Thanksgiving Marketing Ideas You Can Launch in Time For The Weekend

Key takeaways

• Start early and plan your Thanksgiving marketing before the weekend rush begins.
• Run standout deals for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday to reach shoppers each day.
• Show genuine gratitude and add short video to build loyalty and boost engagement.
• Protect your cash flow so a busy weekend does not disrupt your vendor payments.

Get ahead and plan your Thanksgiving marketing

Timing is everything. If you haven’t started marketing for the holidays, it’s time to get to work now. Many shoppers plan ahead and start early, but don’t worry, you can still get in on the action.

Most brick-and-mortar retailers have already started their Black Friday deals, so you should consider offering your own pre-Thanksgiving deals that match Black Friday discounts. Try offering free shipping, BOGO (buy one, get one) sales, or other special discounts to get ahead of the curve. If you are a service-based small business, think about advertising a special gift with services to incentivize your clients.

Run special deals and discounts

Special deals are the fastest way to drive Thanksgiving-weekend sales. The perfect list of marketing ideas for Thanksgiving would not be complete without special deals. Consider advertising special sales that you don’t offer the rest of the year. Utilize your social media channels as well as your email list to push the message out to your customers.

If you can, try offering different deals for each of the significant holiday segments. For example, offer 50% off certain products on Black Friday, a free surprise gift with purchase on Cyber Monday, or a chance to win a gift card on Small Business Saturday. Keep the deals unique to incentivize customers to shop with you on each of these three days.

Market across the whole Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is really four selling days in one. Plan a simple offer for each so shoppers have a reason to keep coming back.

• Black Friday: lead with your biggest discount of the season.

• Small Business Saturday: highlight what makes your shop local and personal.

• Cyber Monday: push your online deals and easy checkout.

Match each day to the shoppers most likely to buy, and keep your message consistent across email and social.

Practice gratitude with your customers

Running a small business takes hard work, so take the opportunity to give a big thank you to your customers, partners, and suppliers. Craft a thank-you campaign across your email, web, and social channels to bring the message home. Use phrases like:

This message tugs at the heartstrings and also keeps your brand top of mind.

Send a Thanksgiving email campaign

Email is one of the easiest ways to reach customers before the weekend rush. Send a short, warm message that mixes gratitude with a clear offer.

• Give loyal customers early access to your best deal.

• Share a simple thank-you note with no strings attached.

• Send a reminder as the weekend starts so your offer stays top of mind.

Keep each email short and easy to read on a phone.

Have a little fun with contests and social posts

Keep your marketing messages light and fun this holiday season. Put a humorous twist on the holidays by hosting a social media contest that is relevant to your business. Consider having customers share their craziest holiday memory or ugliest holiday sweater for a chance to win something from your company. This will boost engagement and make your customers smile.

Make video part of your Thanksgiving marketing

If you haven’t already jumped on the video bandwagon, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start.

Video is a great addition to your social media posts, as 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service, according to Wyzowl. Try filming your product or service in action, advertise a special sale, or share an uplifting message with your customers.

Keep your cash flow healthy through the busy season

A busy Thanksgiving weekend can strain your cash flow as bills and vendor payments pile up. Stay on top of what goes out so you can focus on serving customers.

Melio lets you pay bills and vendors on your own schedule and choose payment methods that fit your cash flow. Sign up for Melio and get ready for your best holiday season yet.

Thanksgiving marketing FAQs