How to finish the year strong: Marketing and comms tips for the last quarter of the year
As summer winds down and the last quarter of the year approaches, companies often face a mix of excitement and pressure. There’s momentum to maintain, campaigns to wrap up, and holiday strategies to plan. But it’s also the perfect time to pause, reflect, and engage both your team and your audience thoughtfully. Here’s a roadmap from September through December, combining practical actions, content ideas, and a peek into the psychology of your audience and team.
September – Back in Action
Internal action: Conduct a content and campaign audit. Review the highlights from earlier in the year, identify what resonated, and pinpoint areas for quick wins in the final months.
Content ideas:
“Top 3 highlights from our year so far” – recap major launches or milestones.
Customer stories or testimonials collected over summer.
Behind-the-scenes posts of your team returning to work, gearing up for the fall.
Mindset:
Team: Energized after the summer break, ready to set momentum.
B2C clients: Returning to routines, looking for inspiration and guidance.
B2B clients: Planning Q4 initiatives, evaluating trends, and seeking reliable partners.
October – Engage & Experiment
Internal action: Test new approaches. Run a small A/B test on messaging, visuals, or formats to see what resonates best before the high-pressure holiday months.
Content ideas:
How-to guides or tutorials related to your products or services.
Polls or interactive posts to ask your audience what they want for the upcoming season.
Storytelling around company culture, CSR initiatives, or team projects.
Mindset:
Team: Curious and willing to experiment, learning what works.
B2C clients: Engaging with content that offers value or sparks curiosity.
B2B clients: Evaluating solutions for end-of-year projects, testing vendors or collaborators.
November – Prepare & Build Hype
Internal action: Finalize holiday campaigns, special offers, or event plans. Align creative, logistics, and scheduling to ensure a smooth execution.
Content ideas:
Sneak peeks of holiday products or services.
Gift guides or curated lists for your audience.
Employee spotlights to humanize your brand and show the people behind the work.
Mindset:
Team: Focused on detail, anticipating deadlines.
B2C clients: Excited and motivated by early holiday inspiration, looking for solutions or gifts.
B2B clients: Finalizing budgets, prepping end-of-year campaigns, seeking dependable partners.
December – Celebrate & Reflect
Internal action: Conduct a year-end review with your team. Celebrate wins, reflect on lessons learned, and gather insights to improve next year’s strategy.
Content ideas:
Thank-you messages to customers or clients.
“Best of the year” content highlighting milestones or popular products.
Insights or predictions for the next year, positioning your brand as forward-looking.
Mindset:
Team: Reflective, proud, and motivated to set goals for the new year.
B2C clients: Festive, emotional, in a shopping and gifting mindset.
B2B clients: Closing deals, finalizing budgets, valuing trust and reliability.
The last quarter of the year is more than just a rush to finish projects—it’s a chance to reconnect with your team, engage your audience thoughtfully, and set the stage for next year. By combining clear internal actions, creative content ideas, and an understanding of audience psychology, you can finish the year strong while laying the groundwork for even more impactful campaigns ahead.
Need help planning the rest of your year? Reach out for an informal chat, and let’s explore how to make your marketing and communications work smarter, not harder.