This blog is brought to you by Stevie Escoto, Senior Managing Director at Girlilla Marketing‍

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Sleigh bells are ringing… are you listening?

Well, you should be!

It’s that in-between time when you’re still sneaking Halloween candy, there’s a “Happy Fall Y’all” wreath on the door, but Christmas has already taken over the stores. Otherwise known as… the holiday season!

Even though it doesn't feel like the timing is official, what we do right now as digital marketers and content creators will directly impact our clients (and our sanity) when the calendar flips to 2026. Below are a few tips and tricks to help you navigate this season with strategy, creativity, and purpose.

OWNED PROPERTIES
This is what you’ve been building toward all year… you worked hard to nurture your earned audience by keeping your website relevant and building your email and SMS lists.  Now it's time to make those channels work for you.

• Plan ahead. Build your communication calendar early and pre-schedule what you can.
• Refresh your visuals. Update your email templates with fresh graphics and festive energy.
• Cross-promote between channels. Remind fans on social to subscribe to your list, and tease exclusive content or early access available only via email or SMS.
• Test and learn. A/B test subject lines, calls-to-action, and send times, use your data to guide decisions.
• Review your analytics. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting new results. If it’s not working, pivot. If it is working, amplify it.

E-COMMERCE
The internet is always noisy, but it’s never louder than the holiday season. Make your offer stand out by being strategic, not just salesy.

• Map out your key sales windows. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, final shipping day, and maybe even a “holiday hangover” sale. Be creative… the key is to cut through the clutter and provide value add to your audience and yourself.
• Get creative with offers. Discounts are great, but so are bundles, freebies, or exclusive early-access perks, or even e-gift cards for those procrastinators out there.
• Play with timing. You don’t have to follow the herd. Launch early, refresh often, and cut through the clutter.
• Create urgency. Clearly communicate the last day for shipping, it’s a proven conversion driver.
• Build shoppable moments. Connect Shopify or e-commerce stores to socials so a post can become a purchase with one tap.

PHILANTHROPY
‘Tis the season for giving… and it can genuinely strengthen your client’s brand community while reminding fans there’s more to celebrate than sales. The most meaningful campaigns often come from brands and artists who use their platforms to lift others up.

• Leverage Giving Tuesday or Small Business Saturday. Use Meta’s nonprofit tools to embed direct donation options to causes or businesses you’d like to call attention to. Fewer clicks mean more action!‍
• Use built-in platform features. Add Instagram donation stickers to Stories or Reels, or host a Facebook Fundraiser or YouTube Giving campaign that allows fans to donate directly.‍
• Make it personal. Identify causes your client truly cares about and highlight why they support them. Authenticity drives engagement.‍
• Simplify giving through e-commerce. Shopify apps like “round up for charity” allow customers to easily contribute at checkout. Small gestures that add up fast.‍
• Feature a “cause of the week.” Rotate between organizations that matter to your client or audience. Shine a light, not just a spotlight.

SOCIALS
Your social platforms should drive the holiday story, not just ask for the sale.

• Batch your content now. Capitalize on the availability you have now to capture everything from fall traditions to end-of-year reflections, recipes, gratitude moments, gift wrapping fails, etc. Having a library ready will save you later.
• Use affiliate programs. Gift guides and “what I’m loving” posts perform especially well when paired with affiliate links on platforms like LTK or Amazon Associates.
• Check for bonus opportunities. Meta and TikTok often roll out seasonal creator bonuses, don’t leave free money on the table!
• Balance the ask with the give. Yes, this is the biggest time of year to convert sales, but never forget to entertain, inspire, and celebrate. The best holiday content makes people feel something. That connection lasts much longer than December 25^th!
• Repurpose your best content. For those struggling to get time to make new content, don’t be afraid to re-edit high-performing videos with a holiday hook, new caption, or festive framing… it’s an easy win, with no need to reinvent the wheel!

The holidays can feel like a sprint and a marathon all at once, but the key is preparation, flexibility, and connection. Remember: every post, email, or ad should reflect the heart of what we do… building relationships that last long after the lights come down.
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Feeling inspired but short on time? We’d love to help you bring your campaign to life. From creative concepts to scroll-stopping visuals, Girlilla Marketing can turn your holiday plans into something truly memorable. Our design elves are standing by to help! 🎄

So plan smart, test often, and don’t forget to enjoy the season yourself. After all… the best campaigns come from marketers who still believe in a little holiday magic. 🎁

Happy Holidays,
Stevie