Big brands have done it again. This year’s holiday marketing campaigns are truly special. These ads bring comfort in uncertain times and share the holiday spirit while driving end-of-year sales.&nbsp;

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Take a look at our six favorite ads this season and learn how the Stirling Brandworks team can help you make 2024 your brand’s best year yet.

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1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znIyaGS5BNc">Coca-Cola’s The World Needs More Santas</a>

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Coca-Cola has long been a favorite holiday brand. After all, the Coca-Cola Santa is one of the most iconic Christmas images ever. Their recent campaign video opens with hundreds of Santas going above and beyond, delivering gifts to children on Christmas Eve and helping people in the community.

As the commercial comes to a close, the audience learns that these aren't just any Santas -- they are regular people letting their "inner Santa" shine through by engaging in acts of kindness and showing generosity to others. The message Coca-Cola sends with this creative ad is that the Christmas spirit lives inside everyone and only needs the opportunity to come out.

Coca-Cola has leaned into its heritage brand imagery to create a thoughtful and heartwarming campaign that inspires everyone to do something good this holiday season.

2. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMH5-IHrras">Apple’s Fuzzy Feelings</a>

Fuzzy Feelings is Apple's three-and-a-half-minute holiday film to advertise the iPhone 15 Pro. The film features a woman creating a stop-motion film to express her frustration about working under a terrible boss. The woman records the doll version of her boss getting electrocuted, covered by a snow plow, and even catching on fire.

But when the woman is gifted a pair of hand-knitted Christmas socks from the boss and sees him eating dinner alone, her feelings about him change. In the next frame, the woman is seen recording the doll version of her boss once again, only this time with a beautiful Christmas tree and a brand-new puppy. At the end of the short film, the woman again stumbles on the boss eating alone, but this time, she decides to join him.&nbsp;

We’re not crying, you’re crying. This ad showcases the real human stories around the product without focusing on it. The end product is a powerful tale of how hard it is to be human, how empathy can change lives, and how creative we can all be when armed with the latest iPhone.&nbsp;

3. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8o3dYbahM">Duracell’s Bunny Saves Christmas</a>

This year's Duracell ad features their pink rabbit mascot (yes, let’s remember Energizer has one too, despite many legal battles) on a mission to help find Rudolph's nose after it loses power and Santa's sleigh drops out of the sky.

Bunny switches the batteries in the reindeer's nose with Duracell Optimum, and soon, Santa is back at it with Rudolph shining brighter than ever and leading the way. Bunny also leaves plenty of batteries for the children’s toys, reminding audiences to stock up before the big day.

Like many brands on this list, Duracell plays to its seasonal strengths in its holiday advertising. The company knows batteries are necessary for many Christmas toys and electronics, and many holiday moments have been ruined by parents who forgot to get batteries ahead of time. This ad is a great way to emphasize this brand’s staple holiday presence.

4. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAGrDhVTXnA">Sam’s Club’s Being Together</a>

Sam's Club is a popular place to shop for large quantities needed for great holiday meals. The ad features a family driving to a holiday gathering with a gift box in the backseat. As the car maneuvers the road, the box slides back and forth. The ad cuts to another scene where a table and chairs inside a festive dining room are sliding across the floor, following the same movements as the box.

When the family gets to their destination and opens the box, they see their family seated at the dining table, ready to share Christmas dinner. The message here is that the real gift is family togetherness.

Sam’s Club knows that it makes more money from holiday dinners and get-togethers with food and drinks than from gifts purchased for giving. The emphasis on family time inspires audiences to pay less attention to what they’re wrapping and more attention to what they’re serving and who they’re breaking bread with. Sam’s has strategically positioned itself at the forefront of holiday meal-making with this new approach.

5.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmF0bOCa_4Q"> Amazon’s Joy Ride</a>

Amazon decided to celebrate friendships instead of family this year in a unique and heartwarming story that transcends time. The commercial begins with three older women sitting on a park bench as they watch the neighborhood children go sledding and play in the snow.

Inspired by the holiday cheer, one of the ladies orders sled seat cushions from Amazon for herself and her friends. When the package arrives, the ladies again rediscover their youth by sledding down the hill, proving there's no age limit for experiencing joy.

The lighthearted message of this year’s Amazon ad is directly targeted toward adult audiences who might need a reminder to experience childlike wonder. This ad uses classic imagery to recreate the feeling of being a kid at Christmas, driving home nostalgia and offering new ideas for the seasonal fun.

6. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvEQU2sd53U">LEGO’s Bringing a Dragon to a Snowball Fight</a>

LEGOs are a popular Christmas toy for children, and the company often puts out its strongest creative just before the holidays. This year's advertisement drums up excitement by depicting a massive snowball fight with favorite LEGO characters like Yoda and Olaf from Frozen, among others. The message behind this fun seasonal marketing campaign is that LEGO uses the power of play to create meaningful memories and transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

This exciting ad generates just the right amount of holiday cheer for adults and children alike. With appearances from family favorites, this year’s marketing campaign has a little bit of something for everyone.

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Make 2024 Your Best Year Yet with Stirling Brandworks

As 2023 comes to a close, now is a great time to get started on a brand new marketing strategy designed to reach your target audience and generate maximum results.&nbsp;

Connect with us today to learn how we can take your advertising to the next level with a custom-tailored, multi-layer marketing plan.

The 6 Best Holiday Marketing Campaigns of 2023