Smart PPC Tips to Boost Holiday Traffic & Gift Card Sales

As the holiday season approaches, family entertainment centers (FECs) have a huge opportunity to fill calendars with events and increase revenue through gift card sales. One of the fastest, most effective ways to make that happen is with a well-planned pay-per-click (PPC) advertising strategy. Whether you’re running Google Ads, Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Ads, or both, the right targeting and timing can mean more bookings, more foot traffic, and more brand awareness, without breaking your budget.

Smart PPC Tips to Boost Holiday Traffic & Gift Card Sales

Below are proven PPC advertising tips to help you maximize holiday results and keep your marketing momentum going even during slower periods like back-to-school season.

1. Focus on High-ROI Offers

The holidays are a peak time for high-value purchases, especially for experiences and gifts. Concentrate your ad budget on the offers most likely to bring in revenue fast:

• Gift card sales (perfect for last-minute shoppers)
  
  
• Holiday events (New Year’s Eve parties, Santa meet-and-greets, winter break specials)
  
  
• Private party packages (book now for later in the season)

Pro tip: Create urgency in your ad copy by using phrases like “Limited spots available,” “Book now for best availability,” or “Gift cards on sale through Dec. 24.”

2. Layer Your Targeting

One of the most powerful PPC advertising tips is audience layering, combining demographic, interest, and behavioral targeting to reach exactly the right people.

• On Google Ads, target searches for “holiday events near me,” “family fun [your city],” and “gift cards for [local attractions].”
  
  
• On Meta Ads, build audiences of local parents, past event attendees, and people who have engaged with your social content or visited your website.

The more specific your targeting, the less wasted spend and the higher your conversion rate.

3. Retarget Warm Audiences

Don’t let warm leads slip away.

• Use remarketing ads to re-engage website visitors, abandoned cart users, and past customers.
  
  
• Show them ads for the specific product they were interested in—like a gift card promotion or holiday ticket package.
  
  
• Offer a small incentive, such as a bonus $5 card with every $50 purchase, to encourage action.

4. Adjust for the Back-to-School Slowdown

When kids go back to school, many FECs see a dip in traffic. This is actually the perfect time to test and refine your PPC strategy before the holidays hit.

• Run small-budget campaigns to promote after-school specials, weekend events, or indoor activities.
  
  
• Use this time to gather data on which audiences, creatives, and keywords perform best, so you can scale them during the holiday rush.

5. Make Your Ads  Visual & Festive

People are drawn to visuals that match the season. Update your creative to include:

• Festive colors and holiday-themed graphics
  
  
• Photos of happy guests enjoying your attractions
  
  
• Short, bold headlines that speak to fun, family, and gift-giving

6. Track, Test, and Tweak

Don’t “set and forget” your holiday campaigns. Check performance daily or weekly to:

• Pause underperforming ads
  
  
• Increase budget on winning campaigns
  
  
• Test new creative, copy, or audience combinations

Even a small daily adjustment can mean significantly better results.

Turn Clicks into Holiday Sales

PPC advertising can be your secret weapon for filling your event calendar, selling more gift cards, and keeping your FEC top-of-mind during the busy holiday season. The key is to start early, target smart, and constantly refine your campaigns for maximum ROI.

Ready to make this holiday season your most profitable yet?
Schedule a marketing demo with Party Center Software today and let us help you build a PPC strategy that drives real results.