December can make it tempting to publish holiday promotions and little else. But the month also offers chances to teach, entertain and answer questions your customers already have.
A recent article from Practical Ecommerce suggests five directions for December 2026: mark the film “Rocky” turning 50, explain how products are made, revisit Agatha Christie’s disappearance, answer customer questions, and explore the origins of Christmas traditions. Read the original article.
The useful lesson for business owners is not to copy every theme. It is to find a relevant angle for your products and customers, then make something genuinely informative or entertaining. Here is how to put those ideas to work.
Start with a reason your audience might care
Content marketing means creating, publishing and promoting content to attract, engage and retain customers. The source argues that it works best when it is human-generated and useful, informative or entertaining. That is a practical standard for choosing what to make: would a customer learn something, solve a problem or enjoy the experience?
An anniversary or holiday can provide a timely starting point, but relevance matters more than the calendar hook. A sports retailer might connect “Rocky” to training equipment. A shop selling cookware could explain how pan construction affects cooking. A bookseller might use a literary mystery to invite readers into a puzzle.
If the connection to your products or audience feels forced, choose another idea. A narrow, useful piece is more likely to help a shopper than a broad seasonal post with no clear point.
Use a cultural moment as a doorway
“Rocky” opened nationwide on December 3, 1976, after a short premiere in New York City in late November. Written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, it became a commercial success and won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Its 50th anniversary in December 2026 gives businesses a timely opening for stories about training, perseverance and how sporting goods have changed.
The best angle depends on what you sell. An athletic apparel merchant could compare running shoes, sweatsuits and workout clothing from 1976 with contemporary products. A sporting goods shop could explore changes in boxing gloves, punching bags and protective equipment. A nutrition retailer could explain the film’s raw-egg breakfast in the context of contemporary sports nutrition.
You do not need to recreate a film scene. Consider a short video, an illustrated article or a product demonstration that offers a real takeaway. Keep the focus on your subject, not on squeezing in a product mention that adds nothing.
Christie’s disappearance offers another way to use a cultural story. On December 3, 1926, the novelist disappeared from her home in England. Her abandoned car was found the next morning, and police found her at a hotel in Harrogate eleven days later. The circumstances remain debated, according to the source.
A bookseller could make a reading guide or a literary puzzle. A game shop could hide clues in articles, emails or product descriptions. The point is to borrow the structure of mystery and discovery, not to present debated circumstances as settled fact.
Show what is inside the product
Product descriptions tell shoppers what an item does. They may not explain how it works or why one version differs from another. A product breakdown can answer those questions using firsthand knowledge, original images and demonstrations.
The source gives the example of two stainless steel frying pans that look similar but have different construction. One might have a bonded aluminum core extending up the sides; another might have an aluminum disc attached only to its base. A cookware retailer could use photographs, diagrams and cooking demonstrations to make the difference clear.
The same approach can work across categories. A footwear shop could show a running shoe’s cushioning and construction. A furniture seller could explain joinery, frame materials and upholstery. An electronics merchant could discuss components and repair options. An apparel business could show how fabric and stitching relate to durability.
Choose one product question and demonstrate the answer. Be specific about what you can show, and avoid claims you cannot support. A video can reveal details that a short description leaves out. The source also notes that generative AI can make descriptions and comparisons easier to produce, but firsthand explanation gives a business a way to demonstrate its own knowledge.
For an online shop, this can sit alongside your product pages and buying guides. If you are reviewing how your store presents products, explore ecommerce growth support or [website development]( /solutions/websites).
Turn customer questions into lasting content
Customer service conversations, product inquiries and returns can reveal what shoppers find confusing. December is a useful moment to look back at questions customers asked during the year and choose some that deserve a fuller answer.
This is different from simply listing routine policies on a frequently asked questions page. Look for questions that reveal a misconception, a difficult choice or an unexpected way to use a product. Then create an article or video that answers the question clearly and gives shoppers enough context to act.
For example, if customers repeatedly ask how two similar products differ, make a comparison that explains the trade-offs. If they are unsure how to use an item, demonstrate the steps. If a question keeps arising after purchase, consider whether clearer guidance on the product page could help.
Keep a shared record of questions your team receives. Group similar ones, note which products they concern, and select questions that matter to more than one customer. You can then plan content around real needs rather than guessing what people want to know. If several tools hold customer information, automation and integrations may help connect parts of your workflow.
Give one familiar tradition a closer look
Christmas offers many possible subjects, including stockings, decorated trees, greeting cards and holiday foods. The source recommends choosing one familiar tradition rather than publishing a general history of Christmas.
For instance, a stationery retailer could explore how Christmas cards became popular in Victorian Britain and how the tradition continues through email and messaging, alongside contemporary personalized designs. A food business could focus on one holiday food and explain its place in the products it sells. The aim is to connect a specific history or custom to something your audience can see in everyday life.
Treat the topic with care. Explain what you know, distinguish established details from uncertainty, and keep the piece relevant to the customer. A focused story can be useful even if it does not lead directly to a sale.
What to do next
Use these steps to turn an idea into something publishable:
- Choose one audience and one question. Decide who the piece is for and what they should understand by the end.
- Pick a suitable format. Use a demonstration for a product detail, a guide for a set of questions, or an interactive puzzle for a mystery theme.
- Gather what you can verify. Use your own product knowledge and customer inquiries. For cultural or historical claims, check them against reliable material before publishing.
- Make the content specific. Explain one product difference, answer one recurring question or explore one tradition. Avoid trying to cover everything at once.
- Review for usefulness. Ask whether the piece informs, entertains or helps a shopper make a better decision. Remove material that does not support that purpose.
- Publish where customers can use it. Add relevant product education to your site, then share it through the channels your business already uses. If you use AI tools to help draft or organise content, review the result and add your own knowledge before publishing.
A December theme can earn attention, but usefulness gives the content a reason to exist. Start with what your customers want to understand, and choose the seasonal idea that helps you explain it well.
Sources
- 5 Content Marketing Ideas for December 2026 — Practical Ecommerce, Nov 5, 2026
This article was drafted with AI from the sources above, then published only after passing 20 automated checks: every figure must appear in the sources, links must work, and nothing may be invented. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it.
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