Budget Season – Where to Spend and Where to Save in Q4
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
Written by Brooke Heydon, Marketing Director
Brooke Heydon is the founder of Truene Creative, a marketing and branding agency based in Kent, UK. She specializes in brand strategy and digital communications, helping small businesses grow with clarity, confidence, and a touch of creative edge.
Q4 is a marketer’s equivalent of the grand finale. It’s when inboxes overflow, social feeds sparkle with offers, and budgets are scrutinised more tightly than a last-minute gift list. On one hand, it’s the most lucrative quarter of the year, on the other, it’s a minefield of rising ad costs, consumer fatigue, and pressure to finish strong. The challenge is clear, it’s not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter.
Why Q4 is different
Globally, seasonal retail spending consistently outpaces the rest of the year. In the UK alone, e-commerce sales in November and December jump by around 55 percent compared to September. Consumers are primed to buy, but brands are primed to spend too.
Last year, UK Christmas advertising spend was projected at £10.5 billion, with the majority going into digital channels. Search ad spending rose by 23 percent year-on-year in Q4 2024, and retail media gained more traction than ever. The message is obvious, you’re not the only one trying to cut through.
And yet, more noise doesn’t equal more success. Many seasonal campaigns deliver only modest impact. In fact, two-thirds of festive ads in 2023 generated low to moderate brand-building outcomes. That’s a sobering thought when you consider the size of the investment.
So the question becomes, where do you put your money in Q4 to get real value, and where should you hold it back?
Where to spend
Paid digital channels
Search, social, and retail media are still the engines of Q4 revenue. While costs inevitably rise, targeting precision and creative quality can make the difference between wasted spend and winning conversions.
Retarget warm audiences who already know you.
Use video and dynamic creative formats to stand out in cluttered feeds.
Test campaigns early in October so you’re not scrambling in December.
The cliché that “attention is currency” is never more true than in Q4, when consumers are assaulted with options. Spending here makes sense, provided you spend with intention.
Creative and content
If you’ve ever scrolled through twenty identical “20% off” ads in a row, you’ll understand why creativity is non-negotiable. Quality design, sharp copy, and compelling photography make your message memorable.
Seasonal campaigns generate billions in sales, but only when they connect. A witty headline or a beautifully produced visual can elevate your brand above the discount herd. Think less “bargain bin” and more “festive showcase.”
Customer experience
This is the unsung hero of Q4 marketing. You can spend heavily on ads, but if your checkout is clunky, your shipping unreliable, or your customer service slow, all that spend is wasted.
In the UK, over 63 percent of seasonal shoppers blend online and in-store shopping. That means the entire journey has to work seamlessly across touchpoints. Allocate resources to:
Speed up checkout flows.
Offer flexible fulfilment such as click and collect.
Communicate clearly on delivery and returns.
Customers will forgive a cheeky headline more quickly than they’ll forgive a missing parcel.
Data and retention
Q4 shouldn’t just be about transactions, it’s your chance to grow audiences for the long haul. Invest in capturing emails, building retargeting lists, and collecting first-party insights while traffic is at its peak.
Think of it as planting seeds while everyone else is chopping down trees. Come January, you’ll have a warmer audience ready to nurture while competitors are wondering why sales fell off a cliff.
Where to save
Broad awareness campaigns
Unless you’re Coca-Cola or John Lewis, broad awareness spend in Q4 rarely cuts through. The sheer level of noise makes it nearly impossible to achieve efficient reach at scale. Focus your efforts on high-intent audiences instead.
Over-discounting
It’s tempting to keep slashing prices to compete, but you’re also training your customers to wait for sales. Strategic offers, bundles, and value-adds protect your brand’s credibility while still giving customers a reason to buy.
Remember, you want loyal buyers in January, not one-off bargain hunters who vanish once the tree comes down.
One-off gimmicks
We all love a clever stunt, but if it doesn’t link to your funnel or brand message, it’s money down the drain. Tie every seasonal campaign to a broader narrative, otherwise, you’re just adding to the clutter.
The smart play
Q4 is a sprint, but it’s also the bridge to Q1. The smartest marketers allocate budget with both timelines in mind.
Yes, invest in performance channels for immediate return.
Yes, put money into creative that captures attention.
But also, carve out budget for retention strategies, CRM growth, and content that outlives the season.
This is how you carry momentum into the new year instead of starting January flat-footed.
My take
Too many businesses treat Q4 like the last dance of the year. They throw everything into December, only to wake up in January with exhausted budgets and audiences who have moved on.
The truth? Q4 is not the finish line. It’s the dress rehearsal for Q1.
Spend where it compounds. Save where it dilutes. Focus on what leaves your brand stronger in the cold light of January, not just what makes the till ring in December.
While sales matter, credibility lasts longer, and in a crowded Q4 marketplace, that credibility is your most valuable currency.
Read more from Brooke Heydon
Brooke Heydon, Marketing Director
Brooke Heydon is a brand strategist and marketing communications expert, and the founder of Truene Creative, a specialist agency based in Kent, UK. With over a decade of experience and a First-Class Honours degree in Journalism, she helps businesses grow through clear messaging, bold identity, and strategic execution. Her work spans brand development, content strategy, and multi-platform marketing, with a focus on supporting small businesses. Brooke has recently applied to undertake a PhD exploring how micro and small enterprises build brand credibility in digital spaces, a subject shaped by her own hands-on agency experience.
