The Essential Holiday PR Playbook For Your Practice

The holiday season offers the perfect opportunity for dental and orthodontic practices to connect with patients, referral partners, and the community while boosting visibility and creating a memorable brand experience.

Here’s a month-by-month guide to help you plan easy, impactful holiday PR activities through social media, in-office events, and professional outreach.

September: Planning & Preparation

September is all about laying the groundwork for your holiday marketing and PR efforts. This month, focus on organizing your content calendar, preparing professional outreach materials, and teasing upcoming holiday fun to build excitement.

Action Items:

• Plan out social media themes and content for the ‘ber months.
  
  
• Begin prepping holiday cards and referral partner gifts.
  
  
• Create a “Countdown to the Holidays” board in the office.
  
  
• Offer fall-themed goodie bags for patients (pumpkin spice chapstick, mini toothbrush kits).

October: Fall Festivities & Early Engagement

October is the perfect time to incorporate fall themes and Halloween fun while educating patients on braces-safe habits. This month sets the stage for a strong holiday presence with interactive content and festive in-office experiences.

Action Items:

• Run a “Fall Smile Tips” series on social media (e.g., candy do’s and don’ts).
  
  
• Host a pumpkin-carving photo contest with prizes.
  
  
• Organize a Halloween Treat Swap for braces-safe goodies.
  
  
• Deliver fall-themed baskets (candles, cider, healthy snacks) to referral partners.

November: Gratitude & Giving Back

November centers on appreciation and community involvement. It’s a great time to thank patients, referral partners, and your team while giving back to local causes.

Action Items:

• Post “Thankful for Our Patients” stories or patient spotlights on social media.
  
  
• Start a Thankful Wall in your office for staff and patients to share gratitude notes.
  
  
• Send handwritten thank-you notes to referral partners.
  
  
• Organize a food or coat drive with raffle incentives for donors.
  
  

December: Holiday Cheer & Celebration

December is your chance to create memorable moments for patients and partners. Think festive office décor, interactive social content, and thoughtful touches to leave a lasting impression going into the new year.

Action Items:

• Launch a 12 Days of Smiles social media series with tips, giveaways, or fun facts.
  
  
• Set up a hot cocoa bar in your office the week before Christmas.
  
  
• Create a holiday photo booth for patients and staff to share online.
  
  
• Deliver holiday treat boxes or coffee gift cards to referral practices.
  
  
• Sponsor or participate in a local holiday event or charity drive.

Quick Content & Marketing Ideas (All Months)

To keep engagement consistent, sprinkle in these quick wins throughout the entire holiday season:

• Braces-friendly holiday recipe posts.
  
  
• "Favorite Holiday Tradition" reels featuring your team.
  
  
• Before-and-after smile features with a "New Year, New Smile" theme.
  
  
• Seasonal treatment tips: traveling with aligners, holiday foods to avoid, etc.
  
  
• Call-to-action on each post: schedule a consultation, refer a friend, or enter a giveaway.

Conclusion: Take the Next Step

The holiday season offers endless opportunities to connect with patients, referral partners, and your community—and the best results come from a strategy tailored to your unique office. Let’s set up a discovery call to dive deeper into ideas specific to your practice so we can help you make this holiday season your most successful one yet.