14 Marketing Ideas for Valentine’s Day

It’s almost that time of year again – whether you dread it or anxiously await it, Valentine’s Day is coming up next week! It’s no secret that your biggest admirers are your customers and clients. Show them you care with any of these 14 Valentine’s Day inspired marketing tips:

1. Host a Galentine’s Day Event

Galentine’s Day is a recently popular holiday that occurs each year on February 13 (Valentine’s Day Eve). It was created by a fictional character, Leslie Knope, from the show Parks and Recreation. No, it’s not technically an official holiday, but it’s a day for women to celebrate their female friendships. It’s an increasingly popular unofficial holiday, and is definitely worth turning into a marketing plan – like hosting a Galentine’s themed event! For example, if your company is a winery, you could hold an exclusive wine-tasting event for Galentine’s Day.

2. Promote Acts of Love (Like Random Acts of Kindness)

Share that you care! Valentine’s Day is a holiday to express that you care. One of the best ways to do this is to give back to charity. Choose a cause you care about and donate or volunteer. But don’t forget to show the world what you did and what you care about! It creates a sense of trust, care, and human nature to your brand!

3. Give out a Limited-Time Offer

Valentine’s Day is only one day – give your customers a limited time offer. This could be something that runs only on Valentine’s Day, or even a 14-Day sale. Give discounts or BOGO offers on items you want people to purchase, whether it’s for themselves or for a significant other. Promote your offer through email, on social media, even on your website!

4. Offer Specials on Deliveries or Gift Wrapping

Other offer ideas include providing free deliveries or free gift wrapping. These ideas add a special touch, and will create a convenience for people who are busy and don’t have time to hand deliver or hand-wrap a gift, but still want to show someone they’re thinking of them. This also shows that your brand thinks not only about the gift receiver, but also the gift giver.

5. Encourage User-Generated Content

The possibilities are endless when it comes to encouraging user-generated content during this holiday. Encourage your followers to post certain images or stories; for instance, get people to share how they met their significant other with the hashtag #MyOtherHalf. This is a simple way to get your followers to engage with your brand and participate in a social media trend. A way to take it to the next level is to turn user-generated content into a contest. Again, using a unique and relevant hashtag will make it easier to review contestant submissions. Let your followers know what’s up for grabs for the winner – it could be a gift card, a sampling of your merchandise, or even a romantic weekend getaway!

6. Send out Valentine Cards (or e-cards)

Participate in the holiday by sending out traditional Valentine’s cards. These could come in the form of an actual printed card with a coupon in it, to an email blast with an animated GIF opening a card. What you put inside the card is totally up to you! One popular item is a coupon or an offer to drive business during the holiday. Other ideas include small freebies or samples, or, if you’re getting cards printed, design an interesting pop-up for a surprise when people open their cards.

7. Show Love to Everyone

Don’t just target couples – people celebrate Valentine’s Day with more than just the person they’re dating or married to. People celebrate with their friends, co-workers, even their pets! And, don’t leave singles out either. Try to market to anyone who will be celebrating Valentine’s Day.

8. Use Relevant Hashtags and Emojis

Don’t forget to include hashtags in your social posts! Do some research to find what hashtags will work best for you and your brand. However, here are some ideas to get you thinking:

#BeMine

#SingleLadies

#HugsAndKisses

#LoveIsInTheAir

#XOXO

#MyValentine

#LoveStory

#FirstLove

#RelationshipGoals

9. Create a Gift Guide

Chocolates, cards, teddy bears, conversation hearts… these are some of the most popular, and most cliché gifts couples buy one another on Valentine’s Day. Give your customers more unique gift ideas for couples. Put together a gift guide for your customers to help them come up with a gift idea their partner might not be expecting.

10. Pair Products That Go Well Together

This may be a good idea for your gift guide, but letting people know which of your products or services pair nicely together is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Even pairing products for “his and hers” are a great way to show your brand is celebrating the holiday accordingly. Creating an offer of buy this item, get the paired item at a discount (or free) is also a great promotional tactic.

11. Make Your Logo (and on social media) Appropriately Themed

Update your branding for the holiday – no, this might not be the number one idea to generate sales, but it will definitely add some personality to your brand. People notice and appreciate subtleties, so definitely give it a try! Even if you can’t find a way to make your logo Valentine’s Day themed, even updating your header on social media for the occasion will still show people you care.

12. Create Themed Social Graphics/Photos

Post about how your brand is celebrating the holiday! Create a custom conversation heart to post on your social media, or personalize your products to make them look like they’re celebrating Valentine’s Day. Post photos from a company luncheon or happy hour to show how your employees are celebrating. Design and post a “Happy Valentine’s Day from Us” graphic on Valentine’s Day. OR even post a Happy Galentine’s Day graphic or photo on February 13. Don’t just post for the sake of posting – make sure it’s relevant and relates back to your brand. It will make for more interesting content that your followers will remember.

13. Partner With Another Brand/Company

Just like two soul mates, some businesses may also pair together like apples and oranges. Does your brand or business have an “other half” you could join forces with for the holiday? For instance, a mattress company might want to pair with a home décor company. A This may take some additional planning ahead, but could be worth it for both of you – after all, any relationship is about balance.

14. Write a Valentine’s Day Themed Blog

Publish some light reading material for your customers this Valentine’s Day. Make sure it relates back to your brand, though! If your brand is in the food industry, share some recipes or tips on making a romantic dinner for a significant other. Is your brand a lifestyle brand for millennials? Write a blog about dating tips in the new year. Do you run a daycare? Write a blog on tips for fun Valentine’s Day children’s activities. Or if you’re in the creative field like ocreations, share some funny Valentine’s cards for graphic designers. Content people can read and share increases brand engagement, and helps with SEO on your website.

Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest times of the year for consumers buying gifts for their loved ones. It’s an opportunity for your brand to grow that you definitely don’t want to skip out on. Try even just one of these ideas and watch your relationships with your audience blossom! Need ideas for your brand? Get in touch with us today – we love to come up with creative marketing tools for our clients, especially holiday themed ideas!