Start creating around six weeks before the event and begin publishing two to three weeks out. Seasonal searches spike well before the date itself, so early content gets discovered while the algorithm still has time to push it.
Blend two to three seasonal tags (like #christmasgifts) with your usual niche tags. The seasonal tags tap into the spike in seasonal browsing, while your niche tags keep the content relevant to the right audience.
Don’t let the momentum die. Post a follow-up or recap, repurpose your best seasonal piece as evergreen content, and save what performed into a swipe file so next year’s campaign is faster to plan.