What Thanksgiving Feasts and Marketing Campaigns Have in Common

Ah, Thanksgiving… a day of turkey, sides, pies, and that one family member who insists on debating politics (can we all agree to put this topic to rest this Thanksgiving – PLEASE!); although let’s be honest, after three glasses of Prosecco I’ll be too buzzed to even care. 

I digress…

Have you ever paused between bites of sweet mash and stuffing and thought, “Wow, this is kind of like putting together a marketing campaign”? No? Just me? Well, grab your Prosecco cuz I’m about to show you how orchestrating the perfect Thanksgiving feast is eerily similar to launching a immaculate advertising campaign.

There’s Planning, Timing, Resourcing, Collaboration, Execution, and Learnings (that’ll be leftovers)

Think about Thanksgiving prep. You don’t just wake up on Thursday and hope a 20lb turkey magically defrosted itself, right? No! There’s menu planning, grocery shopping (a minimum of 3 trips), and probably a spreadsheet (or is that just me?). You’ve got to figure out who’s bringing what, ensure your fridge has enough room, and make sure that when you flip that flan, it’s perfectly cooked/moist/caramelized (ok… I’m making myself hungry).

Marketing campaigns? Same deal. A immaculate campaign starts with a plan: understanding the audience (who’s coming to dinner), defining goals (making sure everyone leaves in a food coma and a little buzzed), and setting a timeline (get that bird in the oven by 10 AM and be sure to stuff it with BiFongo – I’m Puerto Rican, just roll with me). Without a roadmap, you’re bound to serve up something half-baked – whether it’s a campaign or a casserole (I threw that one in for you non-Hispanics).

Speaking of timing, let’s talk turkey. Cook it too fast, and it’s dry; too slow, and your hangry guests might revolt. Campaigns are no different. Drop an ad too early, and it flops. Wait too long, and your audience has moved on. Finding the sweet spot is an art and a science.

Pro tip: Use data (like your meat thermometer) to guide you. And when all else fails, trust your gut – or an Analytics dashboard.

Thanksgiving is a team sport. Someone’s in charge of appetizers, someone’s on desserts, and someone’s assigned to keep the men away from the TV during the game. You delegate so everyone brings their A-game, because let’s be real — no one person can (or should) do it all. Although I’ve been known to do it all on myself and def will be this year; my tiny tyrants might help, let’s see what mood they wake up in. 

Campaigns, too, rely on resources. Copywriters, designers, strategists — each plays a crucial role. Just like you wouldn’t want the person who burned the rolls handling dessert, you shouldn’t leave your creative to someone who thinks Comic Sans is “edgy.” 

The best Thanksgiving dinners come together when the whole team (or family) works in harmony. Sure, your prima might insist her turkey is better than your masterpiece, but ultimately, it’s about compromise.

Campaigns thrive on collaboration. From brainstorming the big idea to fine-tuning the final execution, getting everyone on the same page (without someone flipping the Monopoly board) is the key to success.

Finally, the big day arrives. Your campaign launches, or your turkey hits the table. Everyone holds their breath as the first bites are taken. Was the planning worth it? Did the cranberry sauce slay or bomb?

Just like Thanksgiving, the real magic of a campaign happens during execution. It’s when all the pieces — email marketing, social ads, SEO — come together. And whether it’s a full stomach or a full sales pipeline, you know you’ve done your job when everyone’s happy.

Here’s the best part — leftovers. You can analyze what worked (the stuffing recipe) and what didn’t (looking at you, potato salad) and carry those lessons into next year. Similarly, post-campaign analysis helps you tweak and refine for your next big project.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Before I wrap up this little Thanksgiving-Marketing lovefest, I want to give a massive shoutout to my community. To the marketers and advertisers out there who pour their hearts into this work — thank you. You inspire me every day.

To my mentor, Patti, who believed in me even when I doubted myself. To Michelle, my business coach, for helping me turn my sadness into wild ideas with actionable plans. To Nicole, my bookkeeper, and Allison, my fractional CFO, for maintaining and cleaning up the books and ensuring that the entire company gets on the right financial track for next year. To my attorney, Colynn, for getting my contracts right. And to my rock and partner in life and business, Adilson — you’ve kissed every bruise and shared every victory – I love you more than words can describe. 

And finally, to Jayla and Kaylee, my daughters — you believe in me and Integral more than I ever could, and that keeps me going. Thank you my sweet little tyrants, for being there through thick and thin. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and remember — whether it’s a feast or a campaign, it’s all about the love you put into it.