The best holiday social media marketing campaigns from brands we love

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—when festive cheer meets holiday marketing magic!

We’re unwrapping some of the best holiday social media campaigns that have jingled all the way to our hearts. From clever concepts to heartwarming moments, these campaigns show just how powerful a sprinkle of festive spirit can be.

However, even the best holiday marketing campaigns can shine brighter with the help of offline tools like Print and Branded Merchandise. By blending these with online efforts, brands can create unforgettable holiday marketing material.

Read on to discover the best holiday social media campaigns from brands we love and how they could use print to bring their campaigns to life.

Coca-Cola: ‘Share a Coke’

Coca-Cola’s holiday campaign added a festive twist to their iconic bottles by featuring holiday-themed names, bringing a fun and personal touch to the season. The real charm of this campaign was how it sparked excitement as people searched for the perfect bottle for themselves or a loved one. It’s more than just about finding a bottle with your name on it – it’s about connecting with others and spreading a bit of goodwill. With around 76,000 virtual Coke cans shared online, the campaign created a buzz and reminded us why Coke is such a holiday favorite. We love how it brought people together in a simple, joyful way.

MOO tip: Coke could add custom, printed gift tags to their bottles. These tags would allow them to express appreciation to clients, employees, and partners, turning a simple gift into a meaningful gesture.

Walmart: ‘Add to Heart’

Walmart’s holiday social media campaign, “Add to Heart,” perfectly captures the festive spirit. Set in Walmart stores, this 23-part series blends the charm of cheesy romantic comedies with the joy of holiday shopping. Streaming on TikTok, Roku, and YouTube, the series highlights 330 Walmart products, each with convenient add-to-cart buttons. What we love about this campaign is its emotional storytelling, nostalgic appeal, and seamless shopping experience, making it easy to share, enjoy, and shop all in one go.

MOO tip: To complement online shopping, Walmart could create mini-product Brochures that feature items from the series, complete with QR codes for ultimate ease.  

WestJet: ‘Connecting Holiday Heroes’

WestJet’s 2023 holiday campaign centers on reuniting hard-working travel industry professionals with their families. It shines a light on those who often sacrifice their own family time to help others be with their loved ones during the holidays. By arranging surprise reunions, WestJet captured genuine, emotional reactions that truly resonated with viewers. The Canadian airline even invited customers to nominate their own holiday heroes working away from home, reinforcing its image as a company that values community and connection. We love how these heartfelt, authentic moments made the campaign both powerful and emotional.

MOO tip: WestJet could provide customized Business Cards to their ‘holiday heroes’ highlighting their roles and linking to their reunion videos. This would be a lovely memento and a way to spread awareness about the campaign. 

Macy’s: ‘Believe’

Macy’s holiday campaign captures the enchantment of the season by inviting ‘believers of all ages’ to write letters to Santa and send them to the North Pole via their in-store letter boxes. For each letter received, Macy’s donates $1 to Make-a-Wish ^®, raising over $142m for the charity. The campaign includes beautiful, Insta-worthy sets encouraging people to take photos and share them on social media with the hashtag #MacysBelieve. We love how Macy’s integrates the generosity of holiday spirit with philanthropy, as well as creating a magical experience for their customers. 

MOO tip: Macy’s already offers Stationery for writing letters to Santa. To enhance the experience even more, they could introduce Twist Pens for purchase, allowing customers to support Make-a-Wish ^® and have a lasting memento of the campaign.

Apple: ‘Share your gifts’

Apple’s animated holiday campaign is a masterful blend of storytelling and brand values. It tells the story of Sofia, a young artist who learns to overcome her fear of sharing her creativity with the world. This resonates with a feeling many of us know—the anxiety of putting our work out there. By encouraging people to use #ShareYourGifts, Apple created a sense of community, inviting everyone to participate in spreading holiday cheer. The campaign beautifully ties in Apple’s values of creativity and innovation and celebrates the impact of creativity and community. 

MOO tip: To add a personal touch to the campaign, senders could include custom Greeting Cards with their Apple products. This provides a perfect opportunity to write a heartfelt message, making each gift feel even more special and personal.

UPS: ‘Wishes Delivered’

UPS’s campaign spreads holiday cheer by making special wishes come true for people and communities in need. Customers uploaded their holiday wishes along with the hashtag #WishesDelivered on social media, and UPS employees made these wishes come true. The campaign garnered over 374,000 shares on social media channels and raised money for several non-profit organizations. We love how the campaign emphasizes UPS’s human spirit as they go the extra mile to put a smile on someone’s face.

MOO view:  Include Postcards that feature inspirational messages and spaces for people to write their own wishes. These ‘Wish Cards’ could be distributed at UPS locations or included with deliveries, encouraging social media sharing and adding a human element.

Ted Baker: #TedsElfie

It may be an oldie, but Ted Baker’s #TedsElfie campaign is still one of the best holiday social media marketing campaigns ever. Launched in 2014, it turned Instagram into a fun, interactive game. The campaign centered around a story where Santa had lost his elves, and users were invited to help find them. The game played out like a choose-your-own-adventure, with participants following tags and making decisions as they explored 32 different Instagram accounts. Over three weeks, the campaign generated 37k interactions with the #TedsElfie hashtag, demonstrating the power of gamification in holiday marketing.

MOO tip: Ted Baker could have made #TedsElfie Stickers that customers receive in-store or through online orders. By sharing photos of their stickers, participants could keep the excitement going and bring the campaign to life outside of Instagram.

Ready to create the best social holiday media marketing campaign for your brand? MOO can bring it to life offline. We offer premium print like our Greeting Cards and high-quality Gifts that your customers, clients, and partners will love. To get started, fill in our simple form, and one of our team members will be in touch.