With the month of June approaching…

…we’re almost halfway through 2024!

That in itself can be used as the basis for a marketing promotion…

…along with the other holidays and events that fall in the coming month…

…to create your own marketing calendar for June 2024.

If you’re in the northern hemisphere…

…the broad theme can be thought of as “Summer”.

In the southern hemisphere…it’s wintertime.

The June Solstice occurs at 20.51 UT on June 20 (in the UK that’s 21.51 BST on June 20).

There’s also Father’s Day (Sunday, June 16) in the USA, UK and Canada.

Other events… [Read more…]

Welcome to this month’s “Looking Ahead” feature…taking a look at the events, occasions and anniversaries in the month of May 2024 that smart marketers can use as the reason for a marketing promotion.

In May 2024…

…notable occasions are…

…firstly “May Day” (May 1, of course)…

…and then in most places (apart from the UK) “Mother’s Day”, which this year falls on Sunday May 12.

“May Day” (May 1) is an occasion widely observed in the northern hemisphere and originally was a pagan festival linked to Spring and fertility.

Wikipedia has more about May Day traditions…

…including in the UK the May Pole, the May Queen and Morris Dancing.

Like many originally pagan festivals, May Day has been co-opted by the Church and in many Catholic countries May is a month honouring the Virgin Mary.

In the modern era, May Day has also come to be known as “International Workers’ Day” and associated with the labour movement.

Also in May…

…we have “Be A Millionaire Day” on May 20! This is a day to think and dream about what it would be like to be a millionaire.

It’s understood that the term “millionaire” was first used in the English language by Lord Byron in a letter written in 1816. At the time, there were only a handful of millionaires. Today it’s reckoned there are more than 50 million millionaires scattered around the globe. The origins of “Be a Millionaire Day” are not clear, but the day honours the desire to enjoy the freedom and power associated with being financially secure.

Here’s a more detailed list of events… [Read more…]

Welcome to our regular look at the month ahead, April 2024…

…and the events, holidays and anniversaries that a smart marketer can use as the foundation for an event-driven campaign or marketing promotion.

Easter is the main holiday and this year straddles the months of March and April. Good Friday is on March 29…

…and Easter Monday is on April 1.

There are a number of other religious holidays and observances this month, so mark those if appropriate for your audience.

The other prominent event of general interest this month is…

…”April Fool’s Day” (a day for practical jokes and spreading hoaxes) which this year coincides with Easter Monday on the first of the month.

It’s also “Shakespeare Day” on April 23 which is also “English Language Day” and “World Book and Copyright Day”.

Other events of note… [Read more…]

Time to look ahead at the month of March 2024 at the events, anniversaries and holidays that we can use to build a marketing calendar for campaigns, product launches or promotions.

The main occasion of general interest is St Patrick’s Day on March 17. Plenty of scope for ideas based around luck, good fortune and finding that elusive “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow.

There is also the change of season with the March Equinox (March 20 at 03.06 UT). Daylight Savings Time changes this month as well in many countries.

In the UK it’s “Mother’s Day” on Sunday, March 10…

…and Easter is approaching. This year it falls on March 29 – April 1. [Read more…]

Time to look at the coming month of February 2024 for the various holidays, events and anniversaries that smart marketers can use as the basis for a promotion or campaign and to create a marketing calendar for February 2024.

It’s Chinese New Year on Saturday, February 10 (the “Year of the Dragon”). Celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 24.

Valentine’s Day (February 14) is a standout occasion for the month pretty much everywhere. Remember also “Groundhog Day” (February 2), now part of the popular consciousness thanks to the classic Bill Murray movie.

2024 is a Leap Year…so there’s an extra day in the calendar on February 29.

In Sports…the US Super Bowl 58 takes place on February 11.

Looking at other events… [Read more…]