The holiday season is one of the biggest opportunities for businesses to thrive on Instagram. With festive excitement in the air, people are more likely to engage with content, shop for gifts, and explore new brands. Instagram is an ideal place to tap into this energy, offering creative ways to connect with your audience and drive engagement, sales, and brand visibility.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 actionable holiday marketing ideas that you can try out for your brand. No matter what your specific goals are for the season, you’ll find plenty of inspiring ways to reach your customers.
1. Host a holiday-themed giveaway
Giveaways are a powerful way to increase engagement and attract new followers, especially during the holidays when excitement is high. You can create buzz around your brand by offering a product or service that resonates with your audience.
Steps to create a successful holiday giveaway:
- Choose a popular product or service to give away — something your audience would love.
- Set clear entry rules like following your account, tagging friends, or using a branded hashtag.
- Encourage user-generated content (UGC) by asking followers to share holiday stories or photos related to your business.
Musician Sarah Reeves hosted a “12 Days of Christmas” giveaway with daily prizes leading up to Christmas day. Each day, she gave away a gift to her followers. The entry rules were following her Facebook page, commenting on the post, and tagging a friend to help widen the audience base.
2. Host an interactive Instagram stories campaign
Instead of a traditional Instagram Live event, consider creating a multi-day “Countdown to the Holidays” or “12 Days of Christmas” series using Instagram Stories. This allows you to build anticipation and get your audience actively engaged leading up to the big day.
Ideas to try:
- Use Instagram Stories polls, quizzes, and question stickers to get followers involved and feeling like part of the experience. Instagram has released a whole bunch of new stickers so try out different ones.
- Offer small prizes or discounts to those who participate in your interactive Stories content
3. Create holiday-themed AR filters and effects
Stand out from the crowd by developing custom augmented reality (AR) filters, lenses, or effects for Instagram. These can tie into your brand’s holiday aesthetic or product line, allowing followers to engage with your content in a fun, interactive way.
Source: Perfect Corp
To get started:
- Work with a designer or AR developer to create unique, on-brand filters
- Encourage followers to use the filters and share their photos/videos
- Offer small prizes or discounts to those who participate
4. Create a limited-time holiday discount
Exclusive holiday discounts can create urgency and drive immediate sales. Time-sensitive offers are especially effective in the holiday rush as they tap into shoppers’ fear of missing out (FOMO), which in turn encourages them to take action quickly.
Holiday discount ideas:
- Flash sales. Promote limited-time offers through Instagram Stories or Reels.
- “Early bird” deals. Reward early shoppers with special discounts.
- Bundle products at discounted prices to encourage higher sales volumes.
Edinburgh’s Christmas, the Instagram account for holiday festivities in Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted a 2-day flash sale on ice rink tickets. The significant 30% discount helped to generate interest in the ice rink and put this activity on shoppers’ radar for the season.
5. Share holiday gift guides
Holiday gift guides are a great way to speak to different customer segments, showcasing your products or services as the perfect holiday gifts depending on their needs and interests. By curating thoughtful recommendations, you can inspire shoppers and help them find the perfect presents.
Gift guide theme ideas:
- “Gifts under $50” for those who are on a budget.
- Last-minute holiday gifts” for those who tend to put off shopping.
- Curated recommendations for specific groups (for example, guides made for foodies, travelers, or pet lovers).
Tip: Use Instagram carousel posts to feature multiple gift options in one post, allowing followers to swipe through a range of ideas.
Motherhood influencer brand DoSayGive posted a gift guide that showcases the highlights of their catalog, ensuring that shoppers know exactly what’s on offer.
6. Run a nostalgic throwback content series
Tap into holiday nostalgia by sharing vintage photos, videos, or stories from your business’s history. This can help foster an emotional connection with your audience and make your brand feel more relatable and human.
Ideas to try:
- Use Instagram Reels to recreate old-school holiday traditions with a modern twist
- Invite followers to share their own holiday memories using a branded hashtag and repost their memories on your Instagram story or embed them on your website using hashtag feeds.
- Offer small prizes for the best user-generated throwback content
7. Run a “shop small” campaign
The holidays are a great time to emphasize the importance of supporting small businesses. A “Shop Small” campaign can resonate with consumers who are passionate about shopping locally and sustainably, and who want small businesses to thrive in the face of fierce market competition.
Campaign ideas:
- Share behind-the-scenes content or “meet the maker” videos to create a personal connection.
- Collaborate with other local small businesses to cross-promote each other’s holiday sales or products.
- Use holiday hashtags like #ShopSmall, #SupportLocal, or #HolidayShopping to increase reach.
Children’s wear company Oh Rosie posted a Shop Small video showing the owner’s gratitude whenever they receive an order, showing the relatable human side of the brand.
8. Offer exclusive holiday products or services
Limited-edition or exclusive holiday offers create excitement and a sense of urgency, making customers feel like they’re getting something special. Like a time-based sale, this strategy adds an extra layer of intrigue and incentive for shoppers to choose your brand over their other options.
Ideas for holiday exclusives:
- Launch seasonal flavors, products, or packaging.
- Create customizable or personalized products for holiday gifting.
- Offer holiday bundles or special service packages only available during the season.
Popular beauty brand Glossier created a special Holiday Kit, complete with its own festive packaging. The company released a “making of” post showcasing the process and thought that went behind its creation.
9. Partner with complementary brands for Instagram takeovers
Collaborate with other small businesses to create a series of “Instagram Takeovers” leading up to the holidays. This allows you to tap into new audiences, showcase your products in fresh contexts, and provide your followers with a fun, behind-the-scenes look at your brand.
Takeover ideas:
- Have a partner brand take over your Instagram account for a day, and vice versa
- Co-create holiday content that features both of your products or services
- Offer limited-time discounts or bundles exclusive to the takeover
10. Host an Instagram Live holiday event
Instagram Live offers a unique way to engage with your audience in real time. Hosting a holiday-themed live event can drive immediate interaction and sales, as well as generate interest in what’s new and notable with your brand.
Event ideas:
- Host a “Holiday Q&A” where customers can ask about products or gift ideas.
- Live holiday product demos, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes tours.
- Live shopping events with exclusive offers or discounts for attendees.
Maz of Maz Lifestyle hosted an Instagram Live event to get up close and personal with her followers, discussing what was going on in her life and what she had in store for her account in the upcoming year.
11. Collaborate with influencers or micro-influencers
When it comes to holiday marketing, influencer partnerships can be the gift that keeps on giving. You can tap into the power of social media stars or micro-influencers (those with smaller but highly engaged followings) to spread holiday cheer about your brand.
Influencer partnership ideas:
- Host a festive “unboxing” video featuring your holiday product line
- Collaborate on limited-edition products or collections
- Create an influencer-led holiday gift guide showcasing your items
Libertad NYC partnered with micro-influencer @arianaranae for a Thanksgiving unboxing video showcasing their tarnish-free jewelry. The influencer shared relatable styling tips that helped viewers envision the pieces as ideal for holiday celebrations and thoughtful gifts.
12. Create holiday-themed Instagram reels and stories
The holidays are perfect for livening up your Instagram with festive Reels and Stories. With these quick videos, you can showcase your products in action and give viewers ideas they can easily recreate at home.
Holiday Reels and Stories ideas:
- Show “How to use” your product during the holiday season.
- Create holiday DIY or decorating tips featuring your products.
- Use trending holiday sounds or music for festive Reels.
World Market brought holiday cheer to Instagram with a clever Reel. The video featured a DIY guide to creating a festive centerpiece using their products—mini trees, twinkling candles, and a charming reindeer, all arranged on a rustic tray.
13. Leverage user-generated content (UGC) for holiday campaigns
Why tell customers your products are gift-worthy when you can show them? User-generated content (UGC) unwraps the real magic of your brand, with customers playing Santa’s little helpers in your marketing efforts.
Ways to encourage UGC:
- Create a branded holiday hashtag and ask followers to share their holiday experiences with your products.
- Feature UGC in your feed, Stories, or Reels, giving followers a shoutout.
- Offer a prize or discount for the best holiday-themed UGC.
H&M ran a heartwarming campaign that saw customers share UGC tagging the brand on Instagram. The images captured genuine moments of friendship and family joy, showcasing how H&M’s festive wear became part of real holiday memories.
14. Promote holiday shipping deadlines and gift cards
The clock ticks louder as the holidays approach. Keep your customers ahead of the game by clearly communicating shipping deadlines and offering last-minute alternatives.
Holiday promotion ideas:
- Share last shipping dates for on-time holiday delivery.
- Promote digital gift cards for last-minute shoppers.
- Highlight special gift wrapping or expedited shipping options.
Sylvester & Co. Modern General® announced their holiday shipping deadlines in a clear Instagram post. The timely reminder nudged customers to order by December 12th to avoid last-minute disappointments.
15. Spotlight a charitable holiday campaign
Consider partnering with a local charity or non-profit organization for a holiday campaign that gives back. This not only supports a worthy cause, but also helps position your brand as socially conscious and community-minded.
Campaign ideas:
- Donate a portion of your holiday sales to the chosen charity
- Offer a matching donation incentive to encourage more contributions
- Spotlight the cause and your support for it across your Instagram content
Conclusion
Instagram offers small businesses several creative tools to engage with customers, generate interest in their brand, and boost holiday sales. From hosting giveaways to collaborating with influencers and leveraging UGC, these holiday marketing ideas are designed to help your brand make a memorable impression.
Start planning and implementing these strategies today so you can capture the festive spirit and make your business shine this holiday season.
