Does anyone else feel that Christmas has snuck up on us? Did Mariah even have time to freeze?!

If you’re sitting there panicking, feeling unprepared for your Christmas marketing, don’t worry, that’s exactly why we’re here. Consider this your ultimate guide to getting back on track and making the most of the festive season.

It’s Not Too Late to Leverage Black Friday

We could sit here all day debating when it’s acceptable to put up the tree or what the best Christmas film is (December 1st and The Holiday, obviously), but one thing we can all agree on is the shopping season kicks off with Black Friday. And with just two weeks to go, there’s still plenty of time to make it work for your brand.

Warm up you audience

With any great marketing campaign, you need to build excitement and let your audience know you’ve got something special in the works. Whatever discount or announcement you have planned for Black Friday, make sure to warm your audience up in advance. Sneak peeks, countdowns or teaser posts can work wonders for engagement and get people excited to take action when the big day arrives.

Stand out in the inbox

With everyone’s inbox overflowing with mediocre offers, your holiday promotion needs to pop. Catchy subject lines and smart personalisation will be your best friend when it comes to actually getting seen in a tornado of emails on the morning of Black Friday.

Create Something memorable

The most successful Black Friday campaigns are original, your audience should feel like they can’t get it anywhere else and it only happens once a year. By making your campaign memorable, you’re already giving yourself a head start for next year’s build-up.

One of our favourite campaigns from last year was Pure Sports’ empty box campaign. It was unique, intriguing and unforgettable. It also proves that Black Friday doesn’t have to be about who offers the biggest discount – smart, thoughtful promotions that resonate with your audience can be just as powerful.

The Christmas Build Up

Christmas is more than just festive cheer; it’s a golden marketing opportunity. It’s the perfect time to build relationships with both new and existing customers while boosting your social media presence.

Content Advent Calendar

Take advantage of one of the most anticipated moments of the festive period – the advent countdown. Turn your content into a fun, engaging way to build excitement in the lead-up to Christmas. Your countdown should resonate with your audience, so think daily tips, exclusive offers, giveaways or interactive content, the possibilities are endless.

Last year, clothing brand The Morning Club introduced its “12 Doors of Christmas” campaign, featuring 12 iconic doors from TV and film across social media. Each door revealed a daily incentive for followers, a clever mix of nostalgia, interactivity and festive fun. The result? A memorable campaign that built anticipation and truly connected with their audience.

Email funnels

Segment your audience based on behaviour, because not everyone responds to the same message. Highly engaged customers respond well to small, targeted incentives, while less engaged audiences may need a bit more nurturing before they convert. This could mean educational content, storytelling or personalised recommendations that build trust and familiarity. By tailoring your approach to each group, your campaigns feel more relevant, authentic and ultimately more effective.

Real-time marketing

Be reactive to trends, nostalgia and pop culture, people love content they can relate to. Tapping into what’s current or familiar will make your campaigns feel timely, fun and highly shareable.

For example, last year Premier Inn cleverly capitalised on the excitement around the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special by temporarily rebranding their Barry hotel. It was a simple but brilliant idea, showing that even small, well-timed creative moves can capture attention and generate buzz.

Don’t sleep between Christmas and New Year

Many brands take a break during Christmas and New year, but that’s exactly when your audience is active online, scrolling, browsing and looking for something fun or inspiring.

Build lasting relationships

This downtime is a golden opportunity to build lasting relationships. People are anticipating announcements, sales or engaging experiences, and by showing up during this period, you can capture attention in a moment when others are quiet.

Get a head start for 2025

Beyond that, staying active sets you up for the year ahead. Engaging your audience now means you start 2026 with momentum, excitement and a head start over competitors who have gone silent.

Whether it’s teasing upcoming launches, sharing exclusive content or offering post-Christmas deals, keeping the conversation going ensures your brand stays top of mind as you enter the new year.

Christmas might have arrived faster than we all expected, but with these last-minute campaigns, your brand can still make a huge impact. Need help with your Christmas marketing strategy? Contact us today.