May 5
- A lovely first or last name.
- Who it’s gonna be, according to N’Sync.
- An expression of possibility or permission.
- A month bursting with creative and compassionate marketing opportunities
May 20
Star Wars Day simply can’t be ignored with its rising popularity. Run a webinar or live stream on this day to help add some creativity to your copy.
First Monday of May
May 23
- A full list of May national days, awareness themes, and holidays.
- Over 60 free, easy, and creative marketing ideas around these themes.
- Real examples of blogs, social posts, events, and promotions to inspire you.
Thank you, as always, to National Day Calendar for supplying these days and dates!
Month-long observances in May
May 14
We’ve got loads of ideas for you for May—for Facebook and Instagram posts, blog posts, events, promotions, and more. We’ve organized them by themes and holidays, but you can find industry-specific ideas within each theme.
- ALS
- Blood Pressure Education
- Brain Cancer/Tumor
- Celiac Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Dental Care
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Employee Health and Fitness
- Lyme Disease
- Mediterranean Diet
- Melanoma/Skin Cancer
- Mental Health
- Stroke
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome
- Motorcycle Safety
- Water Safety
- Wildfire Awareness
First full week of May
- Jewish American Heritage
- Haitian Heritage
- Older Americans
- Asian American Heritage
- Pacific Islander Heritage
- Foster Care
- Military Appreciation
Here are some ways to honor them:
- Better Speech and Language
- International Drum Month
- Date Your Mate
- Biking
- Chamber Music
- Get Caught Reading
- Inventors
- Photography
- Pets
- Preservation
- Recommitment
- Moving
Dedicated to raising awareness about small businesses and celebrating the hard-working owners behind them, this week will be packed with ample marketing opportunities. Here are some ways to make the best of National Small Business Week:
- American Cheese
- Asparagus
- Barbecue
- Egg
- Hamburger
- Salad
- Salsa
- Strawberry
May 2nd is Teacher Appreciation Day—a perfect time for preschools to market themselves to new parents in anticipation of the new school year.
May 18
Week-long May observances
May 18
Holidays and observances in May
May 18
Couldn’t get enough? We’ve got lots more May social media holidays and ideas here!
- Do some research and identify LGBT trailblazers in your geographic or industrial niche and write a blog post or social media fun fact post about them.
- Ask your audience to share older LGBT mentors and thought leaders in their lives.
- Raise awareness about the importance of taking care of LGBT elders who may still lack the care and support they need.
Jewish, Haitian, Asian & Pacific Island heritage month
You don’t see BIC writing limerick about its pens, do you?
- Consider learning about each of these groups and sharing your findings in a blog post or on social media.
- Interview a coworker, client, or friend who identifies with one of these groups on a topic relevant to your audience.
- Put a request out there to your network for individuals within those groups to write a guest post or share their experience about something with a dedicated hashtag.
National Silence the Shame Day
May 15
- Share eye-opening stats about mental illness in the United States (or the world).
- Share a few resources for those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other symptoms.
- Participate in #silencetheshame textathons and fundraisers like the one below.
Whatever you decide to do to promote your business in May, be sure to recap your events, promotions, and festivities in your next email newsletter or blog post so that those who missed out will want to join in the fun next year. Also, be sure to send follow-up emails to any new leads for your business. And during your campaigns, post real-time photos and user-generated content to encourage more participation.
National Barrier Awareness Day
- Use the #nationalbarrierawarenessday hashtag to post information, resources, and stats.
- Do an Instagram Story takeover by someone with a disability so they can share a day in the life.
- Ask your audience about their experiences with barriers and how they overcame them.
May 29
- National Interpreter Appreciation Day – first Wednesday in May
- Join Hands Day – First Saturday in May
- National Bombshells’ Day – First Saturday in May
- International Being You Day – annually on May 22
May marketing ideas for national weeks
May 6th
National Small Business Week
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Diversity and social awareness
relevant hashtags in your social media posts and promotions.
networking with other small business owners is important for your marketing success as well. Attend local events, SBA events, or follow along via live streams.
Build community and expand your reach: Team up with other complementary small businesses and create an event.
Give back: Make an extra effort to give back to your community by shopping at, posting reviews, and engaging in social media with other small businesses during the week.
fun ways to engage them with your shop and on Instagram.
We all hear about diversity, accessibility and inclusion in marketing but what does that look like? Let’s take a look.
creative with derby fashion or horse-themed decorations, promotions, contests, and events. For example,
- Change up your storefront with a derby theme to grab attention and attract customers.
- Blog about derby fashion and outfits for men and women.
- Throw a derby party with derby hat contests and mint juleps.
- Host a cooking or cocktail-making class.
- Run a derby hat contest on Instagram or Facebook.
- Use derby hashtags such as #kyderby, or your own custom hashtag (like #derbyatjoes) so that people can find you and follow along.
promotions, such as get the fifth one free, $5 specials, 5% off, 5 for 5, etc.
Throw a party or cooking class revolving around Mexican food and culture.
Consider offering your followers information about where to enjoy Cinco de Mayo. Remember, not everything you post should be in an effort to make a sale. Providing useful information gives your followers another reason to keep watching you on social media.
Teacher Appreciation Day
May 28
- Throw a party for teachers or have students write thank you letters to show off on your blog, in email newsletters to parents, or on social media.
- Update your website content with new teacher bios and pictures.
- Did anyone receive a new degree or have a teacher accomplishment to share? This is the perfect time to showcase them in an “About Us” page on your website. Doing so not only highlights your teaching staff, but it also can improve your SEO.
blog post or email newsletter to communicate with parents!
Run a Mother’s Day photo contest on Facebook.
quotes, images, and other posts on social media to show your support for those who have lost their lives for our country.
Run a charity race or ride to remember our troops and veterans.
Memorial Day is often celebrated with gatherings (small ones during COVID-19), and Groupon will feature seasonal deals on its site. Try running a Groupon deal geared for families and groups. You could offer winter and spring products and services at a discount or even introduce your summer deals.
Memorial Day marketing ideas you can pull off last-minute.
Star Wars Day
So in this post, I’m supplying with everything you need to connect with current and potential customers in meaningful and memorable ways this month. This includes:
get new clients for the spring and summer months. Try sending out postcards encouraging homeowners to get their homes and gardens in top shape for summer.
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- Now’s the time to run that gutter cleaning sale or post pictures on Facebook of your most recent outdoor paint job. Build your content authority with SEO-optimized blog posts about seasonal maintenance.
spring cleaning, why not do a little of your own by going through your website, ad campaigns, social media profiles, and listings to make sure information is up to date, photos are relevant to the season, and links are working properly. You may want to refresh some of the evergreen content from last year that performed well around this time.
- Gather up your top reviews from last year and share them on social media. These make for enjoyable Tweets with no pressure to click a link or read more. You might also share success stories with before-and-after photos to get clients excited about the warm weather.
- What better time to get the chatter going about your business when people are getting excited about the warm weather? Word of mouth marketing is important for small businesses. Offer existing clients a discount or incentive for each new client they refer who becomes a paying customer.
Pinterest following with your creations linked to your online store or blog.
You don’t have to be a florist to use flowers in your marketing. Spruce up your office, restaurant, or storefront with flowers. Nothing says “spring” like fresh-cut flowers that add a pop of color to your business space.
Buy flowers from a local florist and introduce yourself. Supporting other small business owners is the first step to getting more word-of-mouth referrals.
Weddings
Every May 7, National Barrier Awareness Day encourages us to advocate for and educate others about breaking down barriers—visible and invisible—that prevent individuals with disabilities from living independent, fulfilled lives.
- Caterers, event planners, DJs, photographers, bakeries, and other wedding-friendly services: Use social media to engage customers as much as possible. Whether you’re hosting the bachelorette party at your restaurant, baking the wedding cupcakes at your bakery, or photographing the event, be sure to take pictures and share them on Facebook and other social media platforms. You may also want to ask and see if you can use the special custom hashtag for the event. This is a great way to put a name to the features of the wedding that stick out to guests (who can become or refer you to new customers) and their social media audiences.
- Landscapers can capitalize on wedding venue owners looking to perfect their property.
- Or perhaps you want to run a virtual wedding planning campaign, through organic content or paid ads.
blog posts, and tips on getting to your healthiest and best version of yourself in time for these heavily photographed events.
Final tips for your May marketing
First Sunday through Monday of May
Second week of May
May is the start of wedding season and a perfect time to market your business to new people who are in town. Unless, of course, you’re hosting a virtual wedding this year due to the pandemic. Here are some wedding-based marketing ideas for both live and virtual weddings. There’s a complete list of May holidays and observances at the bottom of this post, but here are some highlights:
Full list of May holidays and observances
May 17
May 27
- Law Day
- May Day
- National Chocolate Parfait Day
- National Loyalty Day
- National Mother Goose Day
- School Principals’ Day
- Silver Star Service Banner Day
- National Infertility Survival Day – Sunday Before Mother’s Day
- National Lemonade Day – First Sunday in May
May 10
- National Life Insurance Day
- National Truffle Day
- Melanoma Monday – First Monday in May
May 21
- National Chocolate Custard Day
- National Garden Meditation Day
- National Lumpy Rug Day
- National Montana Day
- National Paranormal Day
- National Raspberry Popover Day
- National SAN Architect Day
- National Specially-Able Pets Day
- National Textiles Day
- National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
- National Foster Care Day – First Tuesday in May
- National Teacher Appreciation Day – Tuesday of the First Full Week in May
May 12
- Bird Day
- National Candied Orange Peel Day
- National Orange Juice Day
- National Renewal Day
- National Star Wars Day
- National Weather Observers Day
- National Skilled Trades Day – First Wednesday in May
- National Interpreter Appreciation Day – First Wednesday in May
- National Bike to School Day – Changes annually – May 4, 2022
May 11
- Cinco de Mayo
- National Astronaut Day
- National Cartoonists Day
- National Hoagie Day
- National Silence the Shame Day
- National Totally Chipotle Day
- National Day of Prayer – First Thursday in May
- National Day of Reason – First Thursday in May
- World Password Day – First Thursday in May
Food
- National Beverage Day
- National Crepe Suzette Day
- National Nurses Day
- National Military Spouse Appreciation Day – Friday Before Mother’s Day
- National Provider Appreciation Day – Friday Before Mother’s Day
- National Space Day – First Friday in May
- School Lunch Hero Day – First Friday in May
May 31
- National Barrier Awareness Day
- National Packaging Design Day
- National Paste-Up Day
- National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
- Free Comic Book Day – First Saturday in May
- Join Hands Day – First Saturday in May
- Kentucky Derby – First Saturday in May
- National Babysitter’s Day – Saturday before Mother’s Day
- National Birth Mother’s Day – Saturday before Mother’s Day
- National Bombshells’ Day – First Saturday in May
- National Fitness Day – First Saturday in May
- National Homebrew Day – First Saturday in May
- National Play Outside Day – First Saturday of Every Month
- National Scrapbook Day – First Saturday in May
- National Start Seeing Monarchs Day – First Saturday in May
- National Train Day – Saturday Closest to May 10
- National Coconut Cream Pie Day
- National Have a Coke Day
- National Student Nurse Day
- Mother’s Day – Second Sunday in May
May 1
- National Home Front Heroes Day
- National Alphabet Magnet Day
- National Butterscotch Brownie Day
- National Lost Sock Memorial Day
- National Moscato Day
- National Sleepover Day
- National Women’s Checkup Day – Second Monday in May
In May, we celebrate, appreciate, and raise awareness for quite a lot. Here’s what we’re working with:
- National Clean Up Your Room Day
- National Lipid Day
- National Shrimp Day
- National Washington Day
Not May? Here’s our full series of monthly marketing ideas
- National Eat What You Want Day
- National Foam Rolling Day
- National Twilight Zone Day
- National Receptionists’ Day – Second Wednesday in May
- National Third Shift Workers Day – Second Wednesday in May
- National School Nurse Day – Wednesday of National Nurses Week
May 4
- National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
- National Limerick Day
- National Nutty Fudge Day
- National Odometer Day
May 22
- National Apple Pie Day
- National Crouton Day
- National Frog Jumping Day
- National Fruit Cocktail Day
- National Blame Someone Else Day – First Friday the 13th of the Year (May 13, 2022)
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- National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
- National Dance Like a Chicken Day
- National Decency Day
- National Underground America Day
- Cornelia De Lange Syndrome Awareness Day – Second Saturday in May
- National Archery Day – Second Saturday in May
- National Dog Mom’s Day – Second Saturday in May
- National Miniature Golf Day – Second Saturday in May
- Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day – Second Saturday in May
That’s right. I’m not just talking Mother’s Day or Cinco de Mayo. There’s National Limerick Day. Honor Our LGBT Elders Day. Small Business Week. Mental Health Awareness Month. Asparagus Month!?
- National Chocolate Chip Day
- National Nylon Stocking Day
- Peace Officers Memorial Day
- Take Your Parents to the Playground Day – Third Sunday in May
May 7
- Honor Our LGBT Elders Day
- National Barbecue Day
- National Biographer’s Day
- National Coquilles Saint Jacques Day
- National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day
- National Love a Tree Day
- National Mimosa Day
- National Piercing Day
- National Sea Monkey Day
May 13
- National Cherry Cobbler Day
- National Graduation Tassel Day
- National Idaho Day
- National Pack Rat Day
- National Walnut Day
May 19
- National Cheese Soufflé Day
- National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
- National No Dirty Dishes Day
- National Visit Your Relatives Day
- Emergency Medical Services for Children Day – Wednesday of Emergency Medical Service Week
- National Juice Slush Day – Third Wednesday In May
M-A-Y. These three letters, when strung together in that order, represent many things:
- National Devil’s Food Cake Day
- National May Ray Day
May 30
- International Red Sneakers Day
- National Be a Millionaire Day
- National Pick Strawberries Day
- National Quiche Lorraine Day
- National Rescue Dog Day
- National Streaming Day
- NASCAR Day – Third Friday in May
- National Bike to Work Day – Third Friday in May
- National Pizza Party Day – Third Friday in May
- National Defense Transportation Day – Third Friday in May
- National Endangered Species Day – Third Friday in May
And for a year’s worth of marketing ideas, check out this marketing calendar template from our friends at LOCALiQ.
- National American Red Cross Founder’s Day
- National Memo Day
- National Strawberries and Cream Day
- National Waitstaff Day
- National Armed Forces Day – Third Saturday in May
- National Learn to Swim Day – Third Saturday in May
May 24
- International Being You Day
- National Buy a Musical Instrument Day
- National Craft Distillery Day
- National Maritime Day
- National Solitaire Day
- National Vanilla Pudding Day
- World Paloma Day
May 26
- National Lucky Penny Day
- National Taffy Day
Third full week of May
- Brother’s Day
- National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
- National Escargot Day
- National Scavenger Hunt Day
- National Wyoming Day
- National Yucatan Shrimp Day
First and foremost, National Small Business Week happens annually every first week of May. The event was postponed until September and turned into a virtual celebration in 2020 due to COVID-19, but it’s back on in 2021 starting May 2.
- National Brown-Bag It Day
- National Missing Children’s Day
- National Tap Dance Day
- National Wine Day
- Towel Day
- National Senior Health & Fitness Day – Last Wednesday in May
May 25
- National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
- National Paper Airplane Day
May 3
- National Cellophane Tape Day
- National Grape Popsicle Day
- National Cooler Day – Friday Before Memorial Day
- National Don’t Fry Day – Friday Before Memorial Day
- National Road Trip Day – Friday Before Memorial Day
Additional observances in May that help promote diversity, equity, and inclusion include:
- National Beef Burger Day
- National Brisket Day
- National Hamburger Day
To participate in this day:
- National 529 Day
- National Coq Au Vin Day
- National Paperclip Day
- Loomis Day
- National Creativity Day
- National Hole In My Bucket Day
- National Mint Julep Day
- National Water a Flower Day
- World Multiple Sclerosis Day
- National Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
May 16
- Autonomous Vehicle Day
- National Macaroon Day
- National Save Your Hearing Day
- National Smile Day
- National Speak in Sentences Day
- National Utah Day
- Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day
