Where did the year go? It seems like just yesterday, we were talking about everything you need for your Q4 holiday marketing calendar in 2021. Now, here we are, a whole year later, and it’s time to start talking about your upcoming holiday branding strategy again. If you really want your campaigns to be successful, you have to start thinking about holiday digital marketing now! The longer you wait to start putting together your Q4 holiday calendar, the more opportunities you’ll lose to your competitors. Fortunately for you, we’ve designed this end-of-year marketing strategy guide to help you get going!
Why is it Important to Have a Q4 Monthly Marketing Planner?
Unless you luck into it, success doesn’t come without goal setting and planning. You should start the process of getting your seasonal marketing calendar ready long before the holidays actually arrive. If you wait until the turkey’s on the table, you won’t have time to properly strategize your campaigns or pivot if you run into problems. However, when you give yourself a runway to get things all laid out, you’ll be set for lift-off when it’s time to show your brand around the busiest buying season of the year.
What You Need to Know About Creating a Holiday Marketing Strategy
Q4 is traditionally associated with large amounts of consumer spending since it aligns with the busy holiday season and lots of gift-giving. Sure, this means B2C brands get the bulk of the business, but B2B brands can also capitalize on this time of year.
For B2B brands, this is a great time to take advantage of the fact that some companies will have leftover money in the budget that has to be used up before the end of the year, meaning they’re actively looking for ways to spend that cash. This is also a time of year in which some companies will have lighter workloads and are more willing to take the time to hear you out about your products or services.
For B2C brands, the opportunities are seemingly endless. With several dates on the calendar that consumers are paying attention to, you can build brand awareness and boost authentic relationships with your audience if you take the time to plan your calendar right.
Your Q4 Digital Marketing Calendar
Let’s get down to business. Q4 is a quarter that’s filled to the brim with possibilities. From email blasts and PPC campaigns to good old social media posts and one-on-one contact with your customers, October, November, and December can be a gold mine for prepared marketers.
October
The spooky season is upon us! As the leaves turn colors and a certain crispness hits the air, sweaters come out of storage, and soup goes into slow cookers. Consumers start to shift their mindsets into the upcoming chilly season, which means this is the time for marketers to shift their mindsets, too. Get your creative juices flowing as fall sets in by planning for these don’t-miss dates:
- October 1st: Black History Month (UK)
- October 3rd: National Boyfriends’ Day
- October 5th: World Teachers’ Day
- October 10th: Columbus Day
- October 10th: World Mental Health Day
- October 10th: Thanksgiving (Canada)
- October 15th: End of Hispanic Heritage Month
- October 24th: Diwali
- October 31st: Halloween
Offer your customers treats (but no tricks!) as you start to get them thinking about the upcoming gift-giving season.
November
November is the month in which you want to tap into your followers’ anticipation of the upcoming winter holidays. Before they know it, the festivities will be here, and shoppers are excited to get the ball rolling. This is the month when savvy shoppers start looking for great deals and researching ideal gifts for their loved ones.
For marketers, you should use November to educate people about your products, values, and even store hours. Tell people about your return policy, showcase those beautiful customer reviews, and promote your holiday deals.
Of course, it’s during November that both Black Friday and Cyber Monday occur, so these dates should be highlighted in gold on your digital marketing calendar. This is also a month of gratitude, with Thanksgiving and Veterans Day having their own spaces on the calendar. Be sure to reflect your brand’s values where these days are concerned to best connect with your customers.
Here are the can’t-miss dates in November:
- November 1st-2nd: Day of the Dead
- November 3rd: Japanese Culture Day
- November 11th: Veterans Day
- November 20th: Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 24th: Thanksgiving
- November 25th: Black Friday
- November 26th: Small Business Saturday
- November 28th: Cyber Monday
- November 29th: Giving Tuesday
December
Alas! The holiday month is here! December is full of reasons to celebrate friends, family, and customers. Remember, your followers are just as excited about the upcoming weeks as you are, but they might be a little stressed to get everything done in time while staying in the holiday spirit. This is a great time to utilize your marketing savvy to keep them excited by letting them know how you can help.
Make sure your social media posts offer positive messages to keep your readers in a joyful mood. Promote helpful things you offer, such as free shipping or overnight express shipping. Leverage your digital real estate to be holly, jolly, and helpful. It’s not just about selling; it’s also about joining in on the festivities and thanking people for spending the year with you!
Here are the dates you need to put on your calendar:
- December 18th: Start of Hanukkah
- December 24th: Christmas Eve
- December 25th: Christmas Day
- December 26th: Boxing Day (UK)
- December 26th: End of Hanukkah
- December 26th: Start of Kwanzaa
- December 31st: New Year’s Eve
Make the Most of Your Holiday Calendar Campaigns
Since we’re the digital marketing agency CT trusts, we’re always here to help you create great content marketing solutions. Zero Gravity Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency that can help you create emails that achieve high open rates, blogs that put people into the holiday spirit, and social posts that promote your brand. Talk to us today to learn how we can help you!
