632 pounds. On display in Las Vegas, this outrageous orange pumpkin attracted all kinds of attention. How can you do that? One easy way is to step into the spotlight that’s already on during national holidays and special observances.
If there was ever a month to promote your business, October is it. Take a look at this list of October’s special days and see how you can tie them into a press release or at the very least a social networking update or two. Thinking ahead? Check out these Halloween PR tips. By the way, what’s your favorite October holiday?
How to Tie Holidays and Observances into Your Marketing
To help you get started, here are a few ideas.
Press Releases: Write a press release that relates the special day – on October 18 pair up with a cupcake bakery to arrange surprise deliveries.
Promotions: Ties into a month-long observance – donate a percentage of profits to Breast Cancer.
Events: Celebrate – host a gourmet reception fundraiser, like our client Drury Design, during National Kitchen and Bath Month.
Social Media: Mention the day or in your social networking updates – on October 4 ask your connections how they’re improving their office and offer a tip on how you’re improved yours.
Blog Posts: Run a week-long series of blog posts during Business Women’s Week featuring your clients or colleagues.
Contests: Ask customers and the community to participate – hold a best chili recipe or Halloween costume contest.
Relate: Choose events that have meaning for you, your business and your community – that’s how I curated this list.
Innovate: Create your own special day, week or month and start a new national observance – what would you celebrate?
October Holidays and Observances
Apple Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Class Reunion Month
Dessert Month
Emotional Intelligence Month
International Augmentative & Alternative Communication Awareness Month
International Strategic Planning Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Chili Month
National Go on a Field Trip Month
National Kitchen and Bath Month
National Reading Group Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Pizza Month
Self-Promotion Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
October Weekly Celebrations
2-8 National Newspaper Week
3-7 Customer Service Week
9-15 Build your business with business cards week
17-21 National Business Women’s Week
October Special Days
1 World Vegetarian Day
2 Techie’s Day
3 World Habitat Day
4 Improve your office day
5 World Teachers Day
6 Mat Hatter Day
7 Yom Kippur
8 National Depression Screening Day
9 World Post Day
10 National Kick Butt Day
11 National Face your Fears Day – hunter’s moon
12 Free Thought Day
13 World Sight Day
14 World Egg Day
15 Sweetest Day
16 World Toy Camera Day
17 National Boss’s Day/National clean your virtual desktop day
18 National Chocolate Cupcake Day
19 Evaluate Your Life Day
20 Information Overload Day
21 Reptile Awareness Day
22 Make a Difference Day
23 Mother-in-law Day
24 United Nations Day
25 Sourest Day
26 Perigean Spring Tides Day
27 Cranky Co-Workers Day
28 National Chocolates Day
29 Internet Day
30 Checklist Day/National Candy Corn Day
31 Halloween/National Magic Day/National Caramel Apple Day
Looking for more holidays? Try here, here or here.
Your Turn: How do you tie holidays or observances into your marketing or PR?
Photo: Outrageous Orange from the Las Vegas Lobby Collection copyright 2009 by Barbara Rozgonyi.
