How to Create a Great Seasonal or Holiday Local Gift Guide

Overview

People love a good gift guide — and for good reason. With endless choices, the pressure to find something meaningful, and the ticking clock of the holiday season, what should feel joyful often turns into a chore. A well-crafted gift guide changes that. It cuts through the noise, surfaces the gems, and turns decision-fatigue into delight.

And a local gift guide does all that while spotlighting the best of your community. When you make it easier for people to shop local, you're not just helping them find the perfect gift — you're also driving attention to the businesses that make your area unique. That's why gift guides are such a powerful tool for publishers and creators alike.

For publishers, gift guides are a proven seasonal format: they reliably drive traffic, keep readers engaged, and strengthen your reputation as a trusted local voice.

For creators and influencers, they're an opportunity to connect with your audience through authentic recommendations, showcase your taste, and even open doors to partnerships and revenue.

And the best part? Building a gift guide is easier than ever. With tools like GiftBlazer Custom Lists, you can mix and match items into themed collections and publish them in minutes — no design team or coding required.

Why Publishers & Creators Should Make Local Gift Guides

Gift guides are powerful because they line up three things that people want at once: inspiration, convenience, and trust.

• For your audience: You're solving a problem — what the heck do I buy? — during the most overwhelming gift-giving seasons. A curated local list cuts through the noise of big-box retailers and showcases authentic, memorable options.
• For your brand: A gift guide is evergreen content you can repurpose across platforms. It can be a blog, newsletter, or social media post. Each time you come up with a new guide, you create another touchpoint with your audience.
• For your community: Highlighting local shops keeps more dollars circulating nearby, strengthens relationships with small businesses, and positions you as a champion of the local economy.

Done right, a seasonal or holiday guide is more than just a list. It's a go-to resource people bookmark, share, and return to year after year.

5 Things to Consider When Making Gift Guides

1. 1
   Know Your Audience

   Start by defining who you're creating the guide for. Are your readers families looking for kid-friendly experiences? Young professionals hunting for trendy gifts? Visitors wanting to "shop local" while in town? The clearer your audience, the easier it is to choose the right mix of products, price points, and themes.

2. 2
   Tap Into Timely Trends

   Seasonality is your superpower. Build guides around moments your audience already cares about: "Local Stocking Stuffers Under $25," "Valentine's Day in Green Bay," or "Graduation Gifts for UW Badgers." These timely hooks make your guide more relevant and more shareable.

3. 3
   Showcase Your Taste

   Anyone can Google "gift ideas," but only you can bring together the local boutique candle, the craft brewery gift set, and the handmade jewelry line you discovered. A well-curated gift guide can not only elevate local stores, but also position you as a tastemaker in your community.

4. 4
   Keep It Local

   The magic of a local gift guide is, well, that it's local. Prioritize independent shops, makers, and experiences that can't be found on Amazon. That's what makes your guide truly unique. Your readers or followers will thank you for helping them uncover special finds in their own back yards.

5. 5
   Share Widely

   Creating the guide is only step one. It's necessary, but not sufficient. Next, you'll need to promote it far and wide. Some thought starters:

   • Post it on your website or blog.
   • Break it into snackable pieces for Instagram Stories, TikTok clips, or LinkedIn posts.
   • Send it out in your newsletter.
   • Partner with the businesses you feature so they can amplify it, too.

   The more distribution channels you use, the more visibility (and goodwill) you generate.

What A Local Gift Guide Looks Like in Practice

It's that time of year for sweater weather, pumpkin spice everything, and leaves crunching underfoot. So why not celebrate the season with a curated list of Fall Favorites! The link in the previous sentence is a Share and is ideal for group chat, social media, email, etc.

If you want to Embed the list on your website or blog, you can have GiftBlazer generate the HTML code for you to copy and paste. Here's what that approach looks like:

Other Guides For...