Holiday marketing can be a goldmine, or a complete stress spiral. And often, the difference comes down to preparation and avoiding a few all-too-common mistakes.
At Two Trees, we’ve worked with brands across industries, and we’ve seen the same five mistakes trip up even the most well-intentioned teams.
If you're gearing up for a strong finish to the year, start by steering clear of these:
We get it, summer’s busy. But if you’re waiting until pumpkin spice season to think about Q4, you’re already behind.
Why it hurts:
Creative teams are slammed, ad inventory is limited, and costs are already climbing.
What to do instead:
Start in July or August. That gives you time to test, refine, and launch with confidence (not chaos). Your future self will thank you.
Yes, last year’s campaign might’ve worked. But that doesn’t mean it will again. Consumer behavior, platforms, and competition shift fast.
Why it hurts:
What resonated last year might fall flat this time around. And worse, your audience might notice the copy/paste approach.
What to do instead:
Audit last year’s results, then build a strategy that reflects this year’s goals, audience insights, and creative trends.
We’ve said it before, Black Friday is just one part of a bigger season. Don’t let one weekend dictate your whole Q4.
Why it hurts:
Ad costs surge, inboxes are flooded, and you’re competing for limited attention in a very short window.
What to do instead:
Spread out your campaigns. Tap into early access promos, Giving Tuesday, post-holiday sales, and even New Year’s offers.
Launching ads without a strong funnel is like inviting people to a party… with no directions to the house.
Why it hurts:
Even the best ads won’t convert if your landing pages are clunky, your email flows are broken, or your offer isn’t clear.
What to do instead:
Map your funnel from first touch to final purchase. Check your tracking, refresh your landing pages, and prep email flows before go-live.
Too many brands treat the sale as the finish line. It’s not.
Why it hurts:
You miss a huge opportunity to build loyalty, drive referrals, and tee up Q1 with repeat customers.
What to do instead:
Create thoughtful post-purchase touchpoints. Thank-you emails, upsell offers, review requests, or VIP perks. Keep the relationship going.
The holidays are a sprint, but they don’t have to be a scramble.
Avoiding these five mistakes gives your team space to think strategically, move with confidence, and actually enjoy the process.
Need a second set of eyes on your Q4 plan?
Let’s build something that performs, and doesn’t blow up your bandwidth.
→ Book a call with us and let’s get ahead together.