Christmas isn’t just about sleigh bells and snowflakes. For businesses, it’s one of the most powerful seasons to connect, convert, and celebrate with customers through email marketing. With holiday e-commerce sales projected to rise yet again in 2024, it’s time to bring the festive magic into your inbox strategy.
1. Plan Like Santa: Review the Ghosts of Campaigns Past
Before crafting your merry message, take a look back:
- Which products sold best last year?
- What offers drove the most clicks?
- Who were your most active customers?
- What subject lines worked? What didn’t?
Use insights from previous Black Friday and Cyber Monday results to forecast what might resonate this season. Review all this in your email tool’s reporting dashboard (like MailerLite).
2. Start Early (Like, November-Early)
Many businesses wait until post-Black Friday, but starting earlier gives you a head start. Promote wishlists, gift guides, and early-bird offers by mid-November.
Pro tip: Set up an email automation workflow with:
- Wishlist/Gift guide email (3-4 weeks out)
- Discount email (2 weeks out)
- Shipping deadline reminder (1 week out)
- Post-Christmas offer (after Dec 25)
3. Jingle-Worthy Subject Lines & Preheaders
Subject lines are your gift wrap. They get the email opened.
Tips:
- Use emojis (if on-brand):
- Personalize: “[Name], a little holiday surprise inside!”
- Add urgency: “Only 3 days left for 25% off!”
- Keep it under 40 characters for mobile
Pair this with a preheader that complements the subject, teases value, and encourages opens.
4. Design Emails That Sleigh
Create festive designs with bold holiday colors, cheerful GIFs, and clean layouts. Use templates to save time. MailerLite, for example, offers ready-made Christmas templates for newsletters, pop-ups, and landing pages.
Bonus: Use countdown timers to build urgency and make CTAs like “Shop the guide” or “Start gifting” pop with contrasting buttons.
5. Content Ideas That Convert
Here are email content formats that perform well:
- Gift guides (segmented by budget or personality)
- Wishlist builders
- Year-in-review emails
- Discount or free shipping offers
- Last-minute gift reminders
- Customer appreciation messages
- Holiday contests or games
You can even suggest gifts based on browsing history or previous purchases for a personalized touch.
6. Boost Engagement With Smart Tactics
- Send-time optimization: Use smart tools to send when your audience is most likely to open.
- Mobile-first formatting: Most people read on phones.
- Social share buttons: Let customers spread your deals.
- Use A/B tests: Try two subject lines and see which one wins.
- Urgency + scarcity: Timed deals and stock limits drive clicks.
7. Don’t Forget Deliverability
What good is a great email if it lands in spam? Improve deliverability by:
- Authenticating your domain
- Using a reputable email platform (like MailerLite)
- Avoiding spammy content
- Cleaning your email list
Need more tips? Check out MailerLite’s guide to avoiding spam filters.
8. Keep the Holiday Spirit Alive After Christmas
Christmas shopping doesn’t stop on the 25th. Send:
- Post-Christmas sales
- New Year offers
- Thank-you notes
- Product feedback requests
9. Sign Off With Warmth
Instead of “Regards,” try:
- “Wishing you peace and joy,”
- “From our team to your tree,”
- Or even a short poem or punny goodbye
Always include your full email signature and festive visuals or emojis to match.
10. Ready to Make Spirits (and Sales) Bright?
With thoughtful planning, festive creativity, and a touch of data-driven strategy, your Christmas emails can boost engagement and revenue.
Try MailerLite Free to access templates, automation, and deliverability tools that help your holiday emails shine.