Simple, stress-free ways to keep your marketing moving in the final weeks of the year
The run-up to Christmas can feel like a whirlwind for small business owners. You’re juggling clients, tying up loose ends, finishing orders, and trying to remember where you hid the wrapping paper… so it’s no surprise that marketing is often the first thing to slip off the list.
But here’s the good news:
It’s not too late to make an impact.
You don’t need a full campaign, a dozen festive posts, or a perfectly polished strategy. A handful of calm, focused actions can keep your business visible, warm your audience, and help you roll into January feeling organised rather than overwhelmed.
Here are the quick fixes I shared in my Marketing Minus the Mayhem session with the amazing BusinessWomen Unltd members this month, perfect if you’re feeling a little “seasonally scrambled.”
🎄 1. Pick ONE Clear Message
Clarity beats complexity every time.
When time is tight, the best thing you can do is choose one message to repeat everywhere over the next couple of weeks. It keeps you consistent and makes your content instantly easier to create.
A few ideas:
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“Give yourself the gift of calm this Christmas.”
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“Last call for festive orders!”
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“Planning a January reset? Book now.”
Add it to:
✔ Your email subject line
✔ A pinned post
✔ Your Instagram stories
✔ A quick banner update on your website
Repetition creates recognition — and recognition creates action.
♻️ 2. Repurpose, Don’t Reinvent
This is your permission slip to reuse what you already have. Let’s not reinvent the wheel, it works!
I hate to break it to you but your audience doesn’t remember what you posted six months ago, but the algorithm does, and it will happily give a previously successful post another boost.
Quick repurposing ideas:
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Repost your most popular tip with a festive intro
“Still my most-liked post of the year… and perfect for this season!” -
Turn a client testimonial into a simple graphic and don’t be afraid to festive-ise it
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Share a “top tip” round-up or “best of the year” carousel
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Send one friendly email featuring a thank-you and a useful nugget
Repurposing saves time, reduces stress and keeps your message consistent.
💛 3. Keep It Personal
This time of year is full of emotion, humanity and connection – so let people see the amazing person behind the business.
A few simple ways to do this:
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Share a behind-the-scenes moment (wrapping parcels, a festive brew – gingerbread latte anyone?, your Christmas tree/dog/cat…)
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Say thank you to your clients or followers
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Ask a low-pressure, high-engagement question
“Are you team Christmas Eve shopper or done-since-October?”
People connect with you, not just your product or service.
A little personal touch goes a long way.
🎯 4. Warm Up January
Even if your audience isn’t buying right now, they’re still watching.
Keep your presence gentle but steady, and you’ll be the first person they think of when new-year motivation kicks in.
Easy ways to warm up January:
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Add a PS to your December posts or emails:
“Bookings open for January!” -
Tease your timetable, offer or fresh start
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Invite people to join your waitlist or enquire early
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Refresh your website or email list while things are quieter
Think of it as future-proofing. You’re helping your January self breathe a little easier.
✨ 5. Done Is Better Than Perfect
If you take only one thing away from this guide, make it this.
A simple post is fine.
A short email is fine.
A half-hour tidy of your website is fine.
Done is always better than perfect.
That’s it. Most of the magic happens in the consistent, imperfect, human moments – not the perfectly polished big campaigns.
🐝 Final Thoughts
Your marketing doesn’t need to jingle to be effective.
It just needs to show up, calmly, clearly, and at a level that feels realistic for you.
A few small actions now can keep your business warm, visible and ready to hit the ground running in January. Without the overwhelm.
