12 Festive Content Ideas to Drive Holiday Sales and Engagement
By Rupanksha Srivastava • November 29, 2022 • 22 mins read
The holiday season is the most wonderful—and often the most competitive—time of the year for businesses to boost revenue.
Due to this, every year at this time, businesses and marketers look for holiday-specific content ideas that can help them engage and create excitement for their potential customers.
With consumers actively looking for gifts, deals, and festive ideas, having the right content strategy can make all the difference as it adds value and personal touches to holiday content ideas and also strengthens relationships with customers.
After a lot of research and brainstorming, we have compiled a list of 12 actionable, best-performing holiday content ideas to make your holiday marketing stand out and drive results. The blog will also cover examples, ways to implement, and SEO tips.
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1. Holiday Gift Guides
Every year, we all search for the perfect holiday gift for our loved ones. This leads us to the hunt for some well-curated holiday gift guides to find the best options and inspiration.
Last year in 2023, 60% of consumers reported using online gift guides to help them decide on holiday purchases.
This is one of those holiday holiday content ideas that work well especially when you have your own products and services to offer.
For instance, take a look at the landing page of Vogue’s Holiday Gift Guides.
Here Vogue has clearly shown the expertly curated holiday gift guides for everyone, from women and men to beauty lovers. With lists like ‘100 Gifts Under $100,’ Vogues is representing itself as a one-stop source for all holiday shopping needs.
The second example is the Merry & Brighton Holiday Gift Guide. Just look how beautifully Merry & Brighton have shown their holiday gift guides in a visually appealing way.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Create guides based on price points, interests, or relationships (e.g., “Top 10 Gifts Under $50” or “Best Gifts for Tech Enthusiasts”).
- Use eye-catching images and concise descriptions to showcase products.
- Add clear CTA (call-to-action) buttons and interlink your product pages for easy shopping.
SEO Tip: Use keywords like “best holiday gifts,” “gifts for [specific audience],” and “gift ideas” to attract shoppers searching for recommendations.
2. Holiday-Themed Blog Series
Did you know that blogs with holiday themes saw a 35% increase in traffic during the holiday season in 2023? Do you know what it tells you?
It tells you that blogging is one of the most evergreen holiday content ideas and that if you consistently post value-driven content for holidays, you can position your brand as a helpful resource during the holidays.
For instance, you can keep yourself ready with a well-optimized list of holiday blogs to publish before the holiday season. Just like we have shown above for the Halloween-themed blog series. This will help you in keeping your audience engaged throughout the holiday season.
Another example of this can be John Lewis’s carefully curated separate editorial page called The Edit which features “holiday-themed content, fashion advice to interiors ideas, and invaluable lifestyle tips” to enlighten their audiences.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Plan a weekly or bi-weekly blog post series with holiday-centric themes such as “12 Days of Holiday Deals,” “Christmas Gift Wrapping Tips and Tricks,” or “Festive Décor Tips.”
- Promote and interlink your own products/services if you have one.
- Offer actionable insights that resonate with your target audience, encouraging them to return for more content.
SEO Tip: Incorporate seasonal keywords like “holiday blog ideas,” “Christmas tips,” and “festive shopping guide” to rank during the holiday season.
▶Check Out: 7 Holiday Season Trends for E-Commerce Businesses
3. Interactive Holiday Quizzes, Contests or Giveaways
Quizzes, contests, and giveaways are a fun and engaging way to connect with your audience during the holiday season. These holiday content ideas drive engagement and shareability on social media. They’re one of the most exciting ways to increase engagement and brand awareness.
According to research, Interactive content, such as quizzes and contests, can generate up to 3x more engagement than static content. Also, contest emails had an average open rate of 45%, higher than other email campaigns.
Feeling convinced?
Check out how to create an interesting quiz in 8 steps:
Check out this simple yet amazing gift-finder quiz from Uncommon Goods.
It allows you to suggest your own products and services as the best gift ideas without coming off as too pushy—the best way to boost sales and engagement among customers. Right?
Source: @InstantGaming on Twitter
Another great example of how gift card giveaways can drive traffic and increase brand exposure for online stores was presented by Instant Gaming, an online store with 200k followers on X, which hosted a giveaway featuring a gaming laptop and store gift vouchers.
Participants entered by retweeting, tagging, and visiting their website, making it a great example of how gift card giveaways can drive traffic and increase brand exposure for online stores.
To implement this idea in your holiday strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Ask participants to create a wish list of their favorite products from your website. They can submit their list via a form or social media. One lucky winner will receive items from their wish list (up to a certain value).
- Host a giveaway for 12 consecutive days leading up to Christmas. Each day, give away a different product or gift card. Prizes will be the daily product giveaways or discounts.
- Create a fun hashtag challenge, such as – #MyFestiveLook or #HolidayVibesWith[YourBrand], where participants post pictures or videos of themselves celebrating the holidays. The best post wins a holiday prize bundle or exclusive discount.
- Embed the quiz on your website and promote it through Facebook and Instagram for greater reach.
These holiday content ideas can help guide customers toward the right products or simply provide festive entertainment.
SEO Tip: Use phrases like “holiday quiz,” “interactive holiday content,” and “festive quiz” to optimize your quiz-related content.
4. Video Content Featuring Holiday Product Demos
Videos are one of the most engaging and attention-grabbing holiday content ideas. So it’s no wonder that video content is projected to account for 82% of all internet traffic by 2024.
Here, The Aeroccino Plus video offers a quick demo on making smooth milk froth and heating milk for holiday coffee recipes.
In this video, Hailey Rhode Bieber shares her updated skincare routine featuring her new favorite, Glazing Milk, from Rhode Skincare.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing plan, here’s what you need to do:
- Show a demo of a product, highlight your holiday collection, share recipes for holiday favorites like cookies, cakes, and festive drinks, etc. As per Wyzowl, 69% of consumers stated that product demos helped them make purchase decisions.
- Share DIY content ideas like holiday decorations, handmade gifts, or festive recipes, and meanwhile, you can promote your products/services.
- Also, if you keep on posting images and videos year-round, the holidays will be the best time to put together a heartfelt video.
- As shown in the above examples, you can create DIY or product demonstration videos that showcase how your products can be used as holiday gifts or part of festive décor.
- Edit and keep them short, engaging, and optimized for social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
SEO Tip: Optimize video descriptions with keywords like “holiday product demo,” “gift ideas video,” and “festive product showcase.”
5. Behind-the-Scenes Holiday Preparations
Consumers love seeing the human side of brands—behind-the-scenes content ideas can increase brand trust by 30%, as consumers appreciate transparency and authenticity.
This concept sparks curiosity and allows you to show your brand values and personality while keeping the focus on human connection and celebration.
Ashlee Falco gives a behind-the-scenes look at her small business, showcasing the detailed process of preparing cardstock for holiday sales.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Share photos or videos of your team in action, whether it’s gift wrapping, office decorating, or even participating in holiday charity events. In addition, you can create social media carousel posts as well.
- Show your customers how your employees do holiday preparations, office decoration, product packing for shipping, team celebrations, etc.
- Use Instagram stories or create a short video for social media to highlight these moments.
SEO Tip: Include phrases like “behind-the-scenes holiday prep,” “brand holiday celebrations,” and “holiday office vibes” in your descriptions and tags.
▶Check Out: Holiday Marketing Do’s and Don’ts: Straight From The Experts
6. Customer Stories and Testimonials
86% of consumers believe that a company’s success is determined by its customer service which shows how important customer reviews are.
That’s why the holiday season is the perfect time to leverage those customer stories on your website. Nearly 95% of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase. As a result, positive feedback not only boosts sales but also significantly increases consumer trust.
You can create holiday content ideas using snapshots and photos. You can even ask your customers to create short video testimonials. And, tell them to show how they use your product, and who they’re going to gift your products to, and their feedback too.
This testimonial effectively showcases Zoom’s ability to connect loved ones meaningfully during holidays while leveraging social media to attract new leads.
Or, similar to River Region Dermatology and Laser, you can ask your customers for video testimonials or written testimonials with photographs.
To implement this idea in your holiday strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Share customer testimonials focused on holiday gifts or festive traditions involving your products/services.
- Include user-generated photos or videos to make the testimonials more authentic and relatable.
SEO Tip: Use keywords such as “holiday testimonials,” “customer stories for holiday shopping,” and “gift reviews” to attract audiences searching for social proof.
▶Check Out: Learn 5 Great Ideas to Get to Know Your Customer Better
7. User-Generated Content Campaign
According to statistics, 93% of marketers find user-generated content (UGC) to perform better than traditional branded content.
User-generated content is a great way to bring your audience directly into your brand’s holiday celebrations. They can share their holiday experiences with your products/services. It encourages customers to participate, engage, and get curious to see their photos/videos on different platforms.
User-generated content can lead to a 32% increase in web conversions compared to campaigns without it. Also, UGC posts on social media see a 28% higher engagement rate than standard brand posts.
Vitamix launched the “Smoothie of the Year” contest, encouraging users to share smoothie recipes with #TeamNourish or #TeamFlourish, showcasing product versatility and engaging customers.
Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign inspired users to share photos with personalized bottles, generating a large amount of UGC.
You can even do the same.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing plan, here’s what you need to do:
- Run a contest where customers can share their photos/videos using your products with a branded holiday hashtag. For e.g., #HolidayWith[YourBrand].
- Feature the best submissions on your website or social media to encourage participation.
SEO Tip: Optimize your campaign pages with terms like “holiday UGC campaign,” “customer holiday content,” and “festive hashtag contest.”
▶Check Out: 9 Brilliant Holiday Social Media Campaign Ideas
8. Festive Email Marketing Series
A successful holiday marketing content strategy is incomplete without email marketing.
For maintaining direct communication with your customers, email marketing is best. According to multiple sources, It has an average ROI of $35 for every $1 spent.
Therefore, having an effective email marketing plan during the holiday season is crucial.
The Citizenry uses holiday email marketing to build anticipation by sending a warm message and teasing an upcoming exclusive offer. This email encourages subscribers to save the date for a special post-holiday perk.
However, what makes this email interesting is the mysterious message below it.
This tactic generates excitement and anticipation, followed by a post-Christmas reveal. This post-Christmas email is exactly what The Citizenry subscribers have been looking for since Christmas Eve. With this one-of-a-kind gift, the campaign received a lot of positive feedback.
MAC’s pre-Christmas email campaign uses a compelling subject line to highlight a customizable holiday kit offer (3 picks for $65, valued at $90). The email captures attention and drives subscribers to take advantage of the special Christmas sale.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Plan a series of emails offering holiday-themed discounts, last-minute gift ideas, or personalized product recommendations.
- Fill emails with festive deals, exclusive content, quizzes/contests, gift ideas, promo code, and more. This can help drive traffic to your site and boost sales.
- Include eye-catching visuals, holiday greetings, and clear calls to action to encourage clicks.
SEO Tip: Use subject lines and content that include keywords like “holiday sale,” “exclusive holiday deals,” and “last-minute holiday gifts” to maximize open rates.
9. Holiday-Themed Infographics
As we all know infographics are visually appealing and highly shareable over social media.
Businesses and marketers use them to:
Showcase popular resolutions for the new year, including tips on how to achieve goals like fitness, finance, or personal development.
Show visual examples of creative ways to wrap gifts, such as eco-friendly methods, DIY gift tags, or different themes like “rustic” or “elegant.”
Show a checklist for hosting the perfect holiday party, including steps for preparing food, drinks, décor, and entertainment.
Share tips on how to budget for gifts, decorations, food, and travel during the holiday season. Include a step-by-step breakdown of expenses.
Here are a few nice examples of holiday-themed infographics:
To implement this idea in your holiday strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Create infographics based on holiday content ideas that best suit your business.
- Share them on your blog and social media channels.
- Encourage your target customers to share them with their own networks.
SEO Tip: Incorporate keywords like “holiday infographics,” “festive shopping trends,” and “Christmas gift statistics” to increase visibility.
▶Check Out: Power Of Visual Content Marketing: The Visual Revolution
10. GRWM (Get Ready With Me) Content Ideas
Before we jump to the merits of GRWM content ideas, watch this video: Bailey Sarian’s video on GRWM.
The “Get Ready with Me” (GRWM) format is a fun and relatable way to connect with your audience, especially during the holiday season.
It’s a casual, behind-the-scenes style of content where you invite your followers to join you as you prepare for a holiday event.
It can show the process of getting ready for an occasion, from picking the perfect outfit and makeup to hair styling and accessorizing. Or, it can be gift shopping, taking your audience along as you shop for holiday gifts, either online or in-store.
YouTube is a famous platform for GRWM influencer videos, showing stunning outfits and creative looks. GRWM videos saw over 6 billion views on YouTube in 2023.
If you own any fashion, accessories, or cosmetics brand, it’s just for you—as millions of young consumers put a lot of effort into getting ready for the holidays. And they shop for multiple products—and fashion outfits, accessories, and cosmetics are a must.
Check out this great example
Jessica has partnered with StyleKorean. She is promoting a holiday glittery cut crease makeup look, featuring a giveaway for their 2023 Advent Calendar. Also, she has provided the link to all products in the description she has used.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing plan, here’s what you need to do:
- Ask influencers or your team members to use your products and show how your products can be integrated into the festive season and settings.
- Do editing and optimization for social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
SEO Tip: Use keywords like “holiday GRWM,” “Get Ready With Me for Christmas,” “holiday outfit ideas,” or “festive GRWM” in your titles and descriptions and hashtags like #HolidayGRWM or #GetReadyWithMe for greater reach.
11. Exclusive Holiday Offers and Sales Announcements
Offering exclusive holiday offers and sales announcements with a FOMO or BOGO approach is the best way to boost conversions.
If you don’t know, the FOMO (fear of missing out) and BOGO (Buy one get one) are well-known, successful marketing strategies. They play a vital role in creating any content strategy. Their main purpose is to create urgency in potential customers and encourage them to act immediately or in a limited time.
Wendell August Forge’s Christmas email used a “Buy 3 Ornaments, Get 1 Free.”
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing strategy, here’s what you need to do:
- Announce flash sales or holiday discounts via your blog, social media marketing, and email marketing, but days or weeks beforehand.
- Depending on your capabilities and time, you could run a flash sale, free shipping, and huge discounts for just an hour or two on Christmas Eve, Halloween, New Year’s Day, and more.
- You can see above. It is an example of a FOMO marketing strategy, creating urgency. It shows the countdown timer, making customers think either to buy —now or never.
- Use countdown timers and clear call-to-action buttons to create urgency, making customers think either to buy—now or never.
- Apply FOMO (fear of missing out) and BOGO (buy one get one) strategy to boost engagement and drive early holiday sales. This effectively encourages customers to purchase more.
SEO Tip: Focus on phrases like “exclusive holiday sale,” “limited-time holiday offer,” and “holiday flash sale” to draw in shoppers looking for deals.
12. Charity and Donations
Excellent holiday content ideas aren’t always about promotions. Sometimes it’s about giving back to the community that adds value to your brand.
A holiday is a time that reminds us of things that actually matter—family, togetherness, compassion, and love—and what better way to show it than making genuine efforts that add to the betterment of the people who are the real contributors to the success of your brand?
If your company has partnered with a charity, create content highlighting the impact of donations.
However, this method is less transparent, as customers can not choose their charities or receive immediate donation receipts. For smoother monthly donations, you can select a few organizations to support you consistently.
Here is a perfect example for you:
Together We Rise (Now it is Foster Love) assists foster children by providing holiday stockings filled with gifts and wrapped presents during the holiday season. They also offer year-round support through initiatives like back-to-school shopping, bikes, skateboards, school supplies, and STEM toys.
Another great example is – TOMS which adapted its “One for One” model for the holiday season. This means–with each purchase of Nepal boots, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to the ones in need.
To implement this idea in your holiday marketing plan, here’s what you need to do:
- Start by selecting a charity or cause that resonates with your brand’s values.
- Announce your charity campaign across all marketing channels, including emails, social media, and on-site banners.
- You can make charitable donations independently by calculating a percentage of sales or profits and donating to a charity of your choice.
- You can highlight any partnerships with charities or encourage customers to donate.
- Clearly communicate how the donation process works and how customers can participate.
- Consider offering incentives like discounts or free gifts for those who contribute.
SEO Tip: Use SEO-friendly keywords such as “holiday charity drive,” “donate with purchase,” “holiday giving back initiative,” “holiday charity campaign,” “giving back this Christmas,” “shop and donate,” and “support a cause this holiday.”
▶Check Out: Top 6 Holiday Marketing Tips for Businesses on a Tight Budget
Wrapping Up
For businesses and marketers, the holiday season offers endless opportunities to create engaging holiday content ideas that resonate with your audience.
If you are a bit late—it doesn’t mean your holiday content ideas have to suffer.
Start your content strategy for this holiday season right now. We will suggest only one thing to avoid—i.e., stress.
Use these 12 holiday content ideas and make the most of this festive period and ensure your brand stays top of mind.
Whether it’s a holiday gift guide or an interactive GRWM video, each content idea offers a unique way to connect with your customers, boost sales, and spread holiday happiness.
Now it’s time to start planning your holiday content and bring your ideas to life!
Looking for more holiday marketing ideas? Check out 15 Fun and Festive Holiday Marketing Ideas to Try This Year.
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