New year, a new fire in your belly when it comes to your brands’ social presence, but find yourself a few months in and not much has changed? This post will help with that.
Whilst it can seem that there is a National Something Or Other Day constantly, it would be remiss to ignore them all, as it might just be they provide you with anything from inspiration to a tool to advance your product or service.
To help you get started, I've pulled together a handy list!
January
DRY JANUARY
Sell alcohol so think this is off the cards for you to engage with, wrong! In fact, it allows you to show the wider reach of your offerings, such as non-alcoholic versions of beverages, or indeed soft drink options that are a little more interested than the norm.
VEGANUARY
Where does your brand sit with vegan morals? Are you a vegan and cruelty-free skincare brand? Now is the time to shout about it. Are you a restaurant that could look to offer more vegan options? Use it as a chance to shine and welcome those customers who may have previously felt excluded.
27TH JANUARY - NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK
This is a fantastic opportunity for brands, inspire customers to share their stories with you, be it about the first time they experienced your product/service. Tell the story of your brand, how did your business begin?
February
LGBT History Month
The Proud Trust training and education has a simple, easy to use, education and resource pack fo
FEBRUARY5TH: Yorkshire Pudding Day
Who doesn't love Yorkshire Puddings, if you're a foodie or drinks brand, this is a clear opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with your customers by asking them to get involved. Even if you’re not in the food industry, there’s content out there to be created.
Create a fun quiz which works out the best way to make them, eat them etc based on your job role, date of birth, favourite meal...the possibilities are endless!
You could even host a Yorkshire Pudding workshop!
FEBRUARY 13TH: PANCAKE DAY
Whether it’s a pancake race outside with all your staff which you share on social and allow customers to vote on or choose the winner, a special menu or just a special 'flipping amazing' offer for that day only, this is a day when everyone is ready to get involved for the sake of delicious pancakes.
FEBRUARY 13th/14TH: galentines/VALENTINE’S DAY
The day of love, or the day where you can share a little cynicism! Whichever works best for your business.
Florists, make sure you have roses in stock and make it easy for people to buy, fashion stores get your date-worthy outfits front and centre, coffee shops add a free heart-shaped cookie on the side of all coffees when people share their best date stories using a hashtag you create.
Online businesses, declare your love for your own customers with a flash sale or special offer, give people time to prepare for it and stress the urgency of the sale/discount.
March
MARCH 1ST: ST. DAVID’S DAY
St. David is the patron saint of Wales. Welsh businesses take note! Travel companies that have venues in Wales, take notice. Brands who sell Welsh items, take notice and fly the flag high!
MArch 2nd: World Book Day
World Book Day is a charity event held annually, where every child in full-time education in the UK is given a voucher to be spent on books; the event was first celebrated in the United Kingdom in 1995.
Share your teams favourite childhood books, theme content around famous characters.
MARCH 17TH: RED NOSE DAY
No matter your business, this is a perfect time for you all to get red noses on and be part of one of the country’s biggest charity days, it's a great way to get staff and customers involved and engaging with each other. This is a fantastic opportunity to create funny or moving video content, whilst doing your bit for the charity.
MARCH 19TH: MOTHER’S DAY
This is a wonderful opportunity to stray away from the norm, inspire customers to be kind, to share the love for their mums. Share a little insight into your team members, share candid moments about their lives, customers relate to that and it reminds them that behind every business are real people with real lives!
If you have products that fit well with the day, then by all means share, offer and promote. Flowers, gifts, eating out etc, make sure you let them know in person, online and via mailing lists. Make it timely and focus on the feelings and memories you can create, rather than on the material possessions.
MARCH 22nd: ramadan begins
Even if you, as a brand, don’t observe Ramadan, showing support and care for other communities and religions is always a good idea. Depending on the type of brand/business you are, you can go for something as simple as acknowledging the day, through to sharing insights from team members who observe it, or how your local community honours it.
April
APRIL 7th - 10th: EASTER weekend
Do something unexpected, as well as the usual promotions. Get the local businesses together and host an egg hunt, bonnet contest or chocolate egg workshops. There are so many engaging ways to celebrate that don't simply involve making that sale!
Don't forget your online presence too, hide Easter eggs in your images, treat customers to Easter giveaways, invite followers to get creative.
APRIL 21ST: NATIONAL TEA DAY
Can you even be British if you don't have an opinion about tea! Fan the flames of national pride and get a conversation going! In-store give away free cups of tea, if you’re a coffee shop, concentrate on all the ways you can have tea, iced, hot, in baking...
May
Bank Holiday - 1st, 8th & 29th
Make the most of people having the day off work (in most cases) - give people a really good reason for getting out of the house and trying your products or services.
in 2023 we have an extra day off in May for the Kings Coronation.
Think of the things people love doing on Bank Holidays, BBQ, spending time with family, getting outside, then find a way your business can link in with that. It doesn't have to be groundbreaking, but it does need to be on-brand to convince people to spend with you.
May 20th: World Bee Day
On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was born in 1734. The purpose of the international day is to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem.
Share recipes for honey, ways to make your work or home bee friendly.
June
June 18th: Father’s Day
If your business has items that will make dad’s day then put them upfront and centre and try putting them on offer so little ones, and slightly bigger ones, can help show their dad some appreciation on this day.
June 19th- 25th: National Picnic Week
National Picnic Week aims to provide picnic tips, picnic hotspots, and everything surrounding picnics to help the nation roll out their picnic rugs and embrace British summertime wherever you are..
Share favourite picnic treats, best places to have a picnic, gadgets for the ultimate picnic.
July
JULY 3RD: Wimbledon starts
Wimbledon is a national treasure, embrace the joy of the court.
Recipes for Pimms, if players were ‘insert your product’ who would they be, brands own tennis championship.
JULY 7TH: WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY
Everyone, take note! If you are a B2B business, send your main customers a box of chocolates, treat your staff to a chocolate bar.
If you're a B2C business then think of the ways you can add value to customers already shopping with you.
If you have a cafe or restaurant, use this day to amplify your USP, rather than simply offering a discount on normal items, how about creating a specific chocolate menu, chocolate tea, curry, salad dressing, cocktails, they can all be created with a touch of chocolate.
August
AUGUST 20TH: FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
After the impact of the Women’s Euros last year, we can only imagine the impact of the World Cup. Run campaigns that align with the matches, get creative with guessing the scores, discounts/offers if we win.
AUGUST 24TH: Burger day
Treat the team to a bbq, send your clients everything they need to make the best burgers. Sometimes the simple ideas are the best!
Top tier of burger joints, best toppings, how to grill the perfect patty.
AUGUST 28TH: BANK HOLIDAY
Replicate what worked in May, customers will make it clear what they engaged with most, so give them it in bucket loads!
September
September 8th: International Literacy Day
Help a local library, or school, with books. Team up with teenager youth clubs etc to help with literacy.
September 23rd: first day of autumn
New season, new trends. Focus on how your brand can add value in the new season. How to guides, best way to embrace autumn, best recipes. Get the whole team involved.
October
OCTOBER: Breast Cancer Awareness/stoptober
Get the whole team involved with something for charity. Add a donation from the business to all orders in the month. Share guidance to help people gain early diagnosis.
Support your team with quitting smoking.
OCTOBER 31ST: HALLOWEEN
Get the costumes on, seriously it's the most fun day of the year! Get the camera out and make sure your social followers know you’re taking part and give them a chance to get involved and win! in fact, Go to town on the decorations and the spooky puns!
November
MOVEMBER
As with Red Nose Day, getting your staff and customers involved in the greater good together can only lead to great things. health. Whether you encourage beard-growing staff to take part or stick a fake ‘tache onto others. The moustache has also become super trendy in recent years, so maybe you already have items (or have some shaped biscuits your coffee shop can bake) to sell as part of the theme and remember to have some proceeds go to the good cause it stands for.
NOVEMBER 11TH: REMEMBRANCE DAY
Whilst this is a sober event, it's important your business do its bit by showing support. Make sure your staff wear poppies, where possible, uphold the 2-minute silence at 11 am. Be aware that working this day into your marketing in any other way is likely to be considered poor taste.
December
DECEMBER 24TH: CHRISTMAS EVE
The final push before Christmas and prime for people who haven’t finished their shopping and will be on a mission to do so, make sure you’re letting everyone know that your items are the perfect finishing purchase for their Christmas.
If you're an online business that cannot deliver items the same day, then make it easy for people to purchase them and download them to give as a gift!
DECEMBER 25TH-31ST: SALE
Christmas Day and the week that follows is one of the busiest shopping periods online, ensure your business is set up for that push and increase in sales, especially if you have discounts.
So there you have it, a snippet of insight into some of the days you can capitalise upon, regardless of your industry!