7 Marketing Tasks Every Business Should Do the Week Before Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just days away, and for small businesses, that means one last window to make an impact before the holiday rush hits full speed. Whether you’re preparing for Black Friday promotions, launching a Giving Tuesday campaign, or simply staying visible during a noisy season, the week before Thanksgiving is all about prep with purpose.

Here are seven smart marketing moves every business should make now to stay top-of-mind, organized, and ready for the holiday rush.

1. Post a Warm Thanksgiving Message Across Your Social Channels

Your customers are expecting seasonal content, and this is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation, reinforce your brand values, and spark engagement.

Tips:

• Keep it heartfelt and human.

• Include a photo or short video from the team.

• Use consistent branding (colors, fonts, tone).

Bonus: Schedule it now so you’re not scrambling on Thanksgiving Day.

2. Prepare & Schedule All Black Friday / Small Business Saturday Posts

Don’t wait until the holiday weekend to create graphics or write copy.

This week you should:

• Finalize sale graphics

• Write captions and CTAs

• Schedule Posts/Reels on Meta, Pinterest, and Google Business Profile

• Prepare a simple “day-of” video to record Friday morning

Show up early and consistently to maximize visibility.

3. Send a “Before the Big Weekend” Email to Your List

Your customers’ inboxes will explode this weekend, so hit them before the chaos.

This email should:

• Tease your sale or special offer

• Give early access or a small bonus for subscribers

• Include a clear CTA and sale start time

• Remind them to whitelist your email so they don’t miss the actual promo

Consider subject lines like:

• “Before the Rush Begins…”

• “Your Early Holiday Insider Info”

• “Here’s What’s Coming This Weekend”

4. Refresh Google Business Profile

This is an easy win that many businesses forget.

The week before Thanksgiving:

• Add updated holiday hours

• Post a Thanksgiving-themed update

• Upload a recent photo or video

• Make sure your service list and website links are correct

Google rewards active profiles with better visibility.

5. Review Your Website for Holiday Readiness

Your site should feel clean, current, and customer-friendly.

Check:

• Homepage - Is your holiday offer front and center?

• Mobile layout - 70%+ of holiday traffic will be mobile.

• Contact info - Correct and easy to find.

• Load speed - Compress images if needed.

• Pop-ups - Consider an opt-in or coupon pop.

Small tweaks this week boost conversions next week.

6. Prepare Your Giving Tuesday Content (Even If You’re Not a Nonprofit)

Businesses can participate too - through partnerships, causes, and community efforts.

This week, decide:

• What cause you’re supporting

• What percentage or amount you’ll donate

• What graphic or video you’ll post

• What story you’ll tell to make it human

Giving Tuesday continues to grow each year — don’t miss the visibility.

7. Create One “Holiday Weekend Survival Post” in Advance

The weekend gets chaotic. Create a light, fun, relatable post now, and schedule it.

Ideas:

• “We’re surviving on coffee and Christmas music.”

• “Small Business Owners: may your WiFi be strong and your sales be stronger.”

• A behind-the-scenes shot of prepping orders or the shop

This type of content connects you with your audience on a real human level.

The week leading into Thanksgiving is all about preparation. Every hour you invest now saves stress later, and boosts your visibility when consumer attention is at its peak.

If you want help creating holiday graphics, optimizing your campaigns, or planning your end-of-year marketing, Grace Williams Creative is always here to support you.