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56 Free & Creative September Marketing Ideas for Any Business

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56 Free & Creative September Marketing Ideas for Any Business

They say a relaxed mind is a creative mind, but it’s hard to stay relaxed when you’re running a business—let alone in September when everyone’s switching gears. Lucky for you though, there’s a slew of events and themes in September that you can use for easy and creative marketing. And I’m not just talking Labor Day or Back to School….

So in this post, I’m going to equip you with over 50 unique ways to market your business in September, along with real examples from businesses just like yours. Argh ya ready? (Couldn’t resist).

September national months

  • Addiction recovery
  • Baby safety
  • Better breakfast
  • Childhood cancer
  • Childhood obesity
  • Disaster preparedness
  • Fall hat
  • Food safety
  • Life insurance
  • Mortgage professionals
  • Self-improvement
  • Self-care
  • Suicide prevention
  • Update your resume (international)
  • Wilderness

september marketing ideas - suicide prevention month instagram post

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

September holidays & national days

Here are just some of the many holidays and national days of September. You can see a full list of days and dates at  the bottom of this post.

  • Patriot Day
  • Labor Day
  • Voter Registration Day
  • No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day
  • Read A Book Day
  • Grateful Patient Day
  • Swap Ideas Day
  • Hug & High Five Day
  • Day of Encouragement
  • Hug Your Boss Day
  • Dance Day
  • CleanUp Day– Third Saturday In September
  • Talk Like A Pirate Day
  • American Business Women’s Day
  • Family Health and Fitness Day
  • Love People Day

labor day instagram captions - happy labor day instagram post with beach and american flag background

Side note: Check out our Labor Day Instagram captions ideas.

September marketing ideas to celebrate diversity, equity & inclusion

There are plenty of opportunities to be proactive with diversity, equity, and inclusion this month. In addition to the ones featured below, there’s also Love People Day, Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and Intergeneration Month.

Just One Human Family Day

Just One Human Family Day occurs every September 12 and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a day to remember that no matter where we come from, what language we speak, what we look like, what our abilities and beliefs are, or how we identify ourselves— at the end of the day, we are all just one big human family living on this planet, all deserving of compassion from one another.  You can incorporate this into your business marketing by:

  • Sharing the collateral: Share the lyrics or the YouTube video of the song “We Share Just One Planet” on social.
  • Do an earthly act of kindness: Reach out to someone and do something kind for them. Better yet, do something kind for the planet with them, like plant a tree or pick up trash.
  • Swag: Sport the t-shirt or stickers to show your support and post on social.

september marketing ideas - one human family day

American Business Women’s Day

Women in business are a force to be reckoned with in today’s economy. This holiday occurs on September 22.

  • Compile a round-up: Find 10 women leading the way in your niche and write a round-up of them in a blog post. Tag them on social when you promote the post—they might share with their audience!
  • Run a stat-themed sale: For example, women started 49% of new businesses in the US last year. Send out a promotional email offering 49% off of select products, or run a $49 special.
  • Run a poll or quiz: Find some interesting stats about women in business and turn them into a poll or quiz or interactive post series for your followers. Like “What percentage of businesses are owned by women globally,” for example.

 

 

Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which actually runs from September 15 – October 15, is a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Latinx and Hispanic Americans. Here are some ways to recognize it in your marketing:

  • Recognize Latinx influencers: Do some digging to find Latinx influencers or historical figures in your niche or neighborhood. Depending on their level of celebrity, share information about them, interview them, or spotlight them on social.
  • Mark your calendar. The independence anniversaries of Latin American countries is the reason behind it’s start date. You can share a different fact or stat about each country on its respective day.
    • September 15: El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
    • September 16: Mexico
    • September 18: Chile
    • October 12: Dia de la Raza/Columbus Day
  • Donate: Consider donating to the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Latinos for Education, the Latino Equality Alliance, or other organization dedicated to Hispanic community support.

september marketing ideas - latino equality alliance

September marketing ideas for monthly awareness

Your business doesn’t necessarily have to be in an industry directly tied to any of the September awareness causes. Here are some ideas for incorporating September causes into creative, low-budget marketing.

Self-Improvement Month

It comes as no surprise that September is National Self-Improvement Month. It’s the second new year of the year where people get back into their routines after summer. Here are some ideas for marketing around this evergreen topic:

  • Create a video with your own self-improvement tips.

september marketing ideas self improvement

  • Share your favorite self-improvement books and ask your followers to comment back with theirs.
  • Write blog posts on goal-setting or listicles like “X Ways to Improve Your [memory, credit score, leadership skills]” or “How to Improve Your [X] in 5 Minutes.”
  • Run a 30-day challenge on Facebook or Instagram

september marketing ideas 30 day self improvement challenge

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

There are several ways to engage your audience and your employees with cause-based marketing in the name of childhood cancer awareness. You could:

  • Post eye-opening stats about childhood cancer on social media.
  • Register your company for the Great Cycle Challenge and get your employees out on their bikes. Not only will you be fighting kid cancer, but you’ll be promoting good health and friendly competition among your employees. Encourage photo sharing so your audience can follow along throughout the month.
  • Host a fundraiser and sell T-shirts to support a particular child or the cause in general.

september marketing ideas childhood cancer awareness

Food Safety Month

With September being Food Safety Month, this is an opportunity for health specialists and restaurants to promote their services, publicize their best practices, and reassure customers.

september marketing ideas food safety

You could also tie it in nicely with the back-to-school theme, like with the example below:

september marketing ideas food safety

Wilderness Month

National Wilderness Month celebrates the anniversary of the Wilderness Act, which was pivotal in the conservation of American land and the creation of national parks. Here are some ways to use it in your marketing:

  • Share your favorite hiking trails and ask your followers for theirs.
  • Post photos from your own wilderness adventures.
  • Share some eye-opening stats or a quote by John Muir.

september marketing ideas wilderness month

Back to School Month

So August is actually the official National Back to School Month, but who are we kidding. Any type of business can participate in the back to school season. You can:

september marketing ideas college specials

We’ve got plenty more with these 31 Easy Back-to-School Marketing Ideas That Work for Any Business.

September marketing ideas for holidays & national days

Reffering back to my intro, yes—National Talk Like a Pirate Day is a thing and it occurs on September 19. But I’ll let you come up your own ideas for that day (I am THIS close to throwing in a pirate pun). Let’s talk about some of the many other special days of September.

Labor Day

If it weren’t for Labor Day, the first Monday of September would potentially be the worst Monday of the year. Here are some ideas to try out:

september marketing ideas labor day giveaway

For more awesome ideas, check out these Labor Day Social Media Posts, Promotions, & Marketing Ideas To Celebrate.

Patriot Day

This day is dedicated to the 2,977 victims of September 11. Here are some ways to show your support:

  • Make it a day of service for your team.
  • Display flags in and outside your store.
  • Encourage your audience to take a moment of silence at the times of the attacks

september marketing ideas patriot day

NFL Opening Night

Opening night for the NFL falls in September. Celebrate the season opener with some creative marketing for your business. Here are some ideas:

  • Engage customers on Facebook by asking about their favorite teams or running a trivia contest.
  • Decorate your storefront, restaurant, or studio in team colors.
  • Run a football-themed special.
  • Offer discounts on game days or when your team wins.
september marketing ideas NFL opening night

First day of fall

The autumnal equinox (for the Northern Hemisphere) occurs in the last week or so of September, which means that the number of daylight and nighttime hours is the same. This celestial holiday (yay) marks the official end of the summer (sad).

But the first day of fall is a beautiful second new start granted to us each year—hence why September is the new January. So it’s a great opportunity to publish content around fresh starts and fall collections.

september marketing ideas fresh start

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And since this day happens at the end of the month, you can run a countdown series all month long.

september marketing ideas fall theme

You may also be interested in using any of these 157 authentic fall hashtags.

Positive Thinking Day

Positive Thinking Day falls on September 13 every year and never gets any less versatile. Any business can use this holiday for just about any reason: to cheer up, motivate, encourage, compliment, thank, help, inspire, or [insert any positive verb your heart desires here]. Dentists can connect this to smiles, physical therapists to recovery, interior designers to decorating, and the list goes on.

september marketing ideas positive thinking day

Working Parents Day

National Working Parents Day falls on September 16. If your audience includes working parents, humanize your brand and acknowledge their hard work. And don’t forget about your parent employees!

september marketing ideas working parents day

Good Neighbor Day

Good Neighbor Day, on September 28, is a good time to do some outreach across your Instagram, LinkedIn, or geographically local network. Acknowledge fellow neighboring businesses on social media to encourage a sense of community, or come up with a contest where followers or employees can nominate good neighbors for a grand prize.

september marketing ideas good neighbor day

Read a Book Day

National Read a Book Day is a creative way for preschools, tutors, and other education-oriented businesses to market themselves. If your business isn’t related to education, read a book related to your industry and share your insights and learnings on your blog or social media profiles.

This is also a good time to give back to your community by reading a book to children or the elderly. Volunteering is not only a honorable thing to do, it will make you feel good and as a bonus, likely increase brand awareness in your local market.

International Day of Charity

September 5 is the International Day of Charity. Choose a local charity to support and get your employees involved, whether in person or virtually.

september marketing ideas day of charity

Or, if you’re already supporting a charity, feature them on your blog or social media profiles and invite your followers to support them as well.

september marketing ideas day of charity

International Day of Peace

This day has been recognized around the world every September 21 since 1981. Post an inspiring quote or image, participate in a fundraiser, or run a little peace sale like Niji Nursery did:

september marketing ideas day of peace

Moving day

September 1 is a popular moving day across the country. This is a good time for movers, furniture stores, and other moving-related businesses to make sure their website and listings are optimized for Google local search. People new to the area will resort to their go-to search engine to find what they need, and you want to appear first.

The most efficient way to improve your local online presence is by optimizing your Google Business Profile.

Publish Google posts

Within your Google My Business account, you can create posts that publish directly to your listing about special offers and promotions. These posts will appear whenever your listing appears on Google Search and Google Maps.

september marketing ideas google my business post

Update your Q&A Section

You can, and should, populate your own Q&A section on your Google Business Profile. This helps you to get ahead of common customer questions and increase their confidence in choosing your business. Take this time to address of any questions that may be particularly relevant for fall, such as:

  • Do you have student discounts?
  • Does your back-to-school package include sauna use?
  • Do you have the back-to-school supply list for my local elementary school?
  • What are your hours on move-in weekend?

Update your fall hours

If you have a seasonal business, make sure to reflect any changes in your hours on your Google listing. When it comes to local marketing, the details are key.

One final idea: Send out a September newsletter

Our friends at LOCALiQ share some great September newsletter ideas, but here are just a few:

  • Run an email-exclusive summer clearance promo to boost engagement.
  • Include an inspirational quote for Positive Thinking Day.
  • Let customers know if you’ve changed your hours for fall.
  • Provide some of your most helpful blog posts for staying somewhat focused before the long Labor Day weekend.

Stand out this fall with these free & easy September marketing ideas

Hopefully these September marketing ideas and examples have given you some material to work with for your blog, social media profiles, websites, and other free marketing channels.

Ready for even more ideas?

For a year’s worth of marketing ideas, check out this marketing calendar template from LOCALiQ.

For more monthly marketing ideas, browse our collection…

September marketing holidays and national days (full list)

As promised, here’s the full list of September social media holidays, courtesy of National Day Calendar:

September 1

No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day

September 2

V-J Day

September 3

Lazy Mom’s Day – First Friday in September

Food Bank Day– First Friday in September

College Colors Day – Friday before Labor Day

September 4

Tailgating Day – First Saturday in September

World Beard Day – First Saturday in September

September 5

Cheese Pizza Day

Be Late For Something Day

September 6

Read A Book Day

Labor Day – First Monday in September

September 7

Beer Lover’s Day

Grateful Patient Day

September 8

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day

Ampersand Day

September 9

Teddy Bear Day

September 10

Swap Ideas Day

September 11

Patriot Day and Day of Service and Remembrance

September 12

Just One Human Family Day*

Hug and High 5 Day *

Day of Encouragement

Pet Memorial Day – Second Sunday in September

Hug Your Hound Day – Second Sunday in September

Grandparent’s Day – Sunday after Labor Day

September 13

Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day

Celiac Disease Awareness Day

Bald is Beautiful Day

Day of the Programmer – 256th Day of the Year

Boss/Employee Exchange Day – Monday after Labor Day

September 14

Parents Day Off

Live Creative Day

Sober Day

September 15

Tackle Kids Cancer Day

Online Learning Day

September 16

Working Parents Day

Mayflower Day

September 17

Professional House Cleaners Day

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Hug Your Boss Day – Changes Annually

September 18

Air Force Birthday

HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

Dance Day– Third Saturday in September

Gymnastics Day– Third Saturday in September

Boys’ and Girls’ Club Day for Kids – Third Saturday in September

Puppy Mill Awareness Day – Third Saturday in September

Responsible Dog Ownership Day – Third Saturday in September

CleanUp Day– Third Saturday In September

September 19

Talk Like A Pirate Day

Wife Appreciation Day – Third Sunday in September

September 20

Care for Kids Day

September 21

IT Professionals Day– Third Tuesday in September

September 22

American Business Women’s Day

Car Free Day

Autumnal Equinox – Changes Annually

September 23

Celebrate Bisexuality Day

September 24

Punctuation Day

Brave Day– Fourth Friday in September

Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – Last Friday in September

September 25

Tune-Up Day

Research Administrator Day

Family Health and Fitness Day USA– Last Saturday in September

September 26

Compliance Officer Day

Situational Awareness Day

September 27

Day of Forgiveness

Family Day – Fourth Monday in September

September 28

Drink Beer Day

Good Neighbor Day Fourth Sunday

Voter Registration Day – Fourth Tuesday in September

September 29

Coffee Day

VFW Day

Women’s Health & Fitness Day– Last Wednesday in September

September 30

Love People Day

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45+ Inclusive Holiday Marketing Ideas (+Examples!)

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45+ Inclusive Holiday Marketing Ideas to Shine Bright This Season

Diverse and inclusive marketing should be something you aim for year-round. However, it’s all that much more important during the holiday season as the more “traditional” holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving take the spotlight.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating these holidays and incorporating them into your marketing, but there are other groups and events that individuals in your audience appreciate.

inclusive marketing holidays - holiday marketing calendar example

A marketing calendar like this can help you plan your inclusive holiday marketing. 

That’s why we’ve rounded up over 40 inclusive holiday marketing ideas and examples so your business can shine bright this season.

Table of contents

Jump to inclusive marketing ideas for…

Inclusive November holiday marketing ideas & examples

To kick things off, check out these inclusion-focused marketing ideas for November:

Native American Heritage Month

If you’re hoping to incorporate Native American Heritage Month into your diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts this season, you’ll be in good company as The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Insituation, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum all regularly pay homage to this November monthly observance.

Native American Heritage Month is observed annually every November, and it celebrates the contributions the first Americans made towards the growth of the United States. It also honors and reflects on the struggles indigenous American people have endured.

native american heritage month tweetnative american heritage month tweet

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National Day of Mourning

A historically accurate description of Thanksgiving would include the reality of its damaging impact on Native American people, which is why we have the National Day of Mourning every year on Thanksgiving—to remind us of the pain Native American people have gone through, and still may be feeling today.

Here are some ideas for ways your business can pay its respects to Native American Heritage Month as well as the National Day of Mourning:

  • Amplify the voices of Native Americans by handing off your Instagram account to a Native American in your community for a day-long “takeover.” They can then go live on your stories or share posts about what Native American Heritage month means to them.
  • Loop Native American Heritage month and the National Day of Mourning into your Thanksgiving messaging by sharing more concious content around the holiday’s impact on Native American people.
  • Check out the free Native American Heritage Month resources on the U.S. Small Business Administration website. There you can find statistics to share, lists of Native American-Owned businesses to partner with, and more.
  • Spread awareness using a social media hashtag. The official hashtag for Native American Heritage Month is #NAHM.

inclusive marketing ideas - example native american heritage month linkedin postinclusive marketing ideas - example native american heritage month linkedin post

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National Adoption Month

There is always a lot of messaging around family during the holiday season, which makes it particularly important to stay mindful of those with non-traditional families. National Adoption Month, celebrated every November to bring awareness to children in foster care, provides an opportunity for this. Here are some ways to incorporate it into your holiday marketing campaigns:

  • Avoid using traditional parent roles in your holiday copywriting, like “mom” and “dad” which may make your audience members who don’t have that type of parental figure feel excluded.
  • Adjust your content to be more sensitive to those with different family structures. For example, instead of promoting an event as a “family fun day,” try “friends and family fun day” or “festival fun day.”
  • Highlight a superstar adoption story in your business’s community. If you have an employee, friend, or community member who was part of an adoption process, ask to share their story to showcase how they inspire your business during this month and beyond.
  • Raise awareness about adoption within minority groups. For example, did you know that adoptions done by LGBTQ+ couples only became legal in all 50 states just a few years ago in 2017?

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example instagram post for adoption monthinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example instagram post for adoption month

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❤Find the right words for your inclusive holiday marketing copy using our free guide to emotional copywriting complete with over 130 words and phrases for marketing with emotion.

Day of the Dead (November 1-2)

Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday that honors the soulds of the deceased. It’s a two-day celebration that starts every year on November 1 and carries into November 2. This colorful and fun holiday is believed to open the passageway between the real world and the spirit world in traditional Mexican culture, so many people of Mexican descent feel they can connect with their loved ones who have passed during this time.

Nearly 20% of the U.S. population is of Mexican heritage, so you’ll likely have audience members who celebrate Day of the Dead. Make your Mexican audience members feel included in your holiday marketing with these ideas and examples:

  • Share fun facts or hold a virtual trivia event centered around Day of the Dead to spread the word about the holiday’s traditions.
  • Decorate your store or office with traditional Day of the Dead skulls, flowers, and more. Be sure to snap a picture of your temporarily updated decor so you can share it on your company website or social media platforms.
  • Honor those who have passed. Have you or an employee ever lost a friend or loved one you’d like to commemorate? Day of the Dead is the perfect opportunity to do so! You could share their story on social media to give your audience a more personalized perspective of your business.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example day of the dead office decorationsinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example day of the dead office decorations

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Forget-Me-Not Day (November 10)

Having been around since World War I, Forget-Me-Not Day happens annually on November 10 — right before Veteran’s Day on November 11. Forget-Me-Not Day is meant to honor and remember wounded soldiers who have become disabled due to their time fighting for our freedom.

The number of veterans who carry the weight of service-related physical and mental hardships is very high. In fact, counting only wars from 2001 and beyond still amounts to about 1.5 million veterans in America with a service-connected disability. While wounded veterans should be remembered every day, here’s how your marketing can honor them on Forget-Me-Not Day:

  • Donate your time, resources, or (if your marketing budget allows) money to a local Veteran’s organization or shelter.
  • Be mindful of your veteran (and civilian) customers who have a disability by focusing on your website accessibility. Take time to ensure your site is easy to navigate regardless of what assistance someone might need. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this complete website accessibility checklist.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example forget me not day instagram postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example forget me not day instagram post

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Women Entrepreneurs Day (November 19)

Only four out of every ten entrepreneurs in the U.S. are women. Women Entrepreneurs Day, occurring annually on November 19, aims to change that.

This inclusive holiday is much needed, as America is still far behind other countries in terms of women entrepreneurs. In comparison, women represent 50% of entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here’s how your business can make an impact with this holiday:

  • Share surprising statistics about women entrepreneurs through an email marketing campaign or social media post. These are sure to engage your audience while spreading awareness. You can find plenty of diversity, equity, and inclusion in marketing statistics here.
  • Partner with a woman-owned business. You could cross-promote one another in-store or online, and offer samples or discounts on each other’s offerings.
  • Support the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization. Also known as WEDO, this organization acts as a hub for Women Entrepreneurs Day. On its site you’ll find many ways to elevate your marketing for the day, including events you can attend, ways to donate, custom hashtags, surprising statistics, inspiring stories, and more!

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - women entrepreneurs day marketing example inclusive holiday marketing ideas - women entrepreneurs day marketing example

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Transgender Day of Rememberance (November 20)

Transgender Day of Rememberance occurs annually on November 20 to honor and remember transgender people who lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence. It started in 1998 in memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was stabbed in Allston, Massachusetts that same year.

This inclusive holiday is important to acknowledge because, sadly, these acts of violence are still occuring as 2020 was the most violent year on record for transgender people. Your business can become a transgender ally on Transgender Rememberance Day and beyond with these ideas:

  • Donate or volunteer to a local LGBTQ+ organization.
  • Spread awareness and acceptance by openly sharing your allyship on your website, social media, local listings, and more.
  • If you have an employee, family member, friend, or community member who is openly transgender you could ask their permission to highlight their story in an email send or social post.
  • Amplify transgender voices by resharing public speeches, posts, and more from transgender people. You could even handing off your “mic” by allowing a transgender person in your business’s community to do a social media takeover.

inclusive holiday marketing - transgender day of rememberance exampleinclusive holiday marketing - transgender day of rememberance example

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Inclusive December holiday marketing ideas and examples

Here are some December marketing ideas that will help you to embrace diversity and inclusion:

Rosa Parks Day (December 1)

Rosa Parks Day is celebrated twice annually, once on December 1 and once on February 4. This inclusive holiday is to, of course, honor civil rights hero and leader Rosa Parks.

The Rosa Parks story is one no American citizen can forget, as she bravely did not give up her seat to a white passenger after a long day of work on December 1, 1955. This action jumpstarted the Montgomery Bus Boycott organized by E.D. Nixon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights leaders at the time. Here’s how your business can observe Rosa Parks Day:

  • Encourage your audience to educate themselves on Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement by sharing with them your favorite books around the era. For example, Rosa Parks herself wrote a couple of books, including Rosa Parks: My Story and Quiet Strength: The Faith, The Hope, and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation.
  • Partner with a black-owned business in your community and run a joint campaign themed around civil rights and standing up (or sitting down) for what you believe in.
  • Run a Rosa Parks-themed giveaway. There is a Rosa Parks museum at Troy University in Alabama. You could entice your audience to enter to win free tickets to the museum or do a full-on sweepstake by offering a complete trip to tour the museum.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - rosa parks day example instagram postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - rosa parks day example instagram post

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Human Rights Day (December 10)

Inclusivity means making sure all types of people feel like they belong, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, abilities, etc. That’s why Human Rights Day (occurring on December 10 each year) is the perfect holiday to incorporate into your inclusive marketing this season.

Human Rights Day was created by the UN in 1948 to proclaim the rights everyone is entitled to as a human being “regardless race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Show your audience you support the rights of all people with these Human Rights Day marketing ideas:

  • Attend a human rights event and share a recap of your experience with your audience to inspire them to do the same. There are plenty of political summits, cultural conferences, and more held on Human Rights Day, so simply being present at an event in your community can spread awareness and inspiration.
  • Create a shareable, public playlist of your favorite songs about human rights. There are plenty of inspiring songs your audience will want to listen to, so you could simply build a quick list on a platforms like Pandora, Spotify, Soundcloud, and more. Be sure to include your business name in your playlist’s title so that your audience will think of your brand as they listen. As a bonus, you could have the playlist play for the day in your store or office, and share a quote from one of your top songs on social media.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - human rights day example linkedin post inclusive holiday marketing ideas - human rights day example linkedin post

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Hanukkah

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration. The dates of Hannukah change each year as it starts on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah traditions include lighting a menorah, exchanging gifts, and enjoying cultural cuisine like latkes (potato pancakes). Over 5% of Americans celebrate Hannukah, so here’s how your business can take part:

  • The best part of any holiday? The food! Try sharing a traditional Hanukkah recipe on various marketing channels.
  • If you’re decorating your office or store for Christmas, stay mindful of those who celebrate Hanukkah as well by including a menorah, dreidels, and more in your display.
  • Use our Hanukkah Instagram captions for post inspiration.
  • Play off the eight days of Hanukkah by writing a blog post or email that shares eight tips or eight top products for your audience to check out.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - hanukkah email tips exampleinclusive holiday marketing ideas - hanukkah email tips example

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Speaking of email, do you have your annual holiday customer appreciation email written? If not (or even if you do), don’t miss our heartfelt holiday email templates.

Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)

Kwanzaa is a seven-day African American holiday that occurs annually from December 26 to January 1. Each day of the celebration is dedicated to the following seven cultural principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Work the values of Kwanzaa into your inclusive holiday marketing plan with these ideas:

  • Focus on one of the seven Kwanzaa principles and share with your audience how your business strives to embody it. For example, you could incorporate unity or collective responsibility into your video marketing strategy by giving your audience a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork of your employees.
  • As you decorate your store or office for Christmas and Hanukkah, be sure to include Kwanzaa as well. For example, each day of Kwanzaa requires one of seven candles to be lit — which are in an arrangement called a Kinara. You could add a Kinara to your decor, or include other Kwanzaa decorations like traditional African crops such as ears of dried corn and more.
  • Try out any of these Kwanzaa Instagram captions.
  • Add a twist to one of your products or offerings and refresh it for the Kwanzaa season by changing its name or colors.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - kwanzaa product positioning in an example emailinclusive holiday marketing ideas - kwanzaa product positioning in an example email

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Inclusive January holiday marketing ideas and examples

Some of the “bigger” holidays may be over by the time January comes around, but there are still plenty of diverse holidays you can leverage in your inclusive marketing strategy this month:

National Braille Literacy Month

January is Braille Literacy Month because Louie Braille, the creator of the braille system, was born in January. This monthly observance is meant to bring awareness to those who are visually impaired. Here’s how your business can take part in National Braille Literacy Month:

  • Audit your website for visual accessibility features and optimize where you can to cater to your visually impaired audience members.
  • Share fun facts about the braille system to entertain your audience while spreading awareness of the need for braille literacy. For example, did you know that Braille is primarily created by just six dots? And, there are separate codes used for music, math, walkways, and more!

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - example braille literacy month facebook postinclusive holiday marketing ideas - example braille literacy month facebook post

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day occurs on the third Monday of every January to commemorate his birthday on January 15. It’s no secret that Dr. King played one of the most impactful roles in American history as he helped lead the civil rights movement. In fact, this holiday is also often called Civil Rights Day, since Dr. King had such an influence on the civil rights movements during the 1950’s, 1960’s, and beyond. Dr. King’s legacy still resonates today as we continue to strive for equality across the nation. Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with these ideas:

  • Share an inspiring story or quote from Dr. King’s life to celebrate his work with your audience.
  • Lead by example by embodying Dr. King’s principle of peaceful protest. Is there a cause in your community or industry that you feel passionate about? Hold a peaceful in-person or virtual event to discuss the topic with your brand’s community members.

inclusive holiday marketing - dr martin luther king jr quote feature on social mediainclusive holiday marketing - dr martin luther king jr quote feature on social media

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National Religious Freedom Day (January 16)

National Religious Freedom Day is celebrated each year on January 16 because the Statute for Religious Freedom was signed on January 16, 1786. This statute created the base for the core principles our country still stands by to this day, and guaranteed freedom to practice any desired religion is one of the privelages Americans rely on. Show how your business cares this holiday season by implementing these Religious Freedom Day marketing ideas:

  • If you’re using stock photos on your website, social media, Google Ads campaigns, and other marketing materials, try to ensure you’re using diverse visuals to embrace religious freedom. For example, you might try to include images of women wearing hijabs, or men wearing kippahs or yarmulkes. We share more tips on inclusivity in advertising here.
  • Join a National Religious Freedom Day online discussion to share the religion you practice and encourage your audience to do the same. If you don’t currently practice any religion, that’s okay too! Acknowledging the norm that everyone’s religious journey (or lack thereof) is different will be the point of this inclusive marketing idea. Plus, you’ll be building your brand community as you foster an open discussion with your audience.
  • Educate your audience on their religious freedom rights by sharing out resources on laws and regulations relating to religious freedom.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - religious freedom inclusive holiday marketing ideas - religious freedom

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💡 Make the most of these inclusive marketing holidays with our guide to the 30 best ways to promote your business year-round.

International Day of Acceptance (January 20)

International Day of Acceptance is fairly new as it was established back in 2010. It was created to foster social acceptance for those with disabilities. International Day of Acceptance happens every year on January 20 and reminds us that people should feel comfortable to be who they are regardless of their varying abilities. Here are some inclusive holiday marketing ideas you can leverage on this day and beyond to make your audience feel more accepted:

  • Promote a new product or service offering that’s tailored to the needs of those with disabilities.
  • Share helpful resources for your customers to educate themselves on disabilities, acceptance, and allyship.
  • Spread the word of this inclusive holiday on social media with the hashtag #dayofacceptance and implement the symbol of acceptance (a wheelchair intertwined with a heart) in your creative elements.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - acceptance day instagram post inclusive holiday marketing ideas - acceptance day instagram post

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Chinese New Year

Many people assume the holiday festivities end on December 31, but the Chinese New Year keeps the celebrations going since it happens shortly after, between January 21 and February 20 depending on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The public holiday will last for seven days, but celebrations can go on for 16 days.

Try out these Chinese New Year celebration ideas:

  • Share the Chinese zodiac chart on your website or social media so that your audience can check out what their own chinese zodiac would be. For example, 2023 will be the year of the rabbit. Perhaps it will be a special year for some of your customers whose birth year aligns with the rabbit!
  • Use our New Year’s Instagram captions to publish engaging and thought-provoking posts.
  • Partner with a local Chinese-owned business and offer a special deal to patrons of both your businesses during Chinese New Year.

inclusive holiday marketing ideas - chinese new year marketing exampleinclusive holiday marketing ideas - chinese new year marketing example

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Make your holiday marketing more inclusive this year

It’s super important to recognize beliefs and perspectives other than our own and to give a voice to minority groups—and clearly, there are endless ways you can demonstrate diversity, equity, and inclusion during the holiday season. So be sure to use these inclusive marketing ideas and examples as inspiration to ignite your own holiday promotions.

To recap, here are the holidays and observances we covered:

  • November
    • Native American Heritage Month
    • National Adoption Month
    • Day of the Dead (November 1-2)
    • Forget-Me-Not Day (November 10)
    • Women Entrepreneurs Day (November 19)
    • Transgender Day of Rememberance (November 20)
  • December
    • Rosa Parks Day (December 1)
    • Human Rights Day (December 10)
    • Hanukkah (changes annually)
    • Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
  • January
    • National Braille Literacy Month
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15)
    • National Religious Freedom Day (January 16)
    • International Day of Acceptance (January 20)
    • Chinese New Year (changes annually)

If you’re looking for more resources on growing your business during the holidays, check out these posts:



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5 Quick & Easy Ways to Get More Referral Traffic (+Examples)

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5 Quick Tips to Increase Referral Traffic

Search engines (mostly Google) are still the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to generating clicks to your website. But ignoring referral traffic from other sources like directories, social media, and other websites would be a huge mistake.

This is especially true as younger audiences increasingly search for businesses on social media and as referral traffic increased from 3% to over 10% of total traffic for the average website in 2022.

referral traffic growth year over year

In this guide, you’ll learn the most popular sources of referral traffic, how it helps your business grow, and what you can do to get more clicks from places outside of search engines.

Table of contents

What is referral traffic?

Referral traffic refers to traffic coming from a link on a site that’s not your own. If you clicked the link we added to the introduction of this guide, the website you landed on would count your visit as referral traffic.

By comparison, the other common website traffic sources are search and direct traffic. Search traffic comes from visitors clicking on search engine results. Direct traffic is from visitors that go directly to your website, like if they type your URL into their browser.

Examples of referral traffic sources can include:

  • Social media apps like Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)
  • Online directories like Yelp or Angi
  • Just about any non-search engine website like a blog post

👋 Need to get more website visitors? These 25 ways to increase traffic to your website will help you attract interested buyers in droves!

Why is referral traffic beneficial?

If you want to grow your business, attracting more referral traffic is an important step. Here are three reasons why.

Generate more potential leads

At the most basic level, increasing referral traffic means increasing the number of potential customers who visit your website.

But it’s not just more people coming in through your virtual door. It’s people that found you by actively clicking a link that interested them. So if the backlink they clicked is relevant to your website, those visitors have a high intent to learn about, and maybe purchase, what you sell.

Get more traffic from search engines

Backlinks from high-quality websites are a signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy.

Referral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factorsReferral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factors

Backlinks are still an influential search engine ranking factor, as shown in this graph from FirstPageSage.

As your backlink profile and referral traffic grow, you’ll land on more search engine results pages and generate more traffic from them.

Reduce your reliance on Google

Google is a fantastic source of traffic. But relying too much on a single source is dangerous—especially as Google’s constant updates can greatly affect your traffic overnight.

Referral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitilityReferral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitility

Headlines like this one from Search Engine Journal show why it’s important to diversify your website traffic sources.

As you diversify your sources of referral traffic, you gain more control over the success of your site. If one source, like search, takes a hit, you can buffer the dip with more traffic from another source like directories.

5 ways to get more referral traffic

So generating more referral traffic is important. But how do we go about getting more of it? Let’s dive in.

1. Get listed in online directories

Online directories are like the phonebooks of the digital age. People look to websites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Angi (formerly Angi’s List) to find the services and business they need.

Referral traffic - screenshot from YelpReferral traffic - screenshot from Yelp

Yelp is one of the most popular business directories, but there are dozens of others that will help increase your online footprint.

Ideally, you want exposure on as many directories as possible. But you also want to make sure that your information is current, so no one gets frustrated trying to reach you. You can even optimize your listings with things like images, service descriptions, and reviews.

🚨 Not sure if your directory listings are up to par? Use our free Listings Grader to instantly check your listing information across 20+ top online directories.

2. Submit guest posts

Guest posts are a great way to build up referral traffic. The idea is to reach out to websites that want content, and offer to write a blog post in exchange for the backlinks they provide.

It’s best to focus your guest posting efforts on sites that are related to your business, which means your content will be in front of a relevant audience providing top-notch referral traffic. If you can set up a regular guest posting schedule, all the better, because that allows you to keep your referral traffic from those sources steady over time and increase traffic to your website.

3. Write press releases

Press releases are a quick and easy way to get a wave of fresh traffic from referring URLs. It’s a great idea to do a press release for an event you’ll be hosting or to announce milestones like executive changes, earnings releases, acquisitions, and product launches.

Referral traffic - Press release from a breweryReferral traffic - Press release from a brewery

A press release is great for promoting new products or events while generating valuable referral traffic from the publications that pick it up.

But to be honest, if you are paying for a press release, you can write about pretty much anything and pretend it’s newsworthy. Some businesses even send out press releases whenever they get a new client.

4. Get active on social media

Social media sites are also natural contenders for bringing in referral traffic. Plus, there are several options to fit your brand and audience.

Facebook, for example, is fantastic for an older audience and organizing events. TikTok caters to a younger crowd and lets you show off your video flair. And of course, there’s LinkedIn, if your target customer is of a professional mindset.

No matter which social media platforms you choose, make sure your posts have a clear call to action that leads people to your website. That’s how you drive referral traffic from social media apps.

Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community

Depending on the platform, you can add CTA links, buttons, or text in the caption.

5. Create link-worthy content

If you want to catch backlinks and increase the traffic you get from other websites, you need the right bait. In this case, we’re talking about content that other websites want to link to.

Here are a few types of content that writers and marketers love to link to:

  • Original data: Statistics from a survey or data your app captures
  • Infographics: A roundup of statistics or a visual presentation of a process
  • Opinionated blog posts: A fresh take on a common question in your industry

Once you’ve created your backlink magnet, share it with publications and thought leaders in your industry so they can link back to your site.

Referral traffic the easy way

Referral traffic is an important source of new potential customers. As search engines get more finicky, and more people search social media platforms, referrals will be an even bigger factor in your success online.

As you think about how to get more website visitors from more places, remember these five quick and easy ways to get more referral traffic:

  1. Get listed in online directories
  2. Submit guest posts
  3. Write press releases
  4. Get active on social media
  5. Create link-worthy content

Source link

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
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PPC

5 Quick Tips to Increase Referral Traffic

Published

on

By

5 Quick Tips to Increase Referral Traffic

Search engines (mostly Google) are still the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to generating clicks to your website. But ignoring referral traffic from other sources like directories, social media, and other websites would be a huge mistake.

This is especially true as younger audiences increasingly search for businesses on social media and as referral traffic increased from 3% to over 10% of total traffic for the average website in 2022.

referral traffic growth year over year

In this guide, you’ll learn the most popular sources of referral traffic, how it helps your business grow, and what you can do to get more clicks from places outside of search engines.

Table of contents

What is referral traffic?

Referral traffic refers to traffic coming from a link on a site that’s not your own. If you clicked the link we added to the introduction of this guide, the website you landed on would count your visit as referral traffic.

By comparison, the other common website traffic sources are search and direct traffic. Search traffic comes from visitors clicking on search engine results. Direct traffic is from visitors that go directly to your website, like if they type your URL into their browser.

Examples of referral traffic sources can include:

  • Social media apps like Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)
  • Online directories like Yelp or Angi
  • Just about any non-search engine website like a blog post

👋 Need to get more website visitors? These 25 ways to increase traffic to your website will help you attract interested buyers in droves!

Why is referral traffic beneficial?

If you want to grow your business, attracting more referral traffic is an important step. Here are three reasons why.

Generate more potential leads

At the most basic level, increasing referral traffic means increasing the number of potential customers who visit your website.

But it’s not just more people coming in through your virtual door. It’s people that found you by actively clicking a link that interested them. So if the backlink they clicked is relevant to your website, those visitors have a high intent to learn about, and maybe purchase, what you sell.

Get more traffic from search engines

Backlinks from high-quality websites are a signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy.

Referral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factorsReferral traffic - Graphic showing main SEO ranking factors

Backlinks are still an influential search engine ranking factor, as shown in this graph from FirstPageSage.

As your backlink profile and referral traffic grow, you’ll land on more search engine results pages and generate more traffic from them.

Reduce your reliance on Google

Google is a fantastic source of traffic. But relying too much on a single source is dangerous—especially as Google’s constant updates can greatly affect your traffic overnight.

Referral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitilityReferral traffic - Headline from search engine journal about Google volitility

Headlines like this one from Search Engine Journal show why it’s important to diversify your website traffic sources.

As you diversify your sources of referral traffic, you gain more control over the success of your site. If one source, like search, takes a hit, you can buffer the dip with more traffic from another source like directories.

5 ways to get more referral traffic

So generating more referral traffic is important. But how do we go about getting more of it? Let’s dive in.

1. Get listed in online directories

Online directories are like the phonebooks of the digital age. People look to websites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, and Angi (formerly Angi’s List) to find the services and business they need.

Referral traffic - screenshot from YelpReferral traffic - screenshot from Yelp

Yelp is one of the most popular business directories, but there are dozens of others that will help increase your online footprint.

Ideally, you want exposure on as many directories as possible. But you also want to make sure that your information is current, so no one gets frustrated trying to reach you. You can even optimize your listings with things like images, service descriptions, and reviews.

🚨 Not sure if your directory listings are up to par? Use our free Listings Grader to instantly check your listing information across 20+ top online directories.

2. Submit guest posts

Guest posts are a great way to build up referral traffic. The idea is to reach out to websites that want content, and offer to write a blog post in exchange for the backlinks they provide.

It’s best to focus your guest posting efforts on sites that are related to your business, which means your content will be in front of a relevant audience providing top-notch referral traffic. If you can set up a regular guest posting schedule, all the better, because that allows you to keep your referral traffic from those sources steady over time and increase traffic to your website.

3. Write press releases

Press releases are a quick and easy way to get a wave of fresh traffic from referring URLs. It’s a great idea to do a press release for an event you’ll be hosting or to announce milestones like executive changes, earnings releases, acquisitions, and product launches.

Referral traffic - Press release from a breweryReferral traffic - Press release from a brewery

A press release is great for promoting new products or events while generating valuable referral traffic from the publications that pick it up.

But to be honest, if you are paying for a press release, you can write about pretty much anything and pretend it’s newsworthy. Some businesses even send out press releases whenever they get a new client.

4. Get active on social media

Social media sites are also natural contenders for bringing in referral traffic. Plus, there are several options to fit your brand and audience.

Facebook, for example, is fantastic for an older audience and organizing events. TikTok caters to a younger crowd and lets you show off your video flair. And of course, there’s LinkedIn, if your target customer is of a professional mindset.

No matter which social media platforms you choose, make sure your posts have a clear call to action that leads people to your website. That’s how you drive referral traffic from social media apps.

Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community Referral traffic - Instagram post from Accessible Community

Depending on the platform, you can add CTA links, buttons, or text in the caption.

5. Create link-worthy content

If you want to catch backlinks and increase the traffic you get from other websites, you need the right bait. In this case, we’re talking about content that other websites want to link to.

Here are a few types of content that writers and marketers love to link to:

  • Original data: Statistics from a survey or data your app captures
  • Infographics: A roundup of statistics or a visual presentation of a process
  • Opinionated blog posts: A fresh take on a common question in your industry

Once you’ve created your backlink magnet, share it with publications and thought leaders in your industry so they can link back to your site.

Referral traffic the easy way

Referral traffic is an important source of new potential customers. As search engines get more finicky, and more people search social media platforms, referrals will be an even bigger factor in your success online.

As you think about how to get more website visitors from more places, remember these five quick and easy ways to get more referral traffic:

  1. Get listed in online directories
  2. Submit guest posts
  3. Write press releases
  4. Get active on social media
  5. Create link-worthy content

Source link

Keep an eye on what we are doing
Be the first to get latest updates and exclusive content straight to your email inbox.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Continue Reading

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