What Time to Start Marketing for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving might seem like the calm before the Black Friday storm, but let me tell you—this humble little holiday has some major marketing power. In fact, my Thanksgiving-related blog posts always get surprising traffic spikes, which tells me one thing: people LOVE this holiday, and they’re out there searching for ideas, inspo, and deals!

So if you’ve ever thought about skipping straight to the winter holidays, I’m here to say... don’t. Thanksgiving is your golden hour to shine, connect, and squeak in one last big push before the buying season explodes!

What Time to Start Marketing for Thanksgiving

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Let’s break down exactly when to start marketing for Thanksgiving—and what to do so you’re not stirring gravy and trying to schedule an email campaign at the same time (guilty).

1. Start with the End in Mind: Why Thanksgiving Marketing Begins in September

Here’s the thing—November is not the time to be making your Thanksgiving game plan. By then, your audience is already shopping, traveling, or mentally checked out. Start laying the groundwork in September, while things are still relatively quiet.

This is the perfect time to outline your offers, map out your content calendar, and decide what you want to promote!

2. Plan Your Promotions Like a Pro (Before the Pumpkin Spice Frenzy!)

October is when you kick it into gear. You’ve got Halloween vibes going strong, but this is your cue to start teasing Thanksgiving. That might mean bundling up some of your offers into a "Thankful For You" sale or prepping a gratitude-themed giveaway.

The earlier you start, the less it feels like a cash grab—and the more time people have to plan and engage!

3. Don’t Get Trampled by Black Friday—Map It Out Now

Thanksgiving is a warm-up act to Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the whole holiday buying bonanza. Smart marketers use Thanksgiving week to build momentum—so map out your Black Friday promos in tandem with your Thanksgiving content.

Even if you’re not offering big discounts, teasing your holiday plans keeps your audience excited and engaged!

4. Gratitude Posts That Don’t Sound Cheesy (or Last-Minute)

Want to know when to write your Thanksgiving gratitude post? Like... yesterday. But seriously, the sooner you schedule this, the more thoughtful and authentic it’ll feel. Draft it in early November and have it ready to go the week of Thanksgiving.

Share personal stories, shout out clients or customers, or even spotlight fellow biz owners you admire. Heartfelt always wins!

5. When to Launch Your Holiday Freebie or Lead Magnet

THANKSGIVING is a fantastic time to grow your list. Everyone’s in a feel-good, giving mood—and looking ahead to planning season. Offer a free printable, mini course, checklist, or fun challenge. Launch it mid-to-late October and promote through early November.

By Thanksgiving week, you’ll have a fresh crop of leads just in time for those big December promos!

6. Email Marketing Timing: Warming Up Your List BEFORE They’re Stuffed

Here’s where the gravy hit the fan for me one year. I totally forgot to prep my Thanksgiving emails and found myself trying to write a heartfelt message with mashed potatoes on the stove and a half-decorated pumpkin centerpiece on the table. Lesson learned: schedule your emails the first week of November. Send a few teasers leading up to the holiday and a thank-you email around Thanksgiving Day.

Future you will be so grateful!

7. Prepping Your Shop or Offers for the Thanksgiving Rush

If you sell physical or digital products, NOW is the time to get your shop in shape. Add seasonal bundles, update your graphics, and make sure your shipping deadlines are clearly posted.

Even if you’re not running a sale, a little seasonal polish shows you’re active, engaged, and in the holiday spirit!

8. Pinterest Is Your Pilgrim—But She Needs Time to Travel

Pinterest content takes a good 45 days to really take off, so your Thanksgiving pins need to be LIVE by early October at the latest. Think recipes, DIY decor, gratitude printables, small business gifts, or productivity tips.

Basically, anything that fits a cozy fall vibe. Pin now, feast later!

9. What to Schedule Ahead So You Can Actually Enjoy the Turkey

Here’s your permission slip to take Thanksgiving off. But to do that, you need to pre-schedule your posts, emails, and promos. Use a tool like Tailwind or Kit to handle social, and batch your content early in November.

That way, you can sip cider and live your best stretchy-pants life without stress!

10. How to Sneak in SEO Now for Traffic Later

Google needs time to crawl your content, which means your Thanksgiving blog posts and landing pages should be live no later than mid-October. Focus on long-tail keywords like "Thanksgiving ideas for small business" or "gratitude email examples."

A little SEO now = lots of cozy traffic later!

11. Avoid the “I Forgot!” Panic: Your Thanksgiving Marketing Checklist

If you’re anything like me, holiday brain is real!

So let’s wrap this up with a quick list:

September: Outline your plans
October: Launch your freebie, start Pinterest pins, tease offers
Early November: Prep emails, blog posts, and social content
Thanksgiving week: Post gratitude, schedule reminders, and relax (you earned it!)

Thanksgiving isn’t just about pumpkin pie—it’s prime time for connection, list-building, and creating buzz that carries you straight into the holiday season. Don’t miss your chance to cozy up with your audience and give them something to be grateful for.

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