10 Cool Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

Patrick McFadden

Small businesses and organizations can easily get trapped in the day-to-day operations of their businesses to spend any time brainstorming cool holiday marketing ideas. Some businesses worry that marketing is too expensive, others may find it too time consuming.

Without keeping top-of-mind awareness with your prospects and customers, how will anyone remember you?

Here are  10 Cool Holiday Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses and Organizations . Save these ideas and use them to celebrate any holiday – all year long.

1. Be a Giver!

Give a gift that shows you care with a donation to your prospects and customers favorite charity through  Charity Choice . Or get your employees involved and volunteer for a local or industry charity event. Write a holiday newsletter or blog with pictures and details about your positive impact.

2. Say “Cheese” For The Video Camera.

It’s a digital world, so why not think about creating a video holiday card? Record your office singing or video employees’ individual greetings. Post on YouTube or your website, then send them a link to view their special gift. 

3. Think BIG.

Everyone (including your prospects and customers) loves a chance to win BIG prizes like a Tablet or iPad, and now is the time to give them that chance. Ask people to sign up for your newsletter, etc. and enter them in a random drawing. And while in the spirit of giving, donate one to a local children’s hospital or community center.

4. Dress For The Occasion.

This holiday season have some fun by dressing up your website with festive backgrounds and graphics. Extend your theme to your e-mail signature and social media accounts too! Spread holiday cheer everywhere you can – just keep it appropriate for your entire audience.

5. Pick Up The Pen.

Express your holiday wishes and gratitude in a handwritten letter (mailed in a hand-addressed envelope of course). Enclose quality stationary or note cards personalized with their name or logo and you won’t just have a customer for life – you’ll have a friend too.

6. Options For Those Who Have Photo Block.

So you have a face for radio?  You can still take advantage of the digital “cool factor” (and save a tree) by sending your customers an eCard. Check out sites like  Enteract  f or a variety of designs and fun ways to personalize your greetings.

7. Think small.

Segment your holiday list and purchase gifts aligned with the value each customer, vendor, center of influence, or employee provides. Need something really special? Visit local boutiques or online shops like  Etsy.com  for unique, handmade items they will cherish.

8. Create a Picture to Remember.

Forget the corporate card catalogs and do something different. Hire a caricature artist to draw your department’s crazy characters, or have a professional designer create a cool holiday scene with your office and logo. Use your art for cards, calendars or your website.

9. Bypass Traditional Holidays.

Why not skip the holiday card clutter altogether? Eliminate the competition and stand out by celebrating new beginnings with a New Year’s mailing. Or, show a little love on Valentine’s Day.

10. Resist Temptation.

Sure, you are sending something to a lot of people and spending money on postage anyway. Why not slip in a brochure or business card? Save that for a later time and focus on sharing nothing but good cheer this holiday season. You will be rewarded with respect.

Question: What cool holiday marketing have you done before?

Please Subscribe to my newsletter  for more free marketing tips, news and links.

By Patrick McFadden March 31, 2025
1. The Challenge: VMI was like many service providers — positioning their value around what they thought clients wanted : “Office furniture installation and assembly — let us handle creating your perfect workspace.” But the actual buyers — facility managers, project managers, furniture reps — weren’t looking for “perfect workspaces.” They were trying to avoid installation nightmares . Their real priority? ✅ Great installation days. ✅ No chaos. ✅ No missed deadlines. ✅ No angry phone calls from clients. 2. The Insight: After conducting stakeholder interviews under our marketing strategy consulting engagement , the Indispensable Marketing team uncovered critical feedback: “We need installers who maintain a professional site and follow instructions.” “We lose relationships when installations go badly.” “I need quotes back quickly or I can’t sell the job.” This wasn’t just about services , it was about trust, problem-solving , and professional reliability . So we reframed their differentiators not by what they did, but how they showed up : Same-day project quotes Problem-solving on-site Update protocol with clients Professionalism guarantee Lasting Impression Insurance 3. The Shift: We shifted the positioning from vague benefits to real-world, emotional triggers : Instead of: “Let us create your perfect workspace.” Now: “Get the perfect installation day, every time.” That subtle shift aligns with who’s actually buying (and who feels the pain when things go wrong). The end-user may care about the workspace. But the buyer cares about the install . 4. The Lesson for Others: If you’re selling a service, don’t describe what you do. Describe what the client wants to avoid or achieve — and who the real buyer is. Then, systematize what you’re already doing well and give it a name. Just like our team did with: “Same Day Quotes” “Lasting Impression Insurance” “Reliable Presence Protocol” 5. The Outcome Within weeks of updating their messaging and positioning: The company reported more qualified leads asking the right questions Furniture reps began referring them because they were “easy to work with and made them look good” They were shortlisted for larger, multi-phase projects due to increased confidence in their process But most importantly, they stopped competing on price — because they weren’t selling perfect workspaces anymore. They were selling peace of mind on installation day.
By Patrick McFadden March 8, 2025
Most marketing firms talk about tactics. We help our clients see the bigger picture.
By Patrick McFadden January 13, 2025
Discover how Google’s LSA update impacts kitchen & bathroom remodeling marketing. Learn SEO tips to attract leads and boost visibility in Richmond VA & beyond.
More Posts
Share by: