The holiday season is around the corner, and for many business owners, that means one thing: taking a well-earned break. But while you're switching off, the last thing you want is for your marketing to go completely quiet.
Because when your brand goes dark, so do your leads.
The good news? Staying visible doesn't mean staying online. With a few smart moves now, you can keep your business front-of-mind while you enjoy that beach, barbecue, or bubbly. Here are five effortless ways to stay active without logging in.
1. Schedule Your Social Content Now (So You Can Forget It Later)
Your audience doesn’t disappear over the holidays – they just scroll differently.
December and early January are perfect times to share lighter, more personal content. People are in a relaxed mood, often reflecting on the year or planning for the next. That means it’s a great opportunity to show the human side of your brand, build trust, and create engagement without being overly salesy.
Leverage the mental state your audience is in: they are relaxed, consuming more human-led and entertaining content, but also deeply thinking about what they want to change or improve in 2026. This is especially powerful for service-based businesses (like financial advisors or coaches) and product-based brands (like fitness or wellness). Tie your content into their state of reflection and desire for change – even simple, well-positioned content can connect if it aligns with New Year’s resolution themes.
Use scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite, Later, or Loomly to batch and queue your content. Think behind-the-scenes glimpses, team wrap-ups, best-of lists, or even a thank-you message to your clients and community.
Pro Tip: Include a call to action in every post. Even a gentle "Save this for later" or "Find out more via our bio link" keeps engagement alive and signals value.
2. Let Retargeting Ads Do The Heavy Lifting
Not everyone is ready to buy right now – but they will be soon. Retargeting helps you stay top-of-mind with those who’ve already shown interest.
Set up Meta and Google remarketing campaigns that speak to where people are at in the buyer journey. Holiday messaging could include a simple reminder, a value-driven ad that educates, or a story-led creative that builds trust.
Lean into the mindset of the season. People are gifting, planning, and thinking about change. Use this in your awareness-level ads to build up your warm audience. Then educate that audience through retargeting by showcasing how your business helps them move into 2026 with clarity, improvement, or momentum. Your messaging should reflect reflection.
If you’re in ecommerce, this is a no-brainer. If you’re service-based, use testimonials, seasonal offers, or lead magnets.
Don’t forget to use frequency capping and update your creative for the season – you want to be visible, not annoying.
Even better? These campaigns keep running and optimising while you're sipping that festive cocktail.
3. Keep Your Google Business Profile Active
Local search never sleeps. While your office may be closed, potential customers are still Googling.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) plays a major role in local SEO and visibility. Ensure your holiday hours are updated well in advance so people know when you're open, when you're shut, and when you'll be back. Clarity here builds trust.
In the Posts section, share a few quick posts that include:
- Your shut dates and reopening day
- Any special offers or seasonal services
- Holiday messages or "See you in the New Year" notes
Add some fresh photos (think festive office snaps or seasonal products) and make sure all key info – phone number, website, services – is current. Google's algorithm rewards active listings, and your presence here can be the difference between being found or forgotten.
4. Turn On Your Email Automations
Your email list is pure gold over the holiday period. Done right, it can build connection, encourage purchases, and keep your brand in the inbox when competitors go quiet.
Review your key automation flows before logging off:
- Welcome Email Sequence: Introduce your brand, reinforce your values, and share helpful resources or gift ideas.
- Abandoned Cart Flow: For ecommerce businesses, this is a revenue recovery engine. Add a festive spin to the copy.
- Seasonal Broadcasts: Schedule a holiday wrap-up or New Year message to go out to your full list.
Adjust the tone and messaging of your flows to suit the season. People are in reflection mode – so speak to goals, mindset, and growth. Whether you're a coach, creative, advisor, or product-based brand, there’s an opportunity to meet people where they are mentally. A simple "thank you for being part of our 2025" message or a "here's to an even better 2026" can go a long way.
Segment your list by behaviour (e.g. recent purchasers, inactive subscribers, VIP customers) so your messaging hits the mark. Even a single email can reignite interest and remind people why they chose you in the first place.
5. Repurpose, Don’t Recreate
This is not the time to start from scratch. Your best content from 2025 still has legs – and often, a second (or third) life.
Dig into your analytics and identify the posts, videos, or blogs that performed best. Then:
- Turn a high-performing blog into a short-form video or carousel.
- Share a customer success story in a festive testimonial format.
- Use an old email with strong engagement as the basis for a social series.
This strategy maximises ROI on existing content and keeps your messaging consistent and familiar during a season where audiences crave warmth and familiarity.
People forget content fast – especially when it’s valuable. Repurposing lets you stay relevant without reinventing the wheel.
6. Set Expectations Around Availability And Delivery
If your business is taking a break, make sure your audience knows what to expect if they enquire or make a purchase over the holidays.
Update the following touchpoints:
- Contact Pages: Add a note about your team being on break and when you’ll respond to messages.
- Checkout Pages: If you sell products, clearly display holiday shipping timeframes or delays.
- Email Auto-Responders: Let people know your team is offline and when they can expect a reply.
- Thank You Pages: After an enquiry or purchase, reiterate the timelines for follow-up or delivery.
Setting clear expectations prevents frustration, builds trust, and shows you're professional – even when you're not physically available.
Plan Now, So You Can Truly Switch Off
The holiday break is one of the few times in the year where your audience and your team are both in wind-down mode. That makes it the perfect opportunity to shift from hustle to automation without losing momentum.
With a little bit of foresight, you can:
- Keep your content publishing consistently.
- Let retargeting and email flows nurture leads.
- Maintain your local presence and search visibility.
- Create a seamless brand experience while you take a proper break.
You don’t need to be constantly "on" to make an impact. You just need the right systems working in the background – especially ones that align with the state of mind your audience is in: reflective, inspired, and ready to grow.
Want help creating automated marketing that performs while you take a break? Explore our expert-led approach to Facebook & Instagram Advertising.
