Time to look ahead and consider what’s available to the smart direct response marketer to create…
…a marketing calendar for December 2020.
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 2021 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 a fantastic 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 21 (at 10.02 UT…check the time in your location).
Other significant events in December…
December 1 – World AIDS Day
December 2 – International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery
December 3 – International Day of Persons With Disabilities
December 3 – Telescope Day (marking the invention of the telescope by Galileo in 1621)
December 4 – Wildlife Conservation Day
December 4 – National Dice Day
December 5 – International Volunteer Day For Economic And Social Development
December 5 – World Soil Day
December 5 – Repeal Day (anniversary of the end of Prohibition in the USA in 1933)
December 6 – St Nicholas’ Day (also Pawnbrokers Day and Miner’s Day)
December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day
December 7 – Walt Disney Day (first Monday in December)
December 8 – “Imagine Day” (anniversary of the death of John Lennon in 1980)
December 9 – Christmas Card Day (anniversary of the first commercial card in 1843)
December 9 – International Anti-Corruption Day
December 9 – International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 10 – Human Rights Day
December 11 – International Mountain Day
December 13 – World Choral Day (second Sunday in December)
December 13 – Worldwide Candle Lighting Day (second Sunday in December)
December 13 – Violin Day
December 14 – DNA Day (marking the day in 1967 when DNA was first created in a test tube)
December 15 – International Tea Day
December 16 – Jane Austen’s birthday (born on this day in 1775)
December 17 – Wright Brothers Day (anniversary of the first powered flight in 1903)
December 18 – International Migrants Day
December 18 – Christmas Sweater Day (third Friday in December)
December 18 – Underdog Day (third Friday in December)
December 19 – “A Christmas Carol” Day (the classic Christmas novel by Charles Dickens first published in 1843)
December 20 – Go Caroling Day
December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day
December 20 – Games Day
December 21 – Short Story Day
December 21 – December Solstice (occurs at 10.02 Universal Time in 2020 so check the time in your location)
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 27 – Fruitcake Day
December 28 – Card Playing Day
December 29 – “Tick Tock” Day (only two days to the end of the year!)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Taking a look at some individual countries…
In the USA…
December 1 – Rosa Parks Day (Alabama, Ohio, Oregon)
December 7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 13 – US National Guard Birthday
December 15 – Bill of Rights Day
December 17 – Wright Brothers Day
December 17 – Pan American Aviation Day
December 24 – Washington’s Birthday Observed (Indiana, Georgia)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – “Day After Christmas Day” (KS, NC, SC, TX)
December 26 – First Day Of Kwanzaa (continues until January 1)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve (LA, MI, WI)
Canada…
December 11 – Anniversary Of The Statute Of Westminster
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
The UK…
December 21 – National Robin Day (an annual nationwide event raising awareness of small birds and other wildlife in winter)
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 28 – Boxing Day Bank Holiday
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Australia…
December 24 – Christmas Eve (official holiday in NT, QLD and SA)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 28 – Boxing Day Holiday (“Proclamation Day” in SA)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve (official holiday in NT and SA)
Looking at some seasonal anniversaries…
…as noted above “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens was first published on December 19 in 1843.
On December 22 in 1882 the first string of Christmas tree lights was created by Edward H. Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison.
Around about 1 December 1939…”Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” made his first appearance in a children’s coloring book given away by Montgomery Ward stores in the USA. The date is a little vague because this was a promotion for the Christmas 1939 season.
Some further ideas for promotions in December…
1) Keep in mind the “12 Days Of Christmas”…
…that start on December 25 and conclude on January 5.
2) Consider whether you could create a “Christmas Catalogue” for your clients. Even if you don’t have a wide range of your own products, people LOVE to see suggestions for gifts at this time of the year. So you can mix in other people’s products with your own.
3) How about a special gift pack version of one of your products? May not always be possible but I have seen special holiday packs from companies like Coca-Cola as well as for products like chocolate and biscuits.
4) Keep in mind as well that a price point of 20.21 can be used as a tie-in to a New Year (2021) promotion.
Wishing you every success with your December 2020 holiday promotions!