May: Creative Content Ideas

May is a month filled with marketing occasions and opportunities for businesses of all industries. From Mother’s Day to Memorial Day and National Small Business Week, there are many ways to get creative with content ideas. In this blog post, we’ll cover some content ideas by industry to help you make the most of May.

Marketing Occasions and Opportunities in May

Below, we review some of the most relevant occasions in May that businesses of all types can make content about.

Mother’s Day (May 8th)

Mother’s Day, celebrated on May 8th, is an important occasion for businesses to show appreciation for moms and offer promotions or gift guides. Whether it’s highlighting products that are perfect for moms or offering discounts on services that moms will love, there are many ways businesses can leverage Mother’s Day to connect with their audience and boost sales.

Memorial Day (May 30th)

Memorial Day, observed on May 30th, is a holiday that honors those who have served in the military. For businesses, this is a time to show support for our veterans and offer promotions that align with the holiday. Memorial Day weekend also marks the unofficial start of summer, so businesses can create content around summer products and services. 

National Small Business Week (May 2nd – May 8th)

National Small Business Week, which runs from May 2nd – May 8th, is a time to celebrate small businesses and the important role they play in our communities. For businesses, this is a time to showcase their brand and share their story. It’s also an opportunity to offer special promotions or discounts in honor of the occasion. 

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month, observed throughout the month of May, is a time to raise awareness about mental health and promote mental wellness. For businesses, this is an opportunity to show their commitment to mental health and offer resources or promotions that support mental wellness. Businesses can create content that highlights the importance of mental health and provides tips for maintaining mental wellness. They can also offer promotions on products or services that promote self-care and mental health.

Content Ideas by Industry

To make the most of the content opportunities above and more, we’ve compiled specific May content ideas for a handful of industries including real estate, finance, health and fitness, food and beverage, and e-commerce.

By planning your content in advance and tailoring it to your brand, you can leverage these ideas to create a stress-free social media campaign that engages your audience and even leads them toward taking action. 

Use Promo Planner to pre-plan and schedule your social media posts to save time and effort in social media campaign creation. Whether your business is in one of the industries below or a different one entirely, you can use these ideas to plan and execute an effective content strategy in May.

Real Estate

May is a great month for real estate businesses to showcase their services and connect with potential clients. With National Home Improvement Month and National Moving Month, in addition to the occasions we discussed above, there are plenty of opportunities to create content that resonates with your target audience.

Video and Content Ideas

• National Home Improvement Month – To celebrate National Home Improvement Month, create content with DIY home improvement ideas that homeowners can do on their own. Offer renovation tips and highlight simple projects that can help transform their homes.
• National Home Improvement Month – Share before-and-after images of homes that you have listed or have sold that have been renovated to inspire homeowners to take on their own home improvement projects.
• National Home Improvement Month – As a real estate agent, you may have built relationships with local contractors. Use this opportunity to highlight those contractors you want to recommend, giving your audience a sense of your professional network.
• National Moving Month – Create content with tips for moving, such as how to pack fragile items or how to find a reliable moving company. Share information on moving checklists and timelines to help people better prepare for their move.
• National Moving Month – Highlight local moving companies that you have worked with or have heard good things about. Provide your audience with a list of trusted companies that they can rely on for their move.
• Memorial Day – Memorial Day is a great time to highlight local VA loan programs for mortgages. Share information about these programs and how they can help veterans and their families secure their dream homes.
• Spring real estate market update – With spring being the peak season for real estate transactions, create content highlighting new listings or offering tips for buying or selling a home. Share insights on the current real estate market to give your audience a better understanding of what to expect.
• Mother’s Day – Highlight homes that are ideal for families and perfect for Mother’s Day celebrations. Share tips on what makes a home family-friendly and showcase homes that fit the bill.

Campaign idea: Create a National Home Improvement Month campaign by starting with inspiring before-and-after photos in a video montage, sharing some DIY and renovation ideas, and finishing off with contractor recommendations.

Finance

May is a busy month for finance businesses, with opportunities to tie into multiple events. In addition to providing tax advice during tax season and offering Mother’s Day or National Small Business Week-themed investment and savings tips, businesses can also leverage National College Savings Month to promote their financial services to families and students planning for their future education.

Video and Content Ideas

• National Small Business Week – Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but managing finances can be tricky. Offer tips on budgeting or other financial advice for small business owners that can help them get ahead.
• Memorial Day – Take the opportunity to honor the service of military families and veterans by sharing financial advice that’s tailored to their unique circumstances.
• Memorial Day – As we remember those who gave their lives in service to our country, share information on VA loan programs that can help veterans and their families achieve goals such as homeownership.
• Memorial Day – Deployment can be a stressful time for military families. Provide tips on managing finances during deployment that can help alleviate some of that stress.
• National College Savings Month – College tuition can be expensive, but there are options available for students who need financial aid or scholarships to help pay for school. Offer advice on these programs and resources to help college applicants make the most of their options.

Campaign idea: Create a Memorial Day campaign. Start with sharing tips on managing finances during deployment before giving financial advice to vets and their families. Finish off with sharing VA loan programs.

Health and Fitness

May is a huge month for the health and fitness industry! In addition to providing advice on how to have a moderate, healthy Memorial Day, you can also leverage other national events to create content that resonates with your audience. These include National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, National Bike Month, and National Women’s Health Week. With these events, you can offer tips, share motivational stories, and engage your audience in a conversation about the importance of health and wellness in their lives. By leveraging these occasions, you can create engaging content that helps you connect with your audience and build your brand.

Video and Content Ideas

• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month – Encourage your followers to get moving this May by offering workout tips that are suitable for all fitness levels, from beginner to advanced.
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month – Share healthy recipes that are easy to make and packed with nutrients to fuel your followers’ workouts and keep them energized throughout the day.
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month – Host a local fitness event or partner with other businesses in the area to provide information on local fitness events taking place in the community.
• National Bike Month – Provide tips on bike safety to encourage your followers to get out and explore on two wheels. Share information on the best gear to wear and how to stay safe on the road.
• National Bike Month – Highlight local bike trails that your followers might not know about and share tips on the best routes to take. Encourage your followers to get out and explore on their bikes this May.
• National Bike Month – Offer discounts on spinning classes to encourage your followers to try out a new workout and get their hearts pumping.
• Mother’s Day – Treat your mom followers to a special promotion on fitness classes or personal training sessions. Help them feel their best this Mother’s Day and beyond.
• Mother’s Day – Share heartwarming stories of mothers who have achieved their fitness goals to inspire and motivate your followers. Let them know it’s never too late to prioritize their health and wellness.
• National Women’s Health Week – Offer workout tips that are specifically tailored to women’s fitness needs, such as exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor or tips for improving posture.
• National Women’s Health Week – Share information on women’s health issues, such as breast cancer awareness or menstrual health, to raise awareness and encourage your followers to prioritize their health.
• National Women’s Health Week – Provide discounts on fitness classes or personal training sessions for women to help them get started on their fitness journey.
• Mental Health Awareness Month – Share information on the benefits of exercise for mental health, such as reducing stress and improving mood. Encourage your followers to prioritize their mental health as well as their physical health.
• Mental Health Awareness Month – Provide resources for mental health support, such as local therapy or counseling services, to help your followers take care of their mental health.

Campaign idea: With so many great content opportunities in health and fitness this month, putting together a social media campaign is easy-peasy. Just string together any of the ideas above for the occasion of your choice and you’ll be good to go!

Food and Beverage

May is a great month for food and beverage businesses to showcase their products and expertise. Along with Memorial Day, businesses can also leverage National BBQ Month, National Hamburger Month, National Salad Month, and National Wine Day to create relevant content and engage with their customers. By highlighting their specialties and offering new ideas, businesses can attract new customers and increase sales.

Video and Content Ideas

• National BBQ Month -Share tips on selecting the best cuts of meat for grilling or suggest marinades and rubs that enhance the flavor of the grilled meat.
• National BBQ Month – Offer promotions on your special BBQ menu or BBQ items on your standard menu, like a BBQ sampler platter or a combo deal on ribs and sides.
• Cinco de Mayo – Offer specials on Mexican food and drinks, like margaritas or tacos. Use social media to create hype around your Cinco de Mayo event and share photos or videos of your customers enjoying the festivities.
• National Hamburger Month – Offer promotions on burgers, like a BOGO (buy one, get one) deal on your signature burger or a discount on a combo meal that includes fries and a drink.
• National Hamburger Month – Promote the burgers on your menu with video content, showcasing the juiciness of the patty, the freshness of the toppings, and the unique flavors of your sauces or condiments.
• National Salad Month – Offer promotions on salads, like a discount on a salad of the day or a free drink with the purchase of a salad.
• National Salad Month – Promote the salads on your menu with video content, showcasing the crispness of the greens, the variety of toppings, and the dressing options available.
• Memorial Day – Offer promotions on summer drinks like fruity cocktails, iced teas, and lemonades. Promote these specials on social media and offer discounts on large orders of drinks for groups or parties.
• Memorial Day – Promote your special Memorial Day menu, which can include summer classics like hot dogs, burgers, and BBQ sandwiches. Offer package deals for large groups or catering services for parties and events.
• National Wine Day – Offer promotions on wine, like a discount on a bottle of wine with the purchase of an entree or a BOGO deal on glasses of wine during happy hour.
• National Wine Day – Show off your wine menu, highlighting the different types of wines available, their origins, and their flavor profiles. Offer recommendations on food pairings and create a wine flight to give customers a chance to try a variety of wines.

Campaign idea: May is a huge month for food and beverage businesses, giving plenty of opportunities for great social media campaigns. For example, consider running a National Hamburger Month campaign. Start by showing off your burger menu, continue with a video ad for your burgers, and finish with a video offering a burger deal. 

E-Commerce

As a business owner, you can easily leverage the month of May to promote your products and services. Depending on what you sell, you can market for any of the various occasions mentioned above. Consider how your business can align with these events to boost sales and engage with your customers.

Video and Content Ideas

• Mother’s Day gift guide  – Help your audience find the perfect gift for their moms with curated gift guides for different types of moms, such as “The Fitness Mom,” “The Foodie Mom,” or “The Fashion-Forward Mom.”
• Mother’s Day sale – Let your followers know about your Mother’s Day sale through a social media video.
• Small business stories  – Connect with your audience by sharing the story of how your business started and highlighting what makes it unique.
• National Small Business Week promotion – Celebrate National Small Business Week by offering a special discount or promotion to your customers, such as a percentage off their purchase or free shipping.
• National Bike Month promotion – Encourage your followers to get active during National Bike Month by offering discounts on bikes and accessories, such as helmets, locks, or bike racks.
• Memorial Day promotions – Get your customers excited for summer by offering promotions on summer products or providing discounts on summer clothing and accessories.
• Memorial Day sale – Let your followers know about your Memorial Day sale through a social media video.
• National Wine Day promotion – Celebrate National Wine Day by offering discounts on wine accessories, such as wine glasses, decanters, or bottle stoppers.
• Mental Health Awareness Month promotion  – Encourage your customers to prioritize their mental health by offering discounts on products that promote self-care, such as bath bombs, candles, or journals.

Campaign idea: Create a Mother’s Day campaign by posting a series of video gift guides for different types of moms as well as a video announcing a Mother’s Day sale.

May your business have a great May!

No matter your industry, May is a great opportunity to create unique content that showcases your brand’s personality. Whether you run a restaurant, an online store, a bank, a real estate business, a gym, or something else entirely, there are plenty of creative ways to celebrate the start of summer and engage with your audience.

We hope that these ideas have inspired you to get creative and come up with fun content for your business this May. Whether it’s highlighting traditional spring activities or showcasing your brand’s unique spin on the season, there are plenty of opportunities to create engaging content that your customers will love. We can’t wait to see what you come up with and how you celebrate May with your audience!