Time to look ahead and consider what’s available to the smart direct response marketer to create…
…a marketing calendar for December 2014.
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.
PLEASE do not neglect the marketing opportunity that the New Year provides for pretty much any business.
Even now in November, it’s not too early to run with the theme…
…”Make 2015 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.
Other significant events in December…
December 1 – World AIDS Day
December 2 – International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery
December 3 – Telescope Day (marking the invention of the telescope by Galileo in 1621)
December 5 – International Volunteer Day For Economic And Social Development
December 6 – St Nicholas Day
December 7 – International Civil Aviation Day
December 8 – “Imagine Day” (anniversary of the death of John Lennon in 1980)
December 9 – International Anti-Corruption Day
December 10 – Human Rights Day
December 10 – International Animal Rights Day
December 11 – International Mountain Day
December 12 – International Day Of Heavy Metal
December 14 – DNA Day (marking the day in 1967 when DNA was first created in a test tube)
December 16 – Jane Austen’s birthday (born on this day in 1775)
December 18 – International Migrants Day
December 19 – “A Christmas Carol” Day (the classic Christmas novel by Charles Dickens first published in 1843)
December 20 – International Human Solidarity Day
December 21 – Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) / Summer Solstice (Southern Hemisphere)
(the Solstice occurs at 23.03 UTC in 2014 so check the time in your location)
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
One somewhat unusual event that caught my eye…
…the “World Mind Games” take place 11-17 December in Beijing.
Taking a look at some individual countries…
In the USA…
December 1 – Cyber Monday
December 7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 16 – Start of “Las Posadas” (concludes December 24)
December 17 – Wright Brothers Day
December 17 – Pan American Aviation Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – First Day Of Kwanzaa (continues until January 1)
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Canada…
December 11 – Anniversary Of The Statute Of Westminster
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
The UK…
December 1 – St Andrew’s observed (Scotland)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Australia…
December 22 – Summer Solstice
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Looking at some seasonal anniversaries…
…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 today in a store I saw not one but TWO special holiday packs from Coca-Cola. These have a bit of a “retro” theme about them and the packaging is a large part of what ties them to the season. I’ve seen special tins used for products like chocolate and biscuits.
4) Keep in mind as well that a price point of 20.15 can be used as a tie-in to a New Year (2015) promotion.