Prep Your Marketing for Q4
Q4 can be a lot, as many of us know.
Between business and personal, there’s so much to do! Holidays, promotions, end-of-year reporting, trying to wrap up loose ends, planning for the new year, end-of-year parties, shopping, etc. It’s sooo easy to slip into overwhelm and burnout. And your marketing? That often get's hit first if you don’t plan ahead.
But I’m here today to hopefully help you avoid that burnout and walk into Q4 feeling confident, prepared, and ready for what’s to come.
With a little prep, you can create a plan that actually works and leaves breathing room for the fun that comes with Q4 too.
Let’s talk about how:
Why Q4 Deserves a Game Plan
First, if you’re asking this question, you must be new… LOL. Q4 is often the highest-converting quarter for businesses. This is due to many things, but some of the top include:
Making last-minute purchases to use up their budgets
Shopping holiday deals and gift guides
Planning for the New Year (hello, goal-setting content)
Looking for partners/vendors/solutions before January hits
So, if you show up strategically, it can be your strongest quarter. BUT, if you go in without a plan? You’re more likely to make reactive decisions, miss key windows, or completely ghost your audience because you’re buried in fulfillment.
Step 1: Review What’s Already Working
Before you plan anything new, do a mini audit. I know, I’m always saying to do audits… but that’s because they’re really important!!! You can’t move forward with clarity unless you know what’s been working and what hasn’t been. That being said, ask yourself:
Which campaigns performed best this year?
This goes beyond post types, this looks at strategic campaigns that have pushed certain messages, reached certain audience groups, etc. Haven’t had any “campaigns”? Maybe Q4 is when you introduce one to see how much more of an impact that can have.
What types of content got the most engagement?
Reels, carousels, graphics, photos? Long posts? Short posts? Ads? Blog posts? Emails?
Which channels actually drove leads or sales?
Instagram? Facebook? TikTok? X? LinkedIn? Your website? Google?
What felt EASY and what felt like pulling teeth?
Q4 is busy enough already, don’t stress yourself out more by doing hard things if you don’t have to.
Build from your strengths and don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to. This is the perfect time of year to recycle old content that performed well.
Step 2: Pick Your Focus
You don’t need 12 holiday promos, a giant giveaway, a lead magnet series, a course launch and a partridge in a pear tree. It may feel like you do, but you don’t. Trust me.
Instead, choose ONE of the following paths to be your primary Q4 focus:
Revenue Driver
Like a holiday sale, pre-orders, or a new service launch - this will look different depending on your business. BUT I’d caution you to remember what I said above, “build from your strengths and don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to.”
Visibility Push
Build brand awareness before the new year. This won’t look like dollars in Q4, but it WILL look like dollars in the new year if you do it well.
List Growth
Push for email subscribers through lead magnets, waitlists for 2026 launches, etc.
Client Experience Boost
Nurture your clients with relationship-focused content that builds retention.
You can always support with other goals, but let just ONE lead the way.
Step 3: Map It Out on a Calendar
Literally. Open a calendar (paper, Google, whatever works for you) and start plotting key dates:
Launch or campaign start/end dates
Holidays or busy weeks (yours and your audience’s)
Travel, school breaks, team PTO
Any major collaborations or events
Once you see it visually, you can pace your content and tasks accordingly. No more “oh shoot, we need to post about that TODAY” moments.
Step 4: Repurpose Like a Pro
What did I say above? “Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to?” That’s right. Now is not the time to create everything from scratch.
Look at your best-performing content from the past 9 months and ask:
Can we refresh this with updated info or visuals?
Can we turn that blog post into a carousel or Reel?
Can we repost something seasonal that’s still relevant?
This will be especially easy if you’ve been pulling monthly reports and looking at quarterly trends all year. You’ve already done the hard work, so let it keep working for you.
Step 5: Build Buffer Time Into Your Workflow
This is the step most people skip… and regret.
When planning content or campaigns, especially during Q4, ask:
What’s the realistic deadline, not the ideal one?
What can be batched ahead of time?
Where can I pad time for reviews, edits, or holiday chaos?
If you’re managing your own marketing, this is especially important. And if you’ve got a team (or an agency like us 😉), now’s the time to clarify roles and timelines.
Step 6: Prep Now, So You Can Breathe Later
Your goal shouldn’t be to have it all done tomorrow. Or even next week (unless you’re reading this the week before Q4 starts). It’s to take small steps now that save you big stress later.
And, before I continue, I want to remind you too that though trends and current events do bring results, if you don’t have time for them during Q4, don’t stress! One quarter without hopping on trends won’t break you, I promise.
So, here are a few things you CAN tackle in the next 2-3 weeks, before Q4 begins:
Write your Q4 email sequences or newsletters
Pre-schedule any obvious posts (Black Friday, Giving Tuesday, etc.)
Update your website banners or product pages for the holiday season
Prep any ad creative and budget ahead of time
Future you will be grateful, I promise.
Your Q4 Plan Should Serve You, Too
You don’t need to be everywhere. You don’t need to match anyone else’s pace. You don’t have to hop on trends.
If you’re building a marketing plan that gets results and protects your energy, that’s a win. Because the best Q4 strategy is one that helps you end the year strong, but not exhausted.
Need help mapping it out? Want to just get marketing Q4 completely off your plate this year? Book a free discovery call and let’s build your custom Q4 game plan together.
FAQs
Q: Is it too late to plan for Q4 if I’m reading this in September or October?
A: Nope! While earlier prep is helpful, the best time to start is now. Focus on what’s most doable with the time you have.
Q: Should I run ads during Q4 or is it too competitive?
A: Ads can be more expensive in Q4 due to demand, but they can still work great with the right targeting and messaging. Just make sure your offer is strong and your budget is clear.
Q: How much should I post during Q4?
A: Quality over quantity. Don’t feel pressure to post daily—focus on posts that tie into your main goals and repurpose where you can.
Q: What if I don’t have a promo or product to sell?
A: Use Q4 to nurture your audience, grow your list, or position yourself for a strong Q1. It’s not all about sales—visibility and trust matter too.