How to make the most of Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day! It seems that the average consensus among people is that they either adore this celebration of love or completely reject the “Hallmark holiday.”
I have a soft spot for Valentine’s Day, as I grew up celebrating it every year with my family. My parents have always been my Valentines, buying little trinkets, heart-shaped candy and themed cards to celebrate their love for my siblings and me.
Apparently we’re not alone in this celebration. According to the National Retail Federation, more than five in 10 people have made plans to celebrate the holiday this year. In fact, this year we are seeing record spending for Valentine’s Day, with consumers planning to spend an average of $196.31 (up 21% from last year’s report of $161.96) on their loved ones. Overall, spending is expected to total $27.4 billion, which is up 32% from last year’s record $20.7 billion.
As a PR pro, how do you make the most of Valentine’s Day? PR Daily thinks you can take advantage of the holiday, even at the last minute, by engaging with your audience on social media. Here are a few ideas to show your followers some love.
- Photo or Video Contest – encourage your followers to use photos or videos to answer a variety of questions as part of a contest. A quick idea is asking “Who’s your Valentine?” and letting your followers vote on their favorite photo.
- Essay Contest – a writing contest allows followers to share more of their opinions about your brand. To stay on theme, host a Love Letter Contest and have followers submit love letters to your brand. Offer a prize for the most creative letter.
- Fill in the Blank – spend the day asking your followers to fill in the blanks on sentences like: “The most romantic movie is…?,” “The best love song ever written is…?” and “The most romantic date I’ve been on was…” Share your answers to be entered to win a prize, and choose a winner at random.
