11 Holiday Marketing Ideas for Shopify Brands That Want to Stand Out
The holiday season isn’t just another sales period; it’s the biggest opportunity of the year for Shopify brands.
In fact, research shows that holiday sales can account for up to 30% of a retailer’s annual revenue, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday alone generating record-breaking numbers year after year. That means shoppers aren’t just browsing, they’re ready to spend.
But here’s the thing: competition is tougher than ever. Every brand is sending holiday emails, running ads, and offering discounts. Shoppers’ inboxes are full, their feeds are flooded, and attention spans are shorter. If your store looks like everyone else’s, it’s easy to disappear in the crowd.
And that’s where the real struggle begins. Shopify merchants often wonder:
- How do I grab attention when customers are overwhelmed with deals?
- How do I keep loyal customers engaged while attracting new ones?
- And how can we run great holiday marketing without burning out?
The good news? With the right holiday marketing ideas for Shopify brands, you can capture attention, engage shoppers, and turn seasonal traffic into loyal customers.
In this blog, we’ll walk through 11 proven strategies that will not only help you grab attention but also drive sales and build loyalty.
11 Holiday Marketing Ideas for Shopify Brands to Stand Out
Let’s explore 11 holiday marketing ideas for Shopify brands to attract shoppers, drive sales, and keep customers coming back.
1. Start Early with Your Holiday Campaigns
One of the biggest holiday marketing mistakes Shopify merchants make is waiting too long to launch their campaigns. Holiday shoppers begin browsing and buying much earlier than you might think.
In fact, research shows that a large share of customers start looking for deals as early as October, with peak attention building up around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
If you only show up in December, you’ve already missed out on a huge chunk of eager buyers.
Starting early gives you more breathing room:
- You can test different ad creatives.
- Warm up your audiences with helpful content.
- Fine-tune your offers before the holiday rush hits.
This not only reduces last-minute stress but also helps you lock in sales from organized shoppers who want to tick gifts off their list well in advance.
For Shopify merchants, early planning also means you can prepare your store backend, update product pages, and optimize for holiday-related search terms before competition spikes.
Pro Tip:
- Mark key dates like Thanksgiving, Labour Day, BFCM, Christmas, Green Monday, and Free Shipping Day on your calendar now.
- Create a clear rollout plan for each to keep campaigns smooth and strategic instead of rushed and reactive.
Think of it as building momentum; by the time Black Friday arrives, your brand is already on shoppers’ radar, making it easier to convert traffic into paying customers.
2. Use Holiday-Themed Landing Pages
When it comes to holiday marketing, first impressions matter. A well-designed holiday-themed landing page captures attention and also creates a festive shopping experience that gets customers in the mood to buy.
Unlike a regular product page, a seasonal landing page helps you showcase timely offers, gift bundles, and special promotions all in one place, making it easier for shoppers to say “yes.”
Here’s why customized landing pages work so well:
- They instantly set the holiday tone with festive visuals, colors, and messaging.
- They highlight timely offers and promotions without distracting shoppers with non-seasonal content.
- They give you space to promote product bundles, gift cards, or curated gift guides, which are especially popular with last-minute holiday shoppers.
A great example comes from Anthropologie, a brand that created seasonal landing pages to feature exclusive Christmas products and gift guides.
Pro tip:
- Launch your holiday landing page early (by mid-November) so you catch both early browsers and peak Black Friday/Cyber Monday traffic.
- Use promotional banners, countdown timers, and clear CTAs to create urgency and guide shoppers toward checkout.
For Shopify merchants, even small updates, like swapping out banner images, updating copy with holiday keywords, or adding a dedicated “Gift Guide” collection, can make a big difference in how shoppers engage with your store.
3. Leverage Social Media Marketing with Holiday Touch
Social media is one of the best channels to bring your holiday marketing ideas to life. It’s where millions of holiday shoppers go daily for inspiration, gift ideas, and exclusive deals.
By adding a festive twist to your social media marketing, you can turn your brand into part of their holiday scroll and spark excitement around your products.
Here’s how Shopify merchants can use social platforms effectively:
- Create festive visuals, reels, and stories that show your products in holiday-ready settings like gift unboxings, decorating moments, or behind-the-scenes prep.
- Run seasonal hashtags, contests, and giveaways to increase engagement and encourage user-generated content. Campaigns like “12 Days of Giveaways” or branded hashtag challenges add fun while boosting visibility.
- Partner with micro-influencers who can share authentic recommendations and help your brand connect with new audiences.
Interactive marketing campaigns perform especially well during the season. For example, Chubbies, a Shopify brand, nails this with its funny “Thighber Monday” campaigns, using YouTube, social media, influencer partnerships, and dedicated website pages.
For Shopify brands, the goal isn’t just visibility but also connection. When shoppers interact with your holiday posts, they’re more likely to build trust with your brand and choose you when making seasonal purchases.
Pro tip:
- Use Instagram countdowns to tease launches or limited-time offers.
- Encourage followers to tag friends in contests to expand reach.
- Always guide engagement back to your store with clear links and CTAs.
Click here to read: 2025 holiday shopping trends
4. Run Personalized Email Marketing Campaigns
Using email marketing effectively during the holiday season helps Shopify merchants connect with both loyal customers and new shoppers. A well-planned email campaign can feel personal, timely, and relevant, making it more likely to convert.
Here’s how to make it work:
- Segment your audience: Separate loyal customers from new shoppers to tailor messages.
- Holiday subject lines: Use festive, urgency-driven lines like “Don’t Miss Out on Your Holiday Gift”.
- Personalized recommendations: Suggest products based on browsing or past purchases.
- Gift cards & bundles: Promote gift cards or curated gift bundles to make shopping easier for buyers.
- Timing matters: Start campaigns early and schedule follow-ups to catch holiday shoppers when they are ready to buy.
Last year, Macy’s ran holiday emails with festive subject lines, promo codes, and digital gift card offers, boosting engagement and repeat purchases during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Pro tip: Keep your emails simple, visually festive, and focused on clear CTAs to encourage clicks and conversions.
5. Offer Limited-Time Holiday Deals & Bundles
Creating urgency and exclusivity is a proven way to drive holiday sales. Shopify merchants can leverage limited-time offers and product bundles to capture shoppers’ attention and encourage faster purchasing decisions.
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- Run flash sales, 24-hour discounts, or use countdown timers on your product pages to create a sense of urgency.
- Use phrases like “Only today,” “While stocks last,” or “Limited edition” to make shoppers act quickly.
- Offer holiday bundles by combining complementary products, which increases average order value and provides shoppers with ready-to-buy gift solutions.
By incorporating these tactics, Shopify merchants can boost sales while making their holiday promotions feel exciting and exclusive, aligning perfectly with smart holiday marketing ideas.
6. Reward Loyal Customers with Exclusive Perks
The holiday rush brings in new shoppers, but your loyal customers are often the ones who drive repeat purchases and long-term growth. That’s why it’s smart to give them something extra through timely offers and personalized perks.
A well-structured email campaign can make them feel valued and keep your brand top of mind during the busiest shopping season.
- Offer special discounts, early access to holiday sales, or VIP-only deals for your most loyal shoppers.
- Build or strengthen a loyalty program to encourage repeat purchases, offering points, rewards, or exclusive holiday gifts.
- Send personalized thank-you emails with a small discount or gift card as a token of appreciation.
Example: Sephora’s Beauty Insider Program is a great model. During the holiday season, members get early access to sales, bonus points, and exclusive product sets. This not only rewards existing customers but also motivates new shoppers to join their loyalty program.
Rewarding your loyal base not only drives more holiday sales but also builds lasting trust, turning seasonal buyers into year-round advocates.
7. Promote Gift Guides and Gift Cards
The holiday season can overwhelm holiday shoppers with endless options, which often leads to decision fatigue. By offering curated gift guides and flexible gift cards, you make shopping easier while boosting conversions for your store.
- Create gift guides by price range, category, or audience (e.g., “Gifts under $50,” “For Him,” “For Kids”). These guides make it simple for shoppers to find the right products quickly.
- Highlight digital gift cards as the perfect option for last-minute shoppers.
- Add these guides and cards prominently on your homepage, holiday landing pages, and even inside your email campaigns to maximize visibility.
Example: Amazon is a classic example; they publish detailed holiday gift guides each year (by category, trend, and audience) while also promoting their digital gift cards for last-minute purchases. This not only makes shopping smoother but also captures sales from undecided buyers.
Ready to sell more this holiday season? Start with this holiday marketing calendar
8. Tap Into Influencer & User-Generated Content
One of the most effective holiday marketing strategies is to establish trust during the holiday rush by leveraging social media content created by others.
Shoppers relate more to real people than to polished ads, making influencer collaborations and user-generated content (UGC) a valuable part of your holiday campaign.
Working with a Shopify marketing agency can help you identify the right influencers, manage collaborations, and amplify authentic voices that resonate with your audience.
Pair that with customer reviews, unboxing videos, and festive product showcases, and you’ll create holiday marketing ideas that feel genuine and engaging.
- Feature customer reviews and photos on product pages and holiday-themed landing pages to boost trust.
- Encourage shoppers to share unboxing videos or holiday moments using your product.
- Collaborate with influencers to create festive social media content like reels, TikToks, or Instagram Stories.
- Run branded holiday hashtags or contests to generate more UGC and expand reach organically.
Coca-Cola has long leveraged UGC and influencer partnerships during the holidays. Their #ShareACoke campaign invited customers to share personalized bottles on social media, which exploded into a global movement.
For Shopify merchants, smaller-scale versions of this approach, like branded hashtags or holiday contests, can drive similar community engagement.
When your customers and influencers showcase your products, it feels more authentic than ads, builds credibility, and keeps your brand visible throughout the season.
9. Create a Memorable Shopping Experience
A smooth and enjoyable shopping experience is often what turns first-time visitors into repeat buyers. During the holidays, small touches and smart optimizations can help you drive sales and strengthen loyalty.
The right holiday marketing strategies aren’t just about ads; they’re about making the entire journey festive, seamless, and stress-free.
- Offer free gift wrapping, festive packaging, or even handwritten notes to add a personal touch.
- Make checkout smooth by providing multiple payment and shipping options, including flexible delivery dates.
- Optimize your mobile experience since the majority of holiday traffic comes from smartphones.
- Highlight holiday promotions at checkout with upsells or small add-ons to increase average order value.
Salesforce’s 2024 holiday report revealed that over 70% of purchases made on Black Friday and Cyber Monday came from mobile devices. Brands that optimized their mobile sites with fast checkout and festive design captured the bulk of those sales.
One great example is Allbirds (a Shopify-powered brand), which enhances the holiday shopping experience with eco-friendly gift packaging, smooth mobile checkout, and free returns, removing friction and adding value for every shopper.
Note: Creating a holiday shopping experience that feels smooth, festive, and personal not only boosts conversions but also makes your brand unforgettable long after the holidays are over.
10. Use Marketing Campaign Templates & Automation
Running multiple campaigns across email, ads, and social media during the holidays can get overwhelming. That’s where marketing campaign templates and automation come in.
They save time, ensure consistency, and help you scale your holiday marketing ideas without stretching your team too thin. Shopify makes this easier by offering built-in tools for email, social posts, and ads.
- Use pre-built Shopify marketing templates for emails, ad creatives, and social media posts to launch faster and maintain brand consistency.
- Automate abandoned cart emails, countdown reminders, and restock alerts to capture sales you’d otherwise lose.
- Schedule holiday campaigns in advance with tools like Shopify Flow, Klaviyo, or Omnisend to stay organized.
- Test and tweak templates before the holiday rush so your campaigns are ready to go live without hiccups.
According to Shopify’s holiday prep guides, merchants who automated abandoned cart emails saw a significant lift in recovered sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
For instance, fashion brand Gymshark (powered by Shopify) leaned on automated campaigns and pre-built templates to keep messaging consistent across social media, email, and ads.
Note: Automation and templates take the heavy lifting off your plate, letting you focus on strategy and customer engagement instead of repetitive tasks.
11. Analyze, Learn, and Improve After Each Holiday
The end of the season isn’t the end of the work; it’s the beginning of smarter holiday marketing strategies for next year. For Shopify merchants, tracking performance and customer insights after the holidays is one of the most powerful ways to continuously drive sales.
- Track key metrics like conversion rates, average order value (AOV), customer acquisition cost, and ROI from each campaign.
- Collect customer feedback through surveys, reviews, or post-purchase emails to understand what worked and what fell short.
- Identify which channels (social, email, ads) performed best and double down on them for your next holiday campaign.
- Document your learnings now so you’re prepared when planning starts again.
Many Shopify merchants emphasized reviewing last year’s campaigns before planning the next. For instance, brands that noted high engagement from holiday email campaigns in 2024 used those insights to expand email lists, refine messaging, and build stronger offers in 2025, leading to higher ROI.
By analyzing results and listening to your customers, you ensure every holiday season gets better, more efficient, and more profitable than the last.
Also read: 9+ Holiday Social Media Campaign Tips for Shopify Stores That Drive Sales
Conclusion
The holidays are the most competitive time of year, and for Shopify brands, standing out takes more than discounts alone.
Success comes from mixing creativity with proven holiday marketing ideas, whether that’s building festive landing pages, running personalized email campaigns, or creating a sense of urgency with limited-time offers.
If you’re ready to scale, don’t wait until the last minute. Start testing campaigns now, refine what works, and put your best strategies forward. For many Shopify merchants, this preparation means the difference between a decent season and record-breaking sales.
And remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. Partnering with a trusted Shopify marketing agency can help take the load off your team while ensuring your brand gets maximum visibility during the holiday rush.
At Mastroke, we specialize in Shopify marketing strategies that help merchants upsell, retain, and grow their customer base with confidence.
Ready to turn this holiday season into your biggest win yet?
Connect with Mastroke today and let our Shopify experts craft a holiday marketing plan tailored to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do you write a holiday advertisement?
A good holiday ad is short, festive, and clear. Shopify merchants should use holiday-themed visuals, strong calls to action, and holiday marketing ideas like countdown timers or limited-time discounts to create urgency.
2. Is it a good choice to prepare the Shopify store during Christmas?
Yes! Preparing your Shopify store early for Christmas is one of the smartest holiday marketing strategies. From optimizing festive landing pages to adding gift guides, Shopify brands can capture more sales and deliver a smooth shopping experience.
3. What product sells the most during Christmas?
Gift cards are among the top-selling products every year. They appeal to last-minute holiday shoppers and allow Shopify merchants to keep driving sales even after Christmas.
4. What should you get your customers for Christmas?
Small but thoughtful gestures go a long way. Consider perks like exclusive discount codes, free gift wrapping, loyalty points, or a personalized thank-you email. These ideas not only delight customers but also support long-term retention for Shopify brands.
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