The most important aspect of content creation is relevancy. Christmas movies get this many views during the holiday because they are usually all about getting together, these emotions they convey to the viewers are perfectly relevant to what this time of the year is all about – getting together. When you plan your social media content, taking into account its relevancy, it increases its reach potential.
This marketing calendar offers a list of 167 marketing events for 2023. On average, there is an event almost every two days. But this isn’t just a list of events and their dates, to each event that is described below I added recommendations in the form of content ideas and engaging activities ideas. Combining these two things, creating relevant content, and keeping in mind the importance of engaging the audience is a recipe for growth.
This content calendar is practical and straight to the point guidance, it aims at helping content creators generate organic growth by planning what to post. But before starting to review the events worth creating content about this year, it’s important to prove the claim that relevancy is a key element for growth on social media.
How this social media post calendar is going to help you grow organically
When you create a relevant piece of content, it naturally and organically spreads. Therefore being relevant is an important aspect of any content marketing growth strategy. Let’s review the science behind the phenomenon of virality to verify this claim.
The article “Scientific Secrets of Sharable Content” by Buffer explains the reasons that make a piece of content viral. While the reasons are interesting and insightful, it is the conclusions that matters the most. The first two conclusions in the article are:
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- Do your research
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- Follow trends
By reading the recommendations in this Instagram content calendar you conduct research as well.
You can also look at the conclusion “do your research if you want to experience organic growth” in a broader perspective. It’s not only about what content to post but also about how to become a better and more professional social media manager, I talk about it further in the article on social media growth hacking.
The second conclusion, follow trends, is where this social media calendar goes into the picture. There are two types of trends to follow when planning your content for Instagram or another platform. Lets’s see the difference between them
One time versus seasonal trends
Many trends are one-time and unpredictable, Google’s list year in trend shows the biggest trends by search volume in 2021. These events usually show a one-time peak and a drop right after, you can’t expect them to come back again anytime soon (they might will, like Pokémon Go app made the attention to these Japanese magical characters grow once again many years after it was no longer popular).
But there are so many seasonal events that you can use to predict the increase of demand in that topic. For example, take a look at this graph by Google trends that shows the worldwide searches for the word “Valentines” in the past 12 months.
The screenshot was taken on Dec 28th. You can see at the right end of the graph that the demand is starting to rise again after it already soared last year from December until its peak in February. You can confidently say that it will soar this year as well. That is exactly what makes it a seasonal trend, and in turn makes this marketing calendar a very relevant tool for you to use and follow throughout the year (you might want to consider bookmarking it as well).
Throughout the year, there are hundreds of dates to celebrate or commemorate something or someone. In general there are three types of seasonal events:
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- National and international holidays like the International Christmas holiday or the American 4th of July
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- Annual awareness events like the International cancer awareness day or the Scottish shortbread day (I personally love shortbread!)
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- Annual cultural events – Like the Superbowl or the Oscar night
And there are so many of them: Cyber Monday, Black Friday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, National Pizza Day, Earth Day. And many others are raising dates that generate interest in people, interest which you could turn into engagement on social media.
Let’s discover what the new 2023 year prepares for you!
TIPS 1. Bookmark this page or save its link so you could come back to it throughout the year. 2. Choose only the events that are relevant to your target audience, we have created this list to shorten your research time. But we do not recommend making content to every single event, only to the ones that are relevant for your audience.
Post Ideas for Q1 January – March
Q1 is a good time to evaluate the changes that happened in social media in the past year. Does your plans for the new year align with the changes that happens in the market? For example, are you taking a part in the fastest growing channels and using the best performing formats?
For example, in September 2021 TikTok said it reached 1 billion active users per month. Having said that, according to Social Media Perth 87% of Gen Z TikTok users who have used Instagram reels agree with the statement “Instagram Reels is basically the same as TikTok.”
Instagram post calendar for January
1st January – New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day promotion can be a great end of the year or a wonderful beginning. Your Instagram content should be mainly focused on the New Year’s goals, bucket lists, and challenges that your audience is expected to face this year.
Target audience: everyone
Hashtags: #happynewyear #2023 #goals #54321 #celebrate
2nd January – Science Fiction Day
It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike sci-fi films, or books, or games franchises, but Marvel, Harry Potter, Spiderman, X-man, Star Wars have a huge crowd of fans! Just look at this random fact: with a total value of over $68 billion, “Star Wars” is the fifth-highest grossing media franchise of all time.
Target audience: Fans of the Sci-Fi genre, books, movies, games, and comics all over the world. Typically Sci-Fi fans have high correlation with being fantasy computer gamers.
Hashtags: #scifi #comics #fantasy
6th January – National Shortbread Day
Here’s a fun fact about this wonderful delight: Shortbread originated in Scotland, with the first printed recipe, in 1736, from a Scotswoman named Mrs McLintock. In case you choose to make some tasty content about this one, you can find more fun facts in here
Target audience: Scottish people, baking fans, sweets lovers, people who are interested in diet (you can share, for example, a gluten-free recipe)
Hashtags: #delight #baking #scotland #cookies
13th January – National Sticker Day
Stickers have been with us since our childhood, today with social media they have a new, interesting and exciting meaning. They are so cool they got a day to celebrate them. Here is an idea for you: learn how to create a GIF sticker and make one that is related to the message of your brand. Then, share it with your followers
Target audience: artsy people, families with kids, content creators
Hashtags: #stickersofinstagram #stickersaddict #gifideas
15th January – National Hat Day
National Hat Day is an excellent chance to talk about our… heads. From what we put on top (a hat) to how important it is to keep what’s inside (the brain). Don’t forget to waer a hat when you go outside to the sun!
Target audience: People with awareness to healthiness fashionistas, travelers
Hashtags: #hatday #wearahat #travelhat
17th January – Blue Monday
From Wikipedia: “Blue Monday is the name given to a day in January (typically the third Monday of the month) said by a UK travel company, Sky Travel, to be the most depressing day of the year.”
One of the theories says that around 15 years ago, a psychologist at Cardiff University was creating a formula to uncover when people are most likely to book a holiday. They concluded that the gloomier they felt, the more likely they were to book a flight to somewhere sunny. Brands all over the world target Blue Monday for their social media and marketing campaigns, in an attempt to spread some joy during the post-Christmas lull.
For you, this is a chance to speak to your followers about happiness and about how to increase it in life, in general. Consider sharing with them some facts from the latest reserach on happiness, for example.
Target audience: This topic can fit almost anyone, universally. But it would fit bests as content for people who are open to discuss emotions and personal growth.
Hashtags: #behappy #gloomday #bluemonday #happiness
17th January – Martin Luther King Jr Day
In the first 10 days of June 2020 the #blacklivesmatter movement got 4 times the amount of engagement it got in the entire year of 2019 (as far as I know, the movement carying this exact name didn’t exist in 2019 by content related to it existed) . Here are the top quotes by Martin Luther King which you can use for your content in his memorial day.
Target audience: People who are interested in politics, minorities of any kind (the message of being a minority is universal)
Hashtags: #freedom #blacklivesmatter #equality #values
23rd January – National Pie Day
Non-profit organization called the American Pie Council (really?!) preserves the American pie-loving tradition via hobbies and commerce. It’s an opportunity to prepare some tasty pie recipes and designs for your foodie-audience and anyone who enjoys a tasty pie. Yummy time indeed!
If you’re a local business, that’s your chance to find the nearest pie eating competition (or attract customers by hosting one yourself)
Target audience: Food fans, baking fans, sweets fans, sport fans (because of the pie eating contests)
Hashtags: #americanpie #piecontest #sweet #yumm
24th January – Global Compliment Day
It’s time for some positive vibes. This initiative was created in the attempt to create the most positive day of the year (right behind you, Christmas). I don’t know what about you, but I find it cute, it actually makes me smile – maybe it’s already working!
Target audience: Self development, small businesses (who can use it for their customers), meme fans (who could use some laugh in this day)
Hashtags: #goodvibes #thinkpositive #thankyou
26th January – Australia Day
Personally, this day isn’t for me. It’s all about BBQ (I’m vegan), fireworks (It makes my dog cry) or performances (well, I’m OK with this one) – But if you have Ausie followers, you should definitely take part in it and mark this day on your Instagram post calendar.
Target audience: Quite obviously, people from Australia.
Hashtags: #ausie #australia
26th January – National Spouse’s Day
It’s the spouse’s day, partners day, couples day – call it as you wish. You probably wonder what is the difference between this day and valentines day which comes a few days later, I was wondering the same thing and this article answered my question: this one is all about looking together at the journey you went through as a couple.
Target audience: couples, lovers, people who engage with content about relationships.
Hashtags: #lifegoals #growoldtogether #couplegoals
27th January – Chocolate Cake Day
Pretty straight forward this day, isn’t it? Here are fun facts about chocolate cakes you can share with your followers.
Target audience: Food fans, baking fans, chocolate fans. Everyone basically.
Hashtags: #chocolate #sweetday
31st January – Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards occasion is a fantastic way to increase brand awareness. Follow the flow and create a giveaway contest, so someone from your audience will become rewarded as a real star.
Consider asking your fans to vote by liking and commenting who they think should win, you’ll need to get your hands on the lists of nominates ahead of time.
Target audience: musicians, glam fans, pop music fans
hashtags: #grammyawards #musicianslife #musicaddict
Content calendar for February
1st February – Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger)
One of the 12 traditional zodiac animals is attributed to each year. 2022 is the tiger’s year, so take it into consideration while choosing your content. Some other things which are also popular at this time are: tea, candies, clothes and hats, toys.
What could the image of the tiger represent for your audience? Here is one explanation, can you think of others?
Target audience: the East Asian and the Southeast Asian communities, people around the world who follow the Chinese zodiac
Hashtags: #tigeryear #yearofthetiger #strong
Tip My entrepreneurial journey and experience in digital marketing started from building the dropshipping software DSM Tool. So this tip is for those of you who are selling products online, for example by using the dropshipping business model, this time of the year tends to impact shipping times for products that are shipped from China. Make sure to prepare for the Chinese new year.
1st – 28th February – LGBT History Month
Notice that this isn’t the pride month which is famous for its pride parades. The history of the LBGT+ community is not the celebration of freedom but the time where the the community and its supporters (I’m an allay too!) bring up to awareness the historical struggle of the community to gain civil rights.
Actually, still today it is more relevant than ever to take part in these events, death paneity for being gay is still practiced in various countries around the world. When you approach making content on this topic get knowledgeable by reading about the LGBT+ community’s history
Target audience: LGBTQIA+ community and its allays. Notice that if your audience comes from a country or a community where gay rights does not exist you should consider how you share this important information so it will be done in a way that is considered respectful and informational, that would be the only way to gain impact.
Hashtags: #lgbt+ #civilrights #itsoktobegay #gayrights
1st – 28th February – Black History Month
Similar to the LGBT+ community, the black community in North America and its allays use this time to bring to awareness the struggle and journey it went through from slavery to Yaining civil rights. Use this month to share historical facts and knowledge and to support this cause.
You can, for example, commemorate achievements by African-Americans in US history. There are wonderful facts and incredible visuals you can share to create impact with your audience, you will both support an important cause and generate high engagement.
Target audience: Mostly, but not only, people in North America. If most of your followers aren’t American, make sure you explain terms that you use that might not be popular in other countries.
Hashtags: #blacklivesmatter #civilrights #humanrights #oneworld
2nd February – Groundhog Day
Oh yes. This cute little creature has an entire day just for itself. So here is how it works: the tradition says that during that day you should go out to observe groundhogs. If they are emerging from their burrows on this day and see their own shadow due to clear weather, they will retreat to their dens and winter will persist for six more weeks. If they does not see their shadows because of cloudiness – spring will arrive early.
I am not trying to be a party pooper, but it was tested scientifically (really? who approved the budget for this research?) and was found to be a false claim. That doesn’t stop people all over the United States (mainly in Pennsylvania) and Canada observe this holiday, which you can read more about here. I guess I would do it too, it’s a fairly cute animal to watch after all.
Target audience: Animal lovers, nature lovers, travelers, and of course people from Pennsylvania and the areas near it that actually observe this holiday
Hashtags: #springisnear #futureteller #supersticious
4th February – World Cancer Day
In 2020 my family joined the statistics when my mother started a chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. If she wouldn’t get tested every single year (and in the past few years twice a year) and would find about it even one year later, she might have not survived it. The awareness to the importance of catching it early saved my own mother, this day is all about bringing to awareness the importance of getting regularly tested.
Target audience: There are things to do or to monitor at any age range so there is necessarily something that is relevant for your audience no matter in what age group they are. Even if you feel that your account isn’t relevant for promoting awareness for cancer, there is always a way to do it. Let me use a radical example, even a funny memes account like 9GAG can post a funny joke that is related to doctors, hospitals or even early death just to mention in the captions “Don’t get there, go get checked”. Surprise your audience and you’ll get surprised with increased engagement
Hashtags: #beatcancer #earlydetection #savealife
4th – 20th February – Winter Olympics
The games will draw large crowds of sports fans and supporters. This time the Olympic games will take place in Beijing, here is a list of most successful nations in the winter Olympics at all times and the fastest results reached in the history of the winter Olympic games. Could your followers predict which country will bring the most medals back home and what records will break?
Target audience: sports enthusiasts, people from the most successful countries list, ski travelers, people who are interested in China and Asia, people who are interested in personal achievements and personal development
Hashtags: #beijing2022 #winterolympics #goldmedal
5th February – World Nutella Day
I think that nothing have ever made the Nestle management happier than Sara Rosso’s decision in 2007 to start celebrating the Nutella day (well, except the end of the year bonus checks). This is the deam of every brand owner.
Sara also happens to be the director of product marketing at Hubspot, a company that is famous for its digital marketing skills. Which makes it quite brilliant for Hubspot as well, who are earning mentions when talking about this day. They have earned this mention as well, and they have a great blog that discussed inbound marketing in case you’re interested in a good read.
Back to Nutella day, you can learn all about it in here
Target audience: Food fans, sweets fans, funny content readers, interesting facts readers etc.
Hashtags: #nutelladay #sararossso #nestle
6th February – Yorkshire Pudding Day
Never heard of it before writing this article, definitely never tasted it. But here are some fun facts about Yorkshire pudding to share with your followers
Target audience: Food and baking fans, people who are interested in the British culture.
Hashtags: #puddingday #baketoday #funbaking
9th February – National Pizza Day
350 slices of pizza are being eaten in the United States every… can you guess it?… second. So here are 49 more facts to share with your audience on that day.
Target audience: There are so many audiences this could fit to, from gourmet food lovers to stoners to vegans who misses their pizzas and desperately look for a good cheese replacement (that’s me!), just make sure to set the time of the posts to the evening hours to gain higher engagement when people might actually consider ordering a pizza.
Hashtag: #pizzaday #ilovepizza #pizzafacts
13th February – Super Bowl LVI
The biggest sport event of the year in the United States is not all about sports. Who acts in the half-time show, who sings the American anthem and even what is the most expensive commercial are all hot topics around this date. Join the party and gain some engagement too.
Target audience: Sport fans, fans of the musicians and actors that participate in the shows, people who are interested in the business world, marketers (that’s us!)
13th February – Galentine’s Day (the platonic relationships holiday)
It really doesn’t matter that it was created by a fictional character, it did not stop it from becoming viral. The internet is full of Galentine’s Day party ideas, because the day after there is so much emphasis on romantic relationships that what about our platonic ones?
Obviously, it is Cosmopolitan that explains this holiday in the best way. It is only somewhat common, making it an opportunity for you to gain interest and engagement from your followers and fans a second before Valentines, while everyone are already focused on talking about couples-only, you can stand out with some platonic celebration.
Target audience: If you have ay plans to post anything about Valentines, this holiday is relevant for your audience just as well.
Hashtags: #BFF #friendship #besties
14th February – Valentine’s Day
Candies and chocolates, greeting cards and flowers, jewelry and much more stay on the top during this most tender holiday! It is time for romantic attributes and inspirational ideas on this day are expected to generate higher engagement.
Target audience: Some would say couples, but I say don’t forget the singles who are looking at couples hoping for their own good fate.
Hashtags: #love #bemyvalentine #iloveyou
15th February – Single Awareness Day
After the platonic friendships and the romantic relationships, we can’t leave the singles behind. People pamper themselves and their friends or celebrate, together, being single.
Gain engagement by giving attention to your single fans, it’s a great time to make them feel good (even if you do it with witty jokes). After all, being single is also fun – you have so much more time to party!😉
Target audience: Single people, but let’s not forget we all have a single friend we could potentially tag in a post we see (make your followers do that and you’d enjoy great organic reach)
Hashtags: #singleandhappy #icanstillparty #singlegoals
17th February – Random Act of Kindness Day
It’s an especially good time for kindness and inclusivity marketing campaigns. It’s a good time to share with your followers scientifically proven facts on the benefits of doing good deeds.
Target audience: Good people. And there is, eventually, some good in all of us.
20th February – Love Your Pet Day
Everyday is a day to love your pets (if you have one, go and give them some attention right now and then come back and keep reading). And while every day is a good day to love your pet, February 20 gives your fans an official reason to engage by sharing images of adorable pets, tagging their own pet accounts if they have one or their favorite petfluencer account.
Oh, yes, in case you didn’t know – there such a thing as Petfluencer, and there are so many of them that they are even ranked by Statista.
Target audience: pet owners and animal lovers (you might not own a pet but still, legitimately, wish you could)
Hashtags: #petsofinstagram #mypet #petslove
21st February – The Canadian Family Day
Worldwide, the Family day is celebrated on March 6th (though it isn’t as popular as the Women’s day on the 8th). Weirdly, that is not the case not in Canada. I really tried to understand why but the Wikipedia article on the topic wasn’t very helpful so in case you’re Canadian who knows about this tradition, enlighten us in the comments below.
Target audience: Not only Canadians but also people who might find this fun-fact interesting and people who might find jokes about Canada funny (though finding a funny joke that contain both the topic “family” and “Canada” might be slightly challenging)
21st February – President’s Day
February 22nd, 1732 was a cold day in Virginia. Not for the Washington’s family though, the first child of Marry and Augustine Washington was born, his name – George. The Georgi Washigton’s birthday, aka president’s day, is a national American holiday used to honor the constitution of the united states of America and the presidential and federal system built and preserved since its first president, George Washington that is.
Target audience: People who are interested in American history, people who might find the complex aspects of the American wars throughout history interesting for good and bad.
Hashtags: #USA #constitution #happybirthdaygeorge
27th February – National Retro Day
Retro designs or old-fashioned products will take your audience back to a period before Instagram, iPhone selfies and Netflix. It’s time to go into the time-back machine and celebrate the retro, the vintage, the good old memories.
Target audience: A good day for fashionistas, but retro is not only what we wear, it’s anything that can generate a nostalgic feeling, like this list of 50 things only kids from the 90-s will remember that is relevant for me (I was born in 1990 and definitely had a Tamagotchi).
Hashtags: #90s #throughback #goodmemories
Marketing Calendar for March
1st March – Pancake Day
What is the first thing that comes up to your mind when you think of pancake