Many social media posts fail, not because they are bad, but because the timing is not correct.

Every post you share online is part of a larger conversation about your brand, product, or business. Each post can help people understand what your brand stands for and stand against.

Use your favorite calendar app, or spreadsheet to plan what will be shared on social media, emails, videos, and blog posts.

It helps to create a more accurate timeline.
It helps you make the most of the time you have.
It helps to hold people accountable.

Start here.

Holidays: Use the National Day Calendar to find holidays you might not have even heard about.
Events: These can be your company’s, local, or national events.
Sales: If you have recurring sales like a Black Friday sale use them to fill your calendar.
Themes: If you support a cause like National Hispanic Heritage Month or LGBTQ Pride Month you can use it to create your content around the topic.

Step 1. Choose monthly themes.

Step 2. Choose key weekly and daily observances

Step 3. Plan your social media post around these dates.

Monthly themes focus your content on something that is happening during the month.

For example:

December theme: Plan for success
January theme: New year, new you.

Weekly and daily observances are events that happen a specific week. Not every event will be a good fit. Pick the one that aligns with you and your company and have fun with it.

Look at each of the 12 months and pick a theme, event, product sale for each month and plan your content around it.

January 2021

Theme: New year, new you.
Plan in November, and promote in December.

New Year’s.
January 2021 event?
January 2021 sale?
Weekly and daily observances?
Thyroid Awareness Month
Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight

Get the editable version of these 2021 social media marketing calendar and make it your own. Enter your email and get the link via email.

February 2021

Theme: Local marketing + affiliate marketing + business software and tools.

Plan in December.
Promote in January.
Cash in February.

Valentines Day.
February 2021 event?
February 2021 sale?
Weekly and daily observances?
American Heart Month

Promoting your business during slower seasons keeps you top of mind with potential customers. When they are ready to buy, you’ll be at the top of their lists.

March 2021

Theme: affiliate marketing for local businesses + marketing plan.

Plan in January, promote in February.

National Doctor’s Day
March 2021 event.?(Spring break)
March 2021 sale?
Weekly and daily observances?
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Women’s History Month
National Ethics Month

March marks the end of Q1. Take some time to review your numbers and analyze your marketing ROI. Don’t forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up.

April 2021

Theme: marketing plan

Plan in February.
Promote in March.
Cash in April.

4/20 Weed Day
April 2021 event.
April 2021 sale.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month

May 2021

Plan in March, promote in April.

Mother’s Day.
Cinco de Mayo.
May 2021 event.
May 2021 sale.
Food Allergy Action Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month

June 2021

Plan in April, promote in May.

Fathers Day
June 2021 event.
June 2021 sale.
LGBTQ Pride Month.
Safety month. A versatile topic that can apply to just about any audience.
Men’s Health Month.
PTSD Awareness Month.

LGBTQ Pride month is one of freedom, creativity, and expression. Depending on your business, you can give away a couples-themed service, such as a couples massage session, photoshoot, pride art, or pride flag contest?

July 2021

Plan in May, promote in June.

Independence Day (USA)
July 2021 event.
July 2021 sale. (End of summer)
National Grilling Month.
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month.

August 2021

Plan in June, promote in July.

National Happiness Day
August 2021 event.
August 2021 sale. (Back to School Month)
National Wellness Month.

September 2021

Plan in July, promote in August.

Patriot’s Day
Labor Day
September 2021 event.
September 2021 sale.
Healthy Aging® Month
Sexual Health Awareness Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month

October 2021

Plan in August, promote in September.

Halloween
October 2021 event.
October 2021 sale.
Health Literacy Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Allergy Appreciation Month

November 2021

Plan in September, promote in October.

Veterans Day
November 2021 event.
November 2021 sale.
American Diabetes Month

December

Plan in October, promote in November.

Send out holiday cards to your patients with a $25-50 gift certificate included for services and include a second card they can give to a friend. Holiday card promotions can help make your January very busy!

Christmas
December 2021 event. (New Year’s)
December 2021 sale.
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month

Ramp up content during the 30 days leading up to the promotion or event.

Have you already been planning your social media strategy for 2021?

Are you rewriting your social strategy as you head into the new year? Or are you taking what you’ve learned from this year to guide your 2021 strategy?