Email Campaigns That Actually Convert
During the Holidays and More
The holidays are coming, which means your inbox (and your customers’) is about to look like a glitter bomb went off. Every brand, from billion-dollar retailers to Becky’s Handmade Candles, is about to scream SALE!!! into the void.
And yet, somehow, half those emails will get ignored, deleted, or worse sent straight to spam.
If you’re tired of your “holiday cheer” emails turning into digital wallpaper, it’s time to stop writing for the noise and start writing for the clicks. Let’s talk about email campaigns that actually convert when it matters most.
The Ugly Truth About Holiday Emails
Most brands treat holiday email marketing like a last-minute gift from the clearance bin: rushed, predictable, and clearly done under duress.
You know the ones with subject lines that say “Our Biggest Sale EVER!” (again), stock photos of ornaments, and a discount code that expires in 20 minutes but somehow gets extended five times.
Here’s the thing: your audience has seen it all before. If you want to stand out, your emails need to do two things:
Sound like a human
Make them want to be without feeling sold to.
Simple. Not easy.
What Makes a Holiday Email Actually Convert
You don’t need a sleigh full of marketing magic, just strategy and a little self-awareness.
1. Lead with personality, not panic.
People can smell desperation in an email subject line. “LAST CHANCE!!!” isn’t urgency; it’s anxiety. Instead, write like someone your audience wants to open mail from. Example:
“We made shopping stupid-easy this year.”
“Your inbox is full of noise. Here’s something useful instead.”
2. Keep the design simple.
The holidays already feel chaotic. Don’t add to the clutter. One clean image, one headline, one CTA. That’s it.
3. Segment like your conversions depend on it (because they do).
If you’re sending the same “holiday sale” email to your entire list, you’re burning opportunity. Treat repeat buyers, new leads, and cold subscribers differently because they’re at different points in your funnel.
4. Sell the solution, not the season.
Your product doesn’t need a Santa hat. Focus on the problem you’re solving or the feeling you’re creating. Example:
“For the person who already has everything (but still loves a surprise).”
“Because self-gifting is still self-care.”
The Campaigns That Work (and Why)
The “Treat Yourself” Email
Everyone’s buying gifts for others. Flip the script.
Subject line: “You’ve done enough for everyone else. This one’s for you.”
Body: A short note about taking care of yourself during the chaos. CTA: “Shop Your Reward.”
It’s confident, relatable, and just self-indulgent enough to convert.
The “One Decision, Zero Stress” Email
Nobody has time for endless scrolling in November. Make their choice easy.
Subject line: “Your holiday shopping? Handled.”
Body: Feature one standout product, service, or package. CTA: “Add to Cart. Be Done.”
The “Holiday Chaos Hack” Email
If your product or service saves time, energy, or sanity, lean hard into that.
Subject line: “Less stress. More eggnog.”
Body: Brief pain-point intro, quick solution, CTA: “Make It Easy.”
The Power of the Follow-Up
One email isn’t a campaign. It’s a whisper in a snowstorm. The real money shows up in the follow-up.
Send a reminder: “You saw this. You liked it. It’s about to be gone.”
Create urgency that feels natural: “We’re almost sold out. Blame our marketing team later.”
Add social proof: “1,247 people already grabbed theirs. Don’t overthink it.”
Follow-ups convert because they build familiarity. You’re not annoying people, you’re helping them make the decision they were already considering.
Quick Holiday Email Templates (Steal These)
Template 1: The No-Nonsense Sale
Subject: “This is the part where we tell you to buy stuff.”
Body: “You already know the deal, 20% off everything through Friday. It’s the one time of year we discount this hard, and we mean it. Go ahead and treat yourself (or someone else if you’re feeling generous).”
CTA: “Shop the Sale”
Template 2: The Warm & Witty Brand Builder
Subject: “We made you something better than a fruitcake.”
Body: “Holiday chaos is real, so here’s a tiny break. No long pitch, just a reminder that you’ve still got time to crush your goals this year. Oh, and if you want help doing it, our inbox is open.”
CTA: “Let’s Talk Strategy”
Template 3: The Abandoned Cart Comeback
Subject: “Your cart’s feeling lonely.”
Body: “You left something behind, and we’re trying not to take it personally. Good news: it’s still waiting and we’ll even sweeten the deal if you come back before midnight.”
CTA: “Finish What You Started”
Don’t Overcomplicate It
Holiday email marketing doesn’t have to be a 12-step funnel or a 15-email drip series. It just has to make people feel seen, understood, and slightly compelled to click “Buy Now.”
If your brand voice has gone soft or your emails sound like they were written by an elf with Wi-Fi, it’s time to fix that.
At Wave Marketing Company, we turn basic holiday emails into campaigns that convert. Whether its strategy, copy, visuals, automation, we handle the chaos so you can focus on cashing in.
So before you hit send on that “Happy Holidays!” email with a stock photo of snowflakes, ask yourself:
Do you want to blend in or sell out (in the good way)?
📍 Serving businesses in Albany, Saratoga, Clifton Park, and Sarasota, FL.
