Dates to Avoid in Your Marketing

...or to at least consider when you are planning your marketing activities for the rest of this year.  If you are trying to get your message across to your target audience you need to keep your eye on the calendar (nationally and locally if you have a local business) to see if you are going to be fighting for share of mind.

This year we have some extra 'fun' to work around.  We have a contentious Olympics taking place in China, two major political conventions and a Presidential election to follow.  So here are some of the additional dates I recommend you add to your marketing calendar and decide how it effects your business:

• August 8-24 - 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing, China
• August 25-28 - Denver - Democratic National Convention
• September 1-4 - Minneapolis - Republican National Convention
• October 27- November 3 - Week before National Election (there is just a ton of marketing happening during this week)
• November 4 - National Election Day

In addition to these days I always try to avoid the standard holidays (Mothers day, Fathers Day, Memorial Day,  Thanksgiving etc) since there is just too much marketing noise and people tend to have other things on their mind (unless of course your business is related to these dates).  I try to avoid certain days and keep a good eye on the surrounding days to make sure we have the best shot at getting our message to our target audience.

If you plan well you won't have any surprises when your marketing plan goes live.