The festive season is right around the corner. A time when online activity and shopping intent skyrocket. But with this surge comes intense competition, as nearly every brand ramps up their advertising. Standing out in this crowded space requires not just more ad spend, but smarter strategies.

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit the Meta office and discuss exactly that how brands can stay ahead during the festive rush. The conversation centered around five key themes:

1. Leveraging Advantage+ Campaigns with Meta AI

Meta’s Advantage+ campaigns are reshaping how advertisers run campaigns. By harnessing Meta’s AI, these campaigns can automatically identify the best-performing audiences, placements, and creatives in real time. Instead of relying on manual targeting tweaks, the AI continuously optimizes for results, allowing advertisers to focus more on strategy and creativity rather than constant campaign management.

2. Campaign Consolidation for Better Performance

A common mistake during high-competition periods is running too many fragmented campaigns. Consolidating campaigns allows Meta’s delivery system to gather more data per ad set, which improves learning and optimization. Fewer campaigns with clearer goals often outperform a scattered approach, especially when ad delivery is competing for limited attention during the festive period.

3. Deeper Data Analysis for Smarter Decisions

Festive campaigns are often fast-paced, but taking time to analyze your data is key. Tracking which creatives drive the best results, which audience segments respond most, and how different placements perform can help refine campaigns in real time. With so much competition, agility is everything and data is your best compass.

4. Partnership Ads for Extended Reach

Partnership ads allow brands to collaborate with retailers or partners to reach a wider audience. This is particularly useful if you sell through marketplaces or retail partners, as you can tap into their customer base while still running brand-led campaigns. It’s a smart way to extend reach without starting from scratch.

5. Creative Diversification to Capture Attention

During the festive rush, audiences are exposed to a flood of similar-looking ads. Creative diversification experimenting with different ad formats, visuals, and storytelling styles helps break the pattern. Whether it’s short-form videos, carousel storytelling, or festive-themed visuals, variety ensures you don’t blend into the background.

The festive season is a massive opportunity, but it’s also a test of how quickly and effectively brands can adapt. With the right use of AI-driven tools like Advantage+, a streamlined campaign structure, sharp data analysis, collaborative advertising, and diverse creatives, brands can cut through the noise and connect meaningfully with their audience.

This festive season isn’t just about spending more on ads, it’s about being smarter with every rupee.