Christmas Marketing Ideas to Boost Holiday Sales
Abdullah Shahid 
The holiday season is a make-or-break time for online shops. Global retail sales during the holidays are projected to exceed $1 trillion, and Shopify merchants hit a record $11.5 billion during last year’s BFCM period. With nearly half of shoppers (48.6%) wrapping up Christmas shopping by mid-December, early planning is crucial. Successful Christmas marketing campaigns combine creativity with strategy across email, site design, social media and more.
In this guide, we share actionable Christmas marketing ideas for Shopify stores and ecommerce brands, from email and landing-page tips to influencer collabs, UGC campaigns, and even rich-media embeds with tools like EmbedAny so you can maximize holiday sales in 2025.
Free Christmas Landing Page Templates for Shopify
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Plan Your Christmas Marketing Campaign Early
Don’t wait until the last minute. 42% of shoppers begin holiday buying as early as October, so aim to plan your Christmas marketing campaign by late summer or early fall. Launch promotions and themed landing pages no later than early November, and maintain momentum through mid-December when nearly half of seasonal sales are completed.
Set clear SMART goals like “increase December email sales by 10%,” and define key performance indicators (KPIs) such as AOV, signups, or conversion rate in advance to optimize your campaign in real time.
Use a campaign calendar to time announcements, teasers, and urgency-building tools like countdown timers or banners (“Order by Dec 15 for Christmas delivery”) across your site.
Build early excitement in November with branded visuals and sneak peeks so that by Thanksgiving, your store is top of mind. Also, account for ad budgets. Since costs rise during peak season, prioritize proven channels like Google Shopping or retargeting ads to get the most value from your spend.
Craft Christmas Email and Content Campaigns
Email delivers unmatched ROI during the holiday season. Make it a key part of your Christmas marketing campaign by creating a thoughtful, festive email series tailored to different customer stages:
1. Christmas Gift Guide Emails
Help shoppers choose with curated gift collections (e.g. “Gifts Under $50” or “Holiday Picks for Her”). Highlight top products and add prominent “Shop Now” buttons. Brands like Fortnum & Mason use this tactic effectively.
2. Christmas Countdown & Flash Sales
Run a “12 Days of Christmas” promotion or daily/weekly deals. Include countdown timers and shipping deadline reminders to create urgency.
3. Smart Segmentation
Split your list by behavior (e.g. VIPs, repeat buyers, new visitors). Offer VIPs exclusive early access or extra perks, and suggest products based on past purchases, just like Sephora does.
4. Scroll-Stopping Subject Lines
Crowded inboxes require standout copy. Use playful, timely subject lines like “Gifts THEY’ll ❤️ (ends soon)” to grab attention. Avoid vague labels like “Big Sale”.
5. Include Social Proof
Add customer reviews or UGC images (e.g., photos of your product under the tree). This builds trust and can boost click-through rates by up to 73% (according to Twothirds).
6. Recover Abandoned Carts
Use automated cart recovery emails with personalized checkout links. A “Still want your gift?” reminder with urgency (“only 2 days left for Christmas delivery”) can bring customers back. Pro Tip: Segment emails by customer intent (gift buyers vs deal hunters) and use warm, festive visuals. A well-timed message can dramatically lift conversions.
Design Christmas Landing Pages and Gift Guides
Your website should instantly feel festive and easy to shop. Start by launching a holiday-themed landing page with banners, pop-ups, and navigation that promote gift-buying. Brands like Macy’s use storytelling headlines and splash visuals to guide visitors toward seasonal products.
Curate collections by category like “Gifts for Dad,” “Stocking Stuffers,” or “Holiday Party Outfits” to simplify product discovery. Princess Polly does this well with organized submenus. Add seasonal gift guides as blog posts or dedicated pages to help customers browse by interest or budget, boosting SEO in the process.
Don’t forget practical touches: offer gift wrapping at checkout (even free, like Numpfer), display shipping countdowns to create urgency, and use announcement bars to highlight deadlines. Refresh your visuals with holiday-themed images, festive color palettes, or lifestyle photography. And most importantly, optimize for mobile — most shoppers will browse and buy from their phones.
Social Media & UGC Engagement for Christmas
Make social platforms the heart of your Christmas marketing campaign. Here’s how to turn followers into shoppers and fans into brand ambassadors:
1. Run a “12 Days of Christmas” Campaign
Feature one deal or product each day to build excitement.
Example: Mulberry showcased daily gifts on Instagram.
- Day 1: “25% off Gift Set for Mom”
- Day 2: “Free Ornament with Any Purchase”
2. Launch Contests and Giveaways
- Host fun, low-barrier contests to drive comments and shares.
- Ask followers to comment on a post to win a gift card.
- Use apps like Wheelio to add a “spin to win” game with festive discounts.
3. Collect and Use UGC
Encourage customers to share holiday-themed photos using a branded hashtag (e.g. #MyBrandHoliday). Then:
- Repost UGC on your social feeds
- Embed it in product pages with tools like EmbedAny
- Add it to emails (Twothirds reports a 73% increase in CTR when UGC is included)
4. Use Holiday Hashtags and Filters
- Boost visibility by adding trending hashtags like #GiftGuide2025 or #HolidayCheer.
- Create branded Instagram filters or festive frames to spark shares and brand recall.
5. Post-Seasonal Content
Make your feed feel festive with:
- DIY gift wrap videos
- Holiday recipes featuring your product
- Behind-the-scenes stories Take inspiration from Amazon’s emotional, community-driven holiday campaigns.
6. Cross-Promote Influencers
If creators post unboxing videos or stories, amplify their reach by reposting to your own channels. It adds authenticity and builds trust.
Pro Tip: Featuring UGC on your homepage, product pages, and emails can double engagement. Show real people using your products, not just staged photos.
Collaborate with Influencers and Partners for Holiday Reach
To increase your holiday reach, partner with micro-influencers or bloggers who align with your target audience. For instance, Pandora collaborated with local fashion bloggers to highlight its Christmas jewelry collection. Offering affiliate codes or free products in exchange for content can generate authentic buzz and drive sales.
Another great tactic is co-marketing with complementary brands. A candle company might team up with a cocoa brand to create a “Cozy Holiday Night” bundle, sharing promotions across email and social channels.
Lastly, sponsoring or attending local holiday events such as school fairs or tree lightings can generate in-person visibility and online content. Hand out branded gifts or offer promo codes to bring visitors back to your store.
Gift-Ready Offers, Bundles, and Promotions That Convert
Make holiday shopping easier and more tempting with thoughtful offers and smart packaging. Here’s how:
1. Holiday Gift Bundles
Create themed bundles like a “Winter Comfort Set” with items that pair well.
- Highlight the savings on product pages.
- Solve gift-giving indecision with ready-made sets.
Example: Boots showcases discounted Christmas hampers prominently.
2. Subscription and Upsell Promos
Position subscriptions as gifts.
- Offer “First Month Free” on holiday-themed boxes.
- Promote convenience for recurring needs (pet food, skincare).
Example: Chewy markets autoship as a seasonal gift.
3. Free Shipping Thresholds
Encourage higher spend with minimums.
- “Free shipping over $75 – Ends Dec 15!”
- If you already offer it — say it clearly.
4. Limited-Time Deals
Use urgency with daily deals or a “12 Days of Christmas” sale.
- Test BOGO, tiered discounts, or freebies.
- Promote heavily via email + social.
5. Early Access for VIPs
Offer exclusive early shopping windows.
- “VIP Early Access – Shop Before the Rush.”
6. Promote Gift Cards
Perfect for last-minute shoppers.
- Add holiday-themed designs.
7. Add Personalization
- Let buyers add initials, engravings, or messages.
Example: MORI lets customers embroider babywear.
8. Offer Extended Returns
- Ease anxiety with longer windows.
- Clearly state policies.
Tip: Bundle products, use countdowns, and embed videos or guides with tools like EmbedAny.
Embedding Rich Media Using EmbedAny
To make your Shopify store stand out this holiday season, embed interactive content that keeps shoppers engaged and increases conversion. With tools like EmbedAny, you can instantly add TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, YouTube gift guides, or even Spotify playlists to your product pages.
Just paste a link from one of over 800+ supported platforms, and it appears live on your site.
You can also use Shopify apps to create swipeable product carousels, display real customer photos and UGC, or add review snippets with apps like Stamped.io and Yotpo.
Seasonal Campaigns from Top Brands
Looking at how top brands execute Christmas marketing campaigns can inspire your own. Here are three standout examples and the key takeaways:
Coca-Cola: Nostalgia and Storytelling
Coca-Cola’s holiday ads are iconic, from Santa sipping Coke to glowing red trucks. Their 2020 campaign scored 100/100 in recall. Their 2023 ad, “The World Needs More Santas,” continued the tradition.
Lesson: Build emotional connections through nostalgia.
John Lewis: Emotion-Driven Narratives
The UK retailer is famous for heartfelt Christmas ads. Their 2025 spot, “Where Love Lives,” featuring a father and son, was praised as their most emotionally engaging in years. Past hits like “Man on the Moon” paired storytelling with charitable causes.
Lesson: Tell relatable, moving stories that reflect your brand’s values. People remember how you made them feel.
Amazon: Story-First, Brand-Second
Amazon’s holiday ads showcase how its services enable special moments, like recreating a daughter’s snow globe dream or supporting a ballerina during lockdown.
Lesson: Weave your brand into a meaningful narrative. Highlight the emotional outcome, not the transaction.
All three brands succeed by blending emotion, consistency, and narrative. Use their playbook to design a campaign that connects with your audience and reinforces your brand’s identity.
Final Tips and Takeaways
The holidays require creativity, clear messaging, and careful timing. By combining emotional storytelling with tactical promotions (email workflows, targeted promotions, social UGC, etc.), you’ll craft a Christmas marketing campaign that resonates and converts.
Start early, stay organized, and bring holiday spirit to every channel, turning seasonal shoppers into loyal fans well into the new year.