When you think of Easter marketing, you probably picture bright pastel banners, commercials featuring adorable kids on egg hunts, and grocery store shelves overflowing with chocolate bunnies. It makes sense—candy companies, greeting card brands, and retailers selling Easter decor dominate the advertising space around this time. But does that mean other businesses should sit this one out?
Not at all.
Easter is a season of family gatherings, seasonal refreshes, and new beginnings. Shoppers are in a buying mindset, spending on everything from clothing and travel to gifts and home improvements. Even if your business has nothing to do with eggs or bunnies, the holiday presents a valuable marketing opportunity.
The key to running successful Easter ads is knowing how to reach the right audience at the right time and programmatic advertising is the perfect way to do so. Instead of launching broad campaigns and hoping they resonate, programmatic advertising uses digital advertising AI solutions to target specific consumers, optimize campaigns in real time, and ensure ad spend is used effectively.
Whether your goal is brand awareness, website traffic, or direct sales, a data-driven approach increases your chances of success. Not convinced? Here’s why it works.
Easter Spending Trends: A Look at the Numbers
Before diving into how your business can benefit from Easter marketing, let’s talk about the financial side of things. Easter spending in 2024 saw a 6.7% drop from the previous year, landing at $22.4 billion—a noticeable dip, but not a cause for alarm.
Why? Because if you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, Easter spending has steadily increased over the past decade, much like other seasonal shopping events such as the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. Even with a temporary decline, consumer habits indicate that people continue to embrace Easter as a time for spending.
What’s even more telling is that in 2024, the average U.S. consumer planned to spend $177 on Easter-related purchases. While candy and decorations certainly make up a portion of that, spending extends far beyond the holiday aisle. People buy gifts, book vacations, plan special meals, and refresh their wardrobes and homes for the new season.
So, if your business isn’t selling chocolate eggs, don’t assume Easter doesn’t apply to you. The reality is, people are spending, and smart brands know how to position themselves to take advantage of this seasonal boost.
Why Easter Matters to US Hispanics
Hispanic consumers make up a powerful and growing segment of the U.S. market, accounting for nearly 65 million people—close to one-fifth of the population. That’s a massive audience, and when it comes to Easter, this community takes the celebration seriously.
Understanding why Easter holds such importance to Hispanic consumers is both an exercise in cultural appreciation and a smart business. If your brand ignores this group, you’re missing a major opportunity to connect with a loyal, engaged audience.
Faith and Tradition: More Than Just a Holiday
For a significant portion of the Hispanic population, Easter is one of the most important religious holidays of the year. Many observe Semana Santa (Holy Week), which includes a series of traditions leading up to Easter Sunday, such as church services, processions, and family gatherings.
Unlike in some communities where Easter might be more of a secular, candy-driven holiday, for many Hispanic families, it’s a time of reflection, faith, and togetherness.
Due to the cultural and religious significance of Easter, Hispanic consumers are highly engaged. They participate in traditions that include everything from special meals and family reunions to new clothing purchases and home preparations.
Family First: The Heart of the Celebration
If there’s one thing you need to know about Hispanic culture, it’s this: family is everything. Easter celebrations often extend beyond the immediate household, bringing together multiple generations—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more—for large meals, religious observances, and festive activities.
The emphasis on family means that advertising focused on togetherness, nostalgia, and shared experiences will always land well. A campaign that highlights family bonds, holiday traditions, or moments of joy will feel far more relevant to Hispanic consumers than one that simply promotes a seasonal sale.
Spending Habits: A Market You Can’t Ignore
Beyond the cultural and religious importance of Easter, Hispanic consumers have significant spending power. According to Nielsen, this group is one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in the U.S., with an annual buying power of over $2 trillion.
Businesses that recognize these spending patterns can tailor promotions and messaging to align with what Hispanic consumers are already prioritizing during this time.
Easter Campaigns That Work for Any Business
So, you’re onboard with the idea of running an Easter campaign, but you’re scratching your head wondering, “What can my brand offer when there’s not a single bunny or egg in sight?” Worry not—with the right approach, any business can tap into the season’s energy.
Here are some ideas:
1. Giveaways
Easter is the perfect time to get a little extra generous with your audience. Everyone loves free stuff, and Easter is practically begging for promotions that give back because Think of it like the Easter Bunny—except instead of chocolate, you’re delivering value to your audience.
Whether it’s a free product, a discount code, or access to an exclusive event or service, giveaways encourage people to interact with your brand and raise awareness. Plus, they’re shareable—your giveaway could end up in the feeds of potential customers who didn’t even know you existed.
2. Virtual Egg Hunt
Digital engagement is the bread and butter of modern marketing, and gamification is a fun, effective way to keep your customers entertained. Enter the virtual Easter egg hunt for prizes like hidden discounts, special offers, or exclusive content. You can run it on your website, social media, or even through email campaigns, and it adds an extra layer of excitement for your audience.
This strategy turns your usual campaign into an interactive experience. It’s playful, memorable, and can drive people to your online store, ensuring your business stays top-of-mind during a season where competition is fierce.
3. Limited-Time Offers
Urgency is one of the most powerful tools in marketing. And Easter’s short window—just a few days—makes it the perfect excuse to create limited-time offers that pressure customers into taking action.
Urgency taps into the psychological principle of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). When customers believe a product or offer is scarce, they feel a sense of urgency to act quickly before it’s gone. The idea triggers an emotional response that often leads to impulse purchases, as consumers prioritize immediate gratification over waiting.
Be it a discount, a special bundle, or an exclusive deal that disappears at midnight, the promise of temporary scarcity can work wonders.
4. Limited Editions
In Easter, people look forward to seasonal exclusives—and your business can be a part of that trend. Everyone loves the idea of a limited edition, and there’s something exciting about offering Easter-themed products or seasonal packaging.
Maybe you create a special design, a new product, or a service with an Easter twist. People love exclusivity and offering something that feels fresh and temporary adds value to your brand. You’ll make customers feel like they’re experiencing something special and unique.
5. Speaking to the Cultural Aspect of Easter
Sure, Easter is fun and filled with chocolate, but it’s also about renewal, reflection, and togetherness. Families gather, traditions are celebrated, and everyone’s ready for a fresh start.
As a brand, tapping into these emotional and cultural themes can create an authentic connection with your audience. Try tying your campaign into the themes of new beginnings, family bonds, and fresh starts. Use storytelling, video content, or social media campaigns to communicate that you understand what Easter is truly about.
Using Programmatic Advertising for Easter Campaigns
If you’re aiming to level up your Easter campaign, AI programmatic advertising is the way to go. While the term might sound a bit technical, it’s simply a smarter, automated way to ensure ads get seen by your target audience exactly when it counts—no hassle involved.
Here’s how programmatic advertising can work wonders for your Easter promotions:
- Cater to the Right Audience: Programmatic allows you to focus on the customers who will be most interested in your Easter offers. By using behavioral data and demographics, you can make sure your ads are reaching the people who care about your message.
- Real-Time Bidding: Forget about guessing where to place your ads. With programmatic, you can bid for ad space in real-time, ensuring your ads are shown exactly when your audience is most likely to act, all while avoiding wasted budget.
- Adapt and Optimize Quickly: The beauty of programmatic is its ability to adjust on the spot. If a particular tactic isn’t getting results, you can easily modify your campaign, reallocate your budget, or change targeting—all in real-time.
- Track Performance with KPIs: Programmatic lets you monitor your campaign’s success by tracking key performance indicators like click-through rates, conversions, and ROI. As a result, you will be able to make data-driven decisions and fine-tune your campaign for better results throughout the Easter season.
- Multi-Format Compatibility: Whether it’s desktop, connected TV, or mobile campaigns, programmatic advertising ensures your message reaches consumers across platforms.
Curious How Digital Advertising AI Solutions Can Boost Your Campaigns? Let’s Talk!
With programmatic advertising, you can reach the right audience and adjust in real time for your campaigns to have maximum impact. Don’t let your promotions miss the mark—schedule a meeting with our team at KPAI to learn how our programmatic services can elevate your strategy and drive results.
