Making Your Small Business Shine With 17 Holiday Marketing Ideas

Key takeaways: 

• Successful holiday marketing ideas focus on high-impact moves that actually move the needle. 
• The businesses that win the holiday season start early and satisfy customer needs, all while leveraging smart tools like AI. 
• There are many easy ways to treat the holidays as a chance to build lasting loyalty and turn shoppers into year-round customers. 

Between Black Friday and New Year’s Day, your customers are searching for experiences that feel meaningful and memorable. You don’t need a big team or budget to stand out. Sometimes, you just need focus. Choose ideas that play to your strengths and stay true to your brand, and you’ll meet customers where they already are. 

This guide gives you 17 proven holiday marketing ideas small businesses can leverage. Whether you run a boutique or service shop, you’ll find step-by-step tactics plus a free holiday marketing playbook to keep you on track. 

How to plan your holiday marketing strategy  

Before you think of creative posts or discounts, make sure you have a solid foundation. By planning your holiday campaigns, you’ll stay organized and make the most of your allotted budget. 

Here are a few things to consider when planning for the holiday shopping season: 

• Set clear goals and KPIs 
• Build your holiday marketing calendar 
• Know your audience and craft your message 
• Choose the right channels for your goals 

Let’s delve deeper into each of these planning aspects. 

Set clear goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) 

Start by defining what success looks like; it could be increasing sales, attracting new customers, or boosting repeat purchases. Regardless, choose measurable metrics you can tie to your campaign goals, such as: 

• Holiday sales growth: Compare against last year’s holiday revenue. 
• Website conversions: Track how many visitors complete a purchase or sign up. 
• Average order value (AOV):.Encourage higher spending with bundles or gift sets. 
• Engagement. Measure opens, clicks, or social shares. 

Use these KPIs to decide where to focus your time and budget. 

Build your holiday marketing calendar 

Map out your key campaigns from August through January to avoid last-minute stress. Take note of the following dates for your holiday promotions calendar: 

• Black Friday (Nov 28) 
• Small Business Saturday (Nov 29) 
• Cyber Monday (Dec 1) 
• Giving Tuesday (Dec 2) 
• Christmas (Dec 25) 
• New Year’s Day (Jan 1) 

Plan your promotions, emails, and ad launches around these dates. More importantly, allow time for creative production, testing, and shipping deadlines.  

For more inspiration, explore our guides on Black Friday marketing and Small Business Saturday ideas to plan your biggest weekend of the season. 

Know your audience and craft your message 

Identify who your customers are and what they value. Tailor your holiday message to connect with their needs and make it personal to resonate with them. Keep your tone consistent across email, social media, and in-store materials so every message feels connected. 

Choose the right channels for your goals 

Like how the old phrase goes, “Don’t keep your eggs in one basket.” Use a mix of owned, earned, and paid channels, such as: 

• Owned: Email, website banners, and landing pages for direct offers. 
• Earned: Press mentions, reviews, or user-generated content that builds trust. 
• Paid: Ads or boosted posts to reach new audiences. 

Pro tip: If your budget is tight, focus on organic tactics like social engagement and local SEO updates (e.g., Google Business Profile and posting holiday hours). 

Here’s the bottom line: you should keep your goals clear and timing tight for better plan execution. Your target is a working process, not a perfect one.  

17 holiday marketing ideas for small businesses 

The right holiday marketing strategy can help your business stand out during the busy holiday season. We listed 17 practical tactics grouped by channel; choose those that best fit your goals, resources, and customers. 

1. Offer early access to holiday deals 
2. Create a “12 Days of Offers” series 
3. Use countdown timers 
4. Win back inactive subscribers 
5. Host a user-generated content (UGC) contest 
6. Share short-form videos or reels 
7. Run social-only flash sales 
8. Collaborate with local creators or influencers 
9. Bundle products or services 
10. Offer gift wrapping or free shipping thresholds 
11. Promote gift cards with bonus value 
12. Highlight last-minute shopping options 
13. Partner with neighboring businesses 
14. Host an in-store or virtual holiday event 
15. Support a local charity 
16. Run retargeting ads with festive creatives 
17. Promote your gift guides and top sellers 

Let’s get into each idea’s details below. 

Email marketing campaign ideas 

A well-planned holiday marketing email strategy can build anticipation and drive repeat purchases. Here are some email marketing ideas you can weave into your digital marketing strategies. 

1. Offer early access to holiday deals. Reward your email subscribers or loyal customers with exclusive discounts before Black Friday. 
2. Create a “12 Days of Offers” series. Send a daily or weekly email featuring limited-time deals, bundles, or gift guides. 
3. Use countdown timers. Add urgency to your promotions by showing how much time remains before shipping or sale deadlines. 
4. Win back inactive subscribers. Send a friendly “We miss you” message or a special post-holiday offer to re-engage shoppers. 

Social media post ideas 

The holidays are the perfect time to share stories and highlight your brand through social media. Use the following ideas to build engagement and remind shoppers to support local business owners. 

5. Host a user-generated content (UGC) contest. Encourage customers to share photos or videos of your products with a branded hashtag. 
6. Share short-form videos or reels. Highlight your best-sellers, staff favorites, or behind-the-scenes prep. 
7. Run social-only flash sales. Offer quick, time-sensitive promotions to drive engagement and reward followers. 
8. Collaborate with local creators or influencers. Partner with micro-influencers in your area to expand your reach authentically. 

Promotional ideas 

Your holiday promotions should make buying easier and more exciting. Consider the following promotional ideas to add value without cutting too deeply into your margins. 

9. Bundle products or services. Create themed sets that simplify gifting and increase average order value. 
10. Offer gift wrapping or free shipping thresholds. Give back to your audience. Small conveniences can make a difference for busy shoppers. 
11. Promote gift cards with bonus value. Encourage early revenue and future visits with “Buy $50, get $10 free” incentives. 
12. Highlight last-minute shopping options. Promote curbside pickup or local delivery as shipping cutoffs approach. 

Local and experiential ideas 

The holidays are a chance to bring your community together through collaborations, in-person events, or charitable efforts. These ideas help you strengthen local ties while driving both foot traffic and goodwill. 

13. Partner with neighboring businesses. Run joint promotions or host a shared shopping event with local stores to drive foot traffic for all. 
14. Host an in-store or virtual holiday event. Offer demos, workshops, or meet-and-greets that align with your brand. 
15. Support a local charity. Donate a portion of your proceeds or collect goods to strengthen your community connection. 

Digital advertising and retargeting ideas 

Retargeting, local awareness ads, and festive creative refreshes can remind shoppers who’ve already shown interest. Even with a small budget, you can build a focused ad strategy with the following ideas for more campaign reach and results. 

16. Run retargeting ads with festive creatives. Reconnect with people who’ve visited your website or social pages. 
17. Promote your gift guides and top sellers. Use Google Ads or Meta Ads to highlight curated products or services that simplify gift decisions. 

Each of these ideas can be scaled to your time and budget. Start with a few that align with your audience, then use the Holiday Visibility Playbook from Network Solutions for a more solid execution. 

How to measure your holiday marketing success 

Applying the holiday marketing tips is the first step; tracking comes next. By tracking performance, you’ll know which marketing ideas are paying off and which need adjusting. Start by determining what metrics you want to check. 

Track key metrics 

Focus on a few metrics that match your goals, such as the following: 

• Holiday sales performance: Total revenue, average order value (AOV), and year-over-year growth. 
• Website conversions: Track purchases, form fills, or bookings through analytics tools. 
• Email results: Open rates, click-through rates, and conversions from key campaigns. 
• Social engagement: Likes, shares, comments, and link clicks that show audience interest. 
• Ad performance: Return on ad spend (ROAS), cost per click (CPC), and overall ROI. 

Check these metrics regularly; we recommend checking email, ad, and social metrics weekly to quickly adjust messaging or budgets. Review the rest monthly to understand overall growth and long-term results. 

Adjust and optimize mid-campaign 

After monitoring important metrics, especially the fast-moving channels (emails, ads, social), start making small and fast adjustments. Test new subject lines, visuals, or ad copy to see what performs best. Look for top-performing channels and shift your budget toward them. You can pause underperforming ones to maximize your returns before the holidays end. 

Conduct a post-holiday review 

Once the season ends, analyze your results to plan for the next year. Analyze the numbers and do the following: 

• Identify which promotions and channels generated the most engagement or revenue.
• Segment your customer list to target gift buyers or first-time shoppers for win-back campaigns. 
• Review feedback and refine your messaging for upcoming seasonal pushes.  

Your holiday campaigns don’t end after the holiday rush; they extend to the next one. Keep a record of your results so you can build smarter campaigns for the next.  

Common mistakes to avoid in holiday marketing 

Even the best holiday marketing ideas can fall short if you miss key details. Avoid these common mistakes to protect your margins and get better results from every campaign. 

• Starting too late. Delayed planning often leads to rushed content and scheduling. Start preparing in August or early fall so you can plan and execute campaigns with less stress. 
• Over-discounting. Deep discounts may attract attention, but they can also cut into your profits. Focus on value-driven offers—bundles, free shipping, or loyalty rewards—that boost sales without hurting margins. 
• Ignoring mobile and website performance. Holiday traffic spikes can expose slow-loading sites and broken checkout pages. Test your website and mobile experience before launching promos to prevent cart abandonment. 
• Forgetting post-holiday follow-up. The season doesn’t end on December 25. Use January for win-back emails and gift card reminders to encourage repeat customers. 
• Copying big brands. Large retailers have budgets and teams that small business owners don’t need to match. Focus on authenticity, community connection, and customer service. 

Your goal is to create campaigns that are both creative and sustainable, helping your business grow even after the holidays end. 

Tools and resources to simplify your holiday marketing strategy 

From design platforms to automation software, various resources help you plan, launch, and measure campaigns more efficiently. Consider the following tools and resources: 

• Website and landing page builders. Create seasonal landing pages or limited-time offers quickly with drag-and-drop tools. If you’re looking for a fast setup, try the Network Solutions AI Website Builder to launch a polished page in minutes. 
• Email and marketing automation tools. Automate messages like VIP previews, abandoned cart reminders, or post-holiday thank-you’s. Consider platforms such as Mailchimp or HubSpot for easier campaign scheduling and result tracking. 
• Design and content tools. Use tools like Canva or Adobe Express to help you create branded banners and creative assets without a designer. 
• Analytics and tracking resources. Use Google Analytics, social media insights, and your email dashboard to monitor performance.  
• Reliable hosting and domain services. Make sure you’re on a dependable hosting platform that’s secure and fast-loading throughout peak season. High website traffic during the holidays can slow down underpowered servers. 

Give these tools a try, and you’ll save a lot of time and hassle throughout the holiday season. But sometimes, you’ll still need an extra hand in building or optimizing your seasonal campaigns. With Network Solutions’ digital marketing services, you can get expert support for a marketing campaign that captures the holiday spirit. 

Frequently asked questions 

Put your holiday marketing ideas into action 

Your holiday success comes from doing the right things well, rather than doing everything at once. Start with three to five ideas that fit your goals and resources, then expand as your budget allows. Stay consistent across channels and always track what works.  

The holidays move fast. Grab your free Holiday Visibility Playbook today—complete with the 90/60/30/7-day checklists and high-impact actions—so you can plan, launch, promote, and convert with confidence.