top of page
Search

Your Holiday Marketing Timeline for Hudson, Marlborough, and MetroWest

Writer: Leia Owen
Leia Owen
3 days ago
2 min read

Is it just me, or did October fly by? Here in MetroWest, the holiday season doesn't creep in. It shows up all at once. Between the Hudson Veterans Day Parade, Small Business Saturday, the Hudson Holiday Stroll, and the 60th Maynard Holiday Parade, our local calendar is packed from now through December.

That's great news for local businesses, as long as you're ready for it. As I tell every workshop group, most marketing stress comes from things we knew were coming. So here's a simple week-by-week timeline to help you show up for the season without scrambling.

Right now (early November): Pick your moments

You don't need to promote everything. Choose the two or three dates that matter most to your customers, for example:

  • Small Business Saturday, November 28

  • Hudson Holiday Stroll, Saturday, December 5, in downtown Hudson

  • Maynard Holiday Parade, Sunday, December 6

  • Your own holiday hours, gift card sale, or end-of-year event

The rule of thumb: start promoting 4 to 6 weeks before each date. For the Stroll, that means this week.

Mid-November: Get your basics in order

  • Update your Google Business Profile with holiday hours, a few fresh photos, and a post about what's coming.

  • Write a short holiday offer, or one clear reason to visit, that you can repeat everywhere.

  • Plan one email to past customers. It's still one of the most reliable tools a small business has.

  • Capture a batch of photos and short videos now, while your shop or space is decorated and you have a moment to breathe.

The week before Thanksgiving: Start talking about it

  • Share your plans for Small Business Saturday on social media and in your newsletter.

  • Tag the local organizations, neighbors, and partners you're celebrating with. Community posts travel further than ads.

  • If you're part of a downtown event, use the shared event name and graphics so customers connect the dots.

Small Business Saturday through the Stroll: Show up in real time

  • Post stories and short videos the day of: the line at the door, the cocoa, the happy shoppers.

  • Thank people publicly. A quick "thank you for coming out!" post often does better than a sales post.

  • Remind followers what's next, so Small Business Saturday rolls right into the Stroll.

Mid-December: Plant the seed for January

This is the step most businesses skip. If January and February are usually slow for you, send a winter offer to past customers in mid-December. You'll start the new year with bookings on the calendar instead of a quiet inbox.

Planning a holiday event of your own?

If you're planning a holiday party, a client appreciation event, or an end-of-year celebration, I'd love to help. My team and collaborators can help with fresh ideas, venues, vendors, and promotion.

And if you'd like to get your holiday content done in one sitting, join me at the Marketing Lab on Friday, November 13 or Friday, December 11, 12:00 to 1:30 PM, at 69-71 Main Street in Hudson. Bring your phone and your to-do list. You'll leave with holiday posts ready to go instead of a list of ideas. Drop-ins are welcome.

Reach out at WorkWithLeia.com or hello@leiamowen.com. I hope to see you out and about this season!

bottom of page