Is Your Business Ready for Holiday Marketing?

It’s time to start planning your business’ holiday marketing and promotions.

According to Deloitte’s 2026 holiday forecast, there will be a 4% to 4.8% increase in total 2026 holiday sales in November 2026 through January 2027 compared with the same period in 2025. Holiday e-commerce sales are expected to grow even faster, with a projected increase of 7.5% to 8.4%.

Do you have a plan for capturing a piece of the holiday spending pie?

Email marketing should be part of that plan. According to a Constant Contact survey of more than 1,500 small business owners, 41% expect email marketing to be their most valuable marketing channel this year.

Here are few tips to keep in mind:

1.     1. Set Goals

Your holiday marketing strategy should support your broader sales and marketing goals. Are you looking to increase sales, attract new customers, encourage repeat purchases, or promote a seasonal offering? Define your priorities first, then build your promotions around them.

Consider special offers, seasonal products or services, festive social media content, and a targeted email campaign.

2.      2. Personalize Your Outreach

Customers are more likely to respond to offers and recommendations that reflect their interests. Segment your email list and tailor your messages based on customers’ past purchases, preferences, or interests.

A little personalization can go a long way toward making your emails more relevant and giving customers a reason to buy.

3.      3. Offer Discounts and Incentives

Holiday emails timed to coincide with any of the major sales events (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.) can more easily prompt your customers to open emails and act!

You can also reward loyal customers with early access to a sale or an exclusive invitation to shop. These perks can encourage purchases while strengthening customer relationships.

4.      4. Build Goodwill

Not every seasonal email has to include a sales pitch. Emails that thank customers for their business or include photos of your staff make your customers feel appreciated, strengthen relationships and may even encourage sales in the new year.

Need help putting your holiday email marketing into action? Marketing & Event Resources can help you plan and create targeted email campaigns that engage customers, drive sales, and keep your business top of mind throughout the holiday season.

Source: Constant Contact