
Summer’s over, and your business is probably coming down from the summer rush as everyone heads back to school and work. Believe it or not, now is the perfect time to start getting your holiday campaigns ready to go live. Here’s a quick list to get you prepared for your holiday campaigns.
The holidays don’t just mean Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are numerous dates throughout the final months of the year to take into consideration when creating your holiday campaigns. Also, it’s the most popular shopping time of the year, so if you've got an ecommerce side of the business fulfilling orders, there might be specific things you need to be aware of.. Take some time to think about what holidays and essential dates from September through December could be beneficial for your business. For example, even if you don’t sell a tangible product, perhaps a hotel can take advantage of creating a Cyber Monday deal.
Once you decide which holiday dates you want to focus on, you’ll need to create a promotion to match. Using the previous example, a hotel creating a Cyber Monday deal would want to follow the rules for this type of advertisement. Cyber Monday (and Black Friday) are known for businesses offering their best deals of the year. Put together a one-of-a-kind package that you haven’t put together before. You could also provide a generous discount — research what your competitors are offering to ensure that your choice is competitive.
You have several options when it comes to promoting your special. This can include:
The channels you use to promote your special should depend on your target audience and how you can best reach and communicate with them.
Decide how you’re going to promote your campaign. Then, it’s time to begin creating the necessary materials you’ll need to carry it out. This will include content, graphics, videos, web pages, etc. Again, these should be tailored to the specific channels that you will be promoting your deal on, so consider dimensions. Videos are becoming more and more popular on social media. If you are supporting your special through social, you may want to consider creating a video.
You’ll need to decide what goes out at what time. If you are driving people to a specific landing page from your social media posts, the page must be up and ready to go before you start posting. Work with your team to ensure all aspects of the campaign are completed on time to be pushed out on schedule.
The post-summer lull gives you time to pick dates, craft promotions and design assets before the busy season hits. Early prep avoids last-minute rush, secures production resources and lets you launch ahead of competitors when shoppers begin researching deals in fall.
Review all dates from September to December, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday and niche observances relevant to your audience. Match each date to your products or services, projected demand and operational capacity, then select the ones most likely to drive revenue and brand engagement.
Offer a compelling, limited-time deal that stands out from everyday pricing. Research competitor discounts, bundle products or services creatively, and align messaging with the holiday's theme. Ensure the offer is profitable, easy to understand and paired with clear calls to action.
Choose channels your target customers already trust: social media, email lists, blogs, PPC ads, influencers, landing pages or contests. Let audience behavior, budget and content format guide channel mix, ensuring messaging and creative assets are adapted to each platform's requirements.
Build a detailed timeline listing tasks, owners and due dates for copy, graphics, approvals, landing pages and launch posts. Work backward from the go-live date, factor in production buffers, and sync with fulfillment teams. Use project management tools and regular check-ins to avoid delays.