Creating a successful gift guide for the holidays takes some time and with these tips below it can help set you up for success. Holiday gift guides are a great way to boost commission on affiliate sales, traffic, and more.
Not to mention if you get some free products sent to your home to share an honest review on! If you are new to gift guides for the holidays and wondering how it all works, let me help and get you set up to start your own this year.
What Is A Gift Guide
A holiday gift guide is a way for you to share information about products that are going to be big hits for the holiday season. Last year the Instant Pot was one popular item along with the Fingerling toys.
Both of those items would be great to feature in a holiday gift guide and then write about the products and insert your affiliate links for potential sales. Some people just write about popular items and use their affiliate links, and other guides reach out to the companies and get free products shipped to their door to take pictures of and feature in a post.
Either way, these gift guides work great when you know how to make the perfect gift guide for any occasion.

Tips for Success With Your Gift Guide
Affiliate Programs
Sign up for affiliate programs that offer the products you want to promote. I recommend hunting for affiliate programs early, as some take a while to approve you.
Or you can do affiliate linking off Amazon which is a great program to use. When you talk about a product you can use your special URL link and earn a commission off any potential sales.
Just make sure you follow the rules for each affiliate program, as many have certain rules and if you break them you won’t get money or you can get kicked out.
Romwe Women’s Cat Print Sweatshirt Long Sleeve Loose Pullover Shirt Black MI Hug My Cats So I Don’t Punch People In The Throat Shirts T-Shirt
Koolkatkoo Cute Cat Mug Ceramic Coffee Mugs Set Gifts for Women Girls Cat Lovers Funny Small Cup with Spoon 12 oz Black and White …
JennyGems – Cats Welcome People Tolerated – Cat Signs for Home Decor – Cat Lover Decor – Cats Welcome Sign- Cat Signs – Cat Lover Gifts, Funny Cat
Details
When you create your gift guide share some information about the product. Answer potential questions that buyers might wonder. Like if you are promoting a toy, what is the recommended age range, does it require batteries, etc.
When it comes to products like elegant curtains, you’ll want to make sure that you are very descriptive in what they look like and the material they’re made out of to try to gain interest in your reader to buy them.
Try to offer information that can be useful for your readers, and help them decide if they want to buy.
Pictures
Taking pictures of the actual product is really great. It lets your readers see the product in different views or being used. If you don’t own the product you can still insert pictures you get from your affiliate program online.
If I were to showcase a kitchen appliance I would make a smoothie with a blender and share how easy it was to use. This lets your readers see first hand the product being used, and makes your review more trustworthy. When it is stock images they don’t always have as many conversions.
Buy Now
Make sure you make it clear where your readers can buy it. Whether you create a call-t0-action button or have a header saying where to buy with a link, do something that stands out. The whole point of a gift guide is to draw traffic and potential sales.
Pin Image
Make a nice pin image that you can promote on Pinterest and other social media. You can use free sites like Canva or PicMonkey to create really nice pinnable images.
Email and Promoting
Consider creating an email with your gift guide to help reach even more, or share a link to your gift guide in an email. Doing all you can to promote without going overboard is key.
Authentic
Make sure in all that you do you are authentic and share products that you personally would buy on your own. Don’t say misleading statements or tell false stories just to sell products.
Your readers don’t want to waste money on items that will break or be useless.
Build content around products that you truly like, use or would buy on your own.
Build trust and you will have a lasting relationship with your readers.
Holiday Gift Guide Ideas
For the Budget-Savvy Consumers
Under $10
Under $25
Under $50
Under $100
Food Fanatics
Take Off Fly Fly Repellent Fan, USB Powered. Enjoy Outdoor Eating Again. Keep Flies Off Your Nicely Prepared Food.Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer|6 Quart|Easy-Seal Lid|14 One-Touch Programs
Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block – 13 Kitchen Knives Set Chef Knife Set with Knife Sharpener, 6 Steak Knives, Bonus Peeler Scissors Cheese Pizza Knife and Acrylic Stand by Home Hero
Chef’s Path Airtight Food Storage Container Set – 7 PC Set – Labels & Marker – Kitchen & Pantry Organization Containers – BPA-Free – Clear Plastic Canisters with Improved Durable Lids (Black)
Beer Drinkers or Wine Lovers
Asobu Frosty Beer 2 Go Vacuum Insulated Double Walled Stainless Steel Beer Bottle and Can Cooler with Beer Opener Eco Friendly and Bpa Free (Silver)Wine Because Punching People in The Face is Illegal – Funny Birthday, Valentines, Galentines Day Gifts for Women, Her, Girlfriend, Mom, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Best Friend – Coolife Wine Tumbler Mug
YouYah Wine Decanter Set,Wine Breather Carafe with Drying Stand,Steel Cleaning Beads and Aerator Lid,Crystal Glass,Wine Aerator,Wine Accessories,Wine Gift (New Packing)
Cap Gun Bottle Opener Cap Gun Launcher Shooter Beer Openers Plastic Beer Bottle Opener for Home Bar Party Drinking Game(Black)
For the Kitchen
Etekcity Food Digital Kitchen Scale Weight Grams and Oz for Baking and Cooking, 0.67.35.7 in, Stainless Steel(Upgraded)iTouchless 13 Gallon Stainless Steel Automatic Trash Can with Odor-Absorbing Filter, Wide Opening Sensor Kitchen Trash Bin, Powered by Batteries (not included) or Optional AC Adapter (sold separately)
Ninja Mega Kitchen System (BL770) Blender/Food Processor with 1500W Auto-iQ Base, 72oz Pitcher, 64oz Processor Bowl, (2) 16oz Cup for Smoothies, Dough & More
mixing bowls – mixing bowl Set of 6 – stainless steel mixing bowls – Polished Mirror kitchen bowls – Set Includes ¾, 2, 3.5, 5, 6, 8 Quart – Ideal For Cooking & Serving – Easy to clean – Great gift
Sweet Tooth
Your Favorite Mix of Premium Candy! 3 Pounds of Gummi Bears, Skittles, M&M’s, Blow Pop’s, Tootsie Rolls, Mike & Ike’s, & More.(Packed in a Small 6 inch cube box)Airheads Candy Bars, Variety Stocking Stuffers Bulk Box, Chewy Full Size Fruit Taffy, Gifts, Back to School for Kids, Non Melting, Party 60 Count (Packaging May Vary), 60 Variety Airheads
HERSHEY’S Chocolate Candy Bar Assorted Variety Box (HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate, KIT KAT, REESE’S Cups), Full Size Bars, 18 Count Gift Box
SKITTLES & STARBURST Full Size Variety Mix, Great for Valentine’s Day Candy Gifts, 37.05-Ounce 18-Count Box
Pet Lovers
I Just Want to Drink Coffee Save Animals Take Naps Funny Coffee Mug 13oz – Unique Gift For Animal Lovers – Best Pet Lover Gifts – Veterinarian, Dog Mom, Cat Mom, Animal Rescue, Vet TechPearhead Forever In my Heart Pet Memorial Frame
TeeStars – Animal Lover Dog Paw Print – Love Dogs My Best Friend Women Hoodie Large Gray
Stemless Wine Glass for Pet Lovers (Its Not Drinking Alone If the Dog is Home) Made of Unbreakable Tritan Plastic and Dishwasher Safe – 16 ounces
Everything for Cats
EcoCity Cat Toys – Cat Teaser Toys – Include Cat Wand and Natural Feather Refills (5 Pack)Miss Meow Cat Bed Cave Shape Two Way Conversion Faux Suede 18
Nova Microdermabrasion 53 Inches Multi-Level Cat Tree Stand House Furniture Kittens Activity Tower with Scratching Posts Kitty Pet Play House (Grey)
TEMPTATIONS MixUps Treats for Cats SURFER’S DELIGHT Flavor, 16 Oz Tub
Everything for Dogs
Best Friends by Sheri Calming Shag Vegan Fur Donut Cuddler (23×23 Small – Taupe), Cat and Dog Bed, Self Warming and Cozy for Improved Sleep, Machine Washable for Pets Up to 25 lbs.Good’N’Fun Triple Flavored Rawhide Kabobs For Dogs, 12 Oz
11 Piece Dog Rope Toys
TUG 360° Tangle-Free, Heavy Duty Retractable Dog Leash for Up to 55 lb Dogs; 16 ft Strong Nylon Tape/Ribbon; One-Handed Brake, Pause, Lock
Color Themed
Red
Blue
Green
Orange
Pink
This was a very informative post. I’ve been wanting to learn more about affiliate programs and you gave a lot of great information.
I like reading gift guides. Specially for certain occasions like mother’s and father’s day (for the in-laws)and when i dont know that person very well.
I was just thinking about this the other day. I need to use my personally used affiliates to my advantage.
This is a very helpful guide. I have never set one up before probably because it was too intimidating. Your blog post makes it a little less intimidating and I might have to give it a try. Great gift ideas too!
Gift guides are so much work, I don’t do them often anymore, and I’m thinking about not doing it for this holiday season either. You’re making me reconsider my game plan.
I don’t enjoy gift guides. I’m not sure why but I’m hoping to change things come the holidays and hopefully succeed this will be helpful!!
They can be pretty lucrative, but I stopped doing them a while back. There’s so much work involved. I used to pitch companies plus use affiliate links. It was just a lot of work to deal with that plus getting it organized.
I don’t do gift guides but I love reading and getting gift ideas from them. Gift guides are a blessing for me especially for the hard to gift relatives of mine.
I agree, it’s fun to use them to shop around. I used to do an annual gift guide for the Winter holiday season, but it was too much work.
such great tips. I love/hate creating gift guides lol but they are always fun to read
They are a lot of work. I haven’t done one in a LONG time.
I actually found some great ideas for my husband’s birthday that is coming up. Thank you so much!
Holiday shopping is so stressful at times! Your tips are so handy! Will keep in mind!
Holiday shopping can be stressful for so many.