It’s mid-January and hopefully, everyone is caught up on strategic planning for the New Year. With Valentine’s Day just a month away, it’s time to jump in and reach out to short lead media. Below are just a few ways to think outside the box and help create excitement for what you or your clients are offering for Valentine’s Day.
Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is considered a romantic holiday for couples. But there are plenty of people who enjoy receiving a gift on Valentine’s Day who are not in a relationship, or just want to treat themselves. Don’t forget these categories when pitching story ideas or gift guide items – singles (men and women), kids, moms, teachers, pets, best friends, co-workers and more.
Think outside the box (or heart) and incorporate a charity angle into your pitching. By donating a percentage of sales during the month of February, you’ll have the greater chance to stand out from traditional pitches and give back to a worthy cause. American Heart Month is perfect for Valentine’s Day because not only does it take place in February, but also ties in wonderfully with matters of the heart.
Valentine’s Day is a great time of year to show print and digital media you appreciate their support. Because the craziness of the holidays seems long gone by now, you can break through the clutter by sending a thank you card or small gift in February. It may get a bit more notice (outside of the holiday gifting cluster). It’s still early enough in the year to make sense to thank them their support last year and keep your agency and clients top of mind again this year.
Valentine’s Day is a great time to enlist the power of social media. Brands can partner with key bloggers and influencers for a Valentine’s Day on Instagram, Facebook, etc. to help to create buzz and get consumers excited about what’s available for their Valentine’s Day shopping needs. From discounts to giveaways, offer exclusives to followers. For instance, send out a newsletter – asking customers to “follow” them on Instagram to access the discount, or partner with a social media influencer to share this with their followers. The Instagram-only discount can also encourage followers to “tag a friend” to help spread the word (and love) even farther
