Christmas Video Ideas for Small Business: What to Post and When

It is the second week of December.

You open Facebook and see the shop down the street posted a cheerful holiday video.

You have posted nothing.

Not because you do not care.

Because you have no idea what to make, and no time to make it.

Here is the short answer. The best Christmas video ideas for small business owners are simple: a thank-you to your customers, your holiday hours, a gift card or last-booking reminder, and a warm greeting on Christmas week. Post the first one in late November and the greeting about a week before December 25.

That is most of it.

The rest of this guide is the detail.

Which video fits your trade, what each one should say, and the exact dates to post in 2026.

Why post a Christmas video at all?

Because December is when people are already looking.

The National Retail Federation says holiday sales in November and December have averaged about 19% of total retail sales over the last five years.

That is almost a fifth of the year packed into two months.

And shoppers start early.

The same NRF page says roughly two in five holiday shoppers start browsing and buying before November.

So a video that goes up on December 23 has missed a lot of the season.

Here is the good news for small shops.

In the American Express Shop Small survey, 86% of consumers said they are likely to shop small during the holiday season.

People want to pick you.

They just need to see you.

A short Christmas video is one of the easiest ways to show up in their feed without sounding like an ad.

What Christmas video should my small business post first?

Start with a thank-you.

It is the easiest one to get right.

It does not need a sale, a deal or a deadline.

It just says: we saw you this year, and we are grateful.

Keep it short, around 15 to 30 seconds.

Put your logo on it.

Say one warm line, then your name.

That is enough.

Why this one first?

Because it earns attention you can spend later.

When your gift card video shows up two weeks later, people already feel good about you.

Get your branded Christmas video for $6.95 → You send your logo and brand colors, and we make a 3D animated Christmas video with voiceover and music, ready to post.

What are the best Christmas video ideas for a small business?

I have read the top-ranking lists for this search.

Most give you 10 to 30 ideas.

The trouble is, half of them assume you have a film crew, a product line and a marketing team.

Wave.video suggests things like a countdown, a holiday facts video and a giveaway.

LocaliQ adds a year in review and a staff shout-out.

Those are fine.

But a plumber does not need a gift guide.

So here are the seven I would actually pick for a local business.

1. The thank-you video. Warm, short, no selling.
2. The holiday hours video. When you are open, closed and on call.
3. The gift card video. A simple nudge for last-minute shoppers.
4. The "book before the rush" video. For services with limited December slots.
5. The Christmas greeting. Posted about a week before December 25.
6. The year-end thank-you to your team. Only if your team is happy to be seen.
7. The New Year hello. A short "see you in 2027" to close the season.

You do not need all seven.

Two or three done well beats seven done in a panic.

When should I post my Christmas videos in 2026?

This is the part the top lists skip.

They tell you what to post.

They do not tell you when.

Here are the key dates for this season.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026.

Black Friday is November 27.

Small Business Saturday is November 28, 2026.

Cyber Monday is November 30.

Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25.

New Year's Day 2027 is a Friday, January 1.

So here is a simple calendar.

Notice something?

The Christmas greeting goes out about a week early, not on Christmas Day.

On December 25, many people are with family, not looking for local businesses.

A week out, they are still planning, shopping and booking.

If you only post one video all season, post it in that December 14 to 18 window.

Christmas video ideas by business type

Here is where the generic lists fall short.

Every trade has a different December.

So here is what I would post, trade by trade.

These are suggestions, not results from any one business.

Dentist

December is often busy for dental offices.

Some patients try to use their insurance benefits before the year ends, if their plan resets in January.

So your best video is the "book before the year ends" reminder.

Follow it with your holiday hours and a warm greeting.

Skip the candy cane jokes.

Everyone makes them.

Plumber or HVAC

Say you run a small plumbing company.

Your December worry is a frozen pipe or a dead furnace on Christmas Eve.

Your customers share that worry.

So post your holiday hours and emergency number in a friendly video.

Then a greeting that says, "We hope you never need us this Christmas. But if you do, we are here."

That line does two jobs at once.

Restaurant or cafe

Your videos are about dates and seats.

Post your holiday party booking video early, in mid-November.

Then gift cards in early December.

Then your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day hours.

Diners hate showing up to a locked door.

Salon or barber

Holiday parties mean people want to look good.

Post a "book your holiday appointment" video in mid-November.

Gift cards work well here too, because a haircut or treatment is an easy gift.

Then a thank-you greeting close to Christmas.

Gym or fitness studio

Here is the honest truth.

December is not your big month.

January is.

So use Christmas for warmth, not selling.

Post a thank-you to members, your holiday hours, and a gift card for a friend or family member.

Save the big "new year, new you" push for the last week of December.

Real estate agent

Most people are not buying homes on Christmas week.

But they are thinking about next year.

A Christmas greeting keeps your name in front of past clients and neighbors.

That is the whole job.

Send it by email too, not just social.

Law firm or accountant

Keep it calm and short.

A simple greeting, your office hours, and a thank-you to clients.

For accountants, a gentle "year-end is close" reminder can work well in early December.

No jokes about taxes.

Clients have heard them all.

Retail shop

You get the most out of Christmas video.

Post the thank-you on Small Business Saturday, November 28.

Then gift cards, late-night shopping hours, and a final "last chance" reminder on December 21 to 23.

Gift cards shine in that last week because nobody has to worry about shipping.

Should I make a Christmas video myself or pay for one?

It depends on what you have more of: time or money.

If you have a good phone, a steady hand and a free afternoon, you can film a simple thank-you yourself.

Real faces are warm.

That is a real advantage.

But here is what most owners find.

December is your busiest month.

The video you meant to film in November gets pushed to "next week."

Then it is December 24.

A done-for-you video fixes that one problem.

It does not fix everything.

A branded animated video will not replace your face, your staff or your shop.

It will not turn a slow month into a record month on its own.

What it does is make sure something good goes out, on time, with your logo on it.

Some owners do both.

A phone video of the team, plus a polished branded greeting.

That mix works well.

What should a small business Christmas video say?

Less than you think.

Here is a simple shape that works for almost any trade.

• First line: A warm wish. "Merry Christmas from all of us at..."
• Second line: One real thing. Thanks, your hours, or a reminder.
• Last line: Your name and how to reach you.

That is it.

Three lines, 15 to 30 seconds.

What should you leave out?

Long lists of services.

Hard-sell prices in a greeting video.

Anything you would not say to a customer's face at the counter.

If your customers celebrate different holidays, make a "Happy Holidays" version too.

It costs you nothing and nobody feels left out.

Where should I share my Christmas video?

Everywhere your customers already look.

Facebook and Instagram are the obvious ones.

But do not stop there.

Put it at the top of your holiday email.

Share it as a post on your Google Business Profile.

Add it to your website's home page for December.

One video, four places.

That is how a small shop gets big reach without a big budget.

According to the same Shop Small survey, 98% of small businesses now market through social channels.

So your competitors are posting.

The question is whether you show up next to them.

If you want a simple weekly rhythm to fit this in, our guide on how often to post on social media covers it.

And if you want the whole season planned, try this social media content calendar guide.

How can I get a branded Christmas video without the work?

This is what our Holiday Video Club does.

You send your logo and brand colors.

Add a custom message if you want one.

We make the video.

It is professional 3D animation with voiceover and music, with your logo and brand colors on it.

Your first branded video arrives within 48 hours of sending your logo.

After that, each holiday video arrives at least 7 days before the holiday.

So your Christmas video lands in time for that December 14 to 18 window.

You get 15+ branded holiday videos a year, not just Christmas.

It costs $6.95 for the first month, then $39 a month.

Cancel anytime, and revisions are included.

There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee on the first month.

We have made 14,000+ videos for 13,500+ businesses since 2013.

What it is not: we do not film at your shop, and we do not post for you.

You get the finished video, and you share it where you like.

Get your branded Christmas video for $6.95 → Your logo and colors on a 3D animated holiday video with voiceover and music, first one within 48 hours.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Christmas video idea for a small business?

A short thank-you video is the safest and best first choice.

Thank customers for the year, show your logo, and add your name.

Then add a holiday hours video and a gift card reminder if they fit your trade.

When should a small business post its Christmas video?

About a week before Christmas works best for a greeting.

In 2026, that means December 14 to 18.

Post "book now" and thank-you videos earlier, from mid to late November.

How long should a Christmas video be for social media?

Keep it between 15 and 30 seconds.

That is long enough for a warm line and your name.

Short videos are easier to watch to the end on a phone.

Do I need to show my face in a Christmas video?

No.

A branded animated greeting works fine on its own.

That said, a quick phone clip of you or your team can add warmth.

Many owners post one of each.

Should a service business like a plumber post Christmas videos?

Yes.

Service businesses have a clear December message: your holiday hours and how to reach you in an emergency.

Pair that with a warm greeting and you look reliable when people need it most.

Is it too late to make a Christmas video in December?

Not if you move fast.

A simple greeting can still go out in the week before Christmas.

Just skip the early-season ideas and focus on hours, gift cards and a warm thank-you.

The short version

• Start with a thank-you video, then add hours and gift cards.
• Post your Christmas greeting about a week early, around December 14 to 18.
• Match the video to your trade, not a generic list.
• Share one video in four places: social, email, Google and your website.
• Two or three videos done on time beat seven done in a panic.