Bring out the cranberry sauce and yams, Thanksgiving is just around the corner. People on Twitter are a festive bunch — so much that last year alone, there were more than 23.5 million Tweets related to #Thanksgiving.*

Holidays are a great time to join the excitement and increase Tweet engagements. But for some small and medium-sized businesses, it can seem like a daunting opportunity. How do you join these conversations in a way that feels authentic?

Today we’re sharing six things to Tweet about this Thanksgiving, illustrated with examples from businesses. By following and experimenting with these approaches, you won’t just be inserting yourself into the conversation for the sake of it; you’ll share your brand, add value, and express your personality in a genuine way.

Connect the moment to your product

You don’t have to sell turkey or pumpkins to connect with people; all sorts of businesses can make the most of#Thanksgiving. Get creative and think of different ways your product can relate to the holiday. 

#ProTip: Add seasonal hashtags such as #Thanksgiving, #grateful, or #turkey on relevant content to connect your Tweet to the broader conversation. By adding the hashtag, it increases the chance someone interested in the event will engage with your Tweet and discover your business.

Cupcake shop @sprinkles gets creative and features their products in a festive shot.

Share tips and tricks

People are looking for content that will help them get ready for the holiday. Highlight your expertise by Tweeting Thanksgiving inspired tips and tricks.

Hair salon @SalonEM_boston shared their beauty expertise by Tweeting Thanksgiving hairstyle ideas.

Run a contest

Giveaways are an impactful way to increase engagement and gather user generated content. For example, interior design company @NousDecor used a contest to encourage their followers to Tweet photos.

Tweet your holiday hours

Does your business have different hours during the holidays? If so, be sure to let your followers know.

Ice cream shop @CREAMNATION shows gratitude and updates their community on their holiday hours. 

Run a poll

Twitter Polls are an easy way to interact with your audience, get creative, and understand people’s opinions. 

Coffee shop @Wrecking_Ball uses a poll paired with emojis to be part of the holiday conversation in an engaging way.

Thank your followers with a special discount

Thank your community for their support and build follower loyalty by sharing an exclusive sale, discount, or free shipping.

Beauty company @SigmaBeauty thanked their followers with free shipping.

Have more questions? Follow @TwitterBusiness for more tips on seasonal marketing, or check out the basics on how to create a campaign. 

*Source: Twitter internal data