Look, I get it. December rolls around, and suddenly everyone’s brain switches to mulled wine and mince pies mode. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: while you’re planning your Christmas party outfit, your competitors are planning how to steal your January clients. And often it’s mid-December when your brain finally kicks in and starts screaming, “How do I prepare my business for Christmas without letting your marketing flatline like your Uncle Derek after too much brandy?”
The “It’s Christmas, Nobody’s Working” Myth (And Why It’s Costing You Money)
First things first, let’s address the elephant wearing a Santa hat in the room. Yes, engagement might dip a bit in December. Yes, Karen from accounts is probably more focused on her Secret Santa shopping than your LinkedIn posts. But here’s what most business owners miss:
People are still scrolling. They’re still reading emails (especially when they’re hiding from relatives). And come January 2nd, they’re desperately googling solutions to all the problems they’ve been ignoring since November.
If your marketing goes dark in December, you’re essentially telling potential clients, “We’re not that bothered about helping you.” Not exactly the message you want to send, is it?
So, How Do I Prepare My Business for Christmas: The Non-Negotiables
1. Schedule Your Shit Now (Not on December 23rd)
Right, let’s be honest. You’re not going to feel like writing compelling content marketing when you’re three proseccos deep catching up with friends. So here’s what you need to do NOW:
- Batch create content for the entire festive period. I’m talking social posts, blogs, emails – the lot. Get it done while your brain still functions.
- Set up your scheduling tools. Buffer, Hootsuite, Later – I don’t care which one, just pick one and use it.
- Create a content calendar that actually reflects the season. Nobody wants to read about Q4 targets on Boxing Day.
2. The “Out of Office” Marketing Strategy
When you’re figuring out “how do I prepare my business for Christmas”, think about what happens when you switch on that out-of-office. Does your marketing completely stop? Because if it does, you’re basically handing your competitors a gift-wrapped opportunity.
Instead, try this:
Pre-write email sequences that acknowledge the season but keep providing value. Think “While you’re recovering from your Christmas dinner, here’s a quick tip that’ll save you hours in the New Year.”
Create evergreen content that works whether someone reads it on December 15th or January 5th. How-to guides, industry insights, and practical tips don’t have expiry dates.
Set up automated responses that don’t just say “We’re closed” but actually point people to helpful resources. Turn that dead end into a pathway, and you’re guaranteed to stand out from everyone else.
3. The January Jumpstart (That You Plan in November)
Everyone and their dog talks about “New Year, New Me” in January. But if you wait until January to create that content, you’re already behind. When you’re working out “how do I prepare my business for Christmas”, you need to think beyond the tinsel.
Here’s what smart businesses do:
- Create January campaigns in November. While everyone else is panic-creating content with a hangover, yours is already locked and loaded.
- Build a “New Year Quick Wins” series. People want fast results in January. Give them actionable content they can implement immediately.
- Plan your first quarter launches NOW. That exciting new service you want to launch? Get the groundwork done before the Christmas chaos hits.
The Content That Actually Works During Christmas
Forget the generic “Season’s Greetings from all at [Company Name]” bollocks. When you’re learning how to prepare your business for Christmas marketing-wise, you need content that actually connects.
What works:
- Behind-the-scenes content (people love seeing the human side of businesses)
- Year in review posts (but make them interesting, not a corporate wankfest)
- Gift guides related to your industry (even B2B businesses can do this creatively)
- Quick tips for surviving the festive season in your industry
- Planning content for the new year
What doesn’t:
- Radio silence from December 15th to January 10th
- Generic Christmas graphics with zero personality
- Sales posts that scream desperation
- Content that ignores the fact it’s bloody Christmas
The “But My Industry Goes Quiet” Excuse
Bollocks. Complete and utter bollocks.
Even if your specific industry does slow down, your audience is still there. They’re just in a different headspace. When you’re working out “how do I prepare my business for Christmas”, you need to meet them where they are, not where you wish they were.
Recruitment agencies? People are planning career moves for January. Accountants? Businesses are thinking about year-end and tax planning. Marketing agencies? Companies are planning next year’s strategy. Coaches? Everyone’s thinking about goals and resolutions.
There’s ALWAYS an angle. You just need to find yours.
The Emergency Christmas Marketing Checklist
Since I know people love a good checklist (and let’s face it, who doesn’t when they’re trying to prepare your business for Christmas), here’s your no-nonsense action plan:
By End of November:
⬜ Content calendar created and populated
⬜ January campaign materials drafted
⬜ Email sequences written and scheduled
⬜ Social media posts batched and ready
⬜ Website updated with holiday hours/information
First Week of December:
⬜ Final content review and tweaks
⬜ Engagement strategy for reduced-activity periods
⬜ Out-of-office messages that don’t suck
⬜ If you have a team, have a briefing on who’s covering what
Throughout December:
⬜ Monitor and engage (even if briefly)
⬜ Capture ideas for January content
⬜ Stay visible without being annoying
Conclusion: Don’t Be the Business That Disappears
Preparing your business for Christmas isn’t about working through the holidays like some sort of marketing martyr. It’s about being smart, planning ahead, and keeping momentum when others are coasting.
The businesses that thrive in January aren’t the ones that worked themselves to death in December. They’re the ones that planned properly in November, stayed visible through December, and hit January ready to capitalise on everyone else’s slow start.
Your marketing doesn’t need to be perfect during Christmas. It just needs to exist. Because while your competitors are using the holidays as an excuse to go dark, you’ll be the business that stayed consistent, stayed visible, and stayed in your prospects’ minds.
Ready to Hand Over Your December/January Marketing Instead?
Sick of stressing about “how do I prepare my business for Christmas every single year? Wondering if your marketing will survive while you’re eating your body weight in Celebrations?
Here’s the deal: I’m offering done-for-you marketing support for December and January.
What you get:
- Complete email marketing management (not inbox management)
- Blog content that doesn’t sound like it was written by ChatGPT
- Social media that stays active (and actually interesting)
- All the strategic stuff handled while you focus on closing out the year
Investment: £1,500 for complete marketing cover in December and January
The catch: I’m only taking on 3 businesses for this because, frankly, I want a bloody Christmas break too.
Want to actually enjoy your December without marketing guilt? Let’s have a quick chat about getting your marketing sorted. No fluff, no 47-step sales process, just a conversation about whether we’re a good fit.
Because preparing your business for Christmas shouldn’t mean sacrificing your sanity. Sometimes the smartest move is admitting you need backup.
P.S. – If you’re reading this in late November thinking “shit, I should have started sooner” – you’re not alone. But you’ve still got time. Just bloody get on with it.
Hey, I’m Em…
I’m a copywriter and content strategist who escaped the soul-crushing world of recruitment to build a business on my own terms. After rage-quitting 6 years ago with no plan (and somehow making it work), I now help time-poor businesses get their marketing sorted without the corporate bullshit. I write content that actually sounds like them—not like every other boring corporate voice in your industry.
Ready to stop getting ghosted and start converting?
If you’re tired of prospects going silent and want content that actually makes people respond, let’s talk. My Content Conversion Package gives you done-for-you content that gets noticed – across email, social, blog, and web copy – without you having to lift a finger. Book a call, and let’s sort out your content properly.