Your marketing calendar – Thinking outside the box…

When you plan your marketing calendar do you rely on the main stream holidays as the dates that you choose to create your campaigns, promotions and initiatives around?

Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day… These are all great opportunities to use targeted marketing campaigns that can boost your sales when your customers are in the mood to spend.

But have you considered thinking outside the boxes on your marketing calendar? (Pun intended).

If you want to increase your sales throughout the year, you should be looking beyond the key dates and public holidays to promote your brand and engage your customers. Especially, if you carry out a lot of your marketing online, using social channels and email marketing. After all, on these dates you’ll be competing with many other businesses who believe they have the perfect gift for Mum, treat for Dad or surprise for a loved one… It can be tough to get your promotions to stand out from all the others that are jamming your customer’s social media feeds and inbox.

Here are four ways you can take ownership of your marketing calendar and present brand new occasions that resonate with your customers.

1. Research lesser known national or international days, weeks or months that ally with your brand, product or service and create your own celebration around these for your customers. You might find these websites useful. Awareness Days , Days of the Year, National Day Calendar.
2. Keep your eyes open for news on popular entertainment, lifestyle and culture stories that you can create a campaign or initiative around.
3. Keep it local. Stay on top of events that are happening in your neck of the woods so that you can leverage these as part of your marketing calendar?
4. Celebrate your own occasion and create a marketing initiative to ensure your customers celebrate with you. If you have a business birthday or anniversary plan promotions, parties and giveaways around this significant event.

If you’d like help creating a marketing calendar that will resonate with your clients and customers, contact me.