The Back-to-School rush may be over, but the busiest shopping season of the year is just around the corner. To maximize sales, businesses need a smart holiday marketing strategy that smoothly transitions from school-focused campaigns to festive, gift-driven promotions. By planning early and adapting your messaging, you can keep momentum going and position your brand for holiday success.

Review Back-to-School Performance Before Starting a Holiday Marketing Strategy

Before launching holiday campaigns, analyze your Back-to-School results (and review your related previous strategies). Which products sold best? What channels drove the most engagement? This data provides valuable insight into consumer behavior and helps you build a stronger holiday marketing strategy.

Shift Messaging to Holiday Themes

Back-to-School messaging emphasizes preparation and practicality. Holiday marketing, however, should focus on emotion—gifting, togetherness, and celebration. Highlight:

• Gift ideas for different audiences (students, parents, teachers, colleagues).
• Convenience like fast shipping or bundled deals.
• Seasonal spirit with warm, festive tones.

Refresh Creative Assets For Your Refreshed Holiday Marketing Strategy

Update your website, social media, and ad campaigns with festive visuals. Small touches—holiday colors, themed graphics, and cheerful taglines—signal to customers that your brand is ready for the season.

Launch Early Promotions

Shoppers are starting earlier every year. A strong holiday-focused marketing strategy includes teaser deals, loyalty rewards, and “early bird” discounts in October and November to capture proactive buyers.

Optimize for Holiday SEO

Consumer search habits change quickly after Back-to-School season. Begin targeting keywords like:

• “holiday marketing strategy”
• “holiday gift ideas”
• “best holiday deals near me”
• “Black Friday sales [your product]”

Updating your product pages and blog content ensures visibility when shoppers are searching most.

Retarget Back-to-School Shoppers

Families who engaged with your brand during Back-to-School season are strong leads for holiday promotions. Use email campaigns (read more here) and retargeting ads to invite them back with personalized offers.

Further reading at Octopus CRM’s website is available here.

Plan Around Major Shopping Events

The holiday season includes key milestones—Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Christmas (and the days after up to New Years Day). Build campaigns around these dates to align with consumer expectations and maximize visibility.

Final Thoughts

A winning marketing strategy starts well before December (by late August at the earliest). By reviewing your Back-to-School results, adjusting your messaging, and planning early promotions, you can keep momentum going and make the transition into the holiday season seamless.