Still debating whether it’s “too early” for holiday sales? Or decking the halls with mistletoe?
By all means, keep the conversation going—twinkle lights vs. inflatable Santas or pumpkin spice vs. peppermint mocha. Businesses, however, answer to something more cut and dry—fourth quarter profit vs. loss.
Needless to say, the stakes are high. All the more reason why holiday social media marketing can’t wait.
U.S. retail sales are projected to hit $1.6 trillion in 2025. What’s more, most shoppers plan to make at least some purchases online.
So what’s not up for debate? Thinking you can grab holiday shoppers at the height of social commerce (late November/December).
Polish up your holiday social media marketing plan… today. Social commerce, after all, is the gift that keeps on giving. It turns casual scrolling into wrapped-and-ready sales.
Let’s tie it all up with a bow, shall we?
Here Are Five Smart Ways to Boost End-of-Year Revenue and Ease the Squeeze of Inflation.
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Make Social Commerce Your Starting Line
Holiday sales start earlier every year. Here is why it matters, more than ever, to have a solid holiday social media marketing plan:
- Shoppers will be super intentional this season. PwC’s 2025 Holiday Outlook reveals consumers plan to spend 5% less than in 2024. That means they’ll be more selective, tightening the purse strings and market share for brands and businesses alike.
- The window for bulk spending will be short. PwC predicts nearly 39% of holiday gift spending will happen between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. By the end of this timeframe, however, almost 80% of consumer budgets will be spent.
- Online shopping will lead the way. Over half of consumers (51%) plan to use online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy as their hunting grounds. It’s no surprise e-commerce is poised to grow 7% to 9% year-over-year.
- Discovery will almost always happen across social media. Businesses need to “click with” seasonal shoppers as they search feeds for gift ideas. In effect, converting ad campaigns and product tags into storefronts. Last year, 89% of consumers admitted that holiday social media marketing influenced their shopping decisions.
The Takeaway: Social commerce is about convenience. It lets folks shop from their couch to the far corners of the internet. Pop up in feeds—early and often—to capture sales, impulse buys, and instant gratification that’s good for business.
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Hop On Instagram Shopping and Post to Impress
By turning your Instagram feed into a promotional storefront, you can drum up “gridlock” traffic.
- Set up Instagram Shopping early. Connect your catalog and spruce up product pages with strong images and keywords. Link listings to your site for seamless checkout. Optimized shops improve search visibility as well as boost discovery.
- Add product tags to Reels, Stories, and carousels. Add tags to lifestyle Reels (short-form videos), behind-the-scenes Stories (daily updates), or product demo carousels (multi-image slides). Also, use seasonal hashtags and trending audio to boost reach. The easier you make the path for buyers, the higher the conversion rate for business.
- Offer holiday gift guides. Group items into themed bundles like “Gifts Under $50” or “Stocking Stuffers.” Gift guides simplify choices and inspire browsing. Pair each bundle with clear calls to action for faster checkouts.
The Takeaway: Instagram Shopping shortens the path from skimming and looking to scoring and buying. Set it up now and command attention before the holiday rush.
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Make Your Facebook Shop Holiday Ready
Your Facebook Shop should feel as seasonal as a decorated storefront window. Here is a checklist to prepare for prime time:
- 🎁 Customize your storefront. Add categories such as “For Him,” “For Her,” or “Top Picks Under $100.” Shoppers expect easy ways to browse on mobile, making callouts, product descriptions, and menus essential for navigation.
- ⏰ Add bundles and limited-time offers. Launch markdowns around Black Friday and Cyber Monday to create urgency. Spark joy with featured gift sections and enlist language that entices shoppers to seal the deal.
- 🌟 Make campaigns fun. Incentivize with early-bird discounts, giveaways, or free shipping on festive collections. Holiday cheer can turn a one-time shopper into a loyal fan.
- 📱 Ensure mobile-optimized browsing. Does your Facebook Shop load quickly? Do your images display flawlessly across tablets and phones? A clunky experience is the fastest way to incur bounce rates and lost sales.
The Takeaway: Treat your Facebook Shop like a holiday pop-up. Keep it festive, mobile-friendly, and value-packed for successful social commerce.
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Create Seamless In-App Shopping Experiences
Holiday shoppers are moving faster than ever. If checkout feels slow, they’ll close the app and head to a competitor. That’s why setting up Instagram Checkout and Facebook integration is essential.
Here is a quick how-to:
- Log in to a Meta Business Manager Account
- Upload your product catalog to Meta Commerce Manager
- Connect your shop to Instagram and Facebook
- Enable checkout so purchases happen instantly, without leaving the app
- Test the flow to make sure browsing and buying are seamless
Once checkout is enabled, the details matter. Add clear calls to action that guide buyers, set expectations, and keep urgency high.
For example:
- Be the first to shop our new collection! Early access in bio.
- Last-minute gifter? Use code [XXX] for free express shipping.
- Our bestseller is back and selling fast—claim yours today.
These callouts, paired with shipping deadlines and return policies, reduce the incidence of abandoned carts and weary shoppers.
And don’t forget the procrastinators. Highlight ready-to-ship items and last-minute gift options. It’s an easy win that captures transactions you’d otherwise miss.
The Takeaway: Seamless in-app checkout lets customers buy on the spot across socials. This one-click shopping experience is a complement to flagship staples—a corporate website or physical store, for example. Such diversified revenue streams are a must-have, not a maybe, in the influencer economy.
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Use Facebook & Instagram Ads to Drive Holiday Traffic
Organic social posts only take you so far. To scale holiday sales, invest in paid ads. A well-placed campaign can boost visibility and drive real conversions.
Start with the low-hanging fruit:
- Retarget abandoned carts. Remind shoppers what they left behind and add urgency with language like, “Still want this under the tree?”
- Re-engage past customers. Run ads that spotlight gift bundles, free limited-time shipping, or seasonal sales to spark repeat purchases.
- Boost your bestsellers. Add limited-offer language. “Today Only” or “Offer Ends at Midnight” quickens the pace of buyer decisions while moving inventory.
Run targeted ads for different personas (like these folks):
- Early shoppers hunting pre-season deals
- Procrastinators looking for last-minute gifts
- Parents seeking the latest toys, gadgets, or electronics
One more pro tip? Turn on the holiday charm. Try phrases like “festive deals” or “holiday cheer” to add warmth. And look to evergreen posts (social promotions from past campaigns) to recycle and republish.
Learn more with our guide to content repurposing.
The Takeaway: Paid ads put your products where your people are… segmenting audiences in one fell “swipe.” By drilling down their interests, age range, and geographic locations, businesses won’t leave money on the table. Or seasonal visitors out in the cold.
That’s a Wrap on Social Commerce 🎁 (Pun Intended). But You Don’t Need to “Set Up Shop” Alone. The Blue Crew (That’s Us!) Can Help.
Holiday sales bring added pressure—from meeting quotas to breaking records. At One Part Social, our clients experience (on average) a 40% increase in online traffic annually. And more than a 400% return of investment on ad spend for e-commerce.
End the year strong, decking the halls and your feeds with holiday incentives too good to ignore.
➡️Book a free 30-minute strategy call with me (Melissa here 👋). Together, we’ll map out a holiday social media marketing plan to make the season bright.