Why “Holiday Gratitude” Outperforms Traditional Holiday Marketing

Every year, businesses ramp up holiday marketing discounts, promos, flash sales, Christmas bundles, and countdown offers. But while these campaigns may lead to short-term spikes, they don’t always create loyalty.

On the other hand, holiday gratitude personalized appreciation, thoughtful gestures, and relationship-focused touchpoints builds emotional connection. And that connection is what turns customers into long-term advocates.

According to a study by Deloitte, customers are 2.5x more likely to stay loyal to a brand that consistently shows appreciation versus one that only offers discounts. And in relationship-based industries like construction and home services, loyalty is everything.

In this article, we’ll break down the difference between holiday marketing and holiday gratitude, and how brands can use both strategically to win lifelong customers.

Holiday Marketing: Great for Revenue, Weak for Retention

Holiday marketing is everywhere and for good reason. It works… temporarily.

Benefits of Holiday Marketing

• Increases short-term sales

• Creates urgency with limited-time offers

• Helps clear end-of-year inventory

• Puts your brand back in front of clients

But here’s the challenge: everyone is doing it.

Your competitors, local businesses, online brands they’re all competing for attention during the same 4–6 week window.

And customers have learned to tune it out.

The Problem: Promotions Don’t Build Loyalty

Holiday marketing alone rarely builds long-term relationships. Studies show:

• 65% of customers stop buying from brands because they don’t feel valued.

• 82% prefer appreciation incentives over promotional incentives during holidays.

• Discount-driven buyers are 44% less loyal than value-driven buyers.

This is why many businesses experience “seasonal spikes but not sustainable loyalty.”

If you want clients who remember you, refer you, and stay loyal to you holiday marketing isn’t enough.

Holiday Gratitude: The Strategy That Builds Raving Fans

Gratitude shifts the focus from selling to appreciating. From “What can we get?” to “How can we give value?”

And this is where loyalty is created.

What Makes Gratitude So Effective?

Gratitude is:

• Personal

• Unexpected

• Emotionally engaging

• Memorable

• Share-worthy

Unlike marketing, which is easily replaced, gratitude lives in the client’s memory long after the season ends.

Think about when a contractor, realtor, or HVAC company sends a heartfelt handwritten card or a thoughtful holiday gift. It stands out immediately because it’s rare.

Examples of Holiday Gratitude That Work

• Sending a personalized holiday gift through an automated gifting program

• Mailing a handwritten card

• A holiday “thank you” email series celebrating client milestones

• A quick video message expressing appreciation

• A Scan-to-Review QR code card delivered with a holiday gift

These gestures don’t cost much. But they create emotional loyalty, which is priceless.

The Data Behind Holiday Gratitude

If you’re wondering whether gratitude truly moves the needle, consider this:

• Customers who feel appreciated are 6x more likely to refer your business.

• Repeat clients spend 67% more than new customers.

• A 5% increase in retention can raise profits by 25–95%.

• Brands that send “appreciation-only” content see higher engagement than brands that send promotions.

Holiday Marketing vs. Holiday Gratitude: Which One Wins Loyalty?

Let’s break it down:

Holiday Marketing Boosts revenue short-term, Focuses on selling, Common and expected, Attracts price-sensitive customers, Easy to replicate, Creates transactions

Holiday Gratitude Builds loyalty long-term, Focuses on appreciation, Rare and memorable, Attracts high-quality, loyal customers, Hard for competitors to duplicate, Creates advocates

Winner for loyalty:

👉 Holiday Gratitude (by a landslide).

But the truth is, the best strategy is both, executed correctly:

• Use holiday marketing for visibility

• Use holiday gratitude to keep clients coming back

This is where Building Raving Fans helps brands shine.

How Building Raving Fans Amplifies Your Holiday Gratitude Strategy

Building Raving Fans provides the tools and systems to turn seasonal appreciation into year-round loyalty.

1. Automated Gifting & Appreciation Programs

Send personalized gifts (holiday boxes, branded items, appreciation packages) without lifting a finger.

• Hands-free gifting

• Personalized touches

• Branded unboxing experiences

Perfect for construction, home services, and relationship-based industries.

2. Long-Term Nurture Email Campaigns

Holiday gratitude works even better when supported by year-round appreciation touchpoints.

BRF’s email campaigns help you:

• Celebrate client milestones

• Deliver value-packed updates

• Share helpful seasonal tips

• Stay top-of-mind without being salesy

Try linking to a related blog like:

➡️ “Building Trust Through Customer Appreciation” to deepen retention strategy insights.

3. Raving Fans Reviews Platform

After sending holiday gratitude gifts, what happens?

Clients naturally feel more inclined to leave positive reviews.

Our platform:

• Makes review collection simple

• Improves online reputation

• Drives more referrals and conversions

Pair that with the next tool, and it’s extremely effective…

4. Scan-to-Review QR Code Cards

Send clients QR code cards along with their holiday gift or year-end note.

They scan.

They leave a review.

You get more visibility.

Holiday gratitude + simplified reviews = retention and social proof on autopilot.

Holiday Gratitude Ideas You Can Start Using Today

Here are simple strategies you can implement immediately:

Client Appreciation Ideas

• Send a personalized holiday gratitude email

• Mail a year-end “Thank You for trusting us” card

• Surprise them with a small branded holiday gift

• Include a Scan-to-Review QR code card in your holiday packages

• Share a holiday highlight reel or team gratitude video

Team Appreciation Ideas

• Holiday team lunch or bonuses

• Personalized appreciation notes

• Recognition awards

• Fun team gifts

Your clients and your team are your ecosystem.

Gratitude strengthens both.

Gratitude Is the Ultimate Loyalty Strategy

Holiday marketing gets attention.

Holiday gratitude wins hearts and loyalty.

When you consistently show appreciation, clients don’t just stay.

They refer.

They advocate.

They become Raving Fans.

And Building Raving Fans helps you systemize gratitude so it becomes a natural extension of your brand not a seasonal scramble.

Ready to turn your customers into lifelong Raving Fans?

Let’s build your automated gratitude system from gifting, to reviews, to retention-driven email campaigns.

👉 Book your free strategy call with Building Raving Fans today.