If you’re not using SMS marketing during the fall and winter holiday season, you’re leaving serious revenue on the table. The good news? You’re here now, which means you’re ready to turn these high-traffic holidays into high-converting campaigns.
Let’s break down the key dates that should be on your marketing calendar and how to maximize each one.
Why SMS Marketing Works During the Holidays
The holiday season creates a perfect storm for SMS marketing success. Your customers are busy juggling gift shopping, event planning, and end-of-year obligations. They don’t have time to dig through crowded inboxes or endless social feeds. Text messages, on the other hand, get opened in an average of 90 seconds with a 98% open rate. That’s direct access to your customers when they’re ready to buy.
The Fall & Winter SMS Marketing Calendar
We’re already deep into fall, so let’s focus on what matters now and what’s coming up. Here’s your roadmap through the busiest shopping season of the year.
Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday in November)
When to start: Now! Early November is here!
Thanksgiving is just under a month away and kicks off the busiest shopping period of the year. It’s also an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships before diving into full promotional mode.
SMS Strategy:
- Start building your Thanksgiving/Black Friday subscriber list now
- Send appreciation messages to loyal customers in mid-November
- Preview Black Friday deals to build anticipation
- Promote Thanksgiving-specific products or services
- Time messages carefully to avoid intrusive send times
Sample Text: “Thank you for being a valued customer. As our way of saying thanks, get early access to Black Friday deals starting Wednesday at 6 PM. [link]”
Black Friday (Day After Thanksgiving)
When to start: The week before Thanksgiving
Black Friday remains one of the highest-revenue shopping days of the year. SMS gives you a competitive edge when inboxes are oversaturated.
SMS Strategy:
- Give VIP subscribers early access to deals
- Send time-based flash sales to create urgency
- Use real-time inventory updates for high-demand items
- Schedule multiple touchpoints throughout the day
- Include clear CTAs and easy redemption paths
Sample Text: “Early access starts now! Shop our Black Friday sale before it goes public. 40% off sitewide for the next 3 hours. [link]”
Small Business Saturday (Saturday After Thanksgiving)
When to start: The week of Thanksgiving
Small Business Saturday is your chance to connect with customers who prioritize supporting local and independent businesses.
SMS Strategy:
- Highlight what makes your business unique
- Offer exclusive discounts for the day
- Partner with complementary local businesses
- Emphasize the impact of shopping small
Sample Text: “Support small business today! Enjoy 30% off your entire order and help us keep our doors open. Shop now: [link]”
Cyber Monday (Monday After Thanksgiving)
When to start: Sunday evening
Cyber Monday drives massive online sales. While email inboxes are flooded, SMS cuts through the noise.
SMS Strategy:
- Create mobile-exclusive deals to reward SMS subscribers
- Implement countdown timers to drive urgency
- Segment audiences for personalized offers
- Send cart abandonment reminders
Sample Text: “Cyber Monday exclusive: Get 40% off with code CYBER40. Online only, ends tonight at midnight. [link]”
Green Monday (Second Monday in December)
When to start: The weekend before
Green Monday is one of the top online shopping days in December but often flies under the radar. Smart marketers capitalize on this.
SMS Strategy:
- Position it as the last major pre-Christmas sale
- Target late shoppers with guaranteed delivery messaging
- Send curated gift recommendations
- Promote gift bundles and sets
Sample Text: “Last major sale before Christmas! Shop our gift collection with guaranteed delivery before 12/25. Free shipping today only. [link]”
Hanukkah (Dates Vary, Usually Late November-December)
For 2025: Starts December 14, 2025 at sundown; ends at nightfall on December 22, 2025
When to start: Two weeks before the first night
Hanukkah lasts eight nights, providing multiple engagement opportunities. The dates change annually based on the Hebrew calendar, so plan accordingly.
SMS Strategy:
- Create themed promotions across the eight nights
- Share gift guides appropriate for each night
- Offer relevant products or services
- Ensure culturally respectful messaging
Sample Text: “Happy Hanukkah! Celebrate with 20% off our gift collection, perfect for all eight nights. [link]”
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day (December 24-25)
When to start: Early December
Christmas drives the highest consumer spending of any holiday. Your SMS strategy should span the entire month leading up to December 25.
SMS Strategy:
- Send gift guides throughout December
- Promote digital gift cards for last-minute shoppers
- Schedule goodwill messages (light on sales, heavy on sentiment)
- Launch post-Christmas sales on December 25 afternoon
- Segment carefully to respect different traditions
Sample Text (Dec 24): “Need a last-minute gift? Digital gift cards delivered instantly. Save the day: [link]”
Sample Text (Dec 25): “Merry Christmas from our team to yours! Our after-Christmas sale launches tomorrow with our deepest discounts of the year.”
Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
When to start: Mid-December
Kwanzaa celebrates African American culture over seven days, with each day honoring a different principle. Authentic engagement matters here.
SMS Strategy:
- Align promotions with Kwanzaa principles when relevant
- Support community-focused initiatives
- Ensure genuine, thoughtful messaging
- Avoid performative marketing tactics
Sample Text: “Happy Kwanzaa! Celebrating community and culture all week. Enjoy 25% off your order through January 1. [link]”
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day (December 31 – January 1)
When to start: Late December (December 26-28)
The New Year represents fresh starts and new purchases. From party supplies to resolution-related products, there’s opportunity across categories.
SMS Strategy:
- Promote New Year’s Eve events or products
- Send countdown offers on December 31
- Launch “New Year” campaigns on January 1
- Connect products to common resolutions
- Time messages around peak shopping hours
Sample Text (Dec 31): “Ring in 2025 right! Last-chance savings on party essentials. Use code NYE30 for 30% off. [link]”
Sample Text (Jan 1): “New year, new goals. Get 40% off everything you need to start strong. [link]”
Best Practices for Holiday SMS Success
Start Early, But Time It Right: Begin building anticipation 1-2 weeks before major holidays. For massive shopping events like Black Friday, start earlier. For smaller holidays, a week’s notice is sufficient.
Segment Your Audience: Not every subscriber celebrates the same holidays or shops the same way. Use Mobiniti’s segmentation tools to send relevant messages to the right people. Better targeting means higher conversion rates.
Optimize Send Times: The best times for SMS are mid-morning (10-11 AM), lunch hour (12-1 PM), and early evening (5-6 PM). Avoid early mornings, late nights, and meal times. Test different windows to find what works for your audience.
Create Genuine Urgency: Limited-time offers and low-stock alerts work because they trigger action. Just don’t overuse them. If everything is urgent, nothing is.
Make Compliance Easy: Always include clear opt-out instructions. It’s legally required and builds trust. High-quality, engaged subscribers are more valuable than large lists with low engagement.
Track and Optimize: Use Mobiniti’s analytics to monitor open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. Double down on what works and adjust what doesn’t. The data tells you exactly what your customers respond to.
Personalize at Scale: “Sarah, the item in your cart is almost sold out” performs significantly better than generic blasts. Use customer names, purchase history, and browsing behavior to create relevant messages.
The Bottom Line
The fall and winter holidays represent the highest-value period for most businesses. With SMS open rates above 98% and average response times under two minutes, text messaging is your most direct channel to customers during peak shopping season.
Success comes down to strategic planning and execution. That’s where Mobiniti comes in—our platform makes it simple to schedule campaigns, segment audiences, track performance, and scale your efforts efficiently.
Whether you’re promoting seasonal products or year-end services, getting your SMS calendar locked in now sets you up for Q4 success. The businesses that win during the holidays are the ones that plan ahead and execute consistently.
Ready to turn these key dates into revenue? The Mobiniti platform gives you everything you need to create holiday campaigns that convert. See why thousands of businesses trust us to deliver results.
