‘Tis the Season for Transparency: How Sharing Holiday Moments Builds Your Brand

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year—not just for the cozy vibes, the peppermint mochas, and the excuse to deck the halls of the office with sparkly decor—but because it’s such a golden opportunity for businesses to connect with people in a real, human way.

With over a decade of marketing experience under my belt, I can tell you this: transparency is key, especially during the holidays. Sharing your festive side on social media can humanize your brand, build trust with your audience, and, let’s be real, make you stand out when everyone else is flooding feeds with generic sales pitches.

But let’s take it a step further. Holiday transparency isn’t just about looking fun or festive. It’s about showing your team’s heart and personality—the things that make your company unique.

Why Transparency Around the Holidays Matters

1. It Humanizes Your Brand
   People want to connect with people, not faceless logos. Sharing moments like your team decorating the office, exchanging Secret Santa gifts, or posing in front of an overly ambitious gingerbread house (we’ve all been there) gives your audience a peek behind the curtain.This transparency builds trust because it shows that your company isn’t just about business—it’s about real people with real relationships.
2. It Reflects Your Company Culture
   Whether you realize it or not, your holiday posts are telling a story about your company culture. When you share photos of your office Christmas tree (even if it’s a little lopsided), your team laughing during a holiday lunch, or that one employee wearing the best ugly sweater, you’re showing what it’s like to work at your company.For customers, this makes your brand relatable. For potential recruits? It gives them a glimpse into the kind of environment they could be joining.
3. It Boosts Recruitment Efforts
   Let’s talk about hiring for a second. Today’s job seekers aren’t just looking at job descriptions—they’re stalking your social media to figure out if you’re the kind of company they’d love to work for.By showing your team enjoying the holidays, you’re putting your best foot forward. That gift exchange you’re planning or the catered holiday brunch? Snap a few pics and share them online. It’s an easy way to highlight your values, like appreciation for your team or a focus on work-life balance.

Holiday Content Ideas That Work

So, how can you put all this into action? Here are some ideas that have worked for us—and that you can steal (I won’t tell):

• Decorating the Office: Show off your Christmas office decor! Whether it’s a simple tree with twinkle lights or a full-on North Pole setup, people love to see your space transformed for the season. Bonus points if your team gets involved in the decorating process.
• Holiday Parties: Share candid photos or short videos from your office party. It could be as simple as a pizza-and-soda lunch or a more formal dinner. Either way, these moments show that your team knows how to work hard and celebrate harder.
• Gift Giving: Did you surprise your employees with thoughtful gifts this year? Post about it! A photo of your team opening their presents, even if it’s something as small as a personalized mug, speaks volumes about how much you value them.
• Festive Team Activities: Share photos or stories about any holiday traditions your team participates in, like volunteering, hosting a cookie exchange, or even a friendly snowball fight (if you’re lucky enough to get snow in December!).
• Behind-the-Scenes Prep: Give your audience a sneak peek into what goes into planning your holiday celebrations, from brainstorming themes to setting up decorations.

A Few Do’s and Don’ts for Holiday Transparency

Before you start snapping photos and hitting “post,” let’s go over a quick checklist:

• Do: Keep it authentic. People can spot a staged moment from a mile away.
• Do: Include your team in the process. They’ll feel more engaged and appreciated.
• Don’t: Overshare. Some moments are meant to stay private. Be mindful of your team’s comfort levels and boundaries.
• Don’t: Forget the captions. Use the opportunity to reflect on the year, thank your customers, or share what makes your team special.

Why It’s Worth It

At the end of the day, sharing your holiday moments is more than just a fun way to fill your content calendar. It’s about showing the world who you are as a brand and as a team.

It’s about reminding your audience—and yourself—that behind every product or service, there are real people working hard and celebrating the little things together.

So, go ahead. Decorate that tree, wear that ugly sweater, and snap that photo of your team singing Mariah Carey at the holiday party. Your audience will love getting to know the people behind the brand, and who knows? Your next star employee might be scrolling through your posts right now.

Happy Holidays,
Jenna 🎄