HOLIDAY MARKETING IDEAS: TRENDS, TACTICS AND FESTIVE INSPO
The best season of the year is upon us… the holidays!
For brands, this is the perfect time to shine. From playful storytelling to Black Friday hype and immersive experiential campaigns, there are so many ways to get your audience excited, inspired, and ready to shop.
Let’s dive in.1. SEASONAL STORYTELLING WITH HOLIDAY SPARK
The holidays are all about giving, sharing, and, yes, treating yourself. This is your chance to showcase your products in ways that make people feel like they need them, whether as gifts or just for the joy of the season.
Use trending holiday audio or popular music to create content that excites and inspires your audience to explore what your brand has to offer. Keep it playful, aspirational, and visually rich so that viewers can’t help but stop scrolling.Top ways to show it
The 2025 season comes to an end: Last year’s viral audio returns with a 2025 edition. Perfect for a recap of your brand’s highlights or best-selling products, showing your audience everything they might have missed.You're so hard to shop for: Create a collage of products people might want for Christmas, including yours. Show different styles, bundles, or gift sets to inspire holiday wish lists.My Apple Pay / Bank Card: Feature what your customers could be spending on your products this season, synced with playful transaction sounds or jingles. Fun, relatable, and a subtle nudge to gift your items this holiday (exampe below).
the goal;
Make it tempting. Make it joyful. Show your products in ways that get people dreaming, sharing, and clicking “add to cart.”2. BLACK FRIDAY IDEAS FOR LAST-MINUTE INSPO
Black Friday is less than a week away, and if you’re still brainstorming ideas or want to add fresh, trendy content to your plan, here are a few playful ways to make your sale impossible to miss.
Creative ways to showcase your deals
Night Before the Sale: Swap “Christmas” in the familiar “Twas the night before Christmas” audio for your Black Friday sale. Build anticipation with behind-the-scenes prep, sneak peeks of products, or team excitement.Rack Spotlight: Set up a product rack or display. Have someone pose behind it, highlighting each item quickly and energetically. Perfect for fashion, accessories, or any products you want to showcase fast and dynamically.Paper Reveal: Film a close-up of a sheet of paper, cut it vertically, and reveal your Black Friday offer on a phone or screen. Simple, visually satisfying, and scroll-stopping.
the goal;
Generate excitement, drive urgency, and make your products irresistible. These ideas are playful, shareable, and perfect for boosting traffic right before your sale goes live.3. EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING
Nothing captures the holiday magic quite like the thrill of unwrapping a gift. Advent calendars are one of the most joyful ways to give your audience a daily dose of delight while helping them discover your products in a fun and low-pressure way.
This year, more brands than ever are leaning into playful bundles where each day in December reveals a new item. It is a simple way for customers to try products they have been curious about without the commitment of a full size, while also creating a sense of surprise that fits perfectly with the season.
why it works
Every daily reveal becomes a mini unboxing moment that people love to share online.Influencers and everyday shoppers often record their countdowns, giving your brand steady organic exposure throughout the month.It creates a light and interactive experience that brings your products into your audience’s daily routine in a festive, memorable way.
example;
A brand could design a holiday advent calendar filled with mini skincare items, accessories, or seasonal treats. Each day, users open a new surprise, post it on social media, and stay connected to your brand in a cheerful, ongoing way. It is the perfect blend of experience, discovery, and social buzz.
Even luxury brands have embraced this trend. A great example is the SKIMS holiday advent calendar that went viral after Kim Kardashian introduced it on TikTok. It includes 25 pairs of panties and instantly stood out as one of the priciest fashion calendars of the season. Whether people loved it or debated the price, the excitement around the daily reveals proved just how powerful this format can be.THE goal;
Make it exciting. Make it shareable. Give your audience a reason to interact with your brand every single day of December.
The holidays are your moment to shine. Seasonal storytelling can make your products irresistible, Black Friday strategies can create buzz and urgency, and experiential campaigns like advent calendars can keep your audience engaged all month long.
Plan early, embrace creativity, and make every post a festive moment that connects with your audience. This season, your content can be playful, shareable, and absolutely unforgettable, the perfect combination to delight customers and grow your brand!