National Days and Awareness Months and How to Manage in 2025

That Solo Life, Episode 294: National Days and Awareness Months and How to Manage in 2025

 

Summary:

This podcast episode discusses the abundance of "national days" and how PR professionals and marketers should approach aligning their client initiatives with these events. The key points are:

• There is an overwhelming number of these "national days" which can become diluted and ignored by the public.
• These days can be divided into two categories: awareness/educational campaigns vs. marketing-driven events.
• For awareness months/days related to important causes, it can make sense to align content and messaging if it's relevant to the client's business. However, marketers should be cautious about aligning with more frivolous "national days" just for the sake of participation.
• The most important factor is whether the client's news, announcement, or content is truly newsworthy and valuable, regardless of whether it aligns with a designated national day or month. Forcing an announcement to fit a particular calendar event is not advised.
• PR professionals should set clear expectations with clients about which national days/months are worth aligning with versus when it may be better to simply focus on the strength of the news itself.

In This Episode

Are you overwhelmed by the never-ending list of national days, weeks, and months? From National Hot Dog Day to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it feels like every moment in the calendar is claimed by something. But does your brand have to jump on every single one? 

In today’s episode, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR (Solo PR Pro) and Michelle Kane (Voice Matters) discuss how to strategically decide which awareness and marketing campaigns to align with (and when to pass). They share practical advice for PR pros, marketers, and business owners on how to cut through the clutter while staying authentic to your brand.

What We Discuss in This Episode:

• The evolution of National Days and how their popularity has changed over time. 
• The difference between awareness campaigns that educate (e.g., Autism Awareness Month) versus marketing-driven moments (e.g., National Ice Cream Day). 
• Why staying true to your brand’s mission is key when deciding whether to participate. 
• Evaluating client expectations and helping them decide if their campaigns align with specific days or months. 
• How doing something outside of a marketing or awareness month can sometimes help your message stand out. 
• Tips for advising clients on when their big news deserves attention at the right time. 

Key Takeaways:

• Not every campaign is necessary. Assess whether a national day or awareness month is relevant and meaningful to your brand or clients before joining in. 
• Awareness vs. gimmicks: Distinguish between educational campaigns that offer real value and marketing "fun" that may not add much. 
• Timing is everything. Great news is great news, no matter what day you share it. Don’t feel tied to these campaigns if they don’t serve your goals. 

Listener Reminder:

We’re not throwing shade at National Donut Day (a very worthwhile occasion, honestly!), but don’t feel obligated to latch on to every trendy day in the calendar. Use these moments as tools—but only when they make sense for your brand! 

Mentioned in This Episode:

• How to align content with National Days effectively without overwhelming your brand strategy. 
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