Top Holiday Marketing Strategies for 2024

The holiday season is a goldmine of opportunity—but it’s also a battlefield. Every marketer is crafting festive campaigns, aiming to connect with the season’s spirit and drive big sales.

The market is crowded, and every brand is fighting for attention. The key? Creative campaigns, sharp tactics, and staying on top of trends.

What to do:

• Get creative: Think outside the box to grab attention in a busy marketplace.
• Track trends: Keep an eye on shifts in customer behavior and adapt fast.
• Build trust: Strengthen relationships with your audience to boost loyalty.

Looking for more ideas? This guide breaks down the smartest holiday marketing moves.

It’s never too early to plan.

A Gartner survey showed that 36% of consumers plan to begin their holiday purchases before November. While 80% of customers believe social media, mainly influencer content, is driving their purchase decision (Hayes).

So there’s more than one way to plan for holiday success. Read on and we’ll take you through it.

Leverage seasonal interests across your marketing channels

Unpicking consumer trends is important to any successful digital marketing plan. The holiday season brings new and unique consumer needs.

For example, keyword research can increase website traffic. Marketers focused on SEO have a big opportunity to take advantage of this.

Knowing how some terms vary with the season is important for promotion. A keyword like “best wool sweater”, may become a trending topic as the winter cold hits.

How do you find these out?

Similarweb’s Keyword Generator tool has a Yearly Trend column that marketers can use to see these trends and adjust accordingly.

Producing content around gift suggestions or holiday themes can also fit with consumer trends. With careful planning, you’ll be able to stay relevant and on the forefront as customers make their holiday purchases.

Now let’s see how each channel can help to benefit from these possibilities:

SEO

Seasonal keywords are exactly what they sound like—search terms that peak during specific times of the year. By incorporating these keywords into your content, you can attract more visitors to your site and guide them through a smoother customer journey, ultimately boosting your conversion rates.

For example, adding holiday-themed keywords to your content—like “last-minute gifts” or “holiday party planning tips”—helps you connect with users who are actively searching for these topics.

By addressing festive themes like gift ideas or event planning, you position your brand as a helpful, reliable resource during this busy season, building trust and driving engagement with your audience.

PPC

PPC (pay-per-click), is a type of online advertising where you only pay when someone clicks on your ad.

It’s commonly used for search ads, which appear at the top of search engine results pages when users type in relevant queries.

During the holiday season, PPC campaigns can be especially effective.

By targeting seasonal keywords, your ads can reach shoppers who are actively searching for holiday deals or gift ideas.

For example, a Christmas-themed search ad like “Shop the Best Holiday Gifts Now!” can grab attention, drive traffic to your site, and boost conversions. With PPC, you’re paying to position your brand right where it matters most—at the top of search results when your audience is ready to buy.

Social media

Social media is a goldmine for capturing seasonal interest and sparking conversations.

Seasonal keywords aren’t just for SEO or PPC—on social platforms, they appear in hashtags, trending topics, and shared content, giving marketers endless opportunities to connect with consumer preferences.

Leveraging user-generated content or collaborating with influencers on holiday-themed posts can amplify your reach and strengthen your digital presence.

By sharing festive stories and engaging with your audience, your brand becomes a meaningful part of their holiday celebrations, fostering deeper relationships and increasing visibility during this busy season.

Email marketing

Email marketing is a time-tested way to make a big impact during the holidays. Crafting special holiday deals with a personal touch can create a positive connection with your audience and boost your brand’s appeal.

Reviewing past campaigns can help you identify successful offers and refine this year’s strategy using insights from tools like marketing intelligence platforms.

By offering timely, relevant value, you can meet customer expectations, drive higher engagement, and see improved click-through rates that translate into increased sales. With the right approach, your emails can even become a holiday tradition customers look forward to.

Influencer marketing

Partnering with influencers can amplify your reach during the holidays, a time when people actively seek inspiration and ideas. Choosing influencers who align with your brand values—not just those with a big following—is key.

Collaborate with them on seasonal themes that tie into your brand while resonating with their audience’s holiday interests.

Influencers connect with their followers through authentic, relatable stories, making your brand part of the festive excitement.

These partnerships not only capture holiday sentiments but also boost brand awareness and trust, strengthening your overall marketing strategy for the season.

Retarget customers

Don’t overlook your past visitors during the holiday rush—retargeting can give them the nudge they need to come back. The holidays are the perfect time to remind previous customers why they were interested in your brand in the first place.

By showcasing their favorite items across platforms and websites, you keep your products on top of their mind.

Consistent reminders paired with compelling visuals can turn initial interest into completed purchases. Use well-placed prompts and festive creativity to rekindle their excitement and encourage engagement. Retargeting is a powerful way to convert curiosity into holiday sales.

Use your customer’s power

Happy customers are one of your best assets during the holiday shopping season. Their reviews and experiences add credibility and form a compelling part of your marketing story, creating a narrative that resonates with potential buyers.

By actively incorporating customer feedback into your strategy—through testimonials, reviews, or even case studies—you can build trust and strengthen your marketing efforts.

Showcasing real stories from satisfied customers makes your brand more relatable and appealing, especially during the busiest shopping period of the year.

Here are some ways to do this:

Loyalty programs

Loyalty programs are a powerful way to deepen connections with your customers, especially during the holiday season. Offering seasonal incentives—like exclusive promos or early access to sales—encourages repeat purchases, boost customer retention, and strengthens long-term relationships.

These programs not only drive engagement but also build brand ambassadors who share their positive experiences with others. By rewarding loyalty, you create a cycle of trust and appreciation that enhances your brand’s visibility and keeps customers coming back for more.

Recommendations

Recommendations from previous customers are a powerful tool for building trust and credibility. Encouraging reviews not only provide valuable feedback but also influence new customers, many of whom rely on others’ experiences to make purchasing decisions.

Offering incentives, like discounts for leaving reviews, can make this strategy even more effective. Genuine reviews showcase transparency, boosting confidence in your brand during the busy holiday season. Featuring timely feedback in your campaigns highlights customer satisfaction and reinforces your brand’s reliability in a crowded marketplace.

User-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) brings authenticity to your brand by showcasing real customer experiences. Encouraging customers to share holiday moments featuring your products not only boosts brand awareness but also builds trust.

This approach creates a personal connection with your audience during the holiday season, as UGC reflects genuine consumer experiences. It resonates with both new and returning customers, who often value peer recommendations over traditional brand messaging.

By integrating UGC into your strategy, you foster engagement and make your brand a part of your customers’ holiday stories.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing can accelerate conversions during the holidays. Affiliates running holiday-focused campaigns can highlight special offers or product bundles, keeping your brand top of mind for prospective customers.

Coordinating promotions across your affiliate network ensures a consistent message, empowering affiliates to drive better results. A strong affiliate program scales your efforts, amplifying your holiday campaigns to reach broader audiences and maximize impact.

Create festive visuals

Festive visuals are essential for capturing the holiday spirit and spreading seasonal cheer. Bright, joyful imagery that reflects the generosity and magic of the season can enhance your marketing materials—from social media posts to website banners.

Tailoring visuals to your target audience adds excitement to your holiday campaigns, while consistent design across all platforms creates a cohesive and recognizable brand presence. By blending creativity with a unified look and feel, your visuals can elevate brand awareness and keep your audience engaged throughout the season.

Run festive events

Festive events like contests and giveaways can bring energy and excitement to your holiday campaigns. Hosting these events in your app, in-store, or on social media captures attention and boosts engagement during the season of giving.

Offering attractive prizes encourages participation and creates a lively, festive atmosphere that resonates with your audience. Adding a unique, personal touch to these celebrations not only makes your brand stand out but also leaves a lasting impression on participants, turning holiday cheer into meaningful connections.

Get creative with your holiday strategy

Infusing creative energy into your holiday marketing strategy can set your brand apart during the festive season. Personalization and perfect timing strengthen customer connections, turning one-time interactions into ongoing conversations. A creative approach leaves a lasting impression, encouraging greater engagement as the holiday buzz builds.

By tapping into the excitement of the season, you can achieve both short-term wins and long-term brand recognition. Ready to refresh your holiday advertising strategy? Use these proven tactics and Similarweb’s industry insights to ignite fresh ideas and make your campaigns shine.

FAQs

How can I personalize my holiday marketing campaigns?

To effectively fit your holiday campaigns, take advantage of customer data to create offers that cater to their individual needs. Personalization builds relationships, increases customer loyalty, and helps you improve the overall impact of your holiday sales campaign.

What are some effective social media strategies for the holidays?

During the holidays, optimize your holiday marketing by aiming for interactive live events and themed quizzes. Making experiences that customers will share helps promote community engagement, which increases visibility during the season.

How can email marketing keep my audience engaged over the holidays?

Email marketing acts as your direct line to your clients and lets you provide customized deals and information. With consistent communication, you help maintain retention by effectively handling open rates.

Why are influencer partnerships beneficial for holiday marketing?

Influencers provide authenticity and engagement and help to promote brand messages to wider audiences. Working together on holidays connects their content with your marketing approach, and this could expand your brand’s visibility and increase your campaign’s performance.

What aspects should I integrate for an effective holiday digital marketing strategy?

For an effective holiday digital marketing strategy, include SEO, PPC, social media, and retargeting. This integrated approach applies across all channels provides greater reach and improves your campaign to maximize effectiveness.