December is one of the most important months of the year for customer engagement. Between holiday shopping, year-end services, and gift-giving, your customers are already in a buying mindset — and SMS is a fast and effective way to reach them.
Here are five high-impact SMS marketing ideas you can use during the December 2025 holiday season to drive sales, increase retention, and stay top of mind.
1. Holiday Countdown Offers
Build anticipation with short, daily, or weekly countdown messages leading up to key dates like Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s Eve.
Example SMS:
🎄 10 Days of Holiday Deals!
Day 3: Take 20% off today only → [link]
Why it works:
- Creates urgency
- Encourages repeat engagement
- Keeps your brand visible all month long
This works especially well for ecommerce, retail, and subscription businesses.
2. Last-Minute Gift & Service Reminders
December shoppers often procrastinate. SMS is perfect for catching last-minute buyers who still need gifts or services.
Example SMS:
⏰ Still shopping?
Digital gift cards available instantly. Perfect last-minute gift → [link]
For service businesses, this can also include:
- Gift certificates
- End-of-year appointments
- Holiday emergency services
3. Holiday-Themed Flash Sales
Run short, time-boxed promotions tied to specific days or events during December.
Ideas include:
- “12-Hour Holiday Flash Sale”
- “Christmas Eve Special”
- “After-Christmas Clearance”
- “New Year’s Eve Deal”
Example SMS:
🎁 Holiday Flash Sale!
30% off sitewide until midnight tonight → [link]
SMS excels at real-time promotions, making flash sales one of the highest-converting holiday tactics.
4. Personalized Thank-You & Loyalty Messages
December is also the perfect time to strengthen customer relationships — not just sell.
Send personalized thank-you messages or loyalty rewards to your best customers.
Example SMS:
❤️ Thank you for being a loyal customer this year.
Enjoy $15 off your next purchase → [link]
Why it matters:
- Improves customer retention
- Feels personal, not salesy
- Sets the stage for strong engagement in January
5. New Year’s Promotions & “Fresh Start” Campaigns
The holiday season doesn’t end on December 25. Many customers are motivated by fresh starts as the new year approaches.
Use SMS to promote:
- January bookings
- New year discounts
- Subscription signups
- Annual plans or packages
Example SMS:
✨ New Year, New Savings
Book now and save 25% on January services → [link]
This is especially effective for fitness, home services, professional services, and subscription businesses.
Pro Tip: Plan Early & Automate
December gets busy fast. Schedule your SMS campaigns in advance!
- Pre-schedule holiday messages
- Segment VIP vs. regular customers
With the right timing and messaging, SMS could be your highest-performing marketing channel this holiday season.
Ready to make December 2025 your most profitable month yet?
Start planning your holiday SMS campaigns now — your customers are waiting.
