top of page
Search

The Turkey Day Tease: How to Use Thanksgiving Content to Warm Up Your Audience for BFCM



Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) is a digital gold rush. But let's be honest, by the time the Thanksgiving turkey is being sliced, our inboxes and social feeds are already a chaotic battlefield of discount codes, screaming red sale banners, and frantic countdown timers.


So how do you cut through the noise?


The secret is simple: Don't start with the sale. Start with the sizzle.


Thanksgiving, a holiday built on gratitude, family, and—let's not forget—stretchy pants, is your golden opportunity. It’s the perfect, cozy, low-pressure ramp-up that gets your audience warmed up, engaged, and ready to shop without the immediate, aggressive push.


It’s the delicious appetizer before the main course of deals!



The Vibe: Gratitude Over Greed


The biggest mistake brands make is leaping straight from "Halloween candy" to "50% OFF EVERYTHING!" Thanksgiving offers a crucial mood shift. Tap into the spirit of the holiday: gratitude, community, and helpfulness.


Your content should aim to build a connection, not just a transaction. When you connect emotionally, the sale that follows feels less like a pitch and more like a helpful suggestion from a trusted friend.


Here are three ways to use the cozy Thanksgiving content vibe to pre-heat your BFCM furnace:


  1. The "Thankful For You" Customer Spotlight (Building Loyalty)


Thanksgiving is about saying thanks, and your customers are the MVP of your business. Use your social media and email leading up to the holiday to genuinely express appreciation.


  • User-Generated Content (UGC) Showcase: Run a campaign asking customers to share a photo of how they use your product during the holidays. For example, a home decor brand could ask for "Cozy Thanksgiving Table Settings," while a pet brand could ask for "The Pet I'm Thankful For." This is pure, authentic social proof.

  • The Gratitude Giveaway: Host a fun, low-barrier-to-entry contest (e.g., "Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving tradition to win a $50 gift card"). This not only drives engagement but also collects high-intent email addresses right before the big sales drop.

  • The VIP Early Access Teaser: Don't just say thank you—show it. Send a special email on Thanksgiving Day to your most loyal segment (past buyers, high-engagement users) with a sneak peek of your BFCM deals or an exclusive early access sign-up. This makes them feel special and locks in that purchase intent.



  1. The "Feast Prep" Helper Content (Solving Problems)


BFCM shoppers are problem-solvers; they're looking for solutions (gifts, home upgrades, inventory refills). Your Thanksgiving content can position your brand as the helpful, non-salesy expert they need.


  • Gift Guides, But Make Them Festive: Instead of a generic "Top 10 Gifts," create hyper-specific, holiday-relevant guides:

    • For the Clothing Brand: "What to Wear to Every Type of Friendsgiving Dinner"

    • For the Tech Company: "5 Gadgets to Survive the In-Laws' Visit"

    • For the Food/Kitchen Brand: "Last-Minute Hostess Gifts (That Aren't Wine)"

  • Behind-the-Scenes & Community: Show the human side of your brand. A short, fun video of your team sharing what they're thankful for, or even a picture of your office potluck, is instantly relatable. People buy from people, not logos. This humanizes your brand right before the chaos of a transaction-heavy weekend.



  1. The Gentle BFCM Transition (The Final Gravy Drizzle)


You can't ignore the elephant—or the enormous turkey—in the room. You have to pivot, but you can do it smoothly.


  • The "Unwind" Email: Send a light email on Thanksgiving evening with a subject line like, "Time to relax! Our BFCM deals start at midnight," or a simple, cozy image of your product next to a cup of tea. It's a soft, clear call-to-action that respects the holiday while setting the stage.

  • The Product Sneak-Peek: Post a high-quality photo or Reel of your most anticipated BFCM item, but without the price. Use the caption to build mystery: "This beauty will be part of our biggest sale ever, starting Friday." Mystery drives clicks!



The Bottom Line


Thanksgiving isn't a day off for your content calendar; it's a strategic ramp. By shifting your focus from direct selling to giving value and showing gratitude, you warm up your audience's purchase intent, boost engagement, and create a positive brand association.


When the BFCM frenzy officially kicks off, your audience won't just see another discount—they'll see the friendly brand that helped them pick a side dish, found a hostess gift, or just wished them a happy holiday. And that, dear marketer, is what makes them click your link first.


Happy feasting, and happy (early) selling!



___________________

Salty Red Dog Marketing, LLC is a marketing agency in Red Bank, NJ, Westport, CT, and everywhere in between. We service businesses with marketing strategies, digital marketing, social media, and consultations.

 

New Jersey - (732) 897-5769

Westport, CT - (203) 429-9664

 

Comments

bottom of page