Glitz - Creative Marketing Agency

7 Last-minute Holiday Marketing Hacks To Boost Sales This Season

The holiday clock is ticking, but so are your customers’ buying decisions. Many shoppers wait until the last minute to shop—this gives you a golden opportunity to grab their attention and boost your sales.

Whether you’re running behind on your marketing plans or looking for extra ways to make an impact, these seven last-minute marketing hacks will help you connect with your audience and achieve your holiday sales goals with a winning campaign. Perfect for boosting engagement and maximizing your holiday sales, these actionable strategies will set you up for success.

1. RUN A FLASH SALE TO GET FAST RESULTS

Flash sales are a great way to convert indecisive shoppers into buyers. These short-term discounts create urgency and fear of missing out (FOMO), motivating shoppers to act quickly.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Choose best-selling items or create bundles with irresistible discounts. 
• Add countdown timers on your website and social media to show the deadline. 
• Announce your sale through email, SMS, and all your social media channels. 

CASE STUDY: Amazon’s Lightning Deals

Amazon’s Lightning Deals leverage urgency by highlighting limited-time offers. This strategy has been key to their strong Q4 performance, driving billions in revenue during the holiday season.

Pro Tip: Bundle related items into “Holiday Essentials” packages to increase average order values while giving customers more value.

2. RUN A SOCIAL MEDIA GIVEAWAY TO BOOST HOLIDAY ENGAGEMENT

Social media giveaways are a fast, effective way to increase engagement and introduce your products to a wider audience.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Pick a desirable prize, such as a holiday gift bundle or shopping voucher.
• Set clear entry rules, like following your page, tagging friends, or sharing your post.
• Use a branded hashtag to track entries and amplify your brand visibility.

CASE STUDY: Starbucks #RedCupContest

Starbucks runs its annual #RedCupContest during the holiday season, inviting customers to share creative photos of their iconic red cups. This campaign consistently generates tens of thousands of entries, boosting brand engagement and encouraging customers to interact with Starbucks on social media.

Pro Tip: Add a bonus entry option for followers who share your post to their Stories or tag multiple friends. This increases reach while boosting engagement.

3. PARTNER WITH MICRO-INFLUENCERS TO AMPLIFY YOUR LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN

Micro-influencers have smaller but highly engaged audiences who trust their recommendations. They can help you create authentic content quickly.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Find influencers whose audiences align with your brand.
• Ask them to create unboxing videos, testimonials, or product highlights.
• Use a branded hashtag to encourage user-generated content.

CASE STUDY: Glossier’s Influencer Marketing Strategy

Glossier partners with micro-influencers to showcase seasonal skincare products. This strategy consistently boosts engagement and drives sales by connecting with niche audiences.

Pro Tip: Give influencers a unique discount code to track sales and encourage their followers to shop. If time is tight, work with a trusted influencer marketing agency to ensure your campaign runs smoothly.

4. HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES AND TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE SALES THIS SEASON

Helping your customers find the perfect gift doesn’t just make their shopping easier—it positions your brand as their go-to solution.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Curate products into themes like “Stocking Stuffers” or “Gifts Under $50.”
• Add filters or search tools to your website for easy navigation.
• Promote your guide via email, social media, and Pinterest.

CASE STUDY: Nordstrom’s Gift Finder


Nordstrom’s online “Gift Finder” lets customers filter products by price, recipient, or category. This streamlined shopping tool drives higher conversions and improves customer satisfaction.

Pro Tip: Pair your gift guide with an interactive quiz like “Find the Perfect Gift” to make the shopping experience fun and engaging. Reward participation with an exclusive discount code.

6. OFFER BUY NOW, PAY LATER OPTIONS TO DRIVE HOLIDAY SALES

Flexible payment options like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) help shoppers stretch their budgets while boosting your average order value.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Partner with BNPL services like Afterpay, Klarna, or Affirm.
• Highlight this payment option prominently on your website and in your ads.
• Use messaging like “Shop Now, Pay Over Time” to make the benefits clear.

CASE STUDY: Sephora’s Klarna Partnership


Sephora’s integration with Klarna made holiday shopping more affordable, increasing average order value by 35%.

Pro Tip: Share testimonials from happy customers who’ve used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options to build trust and encourage new shoppers to try it.

7. CREATE FUN, INTERACTIVE CONTENT TO BOOST HOLIDAY ENGAGEMENT

Interactive content like quizzes and AR filters keeps your brand engaging and memorable.

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

• Create a fun quiz like “What’s Your Holiday Style?
• Use Instagram polls, countdowns, and Q&A stickers to interact with followers.
• Develop holiday-themed games or AR filters to inspire user-generated content.

CASE STUDY: Kohl’s Holiday Gift Finder Quiz

Kohl’s interactive quiz guided shoppers to tailored gift suggestions, increasing engagement and driving more add-to-cart actions.

Pro Tip: Add a discount code at the end of your quiz to reward participation and drive purchases.

YOUR WINNING HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN STARTS HERE

Even if you’re starting late, there’s still time to launch a winning holiday marketing campaign. From partnering with micro-influencers to creating engaging gift guides, these simple hacks can help you connect with customers and boost your holiday sales.

At Glitz, we specialize in crafting social media campaigns that deliver results. Whether you’re looking to grow brand awareness, launch a product, or engage a broader audience, we’re here to help. Contact Glitz today, and let’s make this holiday season your most successful yet.