As the crisp winter air settles in, painting the world in shades of red and green, marketers around the globe are gearing up for the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas!
Christmas is more than just a holiday; it’s a cultural phenomenon that captivates hearts and minds worldwide.
Imagine the cozy glow of a fireplace, the aroma of freshly baked cookies, and the joyful laughter of loved ones. It’s a season of giving, sharing, and celebration.
For marketers, it’s an opportunity to connect with audiences on a deeper level, create unforgettable experiences, and drive sales.
But with the festive frenzy in full swing, how can marketers stand out from the crowd and make their brand a part of the holiday magic?
Well, we’ve curated a collection of creative and effective Christmas marketing ideas that will leave your audience feeling warm, fuzzy, and ready to shop.
But before you get started, here’s a little tip: Try our social media management tool to schedule all your Christmas marketing campaigns in advance!
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Short Summary
- Introduce your Christmas products and campaigns with the help of Reels, Shorts, and TikTok videos.
- Use Facebook and Instagram stories to promote your Christmas campaigns and engage the audience.
- Create an advent calendar or launch bundle deals to gain more customers.
- Host contests and giveaways on Instagram with Christmas hashtags.
- Build up curiosity for upcoming Christmas deals among your customers with behind-the-scenes stories, GIFs, and sneak peek videos.
- Launch a limited-time collection of holiday themes to grab the customer’s attention.
- Offer discounted deals for the app customers only to get more app downloads.
Plan Your Christmas Marketing Strategy in 2024 – Tips & Guide
To plan the perfect Christmas marketing strategy for your business, you should be on top of the trends year-round.
But if you missed them or can’t think of any, here’s a quick rundown!
Shoot a Reel
Winner-winner solution, you may ask. Reels are the answer.
This year, Reels, Shorts, and TikTok videos were the crowned kings of social media, which is why it is the perfect way to introduce your Christmas bundle or offerings to the world.
View this post on InstagramComing up with an exclusive campaign? Create hype with a reel.
Introducing a new product? Make a reel.
Bringing out a limited-edition Christmas-themed product? You get the drill.
Select the Perfect Platform
No one likes to be bored during the holidays, so you should focus on having fun on your preferred platform for Christmas.
Pick the network you think best fits your audience and focus on only that one.
There is no need to tire yourself out by creating content for so many social media platforms, especially since 2024 showers us with new ones every day.
Stories for the Win
Don’t you scroll mindlessly during holidays? Chances are that your audience does, too.
So Stories are your best bet to land in front of their eyes and maybe even become the source of their guilty pleasures. Go for the classic Christmas music and put forward your best story front (pun intended)!
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30+ Christmas Marketing Ideas In 2024 That You Can Take Inspiration From
Take a cue from some of the best Christmas marketing ideas that are already making waves and fly away in the inspiration land. Without further ado, let’s get to it!
Make an Advent Calendar
Christmas is the season of gifting, meaning beautifully packed or at least marketed products are more likely to gain traction than others.
So, what better thing to do than release an advent calendar? Sephora does it every year, so here is your inspiration from the best.
Sephora introducing its Advent Calendar on Christmas Similarly, you can create a bundle of best-selling products that made the waves during the year.
Honestly, an advent calendar is one of the best Christmas marketing ideas ever.
Think of a Festive Contest
Holiday contests are one of Instagram’s best Christmas marketing ideas for apparel pages.
And they require the least amount of work from your side.
All you need to do is introduce a Christmas-specific hashtag or a filter.
Ask people to take pictures of themselves or their friends wearing your product and upload a picture. Since it’s Christmas, you don’t need to have a single winner; you can have a couple.
The prize could be little things, like a holiday greeting card paired with a shirt or a scarf from your collection.
There are SO many things that you can do when it comes to contests.
You can also incorporate influencer marketing by hiring micro-influencers in your niche. Either ask them to promote or send them a swag bag. This way, you get long-term marketing and can have fun around Christmas.
View this post on InstagramThe best part? You will stay on top of your audience’s mind and could be their gift choice this year.
Create Pre-Christmas Hype
It is best to spread as much cheer as possible during the holiday season, whether through your social media or your website.
This is one of our favorite Christmas marketing ideas, as endless possibilities exist. You can share a wholesome update showing you are gearing up for the most amazing year’s season.
Alternatively, you can post pictures of your Christmas stock; if nothing else, you can post a creative GIF with a Santa hat! The right pick for this post is anything that makes you and your team’s hearts full. You should.
After all, Christmas and wholesome vibes are a match made in heaven!
@theoriginaldonutshop Cozy season means it’s time to turn that 🥶 into a 😌☕️ #coffeetok #coffeeathome #theoriginaldonutshop #coffee
Bring Out Limited Edition Products
This might be the oldest trick in the book, but it is one of the best.
People worldwide love collecting Christmas merchandise, especially if it comes packed with wholesome vibes.
Here is the perfect example.
View this post on InstagramEither give it away with all purchases as a present or just make it a limited-time edition.
There are so many places that you could take inspiration from, from Starbucks to Krispy Kreme and many more.
A food business can also come up with distinct Christmas flavors like this:
View this post on InstagramCome Up With an In-App Promotion
Everyone I know loves a good discount, so why not offer one using your app as part of your Christmas marketing campaign?
You will get more downloads and more sales, which is an all-in-one, win-win situation, right?
All you need to do is develop a specific offer exclusively available to your app customers. Or your staff can promote the offer in-store to your customers. Here’s the perfect example:
View this post on InstagramFilter Gifting Options
Last minute shoppers generally appreciate if they could just order something right off the bat from your website, it helps them quickly scan through if they like a product.
That is why you should consider adding a gifting filter to your website for easy searching.
You can do so at your outlet by putting the discounted price or gifts right at the front or at the checkout counter.
Introduce Christmas Bundles
The Christmas spirit doubles by sharing and spreading joy with others, which is why we exchange gifts on Christmas morning.
You want to keep the same mindset while brainstorming your special Christmas marketing ideas for this year’s campaigns. Nobody loves anything more than a beautifully wrapped package on Christmas morning.
View this post on InstagramWhen Christmas shopping arrives, be ready with some fantastic ready-made gifts and bundles—or a bunch of excellent products that can be given together.
If you can throw in a gift-wrapping service, you are good to go!
Daily Christmas Deals
You can also offer your customers daily deals, such as 12 days of Christmas marketing campaign ideas.
Offer something new as a part of a Christmas marketing campaign for a month or maybe a week.
For instance, you can present a new product at a discount each day, extend free shipping, or release a buy one and get one offer.
Here’s an idea.
View this post on InstagramThis is a great way to convert customers as well.
Christmas Specific Offers & Gift Cards
This Christmas, spread cheer like confetti and offer special discounts and deals throughout the month.
Come up with a theme, like the product of the day, and offer a series of discounts throughout the month.
If you are skeptical of this idea or think your audience would appreciate a more consistent deal, go for a long-term offer during the month.
The options are endless with such Christmas marketing ideas as you can play with your audience’s strength.
Go with an offer that you know your audience would like.
However, we recommend getting into the holiday spirit with Christmas bundles and more, which would also make ideal gifts.
A brand offering gift cards during Christmas Holiday Recipe Ideas
We have said it before, and we will say it again.
There is no better way to celebrate the holiday season than with food!
So, one of the best Christmas marketing ideas is to share recipes that resonate with Christmas.
This idea is especially effective if you are a food-based company, a chef, or a blogger.
Either play to your strengths and create recipes around the cuisine you are familiar with or experiment with a new one you haven’t tried before.
If you cater to a diverse set of audiences, you can compile famous Christmas recipes worldwide and convert them into winning content.
@thehealchef As comforting as they come 👌#cauliflowercheese #cauliflower #christmas #christmasrecipes #comfortfood
Paint Your Feed Red
Christmas is all about the reds, greens, and cheesy, cheeky decorations with a billion fairy lights.
Coincidentally, red is also the best color to attract customers to your offer.
So what are you waiting for? Paint your social media and the website red and spread cheer like never before.
Take a cue from the Bath & Body Works Christmas marketing campaign this year.
They use the decor extremely tastefully while ensuring that their products stay in the limelight.
View this post on InstagramApart from the red and green festive vibes on the website, they have also used words such as ‘merriest’ and ‘Santa Approved’ to make their products seem unique.
Here are a few more examples of them spreading holiday cheer on their website. Even their social media is all about Christmas.
Featured Article: How Often Should You Post on TikTok in 2024: To Go Viral
Leverage on Impulse Buying
Placing stuff that promotes holidays by placing it near the checkout counter is the best way to cash on them.
Like many supermarkets and retail stores, such as Ikea, you should consider rearranging your shop to place these products at the front.
As they checkout, they will be encouraged to make those purchases as well.
Or you can create a whole corner! Check out Ikea leveraging this one of the best Christmas marketing ideas.
Spread Wholesome Vibes
Wholesome vibes and Christmas go hand in hand, which is why it helps if you put out cute content on your social media before the holidays.
Associating your store with Christmas will encourage people to visit even if they don’t want to buy something.
Take a cue from Walmart:
View this post on InstagramRelease a Christmas Catalogue
This is one of those Christmas marketing ideas that you need to work on at least a month in advance so that you can post it before everyone goes offline for the holidays.
Style a few outfits you choose and make them into an online catalog.
There are many sites that you can use with ready-made templates and filters.
Furthermore, you can have each one of your social media teams pick one page of your catalog.
This way, your collection will have more personality and will look inclusive.
This is your chance to capture that new set of audience that you have been behind for years!
Or you can just produce one for families!
View this post on InstagramPartner With Influencers
This one is genuinely a no-brainer, with influencers ruling the social media space by left, right, and centre, partnerships should be on the top of your Christmas marketing ideas list.
Honestly, TikTok right now is full of such partnerships; here’s a glimpse.
@nicholejacklyne DIY @popitpets Christmas Ornaments🎄 find Pop It Pets on Amazon! Make sure to try this! #ad #sponsored #popitpets #popit #popitpetsworld #popitpetscollector #popitpetspartner #diy #christmas #decorating
Send a Holiday Greeting Card With Orders
In the digital world today, it is really easy to send holiday greeting cards without overwhelming your local post offer. So, what’s the modern version of a letter? An email!
One of the best Christmas marketing ideas is to thank your customers for being there for you the entire year and giving you their business.
Ask your designers to make a gorgeous digital card with a small personalized message and send it to your email list.
Better yet, segmentize your email list according to their buyer’s journey and design one card for each segment.
The customer list could receive a thank-you card with a 5% discount on their next order, those who have gone to the checkout could receive a 10% discount on their carts, and so on!
Focus on getting the card out as soon as possible so that people will also consider you for their gift list.
Use Christmas-associated colors, such as red and green, with maybe a mistletoe in the center.
Also, make the subject line as catchy as possible to increase your open rate.
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Work on Email Marketing
Create a Christmas newsletter and send it to your email list.
The email could also be about a promotion, an offering, or even something free that you would like to offer.
The possibilities are endless. A newsletter really is one of the best Christmas email marketing ideas in 2024 and going forward.
Create a Santa Wish List
A Santa wish list is a fantastic opportunity to showcase various products or services in one go, and it requires little effort.
You can group together all the product pictures you have collected over the past few months and post them as a carousel on your feed.
Using a fun caption explaining your idea would also allow you to discuss the products in detail.
Furthermore, you can use the shop tab on Instagram to add links to your website or mention prices in the pictures.
If you have a travel blog, you can do something like this:
View this post on Instagram
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Launch Christmas-Specific Packaging
Packaging is an important part of branding, so it should be at the top of your Christmas marketing ideas list.
However, changing your entire packaging each year is difficult, so you could do a limited edition holiday packaging that is an improvisation on your current one.
You can release an advent calendar using a few of your products.
You can also offer a limited-time bundle with new festive packaging. Keep the bags all the same; make minor changes that look big overall!
Sephora releases an advent calendar each year with a few of its best sellers. It creates a festive box for it and displays it in its stores!
Check it out here.
View this post on InstagramMake a Christmas Gift Guide
Everyone is shopping for Christmas gifts this time of year, which is why this is your chance to create a gift guide using your products or services.
Many people need clarification as to what they should get for their siblings and boss. Not everyone appreciates a sweater!
View this post on InstagramEven influencers can take this opportunity to create a gift guide with their partnerships of the year!
Offer Holiday Downloadables & Guides on Your Website
The last quarter of the year is always challenging for businesses; however, you can help other marketers create Christmas marketing ideas by offering downloadable.
This could be an ebook, a set of templates, or even a guide highlighting different marketing strategies for Christmas.
Spreading cheer is the true essence of Christmas, so why not help others while increasing your subscriber list? This is a win-win situation for all.
And the best part? Holiday season content always stays in style; you can reuse it next year, update it according to that year and upload it again.
One piece of content can be reused in so many ways that you will definitely thank your editorial team for coming up with it.
Start Christmas Marketing at the Right Time
One of the most important things while executing any marketing strategy is to start it at the right time!
So, right after Halloween is your prime time to start; you should pen down all your Christmas marketing ideas before the fourth quarter begins.
This way, you would have ample time to execute the ideas. This also gives your team the creative space to experiment and come up with the exact thing that you want.
Apart from this, you need to count on the time your brand would require for production if you have physical products.
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Run a Christmas Countdown
Christmas is one of the most anticipated times of the year, as many people are excited about it and want to enjoy it to the fullest.
This is why the Christmas countdown should be at the top of your Christmas marketing ideas list.
I mean, what better way to make your feed festive than to run a Christmas countdown?
This is why many brands run countdowns for their Christmas or holiday marketing campaigns.
This not only keeps their profiles active and happy, but it is also a really nice way of increasing engagement.
Maybe something like this:
View this post on InstagramSet a Festive Photo Booth
Christmas joy doubles when we cherish the memories that we made in the past.
But how can you be a part of your customers’ Christmas memories?
This is the question you should ask yourself when coming up with Christmas marketing ideas this year.
By introducing a virtual photo booth, you are essentially inviting your customers to participate in your celebrations.
The pictures they click with you can become a part of their lives for years to come.
Inform your customers about a photo contest and set some simple guidelines to follow.
You can announce a cash reward or maybe a few months of free service to your customers in return.
Allow Free Shipping & Returns
Even if you don’t want to create an elaborate Christmas campaign, you can also promote free shipping, handling, and returns.
This gives your customers peace of mind when ordering, as they don’t have to pay an extra few bucks.
Who knows, they might end up buying all of their gifts from your website!
This keeps the spirit of spreading joy alive while cashing on one of the best Christmas marketing ideas.
Host An Event
Host a week-long event at your physical store, play games, arrange a small corner for kids, and have a blast.
This will attract all those who don’t have other means of celebrating to your store, and you can give them this homely feel.
This is one of those Christmas marketing ideas that keep on giving back the entire year!
Here’s an idea to host at your nearby park:
View this post on Instagram
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Be Inclusive
You most probably have a versatile audience shopping on your website during the holiday season.
Your consumers comprise people from all cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that not all of them will celebrate Christmas and New Year on the same day.
This puts you in a challenging position, but it most definitely does not mean that you should give up on Christmas marketing.
To ensure that you include everyone in your seasonal marketing campaigns, consider using neutral greetings.
Taglines, such as “Seasonal greetings,” “Happy holidays,” or “Enjoy the winters,” set the tone right from the beginning.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and go with something other than Merry Christmas this year.
Starting with a simple wish, you can show your readers that you respect their beliefs.
This email campaign by Kate Spade New York is the perfect example.
It looks decent and has all the right holiday vibes, complete with sparkles and a pastel theme.
Kate Spade New York’s email marketing for Christmas Offer Extra Value
Christmas is all about giving out love and receiving love.
So why not offer something of extra value to your customers this holiday season?
Giving them a perfect chance to fill up their stockings even more?
Offering something for free is an excellent way to entice customers and attract holiday traffic to your website.
You can offer trial-size products, a loyalty card, points, rewards, or even free shipping.
However, you must be creative and offer something other than free shipping.
If you are a makeup brand, you can offer a little mascara by ordering a full-sized pallet.
Your clients will get to try out something for free, and you can win some hearts.
It sounds like a win-win situation on both ends!
Estee Lauder’s promotional email for Christmas This Estee Lauder holiday promotional email is on point.
Their branding is impressive, with the perfect color theme and gifts at the end.
And they are offering 20% off along with an extra incentive.
They offer three DELUXE-sized samples instead of the traditional size, and all purchases are only $50.
They have kept the amount low so that people would consider shopping.
If you are an avid user of Estee Lauder products, I am sure you would know that spending $50 on the site is no big deal.
You can buy a serum; your cart total would still be more than that.
If you decide to pursue the same strategy, set a limit that you know is achievable with your brand.
Don’t set a limit that you know most users cannot reach.
Here are some more original ideas you can offer for free.
- Free membership after the cart reaches a certain amount
- Custom loyalty cards for returning customers
- 2X or 3X points on every purchase
- One more month of a free trial
- Exclusive access to limited-edition products
- Discounts on future bookings
- Free webinars or workshops
- Free software updates or premium versions
Offering free products with every order is an excellent way to kick-start your early Christmas marketing campaigns.
Play With The Emotions
Christmas is the time of year when most people look forward to family time. They are all looking for fantastic gifts that will make them miss their family even more.
Think like old-school advertisements and how they can stir emotions in us.
For inspiration, check out this fantastic advertisement by Disney UK.
It follows a girl’s life from childhood until she is old enough to work. The ad hits all the right notes with the flagship Mickey Mouse and the snow setting.
Another excellent advertisement campaign is by McDonald’s. Their #ReindeerReady shows a mom trying to get her child in the holiday spirit.
Run a Charity
Running a charity is one of the most universal ideas of all time. Any brand can host one and have a ball at it.
Especially at this time of year, when people are looking to give, why not use it as a marketing campaign that can make a difference? After the year we have had, holding a charity is one of the best ideas this year.
If your company is already a non-profit organization and you run such charities all year long. Then, you can share stories of people who donated through you or of people you’ve helped.
Seeing that the donations make a difference will prompt more people to donate through your brand. Remember to offer several ways to donate so that people have more outlets to get involved.
In addition to monetary donations, consider other types, such as sponsorships and point contributions. Again, this is a win-win situation: You will sell your product, and people will feel good that they are making someone else’s life better as well!
Marks and Spencer has a Christmas Campaign that will give $2 million to different charities. They pick all the charities from the nine celebrities participating in the campaign.
This is an M&S Christmas Campaign, and it is already making waves. Here is the link to their fully updated Christmas playlist.
Running charities is the perfect Christmas marketing idea for retailers, as they can build their brand by showing that they care.
Christmas Themed Product Names
Leverage the holiday spirit to create creative product names.
You can introduce a whole new product or create a holiday variation of your flagship offer.
Since it’s Christmas, you can use words like festive, peppermint, sled, and the like. You can also always use the colors, such as red, green, or white, in names.
Similarly, a holiday headline can make your brand appear more festive. Coming up with a catchy Christmas marketing slogan is also a great way to bundle all your Christmas offers together.
It can act as a pretty bow on top of all the packaging. You can print a ribbon with the tagline and tie it to the orders.
Your chances of experiencing high sales are much more likely to increase if you challenge your inner holiday spirit and portray it in your Christmas marketing ideas and campaigns.
Take a Trip Down the Memory Lane
Harry Potter’s email marketing for Christmas If you have had a successful campaign in recent years, then congratulations! Consider half of your job done.
Consider going down memory lane and bringing it back with a twist. Remember that it is not smart to copy the entire campaign as it is.
It would then just be repetitive. Consider bringing it back, but add something new to it. This holiday email by the Harry Potter Wizarding World is one of our favorites this year.
Half the world wants to experience the magical land of Hogwarts. At some point in our lives, we have been disappointed that our letter never arrived.
Conclusion
So, let’s put on our Santa caps and jingle our way through these Christmas marketing ideas to make the most of the festive season.
Remember, the colors of the season are red and white, and you should use them in all your marketing strategies.
Happy holidays!
