How to Prepare Your Business for Holiday Marketing Success

by Doris Bynum, COO

The holidays may feel a few months away, but if you own or manage a business, now is the perfect time to start preparing your holiday marketing. Getting ahead of the rush means less stress, better strategy, and more opportunity to connect with customers when it matters most.

At Mansell Media, we help businesses across Mississippi and beyond get their message out clearly and consistently. Here are a few simple steps you can take right now to set your brand up for a strong holiday season.

1. Audit What You Already Have

Before you create anything new, take a good look at your existing brand materials:

• Website: Is it up to date? Does it reflect your current services and hours?

• Social media: Are your logos, profile photos, and bios consistent across platforms?

• Email marketing: Do you have branded templates ready to go?

A quick audit ensures your business looks professional and consistent everywhere customers may find you.

2. Plan Your Holiday Calendar

Successful holiday marketing starts with a clear plan. Decide now which promotions and campaigns you want to run. Some dates to keep in mind:

• Thanksgiving Week: Gratitude posts, early promotions

• Black Friday & Cyber Monday: Flash sales or exclusive offers

• Small Business Saturday: Perfect for local businesses to shine

• December Holidays: Gift guides, service bundles, last-minute promotions

• New Year’s: “Fresh start” offers or seasonal campaigns

Mapping these dates out in advance gives you time to prepare and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

3. Create Holiday-Themed Content

Content drives engagement, so give it a seasonal twist:

• Social media posts with festive graphics

• Blog articles that tie into the season (gift ideas, tips, year-end reflections)

• Holiday email newsletters with special offers or thank-you messages

Tip: Keep your brand colors and fonts consistent, even in holiday graphics, to reinforce recognition.

4. Choose Your Channels & Budget Wisely

Not every business needs to be everywhere. Focus on the platforms where your customers are most active:

• Facebook & Instagram: Great for visuals, offers, and engagement

• LinkedIn: Perfect for B2B holiday updates or corporate gifting services

• Email Marketing: Still one of the strongest ways to reach customers directly

• Google Ads: Helpful for local services and last-minute shoppers

Decide on a budget early for paid campaigns so you’re not scrambling later.

5. Be Ready to Adapt

The holiday season moves fast. Keep an eye on your results, i.e. open rates, clicks, ad performance, and be flexible enough to adjust. If one type of post is driving engagement, lean into it. If an ad isn’t performing, rework the copy or audience.

Wrapping Up the Year

The end of the year isn’t just about finishing strong, it’s about setting the stage for the year ahead. Capture last-minute sales, thank your customers, and position your business for success going into January.

Ready to Get Started?

Holiday marketing doesn’t have to be stressful when you have a plan. If you’d like help creating your holiday campaign calendar, designing seasonal content, or setting up email and ad campaigns, our team at Mansell Media is here to help.

📩 Contact us today and let’s make this your best holiday season yet!