You’ve got the marketing content for your small business organized and ready to roll out for 2023. You’ve got your faithful followers. Your loyal fans. Those who consistently dig your content. But maybe you also feel like something is missing. Sometimes, just sometimes, simply sticking to the same style, flavor, and voice in your content can become, dare we say, stale. It can backfire. People may scroll on by . . . nothing to see here. White noise is a real thing in the busy, ever-changing world of social media. So why not keep things interesting by sprinkling a few unexpected curve balls alongside your strategically planned marketing posts?
How? Look no further!
To help you keep the attention of your followers on days that aren’t so big and bold like, say, “Cyber Monday”, as well as create a bit of a marketing disruption on your social media pages in 2023, we’ve put together the only yearly calendar you’ll need. Filled with unique, sometimes off-the-wall days you never knew existed, plus those days you promote every year (we’re looking at you, Small Business Saturday) this calendar combines fun with some serious marketing strategy! No endless googling to locate a list of never-before-heard-of dates to create a silly stir on your Insta or Facebook. No forgetting to post on days that can give your business a quick win. We created one list to keep you busy for the entire year!
For example, we bet if you didn’t realize “National Pass the Buck Day” was an actual thing (it is, by the way – February 4 . . . start planning now on what you’re going to “delegate” to someone else) your followers don’t either. They need to know! And by posting, you’re bound to get some engagement.
By way of a laughing or clapping emoji. (Or an eye-roll. But hey, we’ll take it.)
Or, better yet, by way of a comment after you ask, “How will you pass the buck today?”
It’s just the little shake-up you may need to get those followers actively engaged, so be ready to reply to their comments!
And if they’re having fun, chances are they will consistently return and engage with your content on both the silly AND serious days.
January 2023
- 1 – New Year’s Day
- 1 – End of Kwanzaa
- 2 – World Introvert Day: Treat your furry friend today (see what we did there?)!
- 4 – National Trivia Day: Ask your customers trivia questions about your business on social media today.
- 5 – National Whipped Cream Day: What is the best dessert and whipped cream combo?
- 6 – National Cuddle-Up Day: Today is a great day to cuddle with someone you love!
- 10 – National Houseplant Appreciation Day: Share a photo of your little leafy friends!
- 11 – National Hot Toddy Day
- 13 – National Sticker Day: Show off your sticker collection or favorite sticker today.
- 14 – National Vision Board Day: Show off your visual plans for 2023 with your customers.
- 15 – National Bagel Day: Everything, cinnamon raisin, plain… all bagels are good bagels!
- 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- 19 – National Popcorn Day: What’s your favorite popcorn flavor combo?
- 21 – International Sweatpants Day: Would it be socially acceptable to wear sweatpants to work?
- 22 – Lunar New Year
- 22 – National Hot Sauce Day: How hot do you like it?
- 23 – National Pie Day: Every day is a great day for pie.
- 24 – National Compliment Day: Give out a compliment to someone today!
- 25 – Opposite Day: Do your routine in reverse for fun.
- 27 – National Holocaust Remembrance Day
- 28 – International Lego Day: Don’t step on one of these today.
- 31 – National Backwards Day
January Quick Wins
- Apply a well-placed CTA to your website pages.
- Do an in-store business card drawing.
- Run a poll and boost engagement.
February 2023
- 1 – National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Women are athletes too!
- 2 – Groundhog Day: Did he see his shadow?
- 3 – Doggy Date Night: Treat your furry friend today (see what we did there?)!
- 5 – Ice Cream for Breakfast Day: Isn’t this every day? Share your favorite ice cream flavor!
- 7 – National Fettuccine Alfredo Day: With or without protein?
- 11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Women are scientists too.
- 13 – Galentine’s Day: Girls’ night!
- 14 – Valentine’s Day
- 17 – National Random Acts of Kindness Day: Pay it forward today.
- 18 – National Drink Wine Day: Rosé or Chardonnay?
- 20 – Presidents’ Day
- 20 – World Day of Social Justice
- 22 – Ash Wednesday
- 23 – National Banana Bread Day: Follow a new recipe to make banana bread.
- 24 – National Skip the Straw Day: Take a reusable straw today if you buy a drink!
- 27 – International Polar Bear Day: Who doesn’t want to celebrate this adorable guy!?
- 28 – National Floral Design Day: Floral design is art too.
February Quick Wins
- Share a team member’s photo, position, and a fun fact about them!
- Post a video showing your favorite product or service you offer.
- Share a positive testimonial about your business.
March 2023
- 1 – National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day: Peanut butter lovers, unite!
- 3 – National Employee Appreciation Day: Dedicate today to those who help run your business.
- 4 – National Day of Unplugging: Disconnect with the outside world and connect with yourself today.
- 8 – Holi
- 8 – International Women’s Day: Celebrate the women in your life today!
- 9 – National Meatball Day: A perfect addition to a bowl of pasta.
- 10 – National Pack Your Lunch Day: Treat yourself to an extra delicious, homemade lunch!
- 12 – Daylight Savings Time Starts: We turn our clocks forward by one hour today.
- 13 – National Napping Day: Catch some zzz’s on this very important day!
- 16 – No Selfies Day: Challenge yourself and your followers to not post a selfie today.
- 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
- 20 – National Ravioli Day: Fried, baked, or traditionally cooked?
- 21 – National Single Parent Day: Show some extra love to a single parent today, it’s a full-time job being two people!
- 22 – Beginning of Ramadan
- 23 – National Chip & Dip Day: French onion, salsa, or guac?
- 26 – National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day: Any day can be a holiday.
- 28 – Respect Your Cat Day: Let them have everything THEIR way today… unlike every other day.
- 29 – National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day: Share your favorite mom-and-pop shop!
- 31 – National Crayon Day
March Quick Wins
- Create a visual brand guidelines sheet; check out our blog post “5 Necessary Brand Style Guide Elements for Your Small Business” for more info!
- Check your Instagram analytics for your business account.
- Host a social media contest or giveaway!
April 2023
- 1 – April Fools’ Day: Joke’s on you!!
- 2 – Palm Sunday
- 3 – National Find A Rainbow Day: Somewhere over the rainbow…
- 6 – National Tartan Day: Break out your tartan plaid today!
- 5 – Passover
- 7 – Good Friday
- 9 – Easter
- 11 – National Pet Day: Buy your furry friend a special treat today!
- 12 – National Grilled Cheese Day: So simple, so delicious.
- 16 – Orthodox Easter
- 18 – Tax Day
- 21 – Eid al-Fitr: Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the month-long fast that happens during Ramadan.
- 22 – Earth Day: Show the Earth a little extra love today.
- 23 – National Picnic Day: What’s your favorite picnic spot?
- 25 – World Penguin Day
- 26 – International Guide Dog Day: These dogs deserve all of the attention today.
- 28 – National Superhero Day: DC or Marvel?
April Quick Wins
- Do a small business spotlight featuring your favorite product.
- Post a scrolling video of your website highlighting key products.
- Send your first newsletter!
May 2023
- 3 – National Paranormal Day: Ooooooooo, so spooky!
- 4 – Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you!
- 5 – Cinco de Mayo
- 6 – Kentucky Derby
- 10 – National Clean Your Room Day: Use today as an excuse to clean. Share a before and after.
- 11 – National Eat What You Want Day: So this isn’t every day? Share your fave meal!
- 13 – National Apple Pie Day
- 14 – Mother’s Day: Celebrate the strong women in your life.
- 18 – International Museum Day: Spend the day visiting a new museum you have wanted to see.
- 19 – National Endangered Species Day: How can you help today?
- 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity: Try a new restaurant today serving cuisine you’ve wanted to try.
- 23 – World Turtle Day: Living dinosaurs deserve a day too!
- 24 – National Scavenger Hunt Day: Create a scavenger hunt for your customers in your shop to win prizes.
- 26 – National Paper Airplane Day: It’s a bird, it’s a plane! It’s a paper airplane…
- 27 – National Sunscreen Day: Wear yo’ SPF!
- 28 – National Burger Day: Some pink or no pink?
- 29 – Memorial Day
May Quick Wins
- Add location-based keywords to your website in titles, headings, and body content.
- Apply for business awards.
- Add a Google maps location for your business to your website.
June 2023
- 1 – National Say Something Nice Day: You never know who will need it!
- 2 – National Donut Day: What’s your favorite kind of donut?
- 3 – World Bicycle Day: Take a long ride today.
- 8 – World Oceans Day
- 10 – National Iced Tea Day: Sweetened or unsweetened?
- 13 – World Softball Day
- 14 – Flag Day
- 16 – National Fudge Day: Original, peanut butter, white chocolate… the choices are endless!
- 18 – Father’s Day: Celebrate the dads today!
- 18 – International Sushi Day: Share your favorite sushi spot today!
- 19 – Juneteenth: Get involved through education or investing in Black-owned businesses! #juneteenth
- 21 – Summer Solstice: It’s the longest day of the year!
- 23 – International Women in Engineering Day: Celebrate the women in STEM!
- 27 – National Bingo Day: And bingo was his name-o!
- 28 – Start of Eid al-Adha: Get involved through education or investing in Muslim-owned businesses!
- 29 – End of Eid al-Adha
June Quick Wins
- Check your Instagram analytics or your business account.
- Share a positive testimonial about your business.
- Share a team member’s photo, position, and a fun fact about them!
July 2023
- 1 – National Postal Workers Day: Leave the person who delivers your mail a water today… it’s hot!!
- 3 – International Plastic Bag Free Day: It’s a great day to use your reusable bags!
- 4 – Independence Day
- 5 – National Bikini Day: Is it a yellow, polka dot bikini?
- 6 – National Fried Chicken Day: Wing or thigh?
- 11 – Cow Appreciation Day: Moooooooo.
- 13 – National French Fry Day: Curly, steak, or crinkle?
- 14 – National Mac & Cheese Day: Homemade or store-bought?
- 16 – National Ice Cream Day: Share your favorite local ice cream spot!
- 20 – National Moon Day: “One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind!”
- 22 – National Hammock Day: Snap a photo swinging in your favorite spot!
- 23 – Parents’ Day: Share a life lesson your parents have taught you!
- 26 – Uncle and Aunt Day: What’s your favorite memory you shared with your uncle and aunt?
- 27 – Start of Ashura
- 28 – End of Ashura: This Islamic holiday is observed on the tenth day of Muharram, in the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar
- 30 – National Cheesecake Day: Share your favorite flavor from your favorite bakery!
- 31 – National Avocado Day: What’s your favorite way to eat avocados?
July Quick Wins
- Try a new hashtag today!
- Create a free Google My Business Account!
- Share your favorite small biz hangout spot!
August 2023
- 1 – National Girlfriend Day: Get your girlfriend something nice today!
- 4 – National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: Does cookie dough count?
- 7 – National Lighthouse Day
- 9 – National Book Lovers Day: Post a cozy pic with your favorite book (or books)!
- 11 – National Son and Daughter Day: You’re both my favorite!
- 12 – National Middle Child Day: Celebrate the one who sometimes gets forgotten!
- 15 – Assumption of Mary
- 16 – Tell a Joke Day: Knock, knock. Who’s there?
- 17 – National Thrift Store Day: “Hey Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping?”
- 19 – National Potato Day: How did we not know this holiday existed?
- 22 – World Plant Milk Day: Which sustainable milk option is your favorite?
- 24 – National Waffle Day: Leggo my Eggo!
- 26 – Women’s Equality Day
- 27 – National Just Because Day: Just because…
- 28 – Summer Bank Holiday
- 30 – National Beach Day: Is it time for a vacation?
- 31 – World Distance Learning Day: Celebrate those who have been learning through Zoom!
August Quick Wins
- Promote your blog post, which drives traffic to your website.
- Do a product swap and review with your small business BFF!
- Make your first Instagram reel!
September 2023
- 1 – World Letter Writing Day: Practice your penmanship and writing skills today!
- 2 – World Beard Day: That’s one epic beard!
- 4 – Labor Day
- 7 – National Salami Day: Break out the charcuterie boards today!
- 9 – International Sudoku Day: It’s like a crossword, but with numbers…
- 10 – National Pet Memorial Day: Pets are family too!
- 11 – Grandparents’ Day: Take some time to visit or call yours today.
- 13 – International Chocolate Day: Milk, dark, or white?
- 15 – Start of Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah celebrates the first day of the Jewish Calendar. Happy New Year to our Jewish friends!
- 16 – National Guacamole Day: We know guac is extra.
- 17 – End of Rosh Hashanah
- 20 – National Queso Day: Shouldn’t every day celebrate queso?
- 23 – International Day of Sign Languages: Visual languages are languages too.
- 23 – Autumnal Equinox
- 24 – Start of Yom Kippur: Seen as the holiest day in Judaism, Yom Kippur is a day of atonement and repentance of one’s sins.
- 25 – End of Yom Kippur
- 28 – National Good Neighbor Day: Celebrate with the good ones and ignore the bad ones.
- 30 – International Podcast Day: Celebrate by sharing your favorite podcast!
September Quick Wins
- Do a live Q&A with your customers on Instagram.
- Create a free Canva account to create social media graphics.
- Add a well-placed CTA to your website pages.
October 2023
- 3 – National Boyfriend Day: Get your boyfriend something nice today!
- 4 – National Cinnamon Roll Day: Mmmmmm, warm and sweet.
- 6 – National Noodle Day: What’s your favorite noodle dish?
- 7 – National Salami Day: Break out the charcuterie boards today!
- 9 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- 11 – National Stop Bullying Day: Educate yourself on the signs of bullying and ways to stop it.
- 11 – Grandparents’ Day: Take some time to visit or call yours today.
- 13 – International Chocolate Day: Milk, dark, or white?
- 15 – Global Handwashing Day: Share your favorite hand soap scent!
- 17 – National Pay Back a Friend Day: Give that friend back the $5 you owe them!
- 18 – Alaska Day: Alaska became part of the United States Today!
- 20 – International Chefs Day: Are there too many cooks in the kitchen?
- 21 – National Apple Day: Did you know there are 7,500 apple varieties throughout the world?
- 25 – International Artist Day: Who’s your favorite artist? Share a photo!
- 26 – National Pumpkin Day: It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!
- 28 – National First Responders Day: Those who take care of us should be taken care of today
- 30 – National Candy Corn Day: Does candy corn deserve a day? Share your opinion!
- 31 – Halloween: Eat extra candy today!
October Quick Wins
- Create a visual brand guidelines sheet; check out our blog post “5 Necessary Brand Style Guide Elements for Your Small Business” for more info!
- Publish pages or blog posts specific to the neighborhoods you serve.
- Share a tip you’ve learned from another small business owner.
November 2023
- 1 – Dia de los Muertos: Those who celebrate Dia de los Muertos are remembering loved ones who have passed.
- 4 – National Candy Day: Share a photo of your favorite candy today!
- 5 – Daylight Savings Time Ends: We turn our clocks back by one hour today.
- 7 – Election Day
- 10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development
- 11 – Veterans Day
- 12 – Diwali: Known as the festival of lights, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhist groups.
- 14 – National Pickle Day: A great addition to a sandwich.
- 15 – Global Handwashing Day: Share your favorite hand soap scent!
- 17 – National Homemade Bread Day: Ciabatta, wheat, olive oil… all bread is good bread!
- 19 – National Macchiato Day: A delightful coffee drink.
- 21 – National Stuffing Day: Stuffing before Thanksgiving? What a thought!
- 22 – National Go For a Ride Day: Take a li’l joyride today (but a safe one).
- 23 – Thanksgiving Day
- 24 – Black Friday
- 25 – Small Business Saturday: Support your small business besties today!
- 27 – Cyber Monday: Start the holiday shopping early and catch some great deals!
- 30 – National Personal Space Day: Respect the bubble!
November Quick Wins
- Create a free Google My Business Account.
- Check your Instagram analytics for your business account.
- Post a scrolling video of your website highlighting key products.
December 2023
- 2 – International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
- 4 – National Cookie Day: Participate in a cookie exchange with your friends and family.
- 6 – National Gazpacho Day: Try making this delicate, cold soup today.
- 7 – Start of Hanukkah: Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The most notable tradition is the lighting of the Menorah.
- 8 – National Brownie Day: Do you prefer fudge-y or cake-y brownies?
- 9 – Christmas Card Day: Send one to a small business BFF in your area!
- 12 – National Poinsettia Day: A beautiful decoration for the holiday season.
- 13 – The National Guards’ Birthday: The National Guard was founded today.
- 14 – National Free Shipping Day: Are you shopping for yourself, others, or your business?
- 15 – End of Hanukkah
- 17 – National Maple Syrup Day: What’s your favorite food to eat with syrup?
- 21 – Winter Solstice: It’s the shortest day of the year!
- 22 – National Short Person Day: We still can’t reach the top shelf in the grocery store…
- 24 – Christmas Eve
- 25 – Christmas Day
- 26 – Start of Kwanzaa: Kwanzaa celebrates African American heritage. It includes poetry, singing, dancing, African drumming, and storytelling.
- 28 – National Card Playing Day: Uno!
- 31 – New Year’s Day
December Quick Wins
- Create an Instagram carousel highlighting your favorite products or services your business offers.
- Throw a holiday giveaway of a package bundle for your social media followers.
- Create an Instagram reel highlighting your favorite moments of 2023!
And that’s it!
12 months of unique dates to add to your social media combined with graphics or photos that connect it all back to your small business. Keep these dates nearby to schedule every month, or be the eager beaver and go ahead and schedule your entire year NOW. You’ll be glad you did.
Whatever you do, do NOT wait until August 10. That’s National Lazy day, and we’re pretty sure that day will be a complete wash.
Happy planning!
And don’t forget to share the goods with your small business friends!
