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…]

“Nobody should be allowed to have anything to do with advertising until he has read this book (“Scientific Advertising”) seven times.  It changed the course of my life.”
 – David Ogilvy

This year (2023) is the 100th anniversary of the first publishing of the book “Scientific Advertising” by Claude Hopkins. It’s widely regarded as one of the foundation stones of what is known as Direct Response Marketing.

Somewhat surprisingly, it’s not that well known outside of direct response practitioners in the wider marketing community.

W-a-a-a-y back in 2008, I wrote a series of posts covering each of the 21 chapters in the book, discussing whether or not what Hopkins had to say was still relevant for marketers in the 21st Century. He described his aim for the book as follows…

“The time has come when advertising has in some hands reached the status of a science.  It is based on fixed principles and is reasonably exact.  The causes and effects have been analysed until they are well understood.  The correct methods of procedure have been proven and established.  We know what is most effective, and we act on basic laws.”

“Advertising, once a gamble, has thus become, under able direction, one of the safest of business ventures.  Certainly no other enterprise with comparable possibilities need involve so little risk.”

To mark this 100th anniversary of “Scientific Advertising”, the links to the original series of posts are below… [Read more…]

2023 is not yet over…we still have Christmas and the New Year to enjoy…

…but it’s not too soon to get started on putting together a marketing calendar for January 2024. So let’s take a look ahead at some of the events, anniversaries and other occasions that we can put to use for an event-driven marketing event or promotion.

Of course, the New Year itself is a great reason for a promotion. At this time, most people are making plans for the year ahead and often looking to make a “fresh start”.

“New Year Sales” are a staple pretty much around the world and no reason why you can’t make use of this.

Looking slightly further ahead…

…in 2024 Chinese New Year falls on February 10th (the start of the “Year of the Dragon”).

Back to January and other events of note… [Read more…]

It’s mid-November…Halloween has been and gone….and…

…my local stores are now in full-on, 100% Christmas mode!

Not just Christmas promotions either…

…this year everyone seems to have jumped the gun on “Black Friday” and started well ahead of the supposed date on the day after Thanksgiving in the USA!

So…if you haven’t already started planning and preparing for your end-of-year and other holiday promotions…

…there’s no time to lose!

Below, I am republishing a special guest post that has proven very popular since it was originally published some years ago on the “Total Package” site (sadly no longer active).

It’s from Troy White…

…with some great marketing tips that can be applied for other seasonal events, not just Christmas.

Before that…as a starter and useful addition to the main piece…here’s an extract from a pretty much “evergreen” post by Ryan Deiss and the folks at DigitalMarketer… [Read more…]

Time to look ahead and consider what’s available to the smart direct response marketer to create…

…a marketing calendar for December 2023.

That is to say, occasions, events and anniversaries that we can use as the building block for marketing campaigns and promotions.

December of course means…

…CHRISTMAS…

…with the NEW YEAR not far behind as a marketing event.

New Year provides a great marketing opportunity for pretty much any business.

Even now in November, it’s not too early to run with the theme…

…”Make 2024 Your Best Year”…

…which can apply to businesses in health, relationships, personal finance and success in general.

In December, New Year’s resolutions will be on people’s mind…

…so this is an excellent time to promote any kind of personal development product…

…as well as business-oriented offerings.

Remember to plan and launch your New Year promotion well in advance and in good time for January 1.

With Christmas, keep in mind…

…any specific customs in your area.

For example, in Sweden the Yule season starts on December 13 with Santa Lucia Day.

It’s also the December Solstice on December 22 (at 03.27 UTC…check the time in your location).

Other significant events in December… [Read more…]