It’s almost time for Thanksgiving…
Hopefully, most of us will be able to spend that time with those we care about most, like family, friends, or our best co-workers. however, before that happens, we keep our fingers crossed that it does. happen: we can use this time to create truly thoughtful and warm thanksgiving emails.
And there’s good news for small businesses: Thanksgiving email campaigns can boost revenue, too. The National Retail Federation predicts that shoppers will spend an average of $997.73 over Thanksgiving weekend. And this year, nearly 2 million more people than last year are expected to shop from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday.
So, to cash in on the spending spree, your Thanksgiving emails need to capture a customer’s interest and arrive in their inbox at the perfect time.
And there’s a big difference between how you should send your best wishes to your boss and how you should write to your loved ones.
But no matter who you send a thank you email to, there’s one part that will stay the same: a thank you message.
So, without further ado, here’s how to write a truly heartwarming Thanksgiving email for different categories of people and situations.
1. “happy thanksgiving” to your customers (or clients)
There’s no doubt that your customers will have a full inbox on Thanksgiving.
Brands that have your email will compete for attention in your inbox and send the same thank you message. To stand out, your email marketing campaign needs to tick a few boxes:
- a subject line that entices them to open it.
- clear message that you are sending it for thanksgiving.
- mention your promotion/discount, if I am offering.
1. a tempting subject line
Possibly the most important part of your Thanksgiving email campaign will be your subject line. you need to entice your customers enough to open it.
For example, you can combine an offer + a fun emoji to make your email stand out. here’s one from the promo:
did you notice the turkeys? 🦃
It’s a nice touch to catch your customers’ attention and highlight that it’s a Thanksgiving email.Here are more Thanksgiving email subject lines you could use:
- getting ready for thanksgiving dinner?
- when you wake up from your food coma: we have a deal for you!
- who’s ready for a second? thanksgiving sale starts now!
- staying in or out on thanksgiving?
- Extra 10% off early bird only! let’s celebrate the day 🦃!
- who are you thankful for?
- thanks for you: a special holiday message from team xyz
- what are you thankful for ? ?
- 🎉 say thank you with 30% off everything
- our way of saying thank you
- thanks to you, we’ve done all of this!< /li
- gobble gobble! Open up to a feast of savings!
- a deal so good you’ll silence the game
- get these amazing recipes for #friendsgiving
2. clear messages
Next, you need to write a short, sweet and persuasive message. this could include thanksgiving greetings like:
- “I am grateful to have customers like you every day, especially on Thanksgiving.”
- “Working with customers like you is the best part of this job. I’m counting my blessings this Thanksgiving for being able to do it!”
- “You’re not just a customer to me, you’re a friend I appreciate. happy thanksgiving.“
- “our company is blessed to call you a customer and we appreciate your business. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!”
These short messages get to the point, but they also convey the true meaning of thanksgiving: appreciation. if you have repeat customers, you can thank them with a larger message.
Remember, your customers will have other things to do with their day (hello, pumpkin pie! 🥧), so don’t drag it out too long.
Sending your email marketing campaign before your customers sit down for Thanksgiving dinner also prepares your business for another important day: Black Friday.
here is a good example fracture that follows these best practices.
and one more, which uses user-generated content to make your message more authentic and interesting.
3. mention a promotion if you are offering one
With shoppers spending more than $9 billion on Black Friday sales last year, sending a Thanksgiving email is the perfect opportunity to cash in on the holiday season.
here is an example of a thanksgiving email template from sakara:
We love it because it covers all the bases. Thank farmers, chefs, team members, and customers in a personalized way with individual paragraphs.
Sending a joint Thanksgiving email like this makes customers feel special and an intimate part of the company.
and the handwritten signature of the CEOs is a nice touch: it makes it even more obvious that the company wants to say thank you.
This would also be a good place to offer customers an exclusive Thanksgiving offer or promotion so they know we appreciate their repeat business.
Here are two examples of companies taking this opportunity to say thank you and also grow their business.
2. “happy thanksgiving” to immediate family members
If you’re not sharing a feast with members of your immediate family, sending an email to your loved ones on Thanksgiving is a nice touch to show your appreciation.
Depending on the family member you email, you can send:
- a heartfelt message showing love and warmth for the holidays
- a message with a bit of humor (cheesy thanksgiving poems, anyone?)
Either way, your wishes should be filled with gratitude and appreciation for your loved ones.
1. a sincere message
for example, a heartfelt email to a parent might look like this:
The subject line clearly shows what the email is about, and the copy shows your parents how much you appreciate them.
You can also sign off by wishing them well for the coming year if you don’t live in the same city as them, as it shows that you’ll be thinking of them after Thanksgiving, too.
2. a humorous message
If you want to send a holiday email with a little more sass, Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion. after all, the holidays are all about filling our bellies with food and laughter! broadcast the thanksgiving holiday theme through your email:
Because this one is less serious, it’s best sent to the inboxes of your siblings and cousins (or aunts and uncles who like to laugh at parties!)
3. “happy thanksgiving day” for close friends
don’t forget your friends at thanksgiving.
While you’ll probably be spending time partying with family, a quick email to your closest friends will let them know you appreciate them. express’ kaisha langton suggests adding a quote to your thanksgiving message, like this one from henry van dyke:
“gratitude is the inner feeling of goodness received. gratitude is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the follow-up to that momentum.”
or, if your friend lives in a different zip code, you can add a sentence like this:
“Our homes may be far apart, but our hearts are as close as ever.”
Just like the email you send to your immediate family, this one will depend on your relationship with your friend. don’t be afraid to inject some humor or poetry if that’s what interests them.
And if you haven’t talked to the friend in a while, but still want to express your appreciation, you can add sentiments like this:
“There were times when I forgot to thank you for being there for me. I take advantage of this day to tell you how special you are and how great my life has become thanks to you. have a memorable thanksgiving.”
mix and match your sentiments with some heartfelt emojis to make your final message look like this:
4. “Happy Thanksgiving” to your co-workers
You’ll want your thank you messages to your colleagues to remain professional yet charming.
Like the other examples, the email you send to your co-workers depends on the relationship you have with them.
Is the relationship serious or fun?
do you rely on back and forth memes to get you through the day?
Do they make your days at your desk bearable?
Think of any quirks about your relationship that you can add to the email to make it more special. For example, if you both like to share sweets together in the break room, highlight that:
5. “happy thanksgiving” email to your boss
Don’t be afraid to show gratitude to your boss at Thanksgiving.
In fact, reaching out to them at Thanksgiving is important because, as their boss, they often give people feedback and praise. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to return the favor.
Unlike emailing your co-workers, a thank you message to your boss should be more formal. you can opt for a short message, like:
- Happy Thanksgiving! I thank you so much for making our office a fun, exciting and encouraging place to work. Have a blessed weekend with your family, full of good food and laughter!
- Although you are always thanking us for our work, it is up to us to thank you and Happy Thanksgiving. (your name), we truly appreciate your support, encouragement, and guidance. you make this a blessed place to work, and your mentorship helps us become better at our roles. Happy Thanksgiving!
Or, if you really want to score some points, you can structure a longer, more heartfelt email that highlights the great job your boss does for the company, like this:
6. “happy thanksgiving” to your newsletter subscribers
Even if you don’t offer special deals over Thanksgiving weekend, send a message to your newsletter subscribers.
At a minimum, your subscribers will know you’re thinking about them during the holiday period. you can:
- express gratitude and appreciation to loyal subscribers
- re-engage inactive subscribers
- hook your audience into a follow up after thanksgiving
nataly birch of designmodo says thanksgiving is an opportunity for businesses to bring some holiday vibes to a contact’s inbox and missing out is an unfortunate slip.
She recommends not spending too much time trying to reinvent the wheel, and instead stick to culture and traditions. the best tips from her are:
- segmenting your audience to reach your most engaged subscribers
- using illustrations like acorns and pinecones to emphasize the Thanksgiving theme
- timing the send so you don’t interrupt your subscribers’ celebrations
Here’s how the charitable build helps spread Thanksgiving cheer among your subscribers:
The email not only shares how grateful buildon is for the support of its subscribers, but also mentions the success of the charity. By doing so, it’s easy for the subscriber to see how you’ve directly helped train students around the world.
7. “happy thanksgiving” for your partner
Wishing your partner a Happy Thanksgiving in an email can be a heartfelt way to prepare for the rest of the holiday weekend.
hannah schneider of elite daily says thanksgiving is such a busy time that finding time to share feelings with your partner can be a challenge.
says that if you don’t know what to say to your partner, start with the obvious: that you love, care, respect, and value your partner. For writing a heartfelt Thanksgiving email, Schneider’s advice is:
- Make a list of the things you appreciate about your partner. Whether it’s because of their talents, love of family, or work ethic, let your partner know why you appreciate them.
- If you have some lovey-dovey photos, add them to the email. As cheesy as it is, a picture really can say a thousand words on special holidays like Thanksgiving
Once you put all the pieces together, you should receive a heartwarming email that looks something like this:
Are you ready to write the ultimate Thanksgiving email?
The secret to a successful Thanksgiving email is knowing your audience.
You shouldn’t be sending the same Thanksgiving email to your partner and your boss (duh!). But it’s the smallest details within an email, like highlighting a personal trait you admire or highlighting loyal customers, that can make all the difference.
but there are certain topics that should be a staple in any thanksgiving email. be honest, appreciative, and appreciative. oh, and a turkey emoji or two won’t hurt either! 🦃
and if you’re looking for a tool to help you say thank you to your audience the right way, go ahead and try getresponse for free!
This article was originally written in September 2020, but was updated in November 2021 to ensure accuracy and completeness.