How to Plan Your Holiday Campaigns Like a Pro (and Why You Should Start Now)

Christmas in July? Yep. And Here's Why.

If you’re still thinking you’ve got plenty of time before the holidays hit, think again. By the time most brands start planning their holiday campaigns in October, ad inventory is limited, costs are soaring, and creative teams are already buried.

Want to actually win this holiday season? Then it’s time to ditch the last-minute scramble and start building your campaigns now.

At Two Trees, we help brands get ahead of the chaos, and the data doesn’t lie. The clients who start holiday prep in July consistently see better results. Why? Because they’re not reacting. They’re ready.

What “Planning Like a Pro” Actually Looks Like

Let’s be clear: planning ahead isn’t just about picking a date on the calendar. It’s about creating a smart, layered system that’s built to perform.

Here’s how the pros do it:

1. Start With Your Strategy

What are you really trying to achieve this season? More sales? Higher AOV? New customers?
Before you touch a single ad, get crystal clear on your Q4 goals.

2. Build a Creative Game Plan

Holiday creative takes time and space. That means scripting, designing, testing, and iterating now, while your team still has capacity (and sanity).
Pro tip: don’t rely on one piece of creative. Plan multiple versions that match different buyer stages and platforms.

3. Map Your Funnel

Are your landing pages updated? Is your email flow tight? Is your retargeting strategy dialed in?
Your funnel should be a system, not a guessing game. Map the full journey from first touch to post-purchase follow-up.

4. Lock in Budgets Early

Ad costs spike in Q4. Planning ahead gives you a chance to pre-book placements, test audiences early, and stretch your dollars farther. Waiting? That’s a fast track to higher CPMs and more competition.

Why July Matters More Than You Think

Here’s the truth: the brands that dominate Black Friday don’t start in November. They start now.

By prepping in July, you can:

• Run early tests on creative and copy to see what sticks
  
  
• Build segmented retargeting lists with warm traffic
  
  
• Get better rates on media buys before the rush
  
  
• Work out kinks in your offer and funnel before it’s crunch time
  
  

And perhaps most importantly, you get to plan with intention, not desperation.

Final Thoughts: Pro Marketers Don’t Wait. They Build Early.

Waiting until fall to plan your holiday campaigns is like training for a marathon two weeks before race day.

If you want real results this season, start now. Not in October. Not when your competitors already locked in their buyers.

We’re helping clients gear up right now with tested holiday strategies, polished creative, and full-funnel planning.

Want help building your Q4 campaigns like a pro?

Let’s talk strategy. Before the holiday chaos hits.