Giveaways and promotions, as with most marketing efforts, work best with a well thought out and long term strategy versus an unplanned initiative with no preparation. A solid communication plan with several prospect and customer touchpoints helps to insure that your brand and products are top of mind when your prospects are ready to buy. The challenge we all face at times is a steady stream of fresh ideas to bring our strategy to life.
When it comes to planning giveaways as part of your marketing strategy, your business will have its own specific initiatives that may revolve around product launches, customer milestones, etc. However, there are plenty of other date-specific themes, events, recognition days and holidays that you can piggyback on to take advantage of the interest and buzz surrounding these items.
Our friends at Webroot combined a product launch with one of the the largest gaming conventions in the world, E3, to take advantage of the massive buzz surrounding the event and critical mass of their prospective customer base attending E3 (you can read more about their experience in a case study here).
Another example is Kate Tilton, who assists authors in reaching readers and also helps readers connect with authors. She coordinated a giveaway around ‘World Book Day’ which is a perfect recognition day that’s well aligned with the interests of her target audience.
Need a few ideas? Read on for over 75 themes, events, holidays and commemorative days over the next three months to help fuel your giveaway marketing plan.
- Themes
- Spring cleaning
- Getting outdoors
- Tax season
- Events
- The Masters
- NBA playoffs
- NHL playoffs
- Start of MLB season
- 4/13 New Media Expo
- 4/15 Tax Day
- 4/20 Boston Marathon
- 4/20 Pubcon
- 4/23 Snap Conference
- 4/27 Interop IT Conference
- 4/29 Mom 2.0 Summit
- 4/29 Marketing Innovation Summit
- Holidays
- National Poetry Month
- Jazz Appreciation Month
- International Guitar Month
- Keep America Beautiful Month
- 4/21 National Library Workers’ Day
- 4/22 Administrative Professionals Day
- 4/22 Earth Day
- 4/22 National Jelly Bean Day
- 4/24 Arbor Day
- Themes
- Graduation season
- Mother’s Day
- Events
- Bike to Work week (5/11 – 5/15)
- 5/1 Camp Blogaway
- 5/2 Kentucky Derby
- 5/5 Collision Conference
- 5/13 Copyblogger Authority Rainmaker Conference
- 5/24 Indianapolis 500
- Holidays
- National Barbecue Month
- National Hamburger Month
- National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
- National Salad Month
- National Strawberry Month
- National Pet Week (1st week)
- National Transportation Week (3rd week)
- National Bike Month
- 5/5 Cinco de Mayo
- 5/5 National Teacher Day
- 5/6 National Nurses Day
- 5/10 Mother’s Day
- 5/15 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
- 5/16 Armed Forces Day
- 5/25 Memorial Day
- 5/26 Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- Themes
- School’s out
- Summer vacations
- Events
- Wimbledon
- US Open 6/18 – 6/21
- 6/1 Growth Summit
- 6/5 BlogU Conference
- 6/9 Social Media Strategies Summit
- 6/16 E3 Expo
- Holidays
- National Tennis Month
- National Dairy Month
- National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month
- National Iced Tea Month
- National Rose Month
- National Candy Month
- National Fishing Week (1st week)
- National Camping Week (4th week)
- 6/5 Donut day
- 6/6 D-Day
- 6/10 National Yo-Yo Day
- 6/12 World Egg Day
- 6/14 Flag Day
- 6/16 National Fudge Day
- 6/17 Eat Your Vegetables Day
- 6/20 Ice Cream Soda Day
- 6/21 Summer Solstice
- 6/21 Father’s Day
- 6/26 National Chocolate Pudding Day
Did we miss anything? Add the themes, events and holidays you’re considering running giveaways around in the comments below!
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