Crush the Holidays with These 9 Marketing Ideas for Your Business

The Holiday shopping season seems to start earlier and earlier every year, doesn’t it? Just getting your business logistically prepared for two months takes tremendous planning and effort. Of course, this early start means more Holiday-fueled shopping, which translates to more revenue-boosting opportunities. If you haven’t already, it’s time to plan your Christmas and New Year marketing strategy, incorporating effective holiday promotion ideas.

From Black Friday to Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to generate buzz and maximize profit this upcoming season. The sooner you begin coordinating your marketing plan, the better. Below are 9 actionable holiday marketing ideas to prepare you.

1. Preparing for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a critical time for businesses, with many consumers starting their holiday shopping as early as July. To maximize holiday sales, it’s essential to start preparing early. This includes planning your holiday marketing strategy, setting clear objectives, and creating a holiday gift guide. By starting early, you can ensure that your business is well-prepared to capitalize on the holiday shopping season.

Set Clear Objectives for Your Holiday Campaign

Before launching your holiday marketing campaign, it’s crucial to set clear objectives. What do you want to achieve during the holiday season? Are you looking to:

Increase sales
Expand your clientele
Drive website traffic
Clear out excess inventory
Boost social media engagement

By setting clear objectives, you can create a focused holiday marketing strategy that drives results.

2. Set Up Your Online Store

Holiday shoppers typically begin their purchase online, so for any of the following strategies to be effective, you must ensure that your website is optimized for e-commerce. Online sales expand your customer base beyond your physical location and enable you to sell your products, services, classes, gift cards, swag, packages and memberships essentially while you sleep.

Moreover, e-commerce is the preferred method of shopping for many consumers during the holiday season¹. To avoid common pitfalls, consider using effective holiday marketing tips to set clear objectives and plan early. Be sure that your online store clearly features—front and center—all the products, bundles and more geared toward Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other promotional days.

3. Create Holiday-Themed Promotions

What could holiday promotions look like? Any combination of products, services, classes, memberships and gift cards. Don’t overthink it too much. Here are a few examples:

Holiday Hair Glam Bundle (Salon): A wash, blowout, and style, A travel-size set of salon-quality shampoo and conditioner, and a festive hair accessory (e.g., velvet scrunchie or jeweled clip.

Winter Bliss Package (Spa): 60-minute aromatherapy massage, 30-minute scalp and hand massage add-on and a calming lavender eye pillow to take home.

New Year Transformation Package (Fitness Studio):1 personal training session, a nutrition consultation or meal plan guide, a resistance band set for at-home workouts.

Glow & Flow Holiday Package (Yoga/Pilates Studio): A Pilates or yoga class package (e.g., 8 classes), a self-care gift set with items like natural candles, body oil, and herbal tea, and a $25 credit toward retail merchandise in your studio.

Your holiday promotions and deals will change often, so you’ll need to keep track of what sells and what doesn’t. Vagaro customers can manage their online stores from any device, track inventory levels, view product sales analytics and more—anytime, anywhere.

4. Build Interest Early

So, you have your promotion/sale ideas, but that’s only half the battle. No matter how much value they offer, you’ll need to drum up interest, and that takes time. The holiday period is highly competitive, and you’ll be competing for attention with many competitors.

Starting your holiday marketing campaign as early as possible helps your brand stay top-of-mind as customers begin planning their purchases and activities. Building holiday cheer through themed events, gamification, and promotional offers generates excitement among this demographic and makes clients more likely to engage with your offers once they launch. Some effective ways to do this include:

Use Instagram or Facebook Stories to post a countdown timer for the launch of holiday promotions. Use holiday-themed GIFs, animations, or effects to make the posts festive.

Here’s a festive example for a salon:

Day 5: “The countdown is ON! ✂️ Get ready for exclusive holiday haircare bundles and glam packages, launching in 5 days! 🎄✨”

Day 3: “3 days until the ultimate holiday glow-up packages are revealed! 🎁 Whether it's a fresh cut, a bold color, or a stunning updo, we’ve got your festive look covered. 💇‍♀️”

Day 1: “TOMORROW: Be the first to book your holiday hair makeover and claim our exclusive holiday gift with service! 🖤✨”

Daily Teasers

Try progressively building more interest by sharing daily sneak peeks of upcoming offers leading to launch day.

Here’s a simple teaser for a spa:

Day 1: “Sneak peek! Our ‘Hot Cocoa Bliss Massage’ is part of this year’s holiday menu. 🍫💆‍♀️ Who’s ready to indulge?”

Day 2: “Did someone say ‘Festive Facial’? 🎄 We’ve added seasonal scents like peppermint and cranberry to our most loved treatments!”

Day 3: “Gifting stress? We’ve got you covered! Shop our spa gift card bundles launching in just 3 days. 🎁 Perfect for everyone on your list!”

Email Countdown Series

Send out automated marketing emails (5 days out, then 3, then 1, then the day of) advertising big deals and special discounts.

Here’s an example of an email sequence tailored to a medspa:

5 Days Out: “✨ Just 5 Days Until Your Holiday Glow-Up Begins!”

(Tease services like chemical peels, microneedling, or laser treatments that are perfect for the season, with a visual countdown timer.)

3 Days Out: “👀 A Little Secret: Here’s What’s Coming in 3 Days!”

(Reveal a sneak peek of an exclusive offer, e.g., “Prepay for 3 laser hair removal sessions, and get the 4th free!” Include a testimonial or before-and-after photo from a popular medspa treatment.)

1 Day Out: “🌟 Last Call to Prepare for Holiday Radiance!”

(Share limited-time perks like gift sets with purchase: “Book any holiday package and receive a luxury skincare set valued at $75—FREE!” Add urgency: “Our most popular treatments fill up fast during the holiday season. Tomorrow’s the day—don’t miss out!”)

Launch Day: “🎁 Treat Yourself (and Your Skin) This Holiday Season!”

(Feature your top holiday packages: “Glow & Go: Microdermabrasion + Chemical Peel for $150.” or “Winter Skin Revival: 3 HydraFacial sessions for $350.” Include a “Book Now” button or link to the promotion landing page. Add scarcity messaging: “Limited availability—don’t wait!”)

So, if you’re comfortable enough using social media as a countdown tool, maybe it’s time to go a little further.

Consumers are always searching Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter for great deals and gift ideas. The right social media marketing strategy can boost sales by engaging with current and potential customers alike.

Your holiday social media strategies may include:

Contests & Giveaways

Engage holiday shoppers with a festive contest or giveaway that encourages interaction with your brand on social media. Design fun, creative challenges (typically using photos and videos) that resonate with your business and attract attention.

For example:

Salon: Invite clients to showcase their most creative holiday hairstyles. Participants can upload photos with your hashtag (e.g., #HolidayHairWith[YourSalonName]) and tag your account. Reward the winner with a complimentary haircut, blowout, or product bundle.
Spa: Ask participants to share their favorite at-home relaxation rituals inspired by your spa (e.g., “self-care Sunday” setups). Offer the winner a free massage, facial, or spa day package.
Medspa: Host a “Holiday Glow-Up” contest where participants share why they deserve a rejuvenating treatment. The prize could include a free skincare consultation or a gift card toward services.

Always encourage tagging your business and using your specific holiday hashtag.

Delivering valuable, seasonally relevant content is a fantastic way to engage your audience and position your business as a go-to resource during the holidays.

Consider what challenges or needs your clients might have right now and create content that provides solutions or inspiration.

Some easy exampled include:

Salon: “Winter Hair Care Hacks” — Share tips for preventing frizz and dryness caused by cold weather, featuring products you sell in-store.
Spa: “How to Create a Spa-Like Experience at Home” — Highlight relaxing rituals using your products, like a soothing foot soak or aromatherapy techniques.
Medspa: “Pre-Holiday Glow” — Educate clients about treatments with quick recovery times for holiday photos, like microdermabrasion or injectables.
Fitness Studio: “Micro-Workouts for Busy Shoppers” — Share quick, no-equipment exercises clients can do in 10 minutes between holiday errands.
Yoga or Pilates Studio: “5-Minute Holiday Stress Relievers” — Teach simple stretches or breathing exercises to stay calm during the hustle and bustle.

Remember that before-and-after photos, time-lapse videos and other visuals to really sell your content, and by extension, your services and products.

6. Boost Your Email & Text Marketing

The holiday season is the perfect time to leverage the email lists you’ve been building all year to capitalize on increased holiday spending. With tools like Vagaro’s automated email marketing, you can easily promote exclusive offers, holiday service and retail packages, or an upcoming holiday event.

Example holiday marketing email:

Subject Line: 🎄 Give the Gift of Relaxation + Exclusive Holiday Deals Inside!

Header:“This Season, Treat Your Loved Ones—And Yourself!”

Body:

The holidays are here, and we’ve got everything you need to make them magical! Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift or looking to indulge in some well-deserved self-care, [Business Name] has you covered.

✨ Holiday Specials:

Buy a $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus!
Exclusive holiday service bundles starting at $75.
Limited-edition skincare sets perfect for gifting.

🎁 Hurry! These offers are only available until December 31st.

CTA Button: [Shop Holiday Specials Now]

Closing:

Thank you for making [Business Name] part of your wellness journey. Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season!

Note the personable closing message to the email above. Remember to mix promotional emails with heartfelt seasonal well wishes to show gratitude for your clients’ loyalty. Loyal customers, who are 50% more likely to try new services and spend 31% more on average², deserve appreciation—and a great holiday sale!

Maximize Impact with Text Marketing

SMS marketing is a powerful complement to email campaigns, with higher open rates and faster engagement. Customers are 5x more likely to interact with your multi-channel campaigns when SMS is included. Use text messages to share:

Promo codes and exclusive offers
Sale notifications and low-stock alerts
Event invites, contest updates, or giveaway reminders

Example:

"🎁 Treat yourself this season! Use code HOLIDAY25 for 25% off your next service at [Business Name]. Offer ends Dec. 31st. Book now: [link]"

Timing is key with texts. Send messages thoughtfully to ensure they’re welcomed by subscribers and align with your holiday promotions. By combining personalized emails and well-timed SMS, you can keep your business top-of-mind and drive results this holiday season.

7. Get Those Seasonal Gift Cards Ready

Gift cards are a tried-and-true way for small businesses to boost seasonal sales, bring in new clients and generate added revenue. These are perfect for people who put their shopping off until the last minute or aren’t the most creative gift givers.

There are so many creative ways to deploy gift card deals that we gave them their own section.

A few simple ideas include:

Gift card BOGO special: Buy-one, get-one free gift cards
Discounted gift cards: Pay $30 for a $50 gift card)
Tiered “Cheer” Bonuses: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus card
Double the Joy: Buy a $75 gift card, get a second $25 card to gift (or keep for yourself).
Holiday Treat Add-On: Buy a $100 gift card, get a complimentary holiday-themed add-on (e.g., a mini spa service, a festive candle, or a branded water bottle).
Mystery Bonus Cards: Buy a $100 gift card and receive a mystery bonus card worth $10–$50.
Early Bird Bonuses: Purchase gift cards before a certain date and receive an additional $25 bonus card with every $100 spent.
Festive Freebies: Buy a $150 gift card, get a free seasonal retail item (e.g., sugar scrub, scented candle, or branded yoga mat).

As with everything you sell, be sure to clearly advertise gift cards and gift certificates on your online store and promote them on your digital channels.

8. Run Festive Flash Sales

Flash sales are effective because they use a time-sensitive window, making them a key component of a successful holiday marketing campaign. After all, no one wants to miss a great deal. Flash sales can last a few hours, a day, or even an entire weekend.

Announcing a flash deal at the last minute can urge customers to act. About a week before, start teasing in-store, on social media and/or through email and text messaging that something special is coming. Encourage followers to keep an eye out for updates.

Remember, that links to flash sales like Vagaro’s Daily Deals can be sent in the email or text marketing blasts mentioned above.

9. Implement Referral and Loyalty Programs

Referral campaigns are an excellent way to reward loyal customers and drive sales during the holiday season. By incentivizing customers to refer friends and family, you can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and boost sales.

Consider offering exclusive discounts, free gifts, or loyalty points to customers who refer new customers to your business.

Coordinating a cohesive festive marketing plan doesn’t have to be overwhelming, though you should get started right away. Good luck and season’s greetings!

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Sources:

9 Holiday Promotion Ideas for Small Businesses: A Marketing Strategy Guide

1. Preparing for the Holiday Season

Set Clear Objectives for Your Holiday Campaign

2. Set Up Your Online Store

3. Create Holiday-Themed Promotions