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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here’s the truth: the brands that dominate Black Friday don’t start in November. They start now.
By prepping in July, you can:
And perhaps most importantly, you get to plan with intention, not desperation.
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.