference.
You don’t need to go overboard, but remember: people shop during this season mainly for gifts, and we’ve come to expect a little something extra from brands during the holidays.
Help your customers.
Showcase gift-worthy products or holiday bundles prominently. But make it easier for your customers to find the perfect gift.
Highlight curated gift guides, categorize products by recipient or price range, and include filters for specific interests. Simplify the decision-making process with features like “Top Picks for Him/Her,” “Gifts Under $50,” or “Last-Minute Options.” The easier it is for your customers to find what they need, the more likely they are to complete a purchase.
Prepare the content calendar.
Holiday magic should be all over your social media platforms. Plan everything ahead to align your content with your KPIs. Schedule posts, newsletters, and blog articles in advance so you have time to focus on real-time holiday opportunities—and enjoy some downtime.
Here’s a tip: concentrate most of your content before the actual Christmas days and take a break from posting during the holidays. At that point, everyone needs a breather from the overwhelming wave of branded content that dominates the season.
Don’t rely on organic reach.
We have already been writing about how organic content might not be sufficient anymore for a brand, but during the Holiday season it is even worse. There is so much content online, so many ads, so many similar promotional contents that it will be very difficult to attract the attention of the users, so you might consider increasing your marketing budget at least in december.
Yes, ads will be more expensive due to high demand, but if your KPIs include brand awareness or engagement, a robust ad budget is essential for cutting through the noise.
Enjoy the Christmas spirit.
This final step is more of a personal recommendation: enjoy Christmas! Encourage your team to celebrate, participate in a charity initiative, listen to carols, and embrace the holiday magic. Let this season be a joyful experience for your clients, colleagues, and yourself.
Our conclusion.
Christmas campaigns should ideally be prepared in advance, but starting late is always better than not starting at all. So don’t panic! You’ve got this, and you’ll make the most of this holiday season for your brand. Start with the right KPIs, follow this checklist step by step, and most importantly—have fun along the way. It’s almost Christmas, after all.
If you need help in crafting the perfect strategy for your brand, leave us a message.