A very different New Year…
Christmas, like much of 2020, may not have gone to plan. Hopefully, you will still enjoy the magic of Christmas Day in your family bubbles.
A new year approaches and we are full of optimism and positivity. Looking on the bright side is what we’re best at! So, let’s take a look at some key events in January that can help you shape your social media content.
January is Dry January, supported by Alcohol Change UK. The challenge is said to improve your energy levels, increase sleep and potentially save you money. If you’re taking part, it may also be an opportunity to raise money for a charity that is close to your heart.
It’s also Veganuary this month. If you’re in the food business, promoting your vegan options or sharing new and exciting recipes with your audience is a must! There is always an opportunity to show you and your business’ personality, and we’ve found that authentic, genuine, human content works so well, time and time again.
January is also Mentoring Month, and they have a variety of dates throughout January celebrating different aspects of mentoring. The 7th is ‘I am a mentor day’- A day for volunteer mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world and on the flip side the 29th is #ThankYourMentorDay – an opportunity to celebrate the mentors in your life.
For those business involved with children, the 18th is Winnie the Pooh Day, celebrated on AA Milne’s birthday. Share your favourite quote or character from the stories and ask your audience (or their kids!) to share theirs. And if your business is nothing to do with children, you can still get involved!
The 18th January is ‘Blue Monday’ – a day made up by a travel company that used a nonsensical equation to work out that the third Monday of January is the most depressing of the year. *Sigh*. Unfortunately, many people still make a thing of it, but it really was just a marketing tactic to get people to book their next holiday… We’ve added this in because it’s incredible how something can become viral with no substance and what you really need to do is research and fact check before you get involved with some of these viral campaigns! The Samaritans now use it as an awareness day (Brew Monday) to encourage people to connect over a cuppa and a chat. Which is a good thing, and definitely something you could be a part of!
RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch takes place 29th-31st January, and they have loads of content you can share or get involved with. It doesn’t matter if it’s a garden or a green space outside your office or shop, you can get involved in the count and share your results – it gives you a chance to show where you work (even if it’s from home) which gives your audience an insight to your business, even under the current circumstances.
Another great health campaign that takes place in January is the Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, #SmearForSmear from the 18th-24th. Depending on your business, this is definitely something to show your support for.
It’s also Big Energy Saving Week from the 18th-24th, another great campaign to get involved in, share how you do your part for the environment or if your business is something that can help with energy saving, then it’s even easier to get involved and make the most of the conversation.
The 25th is Burns Night and St Dwynwen’s Day (the Welsh Valentine’s Day) and the 26th is Australia Day. If your products are particularly popular in Scotland, Wales or Australia, it’s a great way to connect with those audiences and post about those events.
2021 is the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, remembered at the Holocaust Memorial Day. They have a section on their website on how you can be a part of the conversation, including graphics and if you are organising an activity you can submit it to their map.