The holiday buying season brings a surge of sales, shoppers, and attention for your small business growth. With endless brands all vying for consumers’ attention, you need to make sure your small business stands out. And the way to do this? Through your holiday marketing strategy!
In this overview, you’ll find holiday marketing strategies and tips to boost your profile this holiday season by building excitement around your business’s offerings, attracting more customers, and more!
What are the Top 5 holiday marketing tips for the buying season?
1. Create holiday-themed offers
According to the PwC’s 2025 Holiday Outlook survey, consumers plan to spend 5% less on holiday decorations and gifts this year. As a result, any opportunity for a deal to save money will certainly spark their interest.
Use seasonal promotions to attract customers to your in-person and online locations and increase sales through suggested tie-ins. These tie-ins should boost average sales and help cover the cost of promotional discounts and giveaways.
Offer holiday buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals, promotions, discounts, or coupons to make your products and services uplifting and buyer-friendly. Think of something to offer that makes life easier for your customers, such as free gift wrapping or holiday gift bags.
You can also use this season to bolster business later with special “buy now, use later” offers, such as adding a promotional item when a gift card or certificate is redeemed in January or February.
2. Create a compelling story for your brand
As you prepare for the buying holidays, integrate your business’s story into your marketing campaigns. If you’re unsure what to include, consider why you started your business, who you hope it benefits, and how. You could also consider why you’re in your location or anything else that can help your customers feel more connected to your business and brand.
In addition to telling customers your story, let local media outlets know: They’re always looking for “feel good” news, and like to support local businesses, providing you with free publicity online and/or in print.
If your business partners with charities or sponsors fundraising events, promote your support: Customers love to know that they are supporting a good cause, especially if it’s in their community or tied to their interests.
3. Identify the appropriate channels to share your message
Find which marketing channels are the best fit for your business. Tailor your plans and resources to those that offer the best access to your target audience for the information you want to convey. Here are some common types of marketing channels:
- Websites: Websites are still the most effective way to communicate key information about your business – store hours, location, phone, email contact info, return policies and more – and to promote products and services. Be sure that all information is updated, that customers can purchase gifts on your website and that it’s mobile-friendly.
- Email: Your email list is a goldmine of past and potential customers, so use it to promote weekly updates on inventory, services and special email-only offers.
- Social Media: Social media is great for quick daily posts on time-sensitive offerings, like one-day-only sales or limited-inventory specials or special events. In addition, targeted ads can help you reach your key customers.
- Advertisements: Although radio, TV, and print ads are usually more expensive, they can be extremely effective for target demographics. Additionally, rather than thinking only of large-scale media (your local city newspaper, for example), consider other options that are lower cost but equally effective, like community-based weeklies or advertising in an event program that will run all season (like a seasonal presentation of a play or concert).
- Mail: With businesses turning to digital channels, there are new opportunities to reach target markets through the mail. Consider sending your current customers a seasonal greeting with a special offer.
4. Get festive and decorate your store or your website
The holidays are a very visual time of year, so optimize your website, office, or store to celebrate the season. Festive visuals, like snowflakes, ice skates, and mittens, add cheer without being holiday-specific.
5. Thank your customers
Be sure to thank your customers. A simple card or email shows that you appreciate their loyalty. Taking the time to send a hand-written card or note is a great way to ensure your customers remember you beyond the holiday season and recommend you to potential new customers.
Your holiday-season goodwill lasts all year
While many small businesses count on the holiday season for their annual sales boost, it’s also a great time to rekindle loyalty to your business and brand. Find ways to bring joy to your customers and make their lives easier during the busy season. That way they’ll be sure to remember it all year long.
If you need funding to help you prepare for the holidays and grow your business throughout the year, reach out to us. Every day, Pursuit helps small businesses get the financing you need, along with a range of additional services to support small business success.