But overlooking Thanksgiving is a mistake. 

The holiday presents multiple opportunities for your broader marketing strategy from thanking loyal customers to getting a head start on your Black Friday sales. 

And don’t feel like you can’t run your own Thanksgiving day sale even if you don’t sell turkeys, cranberry sauce, or pumpkin pie. Over 20% of consumers plan on shopping on Thanksgiving day ¹.

So to help show you how you can make the most of this opportunity here are 10 of the best Thanksgiving email campaigns that will inspire you. 

Why Send Thanksgiving Emails

Sending Thanksgiving emails is an excellent way to connect with your customers and express gratitude for their loyalty and support. It’s a time to appreciate your customers, not just sell to them. By sending a Thanksgiving email, you can:

• Strengthen Your Relationship with Customers: A heartfelt Thanksgiving message can deepen the bond between you and your customers, showing them that you value their support beyond just transactions.
• Show Appreciation for Their Business: Expressing gratitude can go a long way in making your customers feel valued and appreciated, fostering a sense of loyalty.
• Stand Out from the Competition: While many businesses focus solely on Black Friday, a well-crafted Thanksgiving email can help you stand out and capture your customers’ attention.
• Drive Sales and Revenue: A Thanksgiving email can also include special offers or discounts, encouraging customers to make purchases during the holiday season.
• Build Brand Awareness and Loyalty: Consistently engaging with your customers during significant holidays helps build brand awareness and long-term loyalty.

By taking the time to send a thoughtful Thanksgiving email, you can create a positive impression that lasts well beyond the holiday season.

Planning Your Thanksgiving Email Campaign

Planning your Thanksgiving email campaign is crucial to its success. Here are some tips to help you plan:

• Start Early: Begin planning your email campaign at least 2-3 weeks in advance. This gives you ample time to create compelling content, design eye-catching visuals, and schedule your emails.
• Segment Your List: Segment your email list to ensure you’re sending relevant content to the right people. Tailoring your message to different customer segments can increase engagement and effectiveness.
• Personalize Your Message: Use personalization to make your message more relevant and engaging. Address your customers by name and tailor the content to their preferences and past interactions with your brand.
• Use a Clear and Concise Subject Line: Craft a subject line that grabs attention and encourages opens. A clear and concise subject line can make a significant difference in your email open rates.
• Use a Compelling Email Design: Ensure your email design reflects your brand and is easy to read. A visually appealing email with a clear layout can enhance the overall user experience and drive better results.

Now, comes the difficult part. How to actually write a good Thanksgiving message.

How to write a good Thanksgiving message

We get it – Thanksgiving is a time to put sales on hold and focus on gratitude. Instead of promoting products, you’re celebrating your customers, partners, or loved ones. It might sound challenging, but a heartfelt Thanksgiving message is simple when you focus on sincerity. Here’s how to nail a memorable Thanksgiving message.

There are five major pointers you must bear in mind:

1. Focus on the Season of Giving
2. Make it Sound Genuine, Heartfelt, and Authentic
3. Choose a Good Thanksgiving Email Subject Line
4. Incorporate Visuals for a Warm Touch
5. Building Automation Workflows

1. Focus on the Season of Giving

Thanksgiving is a time of generosity, and your message can reflect this spirit. It’s not just about saying thank you; it’s about showing that gratitude through action. 

Consider including a small token of appreciation, such as a discount code, exclusive access to content, or a charitable contribution in your recipient’s name. This not only enhances the value of your message but also reinforces the idea that you’re giving back.

2. Make it Sound Genuine, Heartfelt, and Authentic

While you might not be able to bring pumpkin pie to their door, you can deliver authenticity to their inbox. Instead of focusing on your business or products, craft a Thanksgiving message that celebrates your audience as the hero of your story. Let them know why you appreciate them and how grateful you are for their support.

3. Choose a Good Thanksgiving Email Subject Line

You already know that a great subject line can make all the difference in your email open rates. Thanksgiving messages are no exception. Craft a few engaging options and A/B test to see what resonates best with your audience.

4. Incorporate Visuals for a Warm Touch

Including a cozy autumn image, a team photo, or a simple illustration in your Thanksgiving message can help set the mood and make it more visually appealing. This can be especially effective in email messages, where a warm, festive design can draw the eye and make your message feel even more inviting.

Also, consider sharing a behind-the-scenes image of your team celebrating Thanksgiving together, which can humanize your brand and foster a sense of community.

5. Building Automation Workflows

Building automation workflows can help you streamline your email marketing process and save time. Here are some tips to help you build automation workflows:

• Use a Workflow Builder: Utilize a workflow builder to create and manage your automation workflows. This tool can help you design complex email sequences with ease.
• Set Up Triggers: Set up triggers to automate your emails based on specific actions or events. For example, you can send a follow-up email when a customer makes a purchase or abandons their cart.
• Use Conditional Logic: Incorporate conditional logic to personalize your emails and ensure the right people receive the right content. This can help you deliver more relevant and engaging messages to your audience.
• Test and Optimize: Regularly test and optimize your automation workflows to ensure they’re working effectively. Analyze performance metrics and make adjustments as needed to improve results.

Examples of Effective Thanksgiving Emails

Here are some examples of effective Thanksgiving emails:

• A Simple and Heartfelt Message: Expressing gratitude for customers’ loyalty and support can create a strong emotional connection. A sincere “thank you” can go a long way in building customer loyalty.
• A Promotional Email: Offering exclusive deals and discounts to loyal customers can drive sales and show appreciation. Highlighting special offers in your Thanksgiving email can encourage customers to make a purchase.
• A Newsletter: Highlighting the company’s achievements and thanking customers for their support can reinforce your brand’s values and accomplishments. Sharing milestones and successes can make customers feel like they’re part of your journey.
• A Personalized Email: Offering a special promotion or exclusive offer to loyal customers can make them feel valued. Personalization can enhance the relevance and impact of your message.
• A Reactivation Email: Sending a reactivation email to inactive customers can encourage them to re-engage with your brand. Offering a special incentive or reminding them of the benefits of your products or services can reignite their interest.

Now let’s get to the main part. Let’s look at some great Thanksgiving email marketing examples that you can get inspired by.

Casper

This email from Casper shows that you don’t have to sell food to get in on the Thanksgiving action. With a bit of creative thinking, you’ll be able to work your brand into the holiday festivities. 

The message again effectively combines the holiday vibe with the Casper brand which is then completed by the call to action (CTA) of ‘Head to Bed’ at the end.

Like the rest of the email, this is a simple yet engaging CTA that’ll get people clicking through and going on to convert.

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters’ Thanksgiving email provides their customers with a sneak peek of their upcoming Black Friday offers. 

This makes the email more of an ‘email sent on Thanksgiving’ rather than a ‘Thanksgiving email’. That said, the dressed-up Thanksgiving turkey in their brand style keeps the email holiday-themed. 

As you’ve likely been sending plenty of Black Friday emails in the days and weeks leading up to it, making your final Black Friday-eve email Thanksgiving-themed is a nice way of breaking things up a bit.

Uber

This Thanksgiving Day email from Uber is a terrific example of a brand putting themselves in their customers’ shoes, identifying their pain points, and providing a solution.

In this case, it’s people needing to get to the airport on time to catch their flights to visit family and friends. Uber’s solution to which is to pre-book one of their rideshare cars. 

Your own Thanksgiving campaigns will be much more effective if you’re able to do the same by thinking about how your products or services address a common pain point people run into over the holiday period. 

As for the rest of Uber’s email, notice how they don’t push people to book an Uber right away. Instead simply inviting them to see “how it works”. This CTA isn’t overbearing and will likely get people clicking through to see how their pre-book feature works even if they aren’t flying this Thanksgiving. 

The simple animated background keeps the email design interesting and engaging as well. 

Artifact Uprising

Artifact Uprising’s holiday email follows a popular Thanksgiving campaign strategy which is to simply express gratitude and thanks with their customers. 

Instead of trying to funnel customers to a product landing page or sale, sharing a heartfelt Thanksgiving message will help build up brand loyalty which will last long after the holidays have gone.

After many years of selling high-quality photo books, Artifact Uprising understands that their products have an emotional value beyond simply storing photos. And this understanding of the power of emotion in marketing is evident in this email too. 

With the mayhem of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales literally just a day away, there is value in taking Thanksgiving off to connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Betterment

Like the holiday email from Uber above, this campaign from Betterment taps into various frustrations people have over the holidays. Albeit in a more playful way. 

For every awkward Thanksgiving dinner conversation topic, Betterment has brought things back to their product. 

This is obviously tongue-in-cheek but makes for a simple and fun Thanksgiving email to their customers. And while it’s not really a “Thanksgiving convo survival guide”, the subject line is bound to get people opening the email anyway. 

Ibotta 

This example from Ibotta is a good example of a sales-oriented Thanksgiving email. 

While it contains a simple happy Thanksgiving message, the offer is front and center before sharing the customer’s unique referral code and the CTA button. 

The whole email itself is short and sweet to increase the likelihood of their customers clicking through before they get distracted. 

The email design is also clean and simple with only slices of pie in the background to tie it into the holiday sale. This provides a good template to base your own Thanksgiving sales emails on.

eWatches

eWatches’ email is your typical example of a Thanksgiving sale campaign. 

It’s got everything you’d expect: A large “Happy Thanksgiving” title, a large sale offer, a clear CTA to “Save Now” and some examples of products on sale. 

If you’re going to run your own Thanksgiving Day sale, the other element you might want to copy from this example is the countdown timer at the top. 

These HTML countdown timers reinforce the message that the sale is for a limited time only and add a sense of urgency. This in turn gets customers clicking through to your store more as they don’t want to miss out on your offer. 

Sakara

This Thanksgiving email from Sakara is another good example of one that simply expresses gratitude and appreciation. 

What’s nice about this particular email is how it gives thanks to all the different people involved with the business including their employees and ending by thanking their customers. 

Again, these kinds of email marketing campaigns that are purely dedicated to spreading the spirit of the holiday season might not drive sales right away, but they’ll have a lasting positive impact on your brand. 

Brandless

Brandless is another business that understands the importance of sharing a Thanksgiving message with their customers. 

What separates this email from the similar examples on this list however is how they’ve included user-generated content (UGC). This takes the form of images from customers shared on Instagram with their branded hashtag.

Not only is this a nice way to reinforce the happy Thanksgiving message but is also a great way of providing social proof to potential future customers.  

Postmates

To end this list of Thanksgiving email examples, here is a nice, clean email from Postmates. 

There’s nothing particularly special about this email. The point is that you can achieve a great email design with just a simple image and a few colors. You don’t need to go all out with your Thanksgiving email design or worry about what you’ll include. 

And yet, despite its simplicity, this email is still very effective. 

There are clear CTA buttons, the text has a clear hierarchy which makes the message quick and easy to comprehend, and the email itself is short and sweet. 

A lot of the time less is more when it comes to email marketing.

Measuring Success and Optimizing for Next Year Thanksgiving

Measuring the success of your Thanksgiving email campaign is crucial to optimizing for next year. Without actionable data, you could repeating mistakes or even missing to leverage the holiday season opportunity.

Here are some metrics to track:

• Open Rates: Track open rates to see how many people opened your email. This metric can help you gauge the effectiveness of your subject line and overall email appeal.
• Click-Through Rates: Monitor click-through rates to see how many people clicked on links within your email. This indicates the level of engagement and interest in your content.
• Conversion Rates: Measure conversion rates to see how many people made a purchase or completed a desired action after clicking through your email. This metric is key to understanding the direct impact of your email campaign on sales.
• Unsubscribe Rates: Keep an eye on unsubscribe rates to see how many people opted out of your email list. A high unsubscribe rate may indicate that your content is not resonating with your audience.
• Revenue: Track the revenue generated from your email campaign to assess its financial impact. This metric helps you understand the return on investment (ROI) of your email marketing efforts.

By tracking these metrics, you can gain valuable insights into the performance of your Thanksgiving email campaign and identify areas for improvement. Use this data to optimize your strategy for next year and achieve even better results.

A Final Note about Thanksgiving Email Examples

Thanksgiving is a major holiday for hundreds of millions of people. 

That’s why your own holiday campaign can be a powerful tool to build your brand, increase sales, or just get people hyped for your imminent Black Friday sale.  

Now that you’ve seen some of the best examples of Thanksgiving emails to customers, you’ll hopefully have plenty of inspiration for your own campaigns.

However, no email is complete without a compelling subject line. Especially when a third of your customers either open or ignore your emails based solely on its subject line. 

That’s why we’ve also created a collection of 200+ Thanksgiving email subject lines to help you further. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Footnote:

1. NRF survey says more than 164 million consumers plan to shop over five-day Thanksgiving weekend ︎

The post 10 Thanksgiving Email Examples to Get Inspired By appeared first on SmartrMail Email Marketing Blog.

Unfortunately, this is a mistake many brands are going to make with their Thanksgiving campaigns as well. 

No matter how great your email is, if you don’t have an equally good Thanksgiving email subject line to go with it, it’ll never live up to its true potential. 

Why? Because when people open their inboxes, the only part of your email they see is its subject line. 

This means your subject line has a substantial effect on your open rate. So much so that a third of your subscribers base their decision on whether to open an email or not solely on its subject line.

So to help ensure your customers open and read your Thanksgiving campaigns, here is a collection of 250+ Thanksgiving subject lines other top brands have used in the past. 

Use this list as a source of inspiration and guide for coming up with your own subject lines. 

The Various Types of Thanksgiving Email Subject Lines

Thanksgiving emails are not of the same kind. They differ based on the context for which they are meant for.

Although most thanksgiving emails are used for showcasing gratitude, you can use specific emails for announcing special sales offers and promotions.

Highlight specific content to maximize engagement and so on.

Based on that, we can classify thanksgiving subject lines as following:

1. Subject lines expressing gratitude
2. Sale announcement and promotional offer subject lines
3. Thanksgiving Email Subject Lines with Emojis
4. Email Subject Lines for Pre-Thanksgiving Day
5. Email Subject Lines for Thanksgiving Countdown
6. Subject lines to highlight Content & maximize engagement
7. Final reminder / last chance examples
8. Customer appreciation & loyalty

Subject Lines Expressing Gratitude

One of the most common Thanksgiving email marketing strategies is simply to send an email expressing your gratitude to your customers for their support. 

These brand-building types of emails are a great way to strengthen your loyal customer base. And if you decide to send an email to convey the spirit of the holiday season, you’ll want a subject line to match like these examples. 

Subject lines that highlight customer milestones

9. A year of gratitude: Celebrating your first anniversary with us!
10. Happy Thanksgiving & 1^st Purchase Anniversary—Special gift for you!
11. Two years and counting—Thank you for your continued support!
12. Your Thanksgiving gift is here—Cheers to our journey together!
13. This Thanksgiving, we’re celebrating YOU and your milestones with us!
14. A special Thanksgiving treat for your X-year loyalty!
15. It’s been <XX> year(s) since we met—Thank you for being with us!
16. Grateful for you and your milestones—Enjoy something special!
17. Your first Thanksgiving with us deserves something extraordinary!
18. Anniversary + Thanksgiving = Double the Thanks for YOU!

Personalized Thank Yous

19. Thank you, <Name>! Here’s a little something for Thanksgiving…
20. Happy Thanksgiving, <Name>! A gift just for you
21. <Name> you’re special to us — Here’s your Thanksgiving surprise!
22. Thankful for your support, <Name>—Enjoy a treat on us!
23. A Thanksgiving thank you for <Name>—We couldn’t have done it without you!
24. Your loyalty means the world, <Name>—Here’s our Thanksgiving gift!
25. Grateful to you, <Name>—Unwrap your exclusive Thanksgiving offer!
26. We couldn’t celebrate Thanksgiving without saying thanks to YOU, <Name>!
27. Thank you, <Name>, for being part of our family—Special Thanksgiving offer inside!
28. This Thanksgiving, we want to say thank you personally, <Name>!

Team Gratitude Messages

29. A special message of thanks from our entire team!
30. From all of us to you—Happy Thanksgiving!
31. Our team is grateful for you—Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
32. Warm Thanksgiving wishes from everyone here at [Company]!
33. This Thanksgiving, our team is thankful for customers like you!
34. Thank you for supporting us—Gratitude from the entire [Company] family!
35. Together, we say thank you—From all of us, Happy Thanksgiving!
36. Our team is so grateful for you—Enjoy a special Thanksgiving surprise!
37. We’re all giving thanks for YOU this holiday season!
38. Happy Thanksgiving from the whole team—We’re grateful to have you!

Sale Announcement and Promotional Offer Subject Lines

Drive excitement for your Thanksgiving sales with clear, enticing subject lines. These examples highlight limited-time offers and exclusive deals tailored to boost conversions.

Bundle Deals for Holiday Preparations

39. Get Thanksgiving-ready! Bundle up for the big feast
40. Thanksgiving Prep Bundle: Everything you need in one place!
41. Bundle & Save: Thanksgiving essentials just for you!
42. Feast-ready bundles! Get your Thanksgiving must-haves at a steal
43. Prep for Thanksgiving like a pro—Special bundle deals inside!
44. Holiday prep made easy—Shop Thanksgiving bundles and save!
45. Everything but the turkey! Thanksgiving bundles now available
46. Ready for the big day? Grab your Thanksgiving prep bundle now!
47. Bundle up and save! Thanksgiving prep essentials inside
48. Thanksgiving made easy—Everything you need in one bundle!

VIP Access to Black Friday

49. Thanksgiving Special: Get early VIP access to Black Friday!
50. VIP Alert: Black Friday deals just for YOU before anyone else!
51. Exclusive Black Friday access—Your Thanksgiving VIP treat!
52. Happy Thanksgiving! Unlock VIP access to Black Friday deals
53. Shh… VIP Black Friday access starts now—Just for Thanksgiving!
54. Thanksgiving Surprise: VIP Early Access to Black Friday steals
55. Skip the wait! VIP Black Friday access starts this Thanksgiving
56. Special Thanksgiving gift: Your VIP ticket to Black Friday deals!
57. Unlock Black Friday savings early—Thanksgiving VIP access inside
58. Your Thanksgiving perk: Exclusive Black Friday access starts NOW!

Sliding Scale Discounts

59. The more you shop, the more you save! Thanksgiving deals inside
60. Spend more, save more—Unlock bigger discounts this Thanksgiving!
61. Thanksgiving sale: The bigger the cart, the bigger the discount!
62. Stack up your savings—Thanksgiving sliding scale discounts inside!
63. Spend $50, save 10%—Thanksgiving sale rewards bigger carts!
64. The more you shop, the bigger the reward! Thanksgiving sliding discounts
65. Thanksgiving Savings: The more you buy, the more you save!
66. Unlock bigger discounts as you fill your cart this Thanksgiving!
67. Save BIG this Thanksgiving—Your discount grows with every dollar!
68. Shop more, save more—Thanksgiving deals that reward every purchase!

Surprise Flash Sales

69. Surprise! Thanksgiving Flash Sale is LIVE—Don’t miss out!
70. FLASH SALE! Thanksgiving Day surprise savings inside!
71. Thanksgiving Day Flash Sale—Hurry, limited time only!
72. Surprise! Thanksgiving Flash Sale starts NOW!
73. Thanksgiving Flash Sale Alert—Deals end at midnight!
74. FLASH SALE just for Thanksgiving! Shop before it’s gone!
75. Surprise Thanksgiving savings—Flash Sale happening now!
76. FLASH DEALS! Grab your Thanksgiving savings before they vanish!
77. FLASH SALE: Exclusive Thanksgiving offers for today only!
78. Surprise Thanksgiving Flash Sale—Steals and deals for a limited time!

Limited-Time Offers With Specific Products

79. Special Thanksgiving Offer on [Product Category]! Shop now!
80. Limited-Time Deal: Save on Thanksgiving essentials like [Product Name]!
81. Best-sellers on sale! Thanksgiving deals on top picks
82. Thanksgiving spotlight: [Product Name] is on sale for a limited time!
83. Save on [Product Category]—Thanksgiving Limited-Time Offers!
84. Only for Thanksgiving! Discounts on [Product Name] inside!
85. Special Thanksgiving Sale: [Product Category] at unbeatable prices!
86. Shop Thanksgiving specials on [Product Name]! Limited time only!
87. Thanksgiving Deal Alert! [Product Category] on sale—Don’t wait!
88. Thanksgiving offers on your favorites! [Product Name] at a special price!

Thanksgiving Email Subject Lines with Emojis

Emojis can add a festive touch to your Thanksgiving subject lines. These examples combine visuals with urgency to catch attention and spark engagement.

Here is a quick list of Thanksgiving emojis for your reference:

Food & Feast Emojis	Seasonal & Fall Emojis
Turkey Poultry Leg Pie Plate with Cutlery Fork and Knife Potato Roasted Sweet Potato Ear of Corn Red Apple Green Apple Grapes Bread Baguette Bread	Maple Leaf Fallen Leaves Sheaf of Rice (represents harvest) Pumpkin (also ties into fall/Thanksgiving decor) Leaf Fluttering in Wind Mushroom Grapes Tangerine
Celebration & Gratitude Emojis	Nature & Outdoor Emojis
Folded Hands Party Popper Confetti Ball Love Letter Sparkles Red Heart	Sunflower Herb Deciduous Tree Chestnut

Seasonal Emojis with Scarcity

89. Last chance for Thanksgiving deals! Don’t miss out!
90. Almost gone! Final Thanksgiving sale items—Hurry!
91. Limited stock! Grab your Thanksgiving essentials before they’re gone!
92. Time’s ticking! Final hours for our Thanksgiving sale
93. Last call for Thanksgiving savings—Shop now before it’s too late!
94. Going, going, gone! Your last shot at Thanksgiving deals!
95. Only a few left! Hurry before our Thanksgiving deals disappear!
96. Almost over! Don’t miss your final Thanksgiving offers
97. Flash sale ends soon! Thanksgiving deals vanishing fast
98. Thanksgiving deals expiring soon! Grab what’s left

Emoji-based Call-to-Action (CTA)

99. Grab your Thanksgiving essentials before they’re gone!
100. Shop now! Thanksgiving deals are waiting for you
101. Get feast-ready—Shop Thanksgiving must-haves today!
102. Stock up for Thanksgiving—Deals you don’t want to miss!
103. Time to prep! Everything you need for Thanksgiving is here
104. Act fast! Thanksgiving deals you can’t afford to miss
105. Ready, set, shop! Your Thanksgiving deals are live!
106. Your Thanksgiving essentials are just a click away!
107. Fall into savings—Shop our Thanksgiving specials now!
108. Time to save! Snag your Thanksgiving deals before they disappear

For more usage tips, check out our guide on using emojis in subject lines here.

Email Subject Lines for Pre-Thanksgiving Day

You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving day to send your holiday email. 

Instead, getting your email out a day or two early will give people more time to read it (something many will be too busy to do on Thanksgiving) which can be especially helpful if you’re running a sale. 

Early Bird Thanksgiving Specials

109. Early Bird Special: Thanksgiving deals you can’t miss!
110. Get ahead of the crowd—Early Thanksgiving savings end soon!
111. Exclusive Early Bird Offer! Thanksgiving discounts just for you
112. Beat the rush! Shop our Thanksgiving Early Bird specials now!
113. Early shoppers get the biggest savings—Thanksgiving deals inside!
114. Early Bird Alert: Thanksgiving sale ends before the big day!
115. Grab your Thanksgiving deals early—Before they’re gone!
116. Early Thanksgiving savings end soon—Hurry!
117. Early access to Thanksgiving offers! Limited time only
118. Thanksgiving Early Bird: Last chance to save before the big feast!

Thanksgiving Party Prep

119. Get your Thanksgiving table ready—Everything you need inside!
120. Hosting Thanksgiving? Here’s what you’ll need for the big day!
121. Prep for the perfect Thanksgiving party—Shop essentials now
122. Get your party supplies before Thanksgiving—Special offers inside!
123. Feast-ready? Your Thanksgiving party essentials are here!
124. Everything you need to prep for Thanksgiving—Shop now!
125. Hosting Thanksgiving? Don’t forget these must-haves!
126. Thanksgiving party prep made easy—Get all your supplies now!
127. Ready for your Thanksgiving celebration? Shop party essentials
128. Be party-ready this Thanksgiving—Everything you need before the big day!

Email Subject Lines for Thanksgiving Countdown

Build anticipation by counting down to Thanksgiving Day or sale events. These subject lines create excitement and urgency, encouraging customers to act before time runs out.

Countdown to Thanksgiving Sales

129. 3 Days to Go: Countdown to Our Thanksgiving Sale!
130. Thanksgiving Sale starts in 48 hours—Get ready to save!
131. Countdown begins! 2 days until our Thanksgiving deals drop!
132. Only 1 day left before our BIG Thanksgiving Sale starts!
133. The clock is ticking! Thanksgiving Sale launches in just 24 hours!
134. 72 hours until our Thanksgiving Sale—Mark your calendar!
135. 5 days to go: Get ready for Thanksgiving savings!
136. Countdown Alert: Thanksgiving deals go live in 3 days!
137. Almost time! Thanksgiving Sale kicks off in 24 hours!
138. Thanksgiving Sale Countdown: Only 2 days until the savings begin!

Thanksgiving Menu Countdown

139. 3 days until Thanksgiving—Is your menu ready?
140. Countdown to the feast! Here’s your perfect Thanksgiving menu
141. 48 hours to go—Prep your Thanksgiving menu now!
142. 2 days until the feast! Last-minute menu ideas inside!
143. Countdown to the feast—Are you ready for Thanksgiving dinner?
144. Final countdown to Thanksgiving—What’s on your menu?
145. 1 day until Thanksgiving! Here’s the menu inspiration you need
146. Menu prep countdown—Your Thanksgiving feast starts in 2 days!
147. Time to finalize your Thanksgiving menu! Only 1 day left!
148. Thanksgiving Menu Countdown—Last-minute tips before the big feast!

Subject lines to Highlight Content & Maximize Engagement

Engage your audience with Thanksgiving-themed content like recipes, party ideas, and décor tips. These subject lines emphasize valuable content over promotions, adding value to your emails.

Thanksgiving Recipes & Ideas

149. Delicious Thanksgiving Recipes to Wow Your Guests!
150. Try These 5 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes for the Perfect Feast!
151. Looking for Thanksgiving inspiration? Check out these mouth-watering recipes!
152. Thanksgiving made easy—Your ultimate recipe guide inside!
153. Cook like a pro! Thanksgiving meal ideas that everyone will love!
154. Hosting Thanksgiving? Here are 10 recipes to impress your guests!
155. Feast-ready! Quick and simple Thanksgiving recipes to save the day!
156. Set the table with these crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving recipes!
157. Your Thanksgiving menu just got better—Check out these recipe ideas!
158. Need Thanksgiving meal inspiration? We’ve got you covered with these recipes!

Thanksgiving Party Games or Ideas

159. 5 Family Games to Play this Thanksgiving!
160. Spice up your Thanksgiving with these fun family games!
161. Make Thanksgiving memorable—Try these fun party games!
162. Game night meets Thanksgiving—5 party ideas for family fun!
163. Boredom busters! Thanksgiving family games everyone will love!
164. Thanksgiving fun for everyone—Check out these family game ideas!
165. Looking for a Thanksgiving twist? Try these party games!
166. Make your Thanksgiving gathering unforgettable with these family games!
167. Add fun to your feast—Thanksgiving party games inside!
168. Keep the family entertained—Thanksgiving game ideas for all ages!

Thanksgiving Table Décor Ideas

169. Wow your guests with these stunning Thanksgiving table décor tips!
170. Set the perfect Thanksgiving table with these festive décor ideas!
171. Create a picture-perfect Thanksgiving table—Décor inspiration inside!
172. Spruce up your Thanksgiving table—Easy, stylish décor ideas!
173. Hosting this Thanksgiving? Check out our décor tips for a beautiful table!
174. Set the scene! Thanksgiving table décor ideas to impress your guests!
175. Elevate your feast with these simple yet elegant Thanksgiving table settings!
176. Transform your table—Thanksgiving décor ideas for a festive vibe!
177. Need décor inspo? Create a stunning Thanksgiving tablescape with these ideas!
178. Wow-worthy Thanksgiving table décor that’ll make your feast extra special!

Final Reminder or Last Chance Examples

Motivate last-minute shoppers with urgency-driven subject lines. These examples emphasize final opportunities to take advantage of Thanksgiving deals before they’re gone.

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

179. Last Call! Order by [Date] to Get It Before Thanksgiving!
180. Don’t miss out—Thanksgiving shipping deadline is almost here!
181. Hurry! Order by [Date] to ensure Thanksgiving delivery!
182. Thanksgiving is around the corner—Order now for on-time delivery!
183. Final shipping reminder! Get your order before Thanksgiving!
184. Beat the clock! Thanksgiving shipping cut-off is approaching!
185. Need it by Thanksgiving? Shop today before it’s too late!
186. Thanksgiving Shipping Alert: Last chance to get your order on time!
187. Time is running out! Order by [Date] to receive your Thanksgiving goodies!
188. Don’t delay! Thanksgiving delivery deadlines are fast approaching!

Extended Returns

189. Shop stress-free with extended returns for the holidays!
190. Thanksgiving bonus—Extended returns on all holiday purchases!
191. No rush! Enjoy extended returns on your Thanksgiving shopping.
192. Extended return window for your holiday shopping convenience!
193. Shop with confidence—We’ve extended our return policy for the holidays!
194. Holiday shopping made easy—Extended returns until [Date]!
195. No worries! Extended return window for your Thanksgiving purchases.
196. We’ve extended our return policy—Enjoy holiday shopping with peace of mind!
197. Buy now, return later—Extended returns on all Thanksgiving purchases!
198. Hassle-free holiday shopping—Extended returns through [Date]!

Customer Appreciation & Loyalty

Show your most loyal customers some extra love during Thanksgiving. These subject lines focus on exclusive offers and perks to reward your loyal base with special access or gifts.

199. A Thanksgiving treat just for you—Exclusive access inside!
200. Loyal members only: Your exclusive Thanksgiving discount is here!
201. VIP Thanksgiving Perk: Enjoy early access to our sale!
202. Special Thanksgiving surprise for our most loyal customers!
203. Thank you for being loyal—Enjoy your exclusive Thanksgiving offer!
204. As a loyal member, you get first dibs on Thanksgiving deals!
205. Your exclusive Thanksgiving access starts now—Shop before anyone else!
206. For loyal customers only: Special Thanksgiving discount just for you!
207. Your Thanksgiving VIP pass—Exclusive deals await!
208. Loyal customers, your Thanksgiving perks have arrived!
209. Unlock exclusive Thanksgiving savings—Loyalty has its rewards!
210. Early bird? No, loyal bird! Get early access to Thanksgiving sales!
211. Thank you for being with us—Exclusive Thanksgiving rewards just for you!
212. VIP Thanksgiving Sale—Your loyalty deserves something special!
213. For our most loyal customers: Thanksgiving deals you won’t want to miss!
214. Exclusive Thanksgiving discount for being part of our loyal family!
215. Thank you for your loyalty—Here’s your exclusive Thanksgiving offer!
216. Thanksgiving sale sneak peek—Only for our VIP members!
217. Unlock early access—Special Thanksgiving deals for loyal customers!
218. Because you’re loyal—A Thanksgiving surprise awaits inside!

Best Practices for Writing Thanksgiving Subject Lines That will Drive Open Rates

Writing Thanksgiving email subject lines requires a careful and thoughtful approach. It must blend seasonal gratitude with effective promotions to achieve maximum results.

Follow these best practices to write subject lines that resonate with your audience:

Keep It Short and Clear

Aim for subject lines that are concise, ideally between 40-60 characters. Short subject lines are easier to read and less likely to be cut off on mobile devices. Clarity ensures your message is understood at first glance, driving higher open rates.

Use Emojis to Add Personality

Incorporating seasonal emojis like , , or can make your subject lines stand out in crowded inboxes. Emojis create visual appeal, helping you express emotion or emphasize a festive tone, but be mindful not to overdo it—use one or two relevant emojis to maintain professionalism.

(Read further below for the list of Thanksgiving related emojis and how to use them in subject lines.)

Create Urgency or Scarcity

Incorporate urgency-related phrases like Last Chance, Final Hours, or Hurry! to encourage immediate action. Scarcity-driven subject lines, especially those promoting limited-time offers or exclusive deals, can create a fear of missing out (FOMO), which can boost open rates.

Personalize Whenever Possible

Personalization is a powerful tool to connect with your customers. Use their first name or reference their past purchases to make the subject line more relevant. For example, Thank you, [Name]! Special Thanksgiving Offer Inside feels more personal and engaging.

Incorporate Action-Oriented Language

Use strong, action-oriented verbs to guide your readers toward taking the next step. Words like Shop, Grab, Discover, or Claim encourage action, making your promotions feel more immediate and compelling.

Test Subject Lines

A/B testing your subject lines can help you determine which approach resonates best with your audience. Experiment with different combinations of gratitude, urgency, and emojis to see what drives the highest engagement.

One of the mistakes that marketers often make while writing thanksgiving emails is that they tend to lean too much on gratitude or promotion. 

Striking a fine balance between showing gratitude to your customers while still promoting your products or services is key to Thanksgiving email marketing success.

These tips should help strike a right balance between expressing gratitude and highlighting promotions:

Lead with Gratitude

Start your subject line by expressing genuine thanks before transitioning into a promotional message. For example, Thank You for Being a Loyal Customer—Enjoy 20% Off This Thanksgiving! shows appreciation while offering value.

Offer Exclusive Deals as a Token of Thanks

Frame your promotions as a gift or reward for your customers’ loyalty. Subject lines like We’re Grateful for You—Exclusive Thanksgiving Offer Inside reinforce the idea that the deal is a special gesture of gratitude rather than just a sale.

Keep the Tone Warm and Festive

Thanksgiving is a time of warmth and reflection, so your subject lines should reflect that. Use a conversational and heartfelt tone to make your customers feel valued, while subtly integrating promotional elements. For example, We’re Thankful for You! Celebrate with 15% Off feels genuine yet enticing.

Conclusion

Your subject line is an essential part of your email marketing campaign which will never reach its full potential without a decent subject line to match.

Having now gone through 100 different Thanksgiving email subject line brands have used in the past, you hopefully have the inspiration to come up with your own. 

If you’re looking for more inspiration for the rest of your Thanksgiving campaign, such as email design, check out our collection of Thanksgiving emails here. 

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