Need Content Ideas? This Will Work in Any Niche

Marketing a small business can be a daunting task for the business owner that has no previous marketing experience. I was in that position many years ago and I remember struggling to come up with ideas for my blog and also ways to market my business on a shoestring budget.

Yet, around a holiday it was usually easier to write a blog post, think of a content idea, or dream up a promotion of one sort or another based on that holiday's theme.

It's pretty easy and natural to promote a New Year's Kickoff, a 4th of July Firecracker Sale, or a Halloween Spooky Special. But did you know that there are many of other holidays in a year that might be on people's minds or that could trigger some specialized content from your business?

I've compiled a list of holidays and events in 2018 that could become the basis of some of your content, promotions, or even a sale during the coming year. It's not too early to begin planning for next year. You probably won't want to use all of these dates, of course, so just pick and choose what you need.

This list is by no means exhaustive. In fact, there are many celebrations that could be the theme of your content that I'm guessing you've never heard of.

Did you know these days are celebrated? (You could have some fun with this . . .)

Thank Your Mentor Day 1/19
Working Naked Day 2/3
National Kick Butts Day 3/15
National Go For Broke Day 4/5
Eat What You Want Day 5/11
Stupid Guy Thing Day 6/11
No Make-Up Day 7/21
National Kiss and Make Up Day 8/25
National Lazy Mom's Day 9/1
World Octopus Day 10/1
Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day 11/15
National Fruitcake Day 12/27



You can certainly use this list beyond 2018, however, many of these dates are "floating" meaning the exact date changes from year to year.

Holiday Guide for 2018:

Jan 1 New Year's Day
Jan 6 Epiphany
Jan 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 17 Benjamin Franklin's Birthday
Jan 23 John Hancock's Birthday
Jan 31 Islamic New Year
Feb 1 National Freedom Day
Feb 2 Groundhog Day
Feb 11 Thomas Edison's Birthday
Feb 12 Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
Feb 13 Mardi Gras
Feb 14 Valentine's Day
Feb 15 Susan B. Anthony's Birthday
Feb 16 Chinese New Year
Feb 19 President's Day
Feb 22 George Washington's Birthday
Mar 2 Read Across America Day
Mar 2 Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 8 International Women's Day
Mar 11 Daylight Savings Time Begins
Mar 17 St. Patrick's Day
Mar 20 Vernal Equinox
Mar 30 Good Friday
Mar 31 Passover
Apr 1 April Fool's Day
Apr 1 Easter Sunday
Apr 6 National Tartan Day
Apr 13 Thomas Jefferson's Birthday
Apr 17 Tax Day (U.S.)
Apr 22 Earth Day
Apr 25 Administrative Professional's Day
Apr 27 Arbor Day
May 3 National Prayer Day
May 5 Cinco de Mayo
May 6 National Nurses Day
May 10 Confederate Memorial Day
May 11 Military Spouse Appreciation Day
May 13 Mother's Day
May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day
May 19 Armed Forces Day
May 21 Victoria Day
May 22 National Maritime Day
May 28 Memorial Day
Jun 5 World Environment Day
Jun 6 D- Day
Jun 14 Flag Day
Jun 17 Father's Day
Jun 21 Summer Solstice
Jul 1 Canada Day
Jul 4 Independence Day
Jul 22 Parents Day
Jul 24 Pioneer Day
Jul 27 Korean War Armistice Day
Aug 5 Family Day
Aug 7 Purple Heart Day
Aug 19 National Aviation Day
Aug 21 Senior Citizens Day
Aug 26 Women's Equality Day
Sep 3 Labor Day
Sep 9 National Grandparent's Day
Sep 11 Patriot Day
Sep 15 National Clean-Up Day
Sep 17 Constitution Day
Sep 21 National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Sep 23 Autumnal Equinox
Sep 28 Native Americans Day
Oct 1 Child Health Day
Oct 8 Columbus Day
Oct 8 Canadian Thanksgiving
Oct 16 National Bosses Day
Oct 20 Sweetest Day
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 1 All Saints Day
Nov 4 Daylight Savings Time Ends
Nov 6 Election Day
Nov 11 Veteran's Day
Nov 11 Canadian Remembrance Day
Nov 15 Great American Smokeout
Nov 21 World Peace Day
Nov 22 Stop the Violence Day
Nov 22 Thanksgiving
Nov 23 Black Friday (Don't miss this)
Nov 26 Cyber Monday "
Dec 1 World Aids Day
Dec 7 Pearl Harbor Day
Dec 10 Human Rights Day
Dec 15 Bill of Rights Day
Dec 21 Forefather's Day
Dec 21 Winter Solstice
Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Boxing Day (Canada)
Dec 31 New Year's Eve

If you can't use one of these celebrations in your marketing, there is always an alternative for any day in the year. Just Google "this day in history" and you will find several large archive sites that will give you events that have taken place on "this day" throughout history. I have often used these resources to spur ideas for my marketing. Once you've done this a few times, it's pretty easy to come up with unique content ideas for anything you promote.

The very best to all of you,

Steve