Holiday Marketing Campaigns

Holiday marketing campaigns are often seen as the territory of big brands with deep pockets. However, small businesses can steal the spotlight too. In fact, thoughtful holiday marketing ideas and well-timed campaigns can create a bigger impact than any flashy slogan or last-minute discount.

You’ve probably tried the usual suspects: email blasts, countdown sales, seasonal hashtags. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t. What if, instead of pushing harder, we took a moment to think about how customers actually feel this time of year? What motivates them? What helps, and what annoys?

This guide is packed with practical holiday marketing tips, real-world examples, and campaign ideas you can actually use. Whether you're running a mobile app or managing a brand calendar, we’ll explore how to build festive marketing strategies that are timely, relevant, and personal especially across mobile channels. By the end, you'll have a clear, actionable approach to holiday marketing campaigns that feel more human and convert better too.

What are Commercial Holidays and Why Are They Important Ror Retailers?

Commercial holidays are special days or events that businesses and marketers often use as opportunities to drive sales, promote products, or create marketing campaigns. These holidays may be tied to national events, religious celebrations, or other cultural phenomena.

They are often leveraged by businesses for their economic potential. While some commercial holidays are globally recognized, many are country-specific, with a focus on consumer behavior, gift-giving, and shopping.

Key Commercial Holidays in 2025
 

United States (US):
 

New Year's Day - January 1, 2025

Valentine’s Day - February 14, 2025

Mother’s Day - May 11, 2025

Father’s Day - June 15, 2025

Independence Day - July 4, 2025

Labor Day - September 1, 2025

Halloween - October 31, 2025

Thanksgiving - November 27, 2025

Black Friday - November 28, 2025

Cyber Monday - December 1, 2025

Christmas - December 25, 2025

Europe:
 

New Year's Day - January 1, 2025

Valentine’s Day - February 14, 2025

Easter - April 20, 2025

Labor Day - May 1, 2025

Ascension Day - May 29, 2025

Mother’s Day - May 10, 2025

Summer Sales - June - August

Halloween - October 31, 2025

Christmas - December 25, 2025

Boxing Day - December 26, 2025

What Role Does Emotion Play In Holiday Marketing?

The holiday season brings more than just shopping opportunities. People experience joy, anticipation, and nostalgia during this time. Harvard Medical School research shows that holiday stress substantially affects people's decision making. Consumers respond more to emotional triggers than logical reasoning at this time.

You've likely seen memorable holiday campaigns. Did they showcase product details or tell heartwarming stories? Brands know emotional marketing builds stronger connections. To cite an instance, holiday ads that evoke nostalgia trigger dopamine release, which strengthens memory and brand attachment.

The so-called nostalgia marketing can be especially effective for small businesses that need to generate ROI on a shoestring budget. It is adaptable to all forms of content like email marketing, social media, static/video reels etc.

Brand authenticity plays a crucial role in emotional holiday marketing. Customers trust brands they see as genuine and true to their values. Your holiday campaigns should stay true to your brand's voice rather than following seasonal trends.

5 Holiday Promotion Ideas Your Competitors Missed

Getting noticed during the holidays needs more than just sales and decorations. Some of the best holiday marketing tricks stay hidden from view. Let me share five creative ways to promote your business that your competition hasn't tried yet.

1. Interactive Advent Calendars

Digital advent calendars are changing how brands connect with customers during holidays. These calendars turn the usual countdown into something fun and engaging. Each day brings a new surprise that keeps people coming back throughout the whole month (not only December!). 

Let’s break a myth: advent calendars don’t have to be a December-only thing. Smart brands are flipping the script and using them year-round!
 

Take Dodo Pizza’s summer campaign, for instance. They launched a summer-themed digital calendar packed with deals and fun content, turning a typically slow season into an engagement win. Who would’ve thought, right?

You might want to hide special deals, mini-games, or early product access behind each calendar "door" to make it work better.

2. User-Generated Holiday Content Campaigns

Your holiday products look best when real customers show them off. User content really works — people share it twice as much as brand content, and 85% of consumers say it feels more real.

Here's how to get great holiday content from users:

• Ask customers to share their holiday moments with your products on social media
• Start hashtag campaigns (Instagram accounts that run contests grow 70% faster)
• Run holiday photo or video contests with prizes
• Feature customer holiday traditions that include your products
  

3. Cause-Related Holiday Marketing

The holiday season brings out people's generous side. A recent survey by CAF America found that 62% of Americans plan to make monetary donations during this holiday season.

Starbucks partnered with (RED) to help HIV/AIDS programs in Africa by giving money from certain purchases. The NBA worked with Nothing But Nets campaign and gave two free game tickets to donors.

Young people love this approach — 76% of Gen Z and Millennials will spend more on green products. Pick a cause that matches your brand's values and let customers help choose the charity.

4. Holiday-Themed Gamification

What if we used something like a holiday-themed trivia game? Or a scratch card giveaway that people can access daily, with small rewards that stack up over time? It’s not about getting a sale today, but creating moments that keep people excited to return. And when we do that, sales follow naturally.

Games make marketing fun during holidays, distribute promo codes, add an extra layer of excitement to the shopping experience. These small games keep users engaged and make your brand memorable in the lead-up to commercial holidays.

Benefits

• Increases conversions: Instant rewards encourage quick purchasing decisions.
• Boosts engagement: Interactive elements keep people involved and entertained.
• Enhances user experience: Adds a fun, game-like feature that builds excitement.

5. Personalized Holiday Experiences

Here’s the thing: not everyone wants the same thing. That’s the magic of segmenting. No more sending the same generic “Holiday Sale!” email to the entire list and hoping for the best.

For instance, when we’re planning a Christmas marketing campaign, don’t just think about the obvious things — gifts, decorations, sales. Think about who’s on our list: are they millennials who care about unique gift ideas, or parents looking for deals on toys? Tailor your messaging to their needs. 

Or another example. When thinking about target market for Valentine's Day, we traditionally think of couples. But it’s more nuanced:

• Single shoppers: They buy gifts for friends, family, or even themselves.
• Parents and children: Family-friendly Valentine’s Day marketing slogans (e.g., “Share the love with mom”) resonate well.
• Friends & Galentines: “Palentine’s” or “Galentine’s Day” celebrations are on the rise among friend groups.
• Office & corporate gifting: Some workplaces exchange small tokens or run “Secret Valentine” events.

Essentially, your potential market is broader than ever.

You can make things personal by:

• Grouping your email list based on what people bought before
• Creating special landing pages for different customers
• Suggesting items based on browsing history
• Sending holiday greetings that recognize customer loyalty
   

Got an app? Now’s the time to get personal with in-app stories. Highlight products your customers showed interest in, or tease exclusive deals to keep them coming back.

Use InAppStory to drive your in-app experiences:

• Create engaging, personalized stories that showcase your holiday deals
• Highlight popular products and limited-time offers to keep customers excited
• Use interactive features to encourage more browsing and easier shopping directly from the story
  

When To Launch Holiday Promotions?

Time is running out for your holiday marketing campaign. The right timing could make or break your success with holiday shoppers. Here's a detailed timeline most brands miss when planning their holiday marketing strategy.

Early-Bird Holiday Shoppers

Early shoppers pack quite a punch — 50% of Americans buy at least one holiday item by October's end. Even more surprising, 29% finish their holiday shopping completely. These smart shoppers do their homework and check about 10 different sources before they decide to buy.

Here's how to win these early shoppers:

• Launch your holiday campaigns by mid-October (July for hot items)
• Build buzz with special previews and early-bird deals
• Test and fine-tune your strategy before the rush hits

IKEA nailed this approach with their clever holiday campaign. They showed holiday trees too small for ornaments, which helped them stand out while promoting their early sales.

Peak Season Strategies

November is your golden window that lines up with major shopping events. Black Friday 2025 lands on November 28. Your website needs a thorough check before November campaigns start, with special attention to checkout flows . Pages that take more than 3 seconds to load hurt 1 in 5 retail sessions and push bounce rates from 43.8% to 47.7%.

November campaigns should push time-sensitive offers, package deals, and quick sales. This strategy works well with shoppers' natural buying habits during this time. We have already shared Black Friday marketing tips and promotion ideas in our guide for you to thrive during the Black Friday rush with a campaign that makes an impact. 

Last-Minute Holiday Marketing Tactics

Most shoppers only complete 43% of their holiday shopping by December. These late shoppers care most about shipping speed — one in three pick where to buy based on delivery times.

Winning tactics for last-minute shoppers:

• Send emails highlighting "Final Hours for Guaranteed Holiday Delivery"
• Show shipping cutoff dates clearly across your site
• Push gift cards, especially digital ones for instant delivery
• Add countdown timers to create real urgency

These strategies work with December's rushed shopping behavior and help stressed holiday shoppers make quick decisions. 

Why Is Customer Loyalty Important During Holiday Shopping Season?

Customer loyalty is vital as 2 out of 5 purchases during the festive season are expected to come from repeat customers. Nurturing customer relationships year-round can significantly impact sales during commercial holidays.

1. Higher conversion, lower cost. Returning customers are more likely to buy and buy more than new ones. They already trust your brand, so you don’t need to spend as much convincing them.
2. Holiday chaos favors the familiar. With inboxes flooded and ads everywhere, loyal customers are more likely to choose the brand they already know, rather than risk something new.
3. Loyalty drives word of mouth. Happy customers shop and share. During the holidays, that can mean a wave of referrals when people are actively looking for gifts and ideas.
4. Sustained revenue after the season. Holiday buyers that become loyal customers keep your revenue healthy in the slower months. It's the difference between a sales spike and steady growth.
5. You’re not the only one targeting them. If you don’t take care of your current customers during the holidays, someone else will.

⚡ Already explored how content fuels customer loyalty? If not, let’s build on that because during the holidays, loyalty isn’t optional. It’s your edge.

How To Make Existing Content Work For Holidays

Analytics reveal your best content through high impressions and strong engagement. This winning content can be updated with a holiday twist.

Here's how to repurpose effectively:

• Popular blog posts become holiday gift guides
• Product tutorials turn into "holiday how-to" videos
• Client success stories transform into "year in review" features
• Old infographics get refreshed with current holiday data

Content repurposing boosts your SEO by catching search engines' attention and building quality backlinks. Companies that repurpose content strategically grow revenue 49% faster than others.

Future Trends: What Lies Ahead for Holiday Sales?

As we look ahead to the future of commercial holidays, there are some exciting trends that are set to shape the sales landscape:

1. Sustainability is at the forefront. More and more, consumers are prioritizing sustainable products and practices, which is influencing their purchasing decisions.
2. Next up is Technology Integration. With the rise of AI and machine learning, personalization and user experiences are about to get a major boost.
3. And let’s not forget about Omnichannel Shopping. The blend of online and offline shopping experiences is on the rise, and businesses need to adapt.
4. Now, onto the Social Media Influence. Social media is set to play an even bigger role in shaping buyer preferences and driving sales.
5. Finally, we have Economic Factors. Economic conditions like inflation and consumer confidence will definitely impact spending patterns during the holiday season. 
   
   Using InAppStory's features, businesses can craft compelling narratives that encourage spending, even when times are tough.  See how our client, a top food retail chain, tackles the post-holiday slump. As spending drops after New Year's, they’re finding ways to re-engage customers and boost revenue.

Why Holiday Campaigns Need a Mobile-First Approach

Most holiday marketing campaigns are still designed with desktop in mind, then squeezed into mobile later. But the numbers tell a different story. In recent years, mobile shopping has consistently outpaced desktop, especially during peak holiday periods like Black Friday, Christmas, and New Year’s.

So here’s the question: why are so many festive marketing efforts still stuck in a desktop mindset? A mobile-first approach is a shift in how brands connect with customers during the busiest, most emotionally charged time of the year. Holiday marketing ideas that work on mobile are often more personal, faster to consume, and easier to act on — all critical during a season when attention spans are short and competition is high.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Short-form formats win: In-app stories, swipeable content, and quick holiday quizzes perform better than long emails or dense banners.
• Push-first, not email-first: Holiday offers delivered through mobile push notifications get higher open rates and create real-time urgency.
• Native experiences matter: When your holiday campaign feels like a natural part of the app people engage more.

In other words, mobile is the environment where your holiday campaign actually comes to life. Brands that build holiday marketing campaigns specifically for mobile tend to outperform those that treat mobile as an afterthought. 

Conclusion

Holidays are peak season for mobile usage. Users open apps more frequently, are more likely to shop, and are receptive to promotions. But they also see more competition. Generic popups and banners won’t cut through. You need experiences that feel timely, fun, and native to your app.

The strategies that work best during the holidays are clear:

• Limited-time visuals and urgency
• Content that taps into emotion and celebration
• Challenges and gamified mechanics that reward interaction
• Personalization based on user behavior

In-app stories give you a flexible, visual format to:

• Run holiday countdowns
• Highlight seasonal offers
• Launch mini-games or giveaways
• Share feel-good end-of-year wrap-ups

They can be scheduled, targeted, and updated without developer help. Once the SDK is integrated, marketers and content teams can publish directly from the InAppStory console.

In parallel, you can layer in gamification to make holiday content more interactive. These mechanics are especially effective for short bursts of attention:

• Advent Calendar — Reveal a new deal or tip every day
• New Year Countdown — Add a timer to boost urgency
• Spin the Wheel — Simple game, instant rewards
• Thank You Story — Celebrate your users and recap highlights
• Holiday Quiz — Interactive format with a discount at the end

The key is to match the moment with the right format. Use stories to inform, onboard, and personalize. Use gamified experiences to surprise, entertain, and reward. Together, they help you create campaigns that aren’t just seen, but remembered. And during the holidays, that’s what makes users come back.

FAQ

Are you using holiday stories to reactivate dormant users, not just sell to active ones?

Most teams target their top segment. Experts look at win-back flows. Create “We miss you” or “Surprise holiday treat” stories only for users inactive in the last 30+ days.

Is your story content structured to support zero-click engagement?

Not every user will tap. Build value into the first 3 slides—stats, visuals, reminders—so even passive views generate impact.

How are you testing emotional tone — cozy vs urgent?

Some users respond to warmth (“thank you,” “year in review”), others to FOMO (“ends tonight,” “last chance”). Run A/B tests with different tonal approaches inside your stories.

Do you re-use existing story logic from past campaigns?
 

Don’t start from scratch. Use proven mechanics like the same reward quiz, just with new visuals or theme. This saves time and maintains behavioral consistency for returning users.

What’s your fallback plan for users who missed your holiday stories?

Add a “Holiday Recap” or “Top Deals You Missed” story next month. It’s a second chance for click-through and builds FOMO into your retention efforts.