Why Email is Essential for E-commerce Holiday Campaigns

Mar 21, 2025

The holidays. The smell of cinnamon, twinkling lights, and a deluge of emails that arrive in your inbox more quickly than Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve. The problem is that when everyone is busy decorating the hallways, astute companies are filling inboxes with holiday campaigns that make money registers jingle.

If you’re in e-commerce marketing, you can’t afford to ghost your email list during this most wonderful time of year. Seasonal emails filled with tailored promotional offers are the lifeblood of successful holiday sales.

As marketing guru Neil Patel says, “Email marketing is the only channel you completely own.” And when it comes to holiday campaigns, that ownership can make all the difference. Let’s unwrap why email strategies are the secret weapon for your e-commerce marketing success this holiday season.

Why Email Marketing Sleighs Holiday Campaigns

1. Direct Access to Santa’s (Customer) Wishlist

Imagine knowing exactly what your customer wants, without climbing down any chimneys. With email strategies, you can segment lists and personalize seasonal emails so that promotional offers land in the right lap.

A great example? Last year, Target used its holiday campaigns to send exclusive deals on trending toys to parents. The result? Their holiday sales skyrocketed because they understood what their customers were searching for.

2. Seasonal Emails Create FOMO That Works

No one wants to be the person who missed out on 50% off the perfect gift. Seasonal emails build urgency. Include countdown timers or limited-time promotional offers and watch those holiday sales climb faster than a squirrel on a nut hunt.

Remember, as Seth Godin puts it, “People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories, and magic.” Crafting magical holiday campaigns through email strategies brings the stories and urgency customers crave.

E-commerce Marketing’s Secret Weapon: Email Strategies

Personalization That Feels Like a Gift

Mass messages are out. Personalized seasonal emails that make shoppers feel seen? In. E-commerce marketing thrives when emails are tailored based on browsing behavior, past holiday sales, and wish lists.

Take Amazon for example. During their holiday campaigns, their email strategies show you exactly what’s sitting lonely in your cart with irresistible promotional offers to make you finally hit “Buy Now.” Smart, right?

Cost-Effective and High ROI—Just Like Secret Santa

Unlike splurging on TV ads or PPC, email strategies offer one of the highest ROIs in e-commerce marketing. In fact, Campaign Monitor reports that for every $1 spent on email marketing, you can expect $42 in return. That’s like buying a $1 ornament and it is turning into a $42 gift card.

Focus your holiday campaigns on creative, compelling seasonal emails, and those holiday sales will make your bottom line merry and bright.

Crafting Click-Worthy Holiday Campaigns

Subject Lines That Sparkle

Your holiday campaigns are only as good as your subject line. It’s the shiny wrapping paper on your email gift. Something like:

🎁 “Unwrap Your Exclusive Holiday Deal—Today Only!”

🎄 “Ho-Ho-Hurry! Your Holiday Sale Ends Tonight!”

Notice how we sneaked in exclusive and urgency—two critical ingredients to get those seasonal emails opened and those holiday sales rolling in.

Promotional Offers Too Good to Miss

If your promotional offers don’t make someone do a double take, try again. Whether it's a BOGO, free shipping, or an exclusive holiday sales discount, the right deal sent through targeted email strategies can turn window shoppers into loyal buyers.

Brands like Sephora know this. Their holiday campaigns often include VIP early access and personalized gift suggestions sent via seasonal emails that result in jaw-dropping holiday sales figures.

Conclusion

Emails are some of the best ways to get your customers excited about the holidays. You might as well skip the holiday sales if you don't use email strategies.

However, you can make December your best month yet with the correct holiday promotional offers, incredible deals, and customized seasonal emails.

According to marketing specialist Ann Handley, "Good content isn’t about good storytelling. It’s about telling a true story well.” So, tell your story this season—direct to inboxes—and watch your e-commerce marketing sleigh ride into success.