Dylan Harmon
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Five tips for making holiday video campaigns that work for your business
Holiday video campaigns can make a lot of noise, but the brands that do well don’t just throw things together in November. The best campaigns are planned ahead of time, filmed quickly, and edited into several versions so you can run ads, post organically, and retarget shoppers without using up one video. Use these five tips to make a seasonal video system that you can use every year if you want holiday video campaigns that get people to pay attention and buy things.
1) Begin with one deal and one calendar
Holiday campaigns get loud quickly, so being clear is a good thing. Pick one main offer that you want people to know about, like a limited-time bundle, a gift card promotion, a seasonal service package, an end-of-year special, or a “book now” incentive. Then, make the video around that one offer. Add a simple timeline that goes from warm-up to launch to peak to last call so that the campaign doesn’t feel rushed.
2) Make a set of videos for a campaign, not just one.
A single holiday video is fragile, but a set of assets lets you be flexible. Get three different hooks, two short explanations of the offer, two call-to-action endings, a lot of B-roll showing the product, the team, the environment, and details, and one proof moment, like a testimonial line, a results stat, or a before-and-after. Then set up multiple cut lengths by default. For quick hooks and retargeting, use 6 to 10 seconds; for the most reliable performer, use 15 seconds; and for viewers with higher intent, use 30 seconds.
3) Make the story seasonal, not silly
Holiday content works when it seems real and not forced. Use warm lighting, small seasonal hints, and a simple color scheme to keep the holiday elements low-key. However, make sure the message is based on what you sell and why it matters. Start with the customer’s goal, because shoppers want to save time, get a better deal, avoid stress, solve a problem at the end of the year, or give a meaningful gift. The seasonal vibe should help that goal, not take its place.
4) Make people feel like they need to act quickly without sounding desperate
When it is believable, urgency works. Set real limits, like limited appointment slots, shipping deadlines, a sale end date, inventory availability, or a cutoff for an event. Then, explain them in a way that makes people feel motivated, not manipulated. One clear call to action (CTA) at the end, like “shop now,” “book now,” “get a quote,” “claim the offer,” or “buy gift cards,” is better than many CTAs because many CTAs make people hesitate and one CTA makes them act.
5) Plan your distribution like a campaign, not a post.
A holiday video works because it is put in the right place, not just because it is there. Use short cuts with your best hooks for organic posts on Reels, Shorts, Stories, and native feeds. When it’s appropriate, use email to support key sends. For paid ads, organize your creative by funnel. Use hooks and outcomes at the top of the funnel, proof and explanation in the middle, and an offer, urgency, and call to action at the bottom. Retargeting is where you often see holiday ROI. To turn people who were interested but not ready on their first visit into customers, rotate testimonial clips, demos, behind-the-scenes credibility, and last-chance reminders.
A quick list of things to do to make your holiday video campaigns better
Make sure the offer is clear, the hook grabs attention in the first two seconds, the video shows proof through people, process, product, or results, the CTA is clear and matches the landing page, and you have a lot of edits and creative rotation to keep things fresh. If you check these boxes, you’re already ahead of most seasonal campaigns.
Need help making holiday video ads
Two Stories Media can help you plan, make, and post holiday video campaigns that look great and are designed to work with paid ads, organic posts, and retargeting.