When to start planning your Christmas marketing campaigns? (….now, July is the time!)
It’s July. The sun is high, the air is sticky, and the idea of mulled wine and mince pies feels as distant as, well, mulled wine and mince pies. But if you run a business or work in marketing, now is exactly the time to start thinking about your Christmas campaigns.
Yes, it feels early. Ridiculously early. But those festive adverts you see in November? They weren’t dreamt up in October. The brands behind them started planning in summer. And if you want your business to make the most of the busiest shopping season of the year, you need to do the same.
Why plan Christmas marketing campaigns in July?
1. Beat the competition
Most small businesses wait until autumn to begin Christmas planning. By starting in July, you give yourself a solid head start. You’ll have more time to develop creative ideas, refine your offers, and build anticipation with your audience. You can also secure better ad slots, influencer collaborations, or press coverage before the festive frenzy begins.
2. Avoid last-minute stress
Rushed campaigns rarely deliver great results. Starting now gives you breathing space. You can test ideas, get feedback, adjust your messaging, and fix any issues before you go live. You’ll also avoid burning out in December when orders ramp up and inboxes flood.
3. Align your Christmas with your business goals
Christmas campaigns shouldn’t exist in a bubble. They should reflect your brand’s wider goals, tone of voice, and customer experience. Planning early gives you time to align your festive messaging with your marketing strategy and ensure everything feels cohesive.
4. Prep your logistics
If you sell products, you’ll need time to review stock levels, packaging, delivery timelines, and returns processes. If you’re a service provider, you might need to consider gift vouchers, limited time offers, or client availability. These things take time to set up properly.
5. Customers are thinking ahead
Believe it or not, some of your customers start planning their Christmas in August or September. Think corporate gifting, event bookings, or early-bird shoppers. You want your brand to be front of mind when they start looking.
Where to start
If you’re sold on the idea of a July kick-off but not sure what to tackle first, start with a focused ideas session:
What went well (and not so well) in last year’s campaign?
What’s your goal for Christmas 2025? More sales? More subscribers? More brand visibility?
What will your main offer or theme be?
What channels will you focus on – email, social, ads, in-person events?
What needs to be ready in advance – landing pages, gift guides, product bundles?
You don’t need to finalise everything in July, but laying the groundwork now gives you a massive advantage.
This is truly the most wonderful time of the year
Yes, it feels strange to be thinking about snowflakes and Santa while you’re still applying SPF 50. But successful seasonal marketing won’t be achieved by reacting at the last minute. Instead, it’s by knowing your audience, anticipating their needs, and being ready when they are.
So, grab a notebook (or a frozen cocktail) and start sketching out your Christmas plans. Your future self will thank you. And come December, you’ll be the one sipping cocoa while your perfectly prepped campaign works splendidly.
