Once the Halloween decorations are hung, for marketers, the Holiday season is upon us. As marketers prepare for the November holidays – Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday – and the ensuing Christmas season, let’s take a look at the Best Holiday Influencer Marketing Campaigns.
The holidays are peak time for consumer spending — from Black Friday through New Year’s.
Influencers play a significant role in shaping purchase intent and emotional connection during this period. From Starbucks’ red cups to Macy’s heartfelt holiday ads, the most magical campaigns all have one thing in common — authentic storytelling powered by influencers.
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Why Holiday Campaigns Hit Differently
Holiday influencer marketing campaigns are unique because they put a face to the brand, allowing it to connect with its audience on a more personal level.
Influencers possess a unique ability to evoke emotional resonance. Holiday influencer campaigns tap into the emotions of nostalgia, gratitude, and generosity, evoking a sense of warmth and goodwill. There is also an aspect of seasonal urgency to the campaigns, as consumers are in a buying mindset, making influencer partnerships more impactful.
There is a wealth of content opportunities found with holiday influencer campaigns – festive visuals, gift guides, “shop my picks” posts, and community-driven challenges thrive on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Let’s examine some standout brands that have mastered the art of holiday storytelling through influencers.
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Case Study #1: Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke Holiday Revival
Coca-Cola tapped influencers to reimagine its iconic #ShareACoke campaign with creators showcasing personalized bottles as part of holiday moments.
Influencers created cozy, family-oriented content — decorating, wrapping gifts, and celebrating with personalized Coke bottles.
The campaign utilized a cross-platform approach across Instagram Reels and TikTok, featuring festive filters and UGC challenges. The Share a Coke campaign combined nostalgia with personalization, driving massive engagement and sharing a universal message of emotional connection across generations.
The Share a Coke campaign is a lesson for brands on leaning into timeless brand stories, then refreshing them with influencer-driven authenticity.
Case Study #2: Target’s #TargetHolidayGiftFinder
Target partnered with micro- and mid-tier influencers to curate themed gift guides (e.g., “For the Homebody,” “For the Pet Parent”). Influencers showcased shoppable product lists and wrapped Target finds using trending audio. This holiday influencer marketing campaign seamlessly works with TikTok Shop and Instagram Shopping integration for easy conversion.
The campaign achieved success by combining relatability and convenience, allowing creators to help consumers discover practical and affordable gifts. Authentic reviews built trust during a crowded retail season.
Target employed a similar strategy with its 12 Days of Deals campaign, employing influencers to posit Target’s deals as holiday gifts during the 12 days of Christmas.
Lesson for Brands: Use influencers as trusted shopping companions — not salespeople.
Case Study #3: Alo Yoga’s Advent Calendar + Creator Unboxings
A more niche but highly effective campaign: Alo Yoga released a limited-edition holiday advent calendar and engaged wellness/lifestyle creators to unbox each day leading up to Christmas.
Influencers in the wellness and fitness space shared unboxing and usage content, showing how each item in the calendar fits into their holiday routine, workouts, recovery, or relaxation.
The campaign achieved success by combining limited-edition appeal (scarcity), daily reveal excitement (anticipation), and creator authenticity (influencers using the product as part of their real lives).
Lesson for Brands: Build in momentum — countdowns, daily reveals, and limited editions generate sustained interest. Influencers make the content feel organic.
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Case Study #4: Experience-Driven Campaigns & Cultural Storytelling
While product gifting dominates, some of the strongest holiday influencer campaigns lean into experiences and cultural storytelling. For example, brands that emphasize travel, lifestyle, or cultural traditions. Influencers documenting real-life holiday moments — whether it’s a brand stay, an artistic tradition, or a wholesome celebration — help broadcasts feel personal and inclusive.
Holiday shoppers are not just buying products — they’re buying meaning, memory, and emotion. Influencers who help create those narratives add depth and nuance to the conversation.
Lesson for Brands: Don’t just talk about “buy this gift.” Talk about “why this gift matters” or “what this experience means” — especially during the holidays.
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Key Takeaways for Brands Planning Their Next Holiday Campaign
Pulling together what works across these campaigns, here are actionable insights for your next holiday influencer marketing campaign:
- Authenticity > polish: Influencers who feel genuine help build trust. Audiences are tired of over-produced ads.
- Start early & plan: Brands that begin outreach, seed products, and create content calendars ahead of peak shopping weeks win.
- Leverage gift guides and creator recommendations: These are highly effective during a season when shoppers are seeking ideas.
- Use multi-channel creator content: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube all play a role — maximize reach by adapting the format.
- Make shopping seamless: Social commerce integrations (TikTok Shop, affiliate links, discount codes) and influencer links enhance conversion.
- Embed emotion and story: The best holiday campaigns tap into values, culture, rituals, not just products.
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Conclusion
When executed thoughtfully, holiday influencer marketing campaigns can transform seasonal shopping into meaningful connections. The examples above demonstrate how brands have leveraged influencers to bring emotion, authenticity, and engagement into what might otherwise have been another generic discount message. As you plan your next holiday campaign — whether for Q4 2025 or beyond — remember: the magic isn’t just in the marketing. It’s in the connection. It’s in the story. And if your brand can partner with creators who bring that to life, you’ll be much more than a brand in a story — you’ll be part of someone’s holiday memory.
This article was written by Ava Fischer
