The holidays are a wonderful time for giving, connecting, and reflecting—and that includes your business, too. Creating marketing content can feel overwhelming, especially when you just want to focus on your work, your art, or your mission. But you don’t need to be a marketing expert to reach your audience effectively.
The key is to focus on helping your audience, building trust, and creating genuine connections. By prioritizing value, authenticity, and community, your content will feel thoughtful, approachable, and aligned with what your audience truly wants.
We’ve put together 12 holiday marketing tips as a gift to you. Think of this as a friendly guide to help you create content that resonates, engages your community, and sets you up for a strong start in 2026. These tips are simple, practical, and easy to use, even if marketing isn’t your specialty.
1. Share Stories That Connect
People remember stories and feelings more than sales pitches. Sharing your experiences helps your audience feel connected and engaged. For example, you could highlight a project you loved, a client or customer story, a challenge you overcame, or a small moment of inspiration from your year. You could even share a story featured in a guest blog or podcast that aligns with your values or audience interests. These authentic stories create a personal connection, showing the human side of your work.
When you focus on sharing real experiences instead of just promoting a product or service, your audience remembers the connection and the value you provide, not just the message itself. Stories like these invite conversation, foster trust, and make your content feel meaningful and memorable.
2. Celebrate Wins, Big or Small
Take a moment to celebrate what went well this year, no matter how small. Did you finish a project, receive positive feedback, or try something new? Share it! Inviting your audience to celebrate with you encourages engagement and creates a positive, inclusive vibe. Celebrating wins isn’t about bragging—it’s about sharing joy and inspiring others. Highlighting successes also reminds your community of your work and impact in a natural, human way. You can even feature others’ wins, such as a client spotlight or a guest contribution, to showcase collaboration and community support.
3. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Engagement doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple, thoughtful questions can spark conversation and connection. For example: “What’s one thing you’re proud of this year?” “What creative ritual brings you joy during the holidays?” “What’s a lesson you learned in 2025 that you want to carry forward?” Questions like these make your audience feel heard and valued. They also create opportunities for genuine conversations that deepen relationships and foster a sense of community.
4. Highlight People Who Inspire You
Shine a light on clients, collaborators, or other creatives you admire. A short post recognizing someone else’s work shows appreciation and generosity, and it helps build a supportive, connected community. Consider sharing a guest blog post, podcast episode, or interview with someone whose work you respect. This not only provides additional value to your audience but also strengthens your relationships with peers and collaborators. Highlighting others shows your audience that you’re part of a broader network and that you value connection over promotion.
5. Repurpose Your Best Content
You don’t need to create everything from scratch. Look back at posts, videos, or newsletters that performed well earlier in the year and give them a refresh for the holiday season. For example, turn a popular blog into a social carousel, a webinar into short video clips, or a client testimonial into a holiday-themed post. You could also feature excerpts from guest content or highlight insights from a podcast interview to expand the reach of valuable material. Repurposing content saves time, reinforces your message, and lets your audience enjoy your best work again.
6. Add Simple Holiday Touches
You don’t need flashy graphics or over-the-top visuals to get into the holiday spirit. Simple touches—like a cozy background, a soft winter color palette, or a short festive greeting—can make your posts feel warm and inviting. Thoughtful visuals enhance your message without overwhelming it. They make your content eye-catching, memorable, and approachable while keeping the focus on connection and value.
7. Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Moments
People love seeing the human side of your work. Share a peek behind the scenes: your workspace, your creative process, or how you prepare for a project. These moments make your brand relatable and approachable. You could even share clips or stories from a podcast appearance or collaborative project to give your audience a fresh perspective on your work. Small, authentic glimpses behind the curtain often leave a bigger impact than polished, formal posts.
8. Provide Helpful Tips
Even small pieces of advice can be valuable. Share practical tips, resources, or techniques your audience can use. For example, a productivity hack, a creative exercise, or a free resource that helps them in their work. You can also feature guest blogs, interviews, or podcasts that provide useful insights. Sharing content from others helps your audience access different perspectives and builds community. Providing helpful content and valuable guest insights strengthens trust and shows that you care about your audience’s success.
9. Encourage Conversation
Invite your audience to share experiences, reflections, or feedback. Respond to comments, acknowledge their input, and create a sense of dialogue rather than one-way communication. You might ask them to reflect on a guest blog or podcast topic you shared or to discuss a theme you introduced in a story. Conversation fosters community. When people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to return, engage, and support your work.
10. Show Gratitude
The holidays are the perfect time to say thank you. Recognize your clients, collaborators, and supporters for being part of your journey. You can also thank guest contributors or collaborators who added value to your content this year. Gratitude posts are memorable, shareable, and reinforce a sense of community. They remind your audience that your focus is on connection and appreciation, not just transactions.
11. Stay Real
Write the way you speak. Avoid complicated marketing jargon or overly polished language. Authentic, approachable content feels relatable and inviting. When your audience can hear your personality in your posts, they’re more likely to engage, comment, and feel included. A warm, authentic voice naturally builds community and makes your content stand out in a sea of generic marketing messages.
12. Reflect and Plan for 2026
Use the holiday season to pause, reflect, and set intentions for the year ahead. What worked well this year? What lessons did you learn? What stories or messages do you want to share next year? You could share your own reflections in a blog post, newsletter, or podcast episode, and even invite guest contributors to share theirs. Planning ahead helps you create consistent, aligned, and meaningful content that inspires and informs your audience.
Wrapping Up
Consider these 12 tips a holiday gift from us to you. They’re simple, practical, and designed to help you create content that resonates, engages your community, and grows your online presence.
By focusing on helpful, authentic, and community-driven content—and including voices from collaborators, guest bloggers, or podcast contributors—you naturally build relationships and inspire trust. Stories, gratitude, and engagement aren’t just tactics—they’re ways to connect with people in a real, meaningful way.
Ready to keep these tips close at hand? Download your free 12 Days of Marketing Tips for quick reference anytime, whether you’re at your desk or on the go.
