The holidays are not just about gifts and free time. For freelancers, it’s also about relationships: strengthening them, celebrating them, and yes, keeping yourself on your clients’ radar when the inbox is bursting with cheers (and marketing emails). The key? Thoughtful, personal touches that say I appreciate working with you – without emptying your bank account or your sanity.
Below we explain creative ways to stay visible during the holidays – from sending out Christmas cards for companies to sharing gratitude posts, giving simple gifts, and planning ahead. Let us help you shine brightly when everyone else is winding down.
Why the holidays are important for freelancers
The holidays are a powerful opportunity for connection. According to AdobeU.S. Online Holiday Spending Reached $241.4 billion by 2024An An increase of 8.7% year on year. This means that customers, brands and target groups are paying attention: they are buying, engaging and interacting. Even if you don’t sell a product directly, this wave of consumer energy creates the perfect backdrop to remind people who you are and what you have to offer.
And that’s not all. The National Retail Federation projects that are close to hitting holiday spending in 2024 $989 billionwhere consumers spend approx $902 per person about gifts, decoration and food. Translation: people are in giving mode – and your thoughtful outreach will be received in that same spirit.
1. Send personalized holiday greetings
Nothing beats a real, handwritten note. A short, sincere message can be much more noticeable than an automated email.
Go old-fashioned with cards
Send festive holiday greeting cards is one of the simplest, most human ways to reconnect. It is tangible, personal and rare in a digital world. You can personalize cards with your brand colors or a favorite quote, but keep it authentic. Include a highlight of the project or an inside joke that reminds the client why they enjoyed working with you.
If you prefer digital, create a simple e-card or short video message – something warm and personal, not promotional. You can even record a short thank you video on your phone and send it privately. Customers like to see the person behind the work.
Make it about them
Resist the urge to make your card about your services or achievements. Instead, celebrate your customers’ wins from the past year. Maybe they launched a new product, achieved a milestone, or successfully pivoted. A sentence like “I loved seeing your brand launch this summer!” says more than any sales pitch.
2. Share gratitude publicly (but thoughtfully)
The holidays are the best time for reflection – and gratitude posts are some of the most shareable, engaging content you can publish.
Write an annual review post
Consider posting an end-of-year summary on LinkedIn or your blog, highlighting your favorite projects or lessons learned. Tag employees and customers (with permission) and thank them publicly. It’s subtle marketing wrapped in sincerity.
Assign customers or employees
You can even create a “Client Shoutout Week”: each day, highlight one project or person you worked with this year. Share a story about what you learned, what made it special, or how you grew from that collaboration.
This kind of visibility benefits both of you And your customers. It shows appreciation, professionalism and trust – all without spending a cent.
3. Send small, meaningful gifts
You don’t have to send fancy baskets or branded items to make an impression. Thoughtful, personal business gifts often mean more.
Here are a few ideas:
- A small local treat or artisan good (bonus points if it supports another freelancer)
- A digital coffee gift voucher with a short thank you note
- A mini ebook or resource you created that can help their business
- A donation to a charity they care about
Keep it personal but appropriate. A gesture of $5 or $10 is sufficient if it is clear that it was done with care.
According to Head Marketerinfluencer-driven conversions during the 2024 holiday season were 9x higher than standard social media traffic. Why? Because people respond to authentic, personal connections – exactly what thoughtful giving achieves.
4. Create a simple customer summary
If you’ve been working with a client all year, a short “Year in Review” email or one-pager can be incredibly impactful.
What to include
- A brief summary of the projects you have completed together
- Stats or highlights (if available)
- A quick thank you for their trust and cooperation
- A comment about how excited you are about the coming year
This isn’t a sales pitch, it’s a relationship moment. But it do Gently remind them of the value you provided and why they should continue to work with you.
Pro tip: Design it nicely in Canva or a simple template so it’s visual and easy to view.
Even if things slow down, don’t go completely dark. People scroll endlessly during the holidays: shopping, relaxing and catching up. Staying active keeps you on the periphery.
Easy ways to stay active
- Share your favorite project moments of the year
- Post a thank you carousel with logos or customer testimonials
- Share a behind-the-scenes look at your holiday work or your free time
- Offer quick freelance tips or reflections on the past year
And remember: you don’t have to post every day. A few meaningful, well-timed updates could do the trick.
Use data to inspire timing
Adobe’s report found that mobile devices were responsible for this 51.1% of online holiday purchases in 2023 – growing to 54.5% by 2024. That means your social posts are most likely to be seen on mobile devices, so make sure your images are bold, readable, and thumb-friendly.
6. Plan Ahead: Your Holiday Marketing Checklist
Staying top-of-mind is easier if you’re not in too much of a rush in December. Here’s a quick checklist to keep things simple:
Holiday Marketing Planning Checklist
Before November:
- Make a list of top customers and employees you want to thank.
- Order or design your own Christmas cards for companies.
- Draft your social gratitude posts and year-end summary.
Early December:
- Send your cards or e-cards.
- Schedule social posts through the end of the year.
- Choose one meaningful gift or gesture for top customers.
End of December:
- Send your customer overview or thank you email.
- Post your final gratitude message.
- Take a real break – rest stimulates creativity for the new year.
Planning early will keep your range warm and unhurried. Plus, it gives you time to personalize each message instead of sending out a generic “Happy Holidays” message.
When in doubt, lead with gratitude. This season is about connection, not conversion. Freelancers thrive on relationships, and showing appreciation is the easiest marketing move you can make.
Even a one-line message: “Hey, it meant a lot working with you this year. I hope you have a great holiday!” – could be the thing that lands you a new project in January.
According to Adobe’s Cyber Week reportCyber Monday sales alone were reached $13.3 billion in 2024 – proof that everyone is online, active and in spending mode. But that doesn’t mean freelancers have to sell; they need to connect.
Conclusion: Stay human, stay visible
The holidays are busy. But they also offer plenty of opportunities: to reconnect, to appreciate, and to stand out in meaningful ways. A personal card, thoughtful post or small gesture can remind customers why they love working with you.
You don’t need a large advertising budget. Just heart, consistency and a plan.
Because ultimately, staying top-of-mind is not about marketing, but about relationships. And relationships are the best gift you can give (and receive) as a freelancer.
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