To increase your revenue, anticipation is the key word! You must be able to anticipate the highlights of the coming months for the foreseeable future and prepare your communication campaigns. All this will require an effective marketing strategy and relevant content to be able to reach customers directly on the internet through your actions, helping you to reach your social media goals and other objectives.
And for this, a thoughtfully crafted marketing calendar is the perfect tool!
In this article, we go over what a marketing calendar is, the different types available, and what steps to take to make your own version. We also provide you with a detailed infographic with the key dates to consider when scheduling your content for the year!
What is a marketing calendar?
A marketing calendar is a strategic tool used by businesses to plan, organize, and track marketing actions over a specific period. It outlines scheduled marketing campaigns, events, and initiatives, detailing when they are to occur and what resources are required.
This tool aids in aligning marketing efforts with brand objectives, ensuring timely execution of strategies, and facilitating communication and coordination among team members.
What are the different types of marketing calendars?
Although you can certainly opt to use a single calendar to schedule all your content, you may decide to have multiple calendars in order to better organize your activities and daily tasks, depending on your specific marketing goals.
There are several types of marketing calendars that you may find beneficial for your strategy: editorial, social media marketing, email marketing, campaign, and holiday.
Editorial
An editorial calendar is a schedule used by content creators and publishers to plan, organize, and manage content production and publication. Also referred to as a content or content marketing calendar, it typically outlines topics, deadlines, and responsibilities, ensuring consistent and strategic content delivery across various media platforms. An editorial calendar can include various kinds of content, such as blog posts, white papers, ebooks, case studies, press releases, and more.
Social media marketing
A social media marketing calendar is a planning tool used to schedule and organize content across social media platforms. A well-crafted social media marketing calendar details posting days, topics, and platforms; helps maintain a regular posting schedule; and aligns social media actions with broader marketing goals.
Email marketing
An email marketing calendar is a schedule that organizes and plans email campaign activities. It describes the timing, content, and audience for each email for a strategic and consistent approach. This tool aids in matching email marketing efforts with overall marketing objectives and aids in avoiding overlapping or excessive communication.
Campaign
A campaign calendar is a tool that schedules and tracks tasks and deadlines for specific marketing or client campaigns. It encompasses various deliverables like ads, emails, and landing pages over weeks or months. With clear beginning and ending dates, it helps maintain organization and focus throughout a campaign's lifecycle.
Holiday
A holiday calendar marks special days and periods. It's essential for a well-planned marketing approach, offering chances to craft seasonal, relevant content, particularly in social media and email marketing. Holidays are prime times for brands to boost traffic and sales through promotions, seasonal guides, or holiday deals.
How do you make a marketing calendar?
When making your marketing calendar, note that it's beneficial to prioritize organization and ease of use. Regardless of if you're handling all your marketing activities on your own or if you have a team to assist you, any calendars you make should be clear and easy to understand.
- Set clear goals and objectives: Define what you want to achieve with your marketing efforts, such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or boosting sales.
- Identify key dates: Mark important dates relevant to your business, such as product launches, seasonal happenings, holidays, and industry-specific occasions.
- Plan content and campaigns: Decide on the types of content and campaigns you'll run, aligning them with your goals and key dates. This includes posts on social networks, email campaigns, blog posts, and promotions.
- Allocate resources and assign responsibilities: Determine the resources (budget, tools, personnel) required for each activity. Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members to be sure that everybody knows their roles and deadlines.
- Review and adjust regularly: Continuously monitor the performance of your marketing activities and be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed based on results and changing market conditions. Regular reviews allow for flexibility and optimization of your marketing strategy.
Key holidays and events for your 2024 marketing calendar
If you’re looking for a complete list of significant dates not to be missed, you’ve come to the right place! We've put together a list of the most important upcoming happenings, from national holidays to trade shows, sports, and cultural happenings. Keep this list handy so you don't miss anything occurring in your area and internationally.
January 2024
- January 1: New Year's Day – At the beginning of each year, many people make good resolutions that they hope to keep. Don't miss this date when planning your marketing calendar to encourage your customers to buy products that will help them to accomplish their goals!
- January 1: World Day of Peace
- January 4: National Trivia Day
- January 6: Epiphany
- January 9: Consumer Electronic Show (CES) Las Vegas (until January 12)
- January 12: Kiss a Ginger Day
- January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 15: Blue Monday – A fateful date, as it’s statistically considered the most depressing day of the year! Why not offer your customers a bit of comfort? Help them fight against this tendency by selling them humorous products or boxes of chocolate!
- January 15: National Hat Day
- January 19: National Popcorn Day – This day was created to highlight one of the most popular snacks in the world. Popcorn is enjoyed in many countries and is often eaten at movies, parties, or just as a snack. It can be eaten in many different ways, plain, salted, or sweetened, with butter or spices. Add this celebration to your schedule to share your love for popcorn with your customers.
- January 21: International Hug Day
- January 22: Community Manager Appreciation Day
- January 25: Opposite Day
- January 28: Data Privacy Day – On April 26, 2006, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to establish Data Protection Day, celebrated annually on January 28. It later spread to the US and Canada, starting in 2008. As an e-merchant, take this opportunity to communicate with your customers and reassure them about the management of their personal data on your store.
February 2024
- Black History Month – This month is dedicated to paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. It’s a celebration of African Americans’ achievements and a time for recognizing their central role in the history of the US.
- February 2: Groundhog Day
- February 4: Grammy Awards
- February 4: Facebook's Birthday
- February 5: World Nutella Day
- February 6: Safer Internet Day – This is an excellent moment to communicate your best practices and show people that you’re responsible and committed to more positive digital use.
- February 7: National Girls and Women in Sports Day
- February 9: Start of the Rio Carnival – The Rio de Janeiro Carnival festival is one of the most popular and famous celebrations in the world. It takes place every year a few days before the beginning of Lent and brings together millions of people from all walks of life. The Carnival is famous for its huge float parades, flashy costumes, and wild dance performances. The participants parade through the streets of Rio to the applause of the cheering crowd. The Rio Carnival is a colorful and energetic celebration that offers participants and spectators an unforgettable spectacle.
- February 9: National Pizza Day
- February 10: Chinese New Year – A highly anticipated celebration in Chinese culture, this is becoming an increasingly popular event around the world, including in the Western parts of the globe. If you sell Chinese products, this holiday may very well be applicable to your target market! If not, there’s no reason why you can't highlight all kinds of items designed to celebrate this day or which are part of a festive universe.
- February 11: Super Bowl
- February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- February 13: Mardi Gras – French for “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras consists of celebrating and enjoying the last day of eating rich, fatty foods before the fasting of Lent starts.
- February 14: Valentine's Day – The lovers' day is one of the most commercial holidays in many parts of the world. In fact, the French are particularly fond of it. Perfume, flowers, jewelry, or any other romantic object, you can't miss this "love opportunity!"
- February 18: World Whale Day
- February 19: Presidents’ Day
- February 29: Leap Day – An additional day added to the calendar every four years to keep it synchronized with the Earth's orbit around the Sun, this adjustment compensates for the fact that a solar year is slightly longer than 365 days.
- February 29: Rare Disease Day
March 2024
- March 1: World Compliment Day – It's purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of giving compliments and showing appreciation to others. Giving a compliment can have a positive impact on the person receiving it, making them feel valued and boosting their self-esteem. It’s also a way to show kindness and build stronger social bonds. World Compliment Day invites us to stop and tell someone what we appreciate about them, especially your customers!
- March 4: World Tennis Day
- March 8: International Women's Day - Take advantage of this date to highlight the women in your company and reaffirm your business’s commitment to this issue.
- March 10: Academy Awards
- March 10: Start of Daylight Savings Time
- March 10: Start of Ramadan
- March 15: World Consumer Rights Day – This day was created to raise awareness of consumer rights and to help consumers defend their interests against businesses. As consumers, everyone has the right to be informed about the products and services they purchase, to receive quality products, and to be protected if something goes wrong. Consumer Rights Day can be a lever to inform your customers about their rights and show your ecommerce efforts to satisfy them.
- March 17: St. Patrick's Day – Coming straight from Ireland, this is a celebration of Irish culture, and for many people, more specifically a celebration of beer. Whether or not you're a beer fan yourself, you can't miss the event for your marketing calendar! Capitalize on this holiday with a dedicated offer, messages referring to it, or a variation of your communication in a beautiful green color!
- March 18: Global Recycling Day
- March 20: First Day of Spring
- March 20: International Day of Happiness – This day was created to highlight the importance of happiness in our lives and to raise awareness that it’s possible to cultivate happiness. Happiness is a state of mind that depends on many factors, such as relationships with others, health, passions, and personal achievements. This celebration invites everyone to reflect on what makes them happy and to take action to cultivate that happiness in their daily lives.
- March 23: Earth Hour – Organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this event is devoted to helping the planet. People and businesses alike are encouraged to turn off non-essential electricity for one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- March 31: Easter Sunday – Some people celebrate Easter weekend in its most religious aspect. Others enjoy it more for the sound of the bells, egg hunts, and chocolate tasting. On the internet, it can be a good excuse to organize a contest. Check out our article on Easter marketing ideas for even more inspiration!
- March 31: World Backup Day
April 2024
- April 1: April Fools’ Day – Are you a prankster at heart and somebody who has a good sense of humor? In that case, April 1st is perfect for showing your ironic side. It's a great day to offer your audience an offbeat post on social networks or via newsletter.
- April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
- April 7: World Health Day – This day was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of the importance of health and to promote health actions on a global scale.
- April 9: International Unicorn Day
- April 10: National Siblings Day
- April 12: Start of Coachella – The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, more commonly known as Coachella, is a music and arts festival that takes place annually in California. It occurs over two consecutive weekends in April and brings together tens of thousands of people from all over the world. Coachella is famous for its eclectic lineup, which includes artists from all musical genres, as well as its impressive art installations. It’s a must-attend event for music and art lovers who want to discover the latest trends and immerse themselves in a festive and creative atmosphere.
- April 17: National Haiku Poetry Day
- April 21: World Creativity and Innovation Day
- April 22: Earth Day – At the heart of consumers' new expectations, ecology has been a hot topic in recent years. Take advantage of Earth Day to highlight your environmental commitments or offer your customers more responsible objects.
- April 22: Start of Passover
- April 23: World Book Day
- April 26: Arbor Day
- April 29: International Dance Day
- April 30: International Jazz Day
May 2024
- May 2: Baby Day
- May 3: World Press Freedom Day
- May 4: Star Wars Day – May 4th celebrates the Star Wars saga. Feel free to give a nod to the films by George Lucas in your post on social networks while displaying your promotions. May the force be with you!
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- May 9: Ascension Day
- May 11: World Fair Trade Day – This day was created to promote fair trade and to make consumers aware of the importance of buying fair trade products. Fair Trade is a form of trade that aims to provide fair and equitable conditions for producers in developing countries. It focuses on promoting social justice, equality and sustainability in trade. World Fair Trade Day invites people to support international producers and contribute to a fairer and more sustainable trade.
- May 12: Mother’s Day
- May 19: Pentecost
- May 20: World Bee Day
- May 25: Geek Pride Day
- May 27: Memorial Day
- May 31: World No Tobacco Day
June 2024
- Pride Month – This month is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and bringing awareness to the issues they face. Throughout the month, many cities host parades, concerts, and other special events. It’s great for showing your support for LGBTQ+ customers, employees, and the community in general.
- June 1: Global Day of Parents
- June 3: World Bicycle Day
- June 5: World Environment Day – Like Earth Day, this can be a great opportunity to communicate about the environmental issues you care about or your commitment to the planet.
- June 5: Global Running Day – This celebration aims to promote the benefits of running as a physical activity for physical and mental health. Running is a sport that’s accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. It strengthens muscles, burns calories, and relieves stress. World Running Day is ideal for encouraging your audience to move and improve their fitness.
- June 7: National Donut Day
- June 8: World Oceans Day
- June 8: Global Wellness Day
- June 14: World Blood Donor Day
- June 16: Father's Day – Similar to Mother's Day or Grandparents’ Day, this is a special celebration when many gifts are given. Take this opportunity to make a short list of gift ideas.
- June 19: Juneteenth
- June 20: First Day of Summer
- June 20: World Refugee Day
- June 21: Take Your Dog to Work Day – Even if going to work involves simply heading to your home office, don’t hesitate to share pics and/or videos of your favorite canine companion in your workspace with your audience on social media. Cute content featuring dogs and puppies is a surefire way to make your audience smile!
- June 21: World Music Day
- June 29: Start of the Tour de France
- June 30: World Social Media Day
July 2024
- July 2: World UFO Day
- July 3: International Plastic Bag Free Day – Do you offer ecological packaging or reusable objects? Let your customers know! They’ll appreciate the fact that you’re making an effort to protect the environment.
- July 4: Independence Day
- July 6: International Kissing Day
- July 7: World Chocolate Day
- July 11: National Cheer Up the Lonely Day
- July 15: Give Something Away Day
- July 17: World Emoji Day –Yes, those little guys we include in many of our messages are so famous that they have their own celebration! It's perfect for setting up marketing communication using some of these many icons.
- July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day
- July 30: International Friendship Day
August 2024
- August 2: International Beer Day
- August 8: International Cat Day – This day is the perfect opportunity for cat lovers to celebrate these adorable and stubborn little fur balls. Cats are known for their independent nature and their indifference to their human owners, which can sometimes be frustrating. But it's this unique personality that makes them such good companions. While some people celebrate International Cat Day by throwing parties for their favorite felines, others simply like to cuddle with their cat while watching a good movie. Either way, it's a day to appreciate those mysterious little beings we love so much!
- August 9: National Book Lovers Day
- August 12: International Youth Day – Children are honored on August 12. So how about a little selection of items for them?
- August 12: World Elephant Day
- August 13: International Left-Handers Day
- August 15: National Relaxation Day
- August 19: World Photography Day – What better time to take great pictures than during the summer and vacations? On World Photography Day, perhaps you could organize a photo contest... The best shots could be rewarded with a small gift or a promotional voucher to be used on your site.
- August 26: International Dog Day – Man's best friend has always been very popular. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, dogs are also very popular in posts on social networks. Maybe you can create a buzz by creating communications around this theme. Of course, if you’re an ecommerce company specializing in the sale of pet products, this is a date not to be missed in your marketing calendar!
- August 26: Start of the US Open – The US Open is an annual tennis tournament held in the United States. It’s one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, along with the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. The US Open attracts the best international tennis players, who compete on the courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. The tournament is famous for its festive atmosphere and exciting matches. Tennis fans come from all over to see their favorite players in action!
- August 31: World Blog Day – Ecommerce blogging is one of the many types of content marketing that exists and is a way to communicate with your customers and provide them with useful and interesting information about your products and services. Blogs can also be used to publish in-depth articles on market trends, the latest technological innovations, and relevant events. This allows e-tailers to showcase their expertise and industry knowledge, which can build customer trust in their brand. Blogs can also be used to improve their website's SEO, which can help them gain more visibility on search engines. This World Blog Day, think about your blog strategy and migrate your ecommerce site to WiziShop, the SEO-powered ecommerce solution that ensures a healthy foundation to host your store and blog!
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- September 2: Labor Day
- September 5: International Day of Charity – The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of charity and to encourage people to donate to the causes they support. Charity can take many forms, whether it’s giving money, time, or material goods. It can help support local, national or international causes, ranging from poverty alleviation to cancer research. Why not have your company show solidarity with those in need and plan something concrete to improve the society in which we live?
- September 7: World Beard Day
- September 8: National Grandparents’ Day
- September 8: National Teddy Bear Day
- September 13: International Programmers Day – With the wide variety of tasks they manage every day, their profession is totally indispensable in the web world. Take advantage of International Programmers Day to showcase your latest innovations and tell your audience about your site's new features.
- September 14: World First Aid Day
- September 19: International Talk Like a Pirate Day
- September 20: World Cleanup Day – It’s the global day of tidying up our planet. To inform and raise awareness about the impact of your activity, communicate about your eco-friendly practices. Highlight your possible short circuits, your steps to reduce waste, or your products that are recyclable or made of recycled materials.
- September 21: International Day of Peace
- September 22: First Day of Autumn
- September 22: World Car-Free Day
- September 26: World Maritime Day – Its role is to raise public awareness of the role of the maritime sector in the world, and more specifically in commerce. If you sell certain products related to this theme, plan to highlight them in your posts.
- September 27: World Tourism Day
- September 27: Google’s Birthday – This date marks the official launch of Google in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, then students at Stanford University. Since then, Google has become one of the world's largest and most influential search engines, helping billions of people find information on the web. Google's birthday is a time for users to celebrate the company's incredible success and to thank the founders for their vision and innovation. It's also excellent for reflecting on the impact of Google in your ecommerce marketing and how you use this search engine in your SEO strategy.
- September 30: International Podcast Day
October 2024
- Pink October – This month is dedicated to raising awareness of the fight against breast cancer. Many solidarity events are organized. To inform and take action, mark the occasion and clearly display your support for this cause.
- October 1: International Music Day
- October 4: World Animal Day
- October 4: World Smile Day
- October 5: World Teachers' Day – Dedicated to celebrating teachers and all the hard work they put into educating students of all ages, it’s perfect for highlighting any products you offer that would help your customers say “thank you” to their favorite educators!
- October 10: World Mental Health Day
- October 10: World Sight Day
- October 11: World Egg Day
- October 14: Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- October 16: World Food Day
- October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- October 18: National Mammography Day – Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, with millions of cases diagnosed each year. That's why it's important to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection. National Mammography Day is a dedicated day to encourage people to get a mammogram, support those affected by this disease, and push for advances in research and treatment.
- October 20: International Chefs Day – This is a day to celebrate chefs and their wonderful gastronomical creations as well as to promote healthy eating. Perhaps you could offer a panel of cooking items or plan a contest for the most beautiful cake!
- October 24: United Nations Day
- October 25: World Pasta Day
- October 31: Halloween – This commercial holiday is a must in your marketing strategy. Consider holding costume contests for customers because people love to dress up for Halloween. You can reward the greatest costumes with prizes such as vouchers, free products or even a vacation. Some merchants may offer special Halloween deals by implementing percentage discounts on certain products or 2-for-1 offers. If your field lends itself to it, create Halloween-themed advertising campaigns. Use spooky visuals, catchy slogans, and special offers to grab customers' attention. You can also share pics of you and your team dressing up in costume and getting into the Halloween spirit!
November 2024
- Movember – While October is dedicated to breast cancer, November raises awareness of the fight against prostate cancer. As a sign of support, it’s customary to grow a mustache. What if you also decided to draw a few on your website?
- November 1: All Saints’ Day
- November 3: End of Daylight Savings Time
- November 8: National STEM Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November 13: World Kindness Day
- November 14: World Diabetes Day
- November 21: World Television Day
- November 28: Thanksgiving
- November 29: Black Friday – Black Friday allows consumers to enjoy valuable savings. For e-tailers, it’s a very important day because it boosts sales considerably. For 24 hours, display your top promotions and your best prices. Many internet users take advantage of this day to make their first Christmas purchases, so it’s definitely one to plan to add to your business’s holiday marketing calendar.
- November 30: Small Business Saturday – This day was created by American Express in 2010 as a response to the recession occurring in 2008. The objective was to encourage people to shop locally and prioritize small businesses rather than from big-name retailers in an effort to boost the economy. It serves as a wonderful chance to further highlight what makes your online store unique and/or partner with a local business to promote both of your offerings.
December 2024
- December 1: World AIDS Day
- December 2: Cyber Monday – This is always the Monday after Black Friday. Here again, many commercial operations are organized. It’s often during this period that ecommerce sales reach their highest peak! On this date, the traffic of online stores explodes!
- December 3: Giving Tuesday – A day to encourage people to give back in whatever methods they can, Giving Tuesday is dedicated to generosity and the demonstration of people’s power to transform their communities. Use this as an opportunity to donate a portion of your sales to your favorite charitable organization and/or increase awareness of the group.
- December 3: International Day of People with Disabilities
- December 4: National Cookie Day
- December 8: Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day – For generations, people have been fascinated with the concept of time travel. This day offers you the chance to let your creativity go crazy and create entertaining content for your target market! Dress up as somebody from the past or the future and don’t hesitate to incorporate your products into your photo or video.
- December 10: Human Rights Day
- December 11: Green Monday – A concept created by eBay in 2007, Green Monday takes place on the second Monday of December every year. Despite its name, the event doesn’t have anything to do with the environment. It’s instead dedicated to urging consumers to get their last-minute online shopping completed for Christmas, ensuring that they’ll receive their orders before the 25th.
- December 14: National Free Shipping Day
- December 20: National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day – Whether it's in a private or corporate setting, many people enjoy dressing up in vintage and quirky holiday sweaters… Take advantage of the trend: offer it to your customers or post on social media all the members of your team dressed in their nicest sweaters!
- December 22: First Day of Winter
- December 25: Christmas – Of course, when you’re an e-merchant, Christmas is undeniably the most anticipated holiday of the year. Moreover, an increasing number of people are making their purchases directly on the internet, which will sharpen your marketing strategy for the end of the year. You can't escape some marketing communications during this period. Highlight your bestsellers so that they end up at the foot of the tree and follow some good advice to boost your sales at Christmas.
- December 25: Start of Hanukkah
- December 31: New Year's Eve
Create a monthly marketing calendar adapted to your business!
A well-structured marketing calendar that incorporates important days and celebrations is essential for successful marketing strategies. By aligning your campaigns with relevant holidays, industry happenings, and seasonal trends, you can ensure timely and resonant content delivery.
Remember that marketing calendars can vary from one brand to the next. Your marketing calendar should be created with your target audience and specific marketing goals in mind to achieve the best results!
