Last-Minute Copywriting Tips For Thanksgiving

"Let's talk turkey copywriting." - anonymous

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And - shocker - it's a hectic time of the year. As a copywriter, content writer, or content manager, you're probably swamped with briefs, your head swimming with ad variations, brainstorming sessions, etc. AND that's before all the family arrangements, travel plans, and who knows what else is Cooking on your mind. Spending extra time on copywriting and content is the last thing one needs when sidetracked by the holidays and holiday plans. So, here's some last-minute copywriting tips for thanksgiving.

A Go Pro Thanksgiving...

When one speaks about "evergreen content," one of the most relatable subjects people can relate to is how to survive the holidays, or in this case: How to survive Thanksgiving, which you, as a copywriter/content writer, can 'parlay' it into 10 useful tips to survive/get through Thanksgiving or 5 life-saving Thanksgiving dinner secrets. Or how about your 2025 Thanksgiving cheatcheat.

Eye catching ad, but...turkey and cigarettes - is that really the best combination?

Make your copywriting funny. It's the holiday season, people want a smile.

Take inspiration for movies:

There's no shortage of Thanksgiving-themed movies, from Home For The Holidays, Plains, Trains and Automobiles to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Misery loves virality:

If turkey, cranberry sauce, and long travel hours are a Thanksgiving staple, then so are Thanksgiving disaster stories. A good dinner disaster story can make people feel a bit better about their holiday travails...

"So for the ad, how about two people in their underwear, one of them carrying a blunderbuss, walking behind a turkey twirling a baton?"

Use Thanksgiving cliches to your copywriting heart's content!

'These maybe corny, but the holiday season is the time to be corny: It's familiar, it's comforting, and, used properly and humorously, can bring a smile to faces - which means it can go viral.

Examples: 'Afraid your presentation will be a turkey?'

'Calories may not count on Thanksgiving...but the clock is ticking on this offer.' 'You should always count your blessings. And your savings.'

'Stuffing is for turkey, not keywords.'

'Discover a new world of...'

'Last chance before this offer sails off...'

'Bet your sweet corn this offer will be gone by 5pm!'

'Feast your living room with a new...'

'Pie makes everybody happy. Well, maybe not everybody...'

This could be an inspiration for a "how to survive Thanksgiving disasters" blog.

Sprinkle historical facts to add flavor - and trivia: One might think that 'John Carver' is a made-up name. But yes, he was the first governor of Plymouth. And if your users can correctly answer that it's a real name, maybe they deserve a 10% discount, or unlock additional content, or another freebie?

And there it is: Thanksgiving multitasking

'You think your Thanksgiving is long? The first one lasted three days!' Here's how to survive it:' Would make for a good 'holiday survival guide.'

And there's plenty of Thanksgiving quotes for inspiration, that you can mix and match, or even quote directly, depending on product. Or, just straight on deliver a creative Thanksgiving message. That works, too!

So, remember - don't squash this opportunity -creative Thanksgiving copywriting is a tradition you don't want to fumble...

To quote author Oscar Wilde, "After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations."

Thanksgiving football isn't quite as the same as it was when it was played on Thanksgiving 1876.