Christmas Campaign ideas for 2025: From big bold activations to small touches that drive conversions
December isn’t just about sales.
It’s the single biggest data moment of the year — and most brands waste it.
Right after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, thousands of brands go all-in on short-term revenue: last-minute offers, flash sales, inbox floods. They chase the spike… and lose the signal.
But here’s the thing: a Christmas campaign doesn’t have to end on December 24.
If done right, it can become the starting point for your 2026 personalization engine. Every spin, scratch, or quiz isn’t just engagement — it’s first-party data. Preferences you can segment on. Zero-party data you own. Behavioral insights that turn generic campaigns into personal experiences.
The numbers back it up:
- Gamified campaigns drive 3–4× higher CTR than static ads.
- Around 70 % of players willingly share data when the experience feels fun and rewarding.
- Customers acquired during the holiday season have 25–40 % higher LTV when nurtured with personalized follow-ups.
So yes, sales matter — but smart brands use December to do more:
✨ Build relationships.
✨ Enrich their data.
✨ Set up Q1 for growth.
That’s the real ROI of a Christmas campaign.
1. Big bold campaigns that steal the show
Christmas Calendar — 24 doors of daily engagement
👉 Explore Christmas Calendar
What it is: A fully digital calendar with 24 doors — one for each day leading up to Christmas.
Why it works: Daily anticipation keeps people returning, giving you 24 chances to surprise, reward, and convert.
How to use it:
- Add a new game or offer behind each door (e.g., Scratchcard, Spin, Mystery Box).
- Reveal daily deals, quizzes, or instant wins.
Perfect for brands that want consistent traffic and interaction throughout December. Ideal for: Engagement, retention, repeat visits, daily conversions.
Advent Calendar — 4 weekly highlights that build momentum
👉 Explore Advent Calendar
What it is: A calendar with 4 doors — one for each Advent Sunday.
Why it works: Creates structured, weekly touchpoints that are easy to plan and promote.
How to use it:
- Launch a new game or offer each week.
- Combine with email or SMS to build a “Sunday surprise” moment.
Ideal for: Top-of-mind awareness, lead collection, and weekly conversion pushes.
Interactive Graphics — Turn your story into play
👉 Explore Interactive Graphics
What it is: A clickable visual map or scene (e.g., a Christmas village, tree, or store).
Why it works: Turns static content into an interactive journey — ideal for storytelling and product discovery.
How to use it:
- Create a scene with hotspots linking to games, offers, or products.
- Encourage visitors to explore and unlock surprises at their own pace.
Ideal for: Exploration, storytelling, onsite engagement, and guided selling.
2. Set the right KPIs
3. Promote smart & early
Top pre-launch promotion tactics:
- Pre-sign-up campaigns
- Website pop-ups & banners
- Email marketing (reminders & countdowns)
- Organic & paid social campaigns
📆 December 1st is consistently one of the highest engagement days of the season.
4. Launch & engage
Once the campaign is live:
- Engage participants daily (or weekly for Advent).
- Track participation and replay rates.
- Optimize messaging on the go.
💡 Participants typically return 6–7 times over a campaign — use every touchpoint wisely.
5. Nail your prize strategy
Here we share 4 proven prize structures:
- One Big Prize — Grand prize draw; each play earns entries.
- Big + Daily Prizes — Keeps momentum strong.
- Daily Prizes — Encourages consistent engagement.
Average doors opened per user: 6.7 → spread rewards strategically, not just at the end.
6. Nurture after the campaign
Post-campaign = where ROI compounds:
- Tailor follow-up flows to new leads.
- Feed insights into Q1 campaigns.
- Retarget non-converters.
- Trigger loyalty flows for repeat engagement.
7. Small yet mighty campaigns that spread the vibe
Not every activation needs to be huge. Small campaigns can create massive lift:
- Pop-up game on your site.
- QR code campaign on packaging.
- Mini quiz for gift discovery.
- Mystery box giveaway.
- Quick scratch & win instant prizes
👉 With Scratcher pop-ups, you can expand engagement without heavy development.
Most brands treat Christmas like a sprint.
They shout, discount, and disappear when the tree comes down.
The smart ones treat it like a launchpad. They use the season to collect real insights, build meaningful engagement, and turn seasonal shoppers into loyal audiences.
Yes — December drives revenue. But it can also power your personalization strategy, first-party data engine, and Q1 retention.
The brands that stand out aren’t louder. They’re smarter. They build experiences that people want to come back to.
And the best part? You don’t need a blockbuster budget.
With gamified campaigns like Advent Calendars, wheels, or mystery boxes, you can go live fast, engage at scale, and keep growing long after the holidays end.
✨ Don’t just run another campaign. Build a moment your audience remembers — and a connection that lasts.
👉 Start your free trial
and make this Christmas the one that sets the tone for everything after.
Ready to level up your engagement strategy?
Explore gamification marketing to create personalised experiences, foster engagement, and establish meaningful connections with your audience. With Scratcher as a partner you will have:
- 35+ Interactive Formats: Luck-based, knowledge-based, and skill-based, designed to meet marketing campaign objectives
- Ready to Use Templates: Personalise your campaign to reflect your unique brand
- Native Integrations: Easily integrate interactive content with all of your favourite marketing tools
- Customer Support: We're here to assist you every step of the way
