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Camera and tablet recording a holiday video production with a Christmas tree in the background

Key Takeaways

  • Start your holiday marketing strategies early, focusing on authenticity and storytelling
  • Use short-form videos, testimonials, and user-generated content for cost-effective campaigns
  • Take a look at holiday video ideas for companies, like behind-the-scenes bloopers or customer thank-you reels.

With kids excited about the gifts Santa will bring and the adults already planning for the upcoming mega sales, Thanksgiving is almost here, and Christmas isn’t very far behind. For companies, that means one thing: It’s time to plan your holiday marketing strategies before the season peaks.

At 336 Productions, we help brands make the most of this important window with strategic, story-driven video marketing campaigns. However, incorporating Thanksgiving and Christmas themes into these campaigns isn’t as easy as it seems. Here are some tips to enhance your video marketing campaign this winter season.

1. Don’t be Too Salesy

The holidays are about giving and gratitude. They’re a chance to connect with our loved ones, which is why the most effective holiday marketing strategies capture that emotional energy without feeling forced. Instead of focusing on urgency and big discounts alone, center your campaign around storytelling.

Make sure to incorporate the Christmas and Thanksgiving spirit. Make the campaign more about what you give rather than what you receive. Don’t be afraid to add traditional Christmas songs or snippets. Your main goal behind the campaign will still be lead conversions, but the campaign will go down better with the audience this way.

One of the most timeless holiday marketing tips is filming a short “thank you” message from your team or CEO.

2. Fun and Lighthearted Videos

Thanksgiving and Christmas are times of the year when people want to relax, disconnect from their work routine, and spend time with their loved ones. Funny or feel-good videos are more shareable and better at breaking through the noise than traditional ads, which is one of the keys to any great holiday marketing strategy.

Throw in some humor, cultural references, or nostalgic throwbacks to some classic holiday films like Home Alone or The Grinch. People love lighthearted content. Comedy and nostalgia are two of the most effective routes to take when looking for holiday video ideas for companies.

3. Add Testimonials

You can’t go wrong with a good customer review! Adding real testimonial videos can make holiday marketing strategies feel more personal. These can include testimonials of your customers, team members, and more.

The testimonials don’t have to be about your product or your service. It could be just another Christmas story, a Thanksgiving experience, a positive message, and more.

One holiday marketing tip is to include your teammates in the videos to give them a personal touch. An even better idea is to have them talk about a fun Christmas experience or give a short personal positive message.

4. Use Evergreen Content with a Holiday Twist

Parent and child wearing Santa hats sitting together in front of a Christmas tree

Evergreen content is anything that could be deemed relevant for the intended audience in the long run. Seasonal content, on the other hand, becomes irrelevant after a certain period. This is why we wouldn’t recommend making every video seasonal. Some of the best holiday marketing strategies we’ve been a part of integrate festive updates into Evergreen content.

Take some of your top-performing explainer or product demo videos and repurpose them for the season. You don’t have to complicate it. Add some subtle snow graphics or change up the font to music to make it more holiday-related.

With this approach, you can extend the lifespan of your existing videos while keeping aligned with what performs best for your brand.

5. Capture Micro-Moments

In marketing, micro-moments are defined as the brief windows when consumers reach for their phones to shop, scroll, or search. This is why short-form, mobile-forward videos are important for any holiday marketing strategies, especially those targeting last-minute shoppers.

These kinds of videos should be quick and actionable, no longer than ten seconds, and with one clear CTA.

One of our top holiday marketing tips is to schedule your micro-videos during peak activity times, such as commutes, lunch hours, or evenings. The goal here is to catch your customers when they’re most receptive.

6. Try User-Generated Content (UGC)

With UGC, you get credibility and emotional impact that are hard to replicate with a scripted ad. This kind of content feels even more genuine during the holidays.

Consider featuring your customers’ videos on your social channels or compiling them into a “community highlight” ad. Besides the benefit of authenticity, it’s one of the most cost-effective holiday marketing strategies for engagement.

7. Measure, Optimize, and Repeat

Even if you believe you have one of the most creative holiday marketing strategies possible, you still need data to make sure it’s working. Analytics tools can be helpful for measuring metrics like watch time, engagement, rate, conversion rate, etc.

With these metrics in hand, you can apply A/B testing. Try two versions of your video with different openings, thumbnails, or CTAs, and see which one performs best with all other things equal. Since the holidays don’t last long, you’ll want to make these adjustments fairly quickly.

Bonus – Holiday Video Ideas for Companies

Here are five quick and easy holiday video ideas for companies you can create right now for use in your holiday marketing campaign:

  • A Team “Thank You” Video – Film members of your staff expressing gratitude to customers
  • Gift Guide Reel – Showcase some of your bestsellers in different categories
  • Behind-the-Scenes – Give people a look at how your company operates behind the scenes
  • Customer Spotlight – Find a loyal customer and feature them in a festive way

Make This Season Your Best Yet

Getting the right message across to your target audience is crucial. You need a top-notch video production company to assist you with your holiday marketing strategies this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

336 Productions is one of the leading video production companies in Los Angeles that can help you create an effective video marketing campaign. Our services include brand video production, business video production, B2B video production, and more.

Call us now to learn more about our video marketing services.

  • "Marlowe Stone is the co-owner and co-founder of 336 Productions, a video agency specializing in corporate video production and branded media, producing content for government agencies and some of the world's biggest brands. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the business. Additionally, she writes, produces, and project manages many of 336's projects. In 2022, Marlowe graduated with her Executive MBA from UCI to gain new insights and knowledge. She also holds a certificate in Women's Leadership and Digital Transformation. An Orange County native and mom to two girls, Marlowe is happiest when spending time with her family and friends."

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