Plan Your Holiday Ads Before Halloween
The businesses that win in December usually start in September. A simple timeline.
It's mid-September, which means it's already time to think about the holidays. Media gets booked, printers get busy and good ideas need time.
A simple timeline we use with clients:
By October 1: Decide your offer and budget. What are you selling, to whom, and what is a new customer worth to you?
By mid-October: Lock in media. Broadcast, outdoor and print fill up first.
By November 1: Creative is finished and approved, including the follow-up for after the holidays.
Thanksgiving week: Launch. Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are big for retailers, and service businesses can win this window too with gift cards and year-end offers.
After Christmas: Don't stop. The week between the holidays is cheaper to advertise in, and people have time to browse.
The businesses that win in December usually started in September.
