From Thanksgiving to New Year's: A Holiday Marketing Calendar (with Task Checklists!)

'Tis the season for lead generation!

Real estate agents face a flood of recommended holiday marketing ideas once December hits. But, in our opinion, that's a little too late to plan out and execute a strong marketing strategy. So this year, we've mapped out a full holiday marketing plan — complete with recommended timelines and task lists — so you can get started now and not feel rushed when the holidays finally roll around.

Here are five holiday marketing campaigns that will keep your marketing smoothly humming along from Thanksgiving all the way through New Year's:

1. 'Home for the Holidays' Social Media Campaign

• Theme: Focus on the joy of being home for the holidays, connecting it to the idea of finding the perfect home.

• Timeline: November 15th - December 31st

2. Holiday-Themed Email Marketing Campaign

• Theme: Share valuable tips for homeowners during the holidays (e.g., energy-saving tips, holiday decorating ideas, home safety advice).

• Timeline: December 1st - December 23rd

3. Community Engagement with a Charitable Twist

• Theme: Partner with a local charity for a holiday giving initiative.

• Timeline: November 25th - December 20th

4. Festive Client Appreciation Efforts

• Theme: Show gratitude to your clients with personalized holiday gifts and greetings. Consider giving extra attention to those who have referred business to you this year.

• Timeline: December 1st - December 20th

5. "New Year, New Home" Campaign

• Theme: Capitalize on the "fresh start" mentality of the new year to generate leads.

• Timeline: December 26th - January 31st

Things to Keep in Mind

Consider these ideas as starting points — feel free to adapt these ideas to your local market and target audience. Along the way, be mindful of religious and cultural sensitivities during the holiday season so you don't alienate any potential clients.

As with any marketing campaign, be sure to track your marketing efforts to measure their effectiveness and ROI. That way, you can understand which campaigns work the best for your market — and which are worth repeating again next year (and what you can tweak to make them even better).

Happy holiday marketing!