The holidays are loud. Like, inbox-stuffing, countdown-blasting, “last chance to save 25%!!!” kind of loud. And listen, there’s nothing wrong with a good promo—but if you’re a small business trying to stand out during the holiday rush, volume isn’t your best play. You don’t need to compete with big-box brands screaming about their doorbusters. 

Because while big brands lean into noise, your power as a small business owner lies in personal connection. So today, we’re flipping the script. Don’t “promote more”—connect better.

In this article, we’re showing you exactly how:

• Why small businesses should focus on connection over the holidays
• Content ideas for the holidays (that have nothing to do with discounts!)
• How Enji can help you build your holiday marketing strategy
• Steps to take to plan your marketing now

From a “Promote More” to a “Connect Better” Mindset

As much as most of us love the holidays, the truth is that it hasn’t even *really* started yet and people are already overwhelmed. Your customer’s brains are juggling shipping deadlines, travel plans, gift lists, and what the heck to bring to that white elephant party.

So when every brand on the planet starts yelling “BUY NOW!!”... it all starts to blend together. And frankly? Most of it gets tuned out.

That’s why you just need to show up as a real human and actually be helpful. Because when you lead with connection (instead of a discount), you become memorable. And when you’re memorable, you’re the one they come back to after the noise dies down. 

Easier said than done though, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got some content ideas ready for you!

Content Ideas For The Holidays that Cut Through the Noise

You don’t need a “12 Days of Discounts” to stay top of mind, but you can’t just throw your hands in the air and ghost your audience either. If you want to run a holiday sale read this. Otherwise, here are some content ideas for the holidays that are much more personal!

A Personal Note to Your Clients or Community

There’s something cool about pressing pause and reflecting on the year especially when you share that reflection with your audience. It’s worth writing a post (or sending an email) that thanks your customers or clients not just for their purchases, but for being part of your business’s story. 

You can talk about what the year has meant to you, what you’ve learned, what you’re proud of, or what you’re looking forward to. We recommend you drop it into your social media feed, send it to your email list, or even post it as a carousel with a few favorite moments from the year.

Remember, the point isn’t to “market”—it’s to connect. And that connection goes a long way toward building retention into your brand.

Highlight a Local Collaboration or Referral Partner

The holidays are a great time to spotlight someone else in your community, especially if they’ve supported your business this year. Whether it’s a fellow small business you’ve collaborated with, a vendor you trust, or someone who consistently sends clients your way, now is a great time to lift them up.

This kind of content does double duty: it shows your audience that you’re deeply rooted in your community, and it gives your network a chance to expand through genuine cross-promotion. Plus, it’s one of the easiest ways to remind your customers that behind your business is a real person with real relationships—something no big-box store can replicate.

The “We’re Closed But Still Here” Post

Let your audience know when you’re stepping away for the holidays, and more importantly, remind them how much their support has meant this year. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a few honest lines about your adjusted hours, paired with a genuine thank-you, is enough to let people know there’s a real human (or small-but-mighty team) behind the brand.

And no, you don’t need to write it from scratch. Enji’s AI Copywriter can help you spin up a warm, on-brand message in seconds so you can schedule it before you log off for the break. For e-commerce brands, don’t forget to schedule shipping cut-off reminders as the holidays approach too (because you will 100% forget to post in real-time).

Holiday Behind-the-Scenes

Instagram gurus won’t tell you this but not everything needs to be branded within an inch of its life. In fact, some of the most engaging content you can post during the holidays is the kind that shows the less-filtered side of your business. 

Think: what your studio looks like in the middle of the holiday rush, how your packing station is holding up, or a glimpse into how your team (or your family) is prepping for time off. People love seeing the behind-the-scenes moments that don’t usually make the highlight reel.

Use Enji to Make Marketing Your Small Business Over The Holidays Easier

If you’re thinking, “This sounds great, but I barely have time to wrap gifts, let alone write thoughtful captions,” we hear you. That’s exactly why Enji exists.

You don’t need a content calendar that rivals a Hallmark movie schedule. You just need a few intentional moments, mapped out in advance, that keep your audience connected (without you glued to your phone during your holiday break).

Here’s how to make it happen inside Enji:

Batch a few personal posts ahead of time.

Hop into the AI Copywriter and let it help you draft a few quick captions: a thank-you note, a behind-the-scenes update, a shoutout to a favorite collaborator. Whether you want them warm and reflective or short and sweet, you can generate them in your brand voice without needing to find the perfect words yourself.

Schedule them to post with the Social Media Scheduler.

Use the drag-and-drop calendar to schedule your posts before the chaos kicks in. You can space them out across the days leading up to (and after) your holiday break so your content stays consistent without needing you to post in real-time.

Set a reminder for one personal touchpoint.

If it’s not on our calendar, we aren’t doing it (and we’re guessing you’re the same). So maybe it’s recording a 30-second thank-you video for your Stories. Maybe it’s sending a personal note to your email list. Whatever it is, set a quick task inside Enji so it doesn’t fall through the cracks. These little things build major loyalty and they’re easy to forget when things get busy.

Plan Your Holiday Marketing Now

Now that we’ve given you a head start, we also want to remind you that you don’t need to build out an elaborate content calendar or run a 12-part holiday campaign to make an impact. You just need a few small moments of connection and a plan that makes them happen without adding stress to your season.

Here’s your holiday content checklist, Enji-style:

1. Log into your Enji account.
2. Add two personal posts to your calendar between now and the new year (and use the AI copywriter to help you draft them)
3. Add one light-touch promo (it could even be a reminder that you sell giftcards!).
4. Set a reminder to send a personal thank-you.

Marketing doesn’t have to be loud to be effective, especially not this time of year. When you show up with heart, your audience notices. And we want to help! So log-in to your account and get started now.

‍

Tayler Cusick Hollman

Enji Founder and Small Business Marketing Expert

Tayler is one of the Founders of Enji (marketing tools for small business owners who need to plan, do, and review it themselves). With over a decade of marketing experience, she has helped thousands of small business owners create simple marketing plans that help them get results. When she isn't thinking about how to solve the "I do my own marketing" problem, you'll find her skiing, mountain biking, or climbing rocks somewhere.

Try Enji's marketing tools for small business owners for free at enji.co

‍