Whether you’re an e-commerce brand, a retail storefront, or a service-based business, key dates provide valuable opportunities to create timely, relevant, and engaging content for your marketing. By aligning your marketing efforts with the key dates, you can capitalise on existing consumer behaviour and leverage current spending habits.
People tend to buy more around key dates because they often coincide with major holidays, events, and milestones, which naturally prompts increased spending. Plus, key dates often come with special promos and discounts that are available for a limited time.
Key dates are an opportunity to connect with your audience on things that matter to them. And through nostalgia and celebration, you can create a sense of relevance with your business and brand.
So, grab your planner. Let’s look at the key dates for this year to help you plan your content marketing strategy.
January
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 2: Day after New Year’s Day
January 4: World Braille Day
January 11: International Thank You Day
January 22: Wellington Anniversary Day
January 29: Auckland, Northland, Nelson Anniversary Day
February
February 4: World Cancer Day
February 6: Waitangi Day
February 10: Chinese New Year
February 11: International Day of Woman and Girls Science
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 20: Love Your Pet Day
March
March 2-10: Sea Week
March 3: Children’s Day
March 8: International Woman’s Day
March 11: Taranaki Anniversary Day
March 15: World Sleep Day
March 17: St Patrick’s Day
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
March 22: World Water Day
March 23: Otago Anniversary Day
March 29: Good Friday
March 31: Easter Sunday
April
April 1: Easter Monday
April 1: April Fool’s Day
April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April 2: Southland Anniversary Day
April 7: World Health Day
April 9: Small Business Day
April 10: Sibling’s Day
April 18: Administrative Professionals Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 25: ANZAC Day
May
May 4: Star Wars Day
May 9 – 15: NZ Sign Language Week
May 11: World Fair Trade Day
May 12: Mother’s Day
May 12: International Nurse’s Day
May 15: International Day of Families
May 17: Pink Shirt Day
May 20 – 26: Tech Week
June
June 1 – 30: Pride Week
June 3: King’s Birthday
June 5: World Environment Day
June 8: Best Friends Day
June 8: World Ocean’s Day
June 10 – 16: Men’s Health Week
June 14: World Blood Donor Day
June 28: Matariki
July
July 1 – 13: Plastic Free Month
July 5: Red Nose Day
July 7: Chocolate Day
July 10: Teddy Bear Picnic Day
July 30: International Friendship Day
August
August 13: Left Handers Awareness Day
August 31: Cancer Society Daffodil Day
September
September 1 – 30: Cervical Screening and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
September 1: Father’s Day
September 16 – 23: Māori Language Week
September 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day
September 21: World Gratitude Day
September 21: World Peace Day
September 23: South Canterbury Anniversary Day
September 23 – 29: Mental Health Awareness Week
October
October 1 – 31: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1 – 31: Save Kiwi Month
October 5: UN World Teacher’s Day
October 6: Grandparent’s Day
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 16: Boss’s Day
October 18: Loud Shirt Day
October 25: Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day
October 28: Labour Day
October 31: Halloween
November
November 1: Marlborough Anniversary Day
November 1: Gumboot Friday
November 1 – 30: ‘Movember’ Men’s Health Month
November 5: Melbourne Cup Day
November 5: Guy Fawkes
November 12 – 20: Get Outdoors Week
November 13: World Kindness Day
November 15: Canterbury Anniversary Day
November 19: International Men’s Day
November 20: UN Children’s Day
November 25: White Ribbon Day
November 29: Black Friday
December
December 2: Cyber Monday
December 2: Chatham Islands and Westland Anniversary Day
December 7: Crate Day
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day
December 31: New Year’s Eve
So, how can you use these dates in your content marketing? Here’s some ideas on how to market your business with the help of these key dates:
- Social media posts
- Newsletters and email marketing
- Special promotions
- Themed days at your workplace
- Blogs or articles on your website that have specific references to these dates.
- Celebrations and acknowledgements
Have I missed anything? If there is a date that I’ve missed, flick me an email and I’ll add it to the list. If you need help figuring out how to use these dates in your content marketing. Get in touch.