How to build successful holiday marketing campaigns with print 

Table of contents:

• Shape your year in print ↓ 
• Match your print to your goals ↓ 
• Connect your print to a digital experience ↓ 
• Create inclusive and sustainable holiday campaigns ↓ 
• Measure the impact of your holiday campaign ↓

Inbox overload. Endless ads. Social feeds full of discounts. When it comes to the festive season, competition for attention is at an all-time high. 

But while everyone’s fighting for screen time, the physical world offers an unexpectedly powerful and often overlooked opportunity: print.

Print marketing is thriving in our digital age. Its tangible factor means it does something screens can’t. We can hold it in our hands and connect with it as a physical object. 

And it stays in our brains longer, too. Print advertising generates 70-80% more brand recall than digital advertising, with the effect being particularly pronounced during intense periods like the holidays. 

Print has a life all of its own. Your Greeting Card can sit on someone’s desk. Your beautifully designed Flyer catches their eye. And there’s no need to compete with notification badges or algorithm changes. 

This guide will show you how to build successful holiday marketing campaigns with print: practical, stress-free strategies you can put to use straight away.

Holiday marketing ideas to inspire your campaigns

Shape your year in print

Think of different types of print as chapters in your brand story, with each piece building on the last. That way, your holiday marketing becomes year-round,  not just a last-minute December scramble.

Q1 (January–March): Carry the connection forward

• Planners help clients start the year organised.
  
• Thank-you Cards keep the goodwill alive and feel personal.

Q2 (April–June): Lay the groundwork

• Postcards work perfectly for early holiday announcements and exclusive previews.
  
• Business Cards keep your brand top-of-mind ahead of summer networking and events.

Q3 ( July–September): Get ahead of the rush

• Notebooks make excellent corporate gifts, so your brand is on desks before the busy season.
  
• Flyers can introduce holiday product lines or service offerings.

Q4 (October–December): Peak holiday momentum

• Greeting Cards strengthen customer relationships during the emotional peak of the year.
  
• Stickers and Labels turn even the simplest packaging into unique festive designs. that feel made for the season.

Match your print to your goals

Print is a fantastic analogue tool that can work as hard as any digital channel when you pair it with the right objective. Whether you’re trying to win new customers, keep loyal ones close or drive sales, there’s a print format that gets the job done.

Attract new customers

• Flyers grab attention with bold visuals and big offers. Use them for high-traffic locations, events, or direct mail campaigns targeting specific demographics.
  
• Postcards excel at introducing your brand concisely. Their standardised format forces clarity—perfect for busy holiday shoppers making quick decisions.

Build customer loyalty

• Greeting Cards create emotional connections that digital messages simply can’t match. Personalised holiday wishes show customers they’re valued individuals, not just email addresses.
  
• Thank-you Cards transform transactional into relational. They’re particularly effective post-purchase, transforming buyer’s remorse into brand advocacy.

Drive immediate sales

• Gift Certificates make buying simple and gifting irresistible. Present them in thoughtful packaging, and it instantly feels like a present worth unwrapping.
  
• Promotional Flyers with clear calls-to-action and limited-time offers work exceptionally well for flash sales and holiday events.

Create shareable moments

• Stickers turn every customer into a brand ambassador. Festive packaging creates Instagram-worthy moments that extend your marketing reach organically.
  
• Unique Envelope designs ensure your mail gets opened first, crucial during the high-volume holiday season.

Connect your print to a digital experience

Print doesn’t live in a vacuum, so use it to create a seamless experience across all your channels. It can nudge people into your online world (and vice versa). Here are a few ways to make the two work in sync:

• QR Codes on print materials: Add QR codes to Flyers, Postcards, or Business Cards that link to exclusive holiday content, augmented reality experiences, or special landing pages. For example, a Holiday Card featuring a QR code could direct customers to a personalised gift guide or exclusive video content. This is one of the most practical holiday advertisement examples you can put to work this season.
  
• Social media integration: Include branded hashtags on all print materials, encouraging customers to share their experiences. A beautifully wrapped parcel with a custom Sticker often generates more engagement than traditional advertising.
  
• Promotional codes: Print-exclusive promo codes create trackable conversion paths while making recipients feel special. Use different codes across various print campaigns to measure effectiveness precisely.
  
• Email capture: Use print materials to grow your digital audience. Offer exclusive content or early access in exchange for email signups, fusing physical and digital touchpoints.

Create inclusive and sustainable holiday campaigns

Modern customers don’t just buy what you sell; they buy what you stand for. 73% of Gen Z consumers prefer brands that demonstrate a real commitment to social and environmental responsibility. In other words: doing good is good business. Your print should reflect that, creating an inclusive holiday campaign that feels genuine, not box-ticky or green-washy.

Design for everyone

• Show the full spectrum of your audience with diverse imagery and messaging. 
• Look beyond the usual Christmas clichés — celebrate a mix of cultural traditions.
• Make sure your designs are accessible with clear fonts and high-contrast colours. 
• If your market calls for it, multilingual options can go a long way toward making everyone feel seen.

Print responsibly 

• Choose FSC paper stocks or eco-friendly inks.
• Bulk printing can also cut down on waste (and cost) by reducing repeat runs, especially if you’re planning a coordinated holiday campaign.
• Be transparent about your eco-efforts. 

Measure the impact of your holiday campaign

Track key metrics to optimise your holiday campaigns:

• Response rates for direct mail Postcards and Flyers.
• Redemption rates for print-exclusive promotional codes.
• Social media engagement from print-driven hashtag campaigns.
• Customer retention improvements from Greeting Card recipients.
• Revenue attribution from integrated print-digital campaigns.

Compare these against your purely digital efforts to understand print’s true ROI during the holiday season.

Bring your holiday marketing strategies to life with MOO

Stand out this holiday season by getting into people’s hands, not just their inboxes. From Postcards and Greeting Cards to Notebooks, Planners, and Flyers — MOO helps you create holiday marketing that lasts longer than the scroll.Explore holiday print products or start your campaign with MOO Business Services. Fill in this simple form, and one of our team members will be in touch shortly.