3 proven tactics to capture your customers’ minds on social media
With millions of posts flooding social media platforms daily, brands must go beyond generic content to capture attention.
One of the most effective ways to stand out? Leveraging milestone dates such as St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Black Friday, and even light-hearted occasions like National Pizza Day.
These key moments provide a ready-made conversation to join, allowing brands to engage with their audience in ways that feel timely and relevant.
Whether through organic content, paid campaigns, or influencer collaborations, here’s how you can use these dates to cut through the noise and create a lasting impact.
1. Leverage milestone dates for timely content
Seasonal events, cultural holidays, and trending dates present built-in engagement opportunities. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or International Coffee Day, these moments give your audience a reason to care about your content.
According to Sprout Social, 79% of consumers expect brands to use social media for seasonal or timely content. They are already in the mindset to engage—whether looking for Mother’s Day gift ideas or planning a Christmas meal.
How to implement this tactic:
Organic example:
Create behind-the-scenes content showing your team decorating the office for Christmas or celebrating Pride Month. Brands like Costa do this well—each year, they launch limited-edition holiday cups, generating millions of organic shares.
We also see this link to social media activity, encouraging users to share their experiences.
Customers eagerly post their drinks, tagging the brand and using campaign hashtags, which amplifies Costa’s reach without them having to generate all the content themselves.
Similarly, a brand posting its own celebrations can encourage followers to get involved by sharing their own photos, participating in polls, or using branded hashtags.
Paid example:
Paid ads help amplify your content, ensuring it reaches the right audience at the right time. Well-timed seasonal campaigns tend to perform better because consumers are already in a buying mindset.
Create urgency with limited time offers: Seasonal events drive urgency, a powerful motivator for conversions.
Example: A Facebook ad stating, “Last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts? We’ve got you covered! Same-day delivery available.”
Use video and story ads to capture attention: According to HubSpot, video ads generate 1200% more shares than text and images combined.
Example: Nike’s "You Can't Stop Us" campaign used timely content around the Olympics and global sports events to create emotional storytelling that resonated deeply. The ad reached 50 million views within 24 hours.
Influencer example:
Influencers make seasonal campaigns feel authentic. When they integrate your product into a milestone event, their audience perceives it as a genuine recommendation rather than an advertisement.
Ways to work with influencers for seasonal content:
Unboxing and product integration: Have influencers unbox and use your product as part of their holiday preparations.
Example: A beauty influencer could do a “Get Ready With Me” for a New Year’s Eve party using your makeup products.
Pro tip: Plan ahead using a content calendar to prepare for upcoming events and ensure your team is ready with the right creative assets.
2. Use interactive content to spark engagement
With millions of posts flooding social media daily, static content often gets lost in the noise. One of the best ways to stand out? Interactive content.
Interactive posts—such as polls, quizzes, challenges, and live Q&As—not only capture attention but also encourage participation. According to HubSpot, interactive content generates twice as much engagement as static content, with quizzes and polls increasing social shares by up to 40%.
How to implement this tactic:
Organic example:
Use Instagram Stories to ask fun, event-related poll questions, such as:
“What’s the best Halloween candy—Reese’s or Snickers?”
“Is pineapple on pizza acceptable for National Pizza Day?”
Polls work because they allow people to make a quick choice, tapping into the human desire for control.
They also increase engagement as platforms like Instagram prioritise interactive content in their algorithms, improving visibility.
Paid example:
Paid ads do not have to feel like traditional advertisements. The most effective ones encourage participation, making users feel involved.
Example: A fitness brand runs an ad where users “Spin the Wheel” to receive a random discount code.
Gamified ads tap into excitement and dopamine, creating a fun experience that motivates users to interact. Users are more likely to click because they have the chance to “win” something or access exclusive deals.
Influencer example:
Influencers excel at interactive content because they naturally foster engagement and conversations.
Example: Chipotle’s #GuacDance Challenge encouraged users to share videos dancing in celebration of National Avocado Day, generating over 250,000 video submissions and significantly boosting avocado sales.
User-generated content (UGC) is powerful—when users share their own creations, it increases social proof, making your brand feel more authentic and trustworthy.
Pro tip: Leverage platform-specific interactive tools—Instagram’s polls, question stickers, and countdowns are excellent for real-time engagement.
3. Create emotion-driven storytelling
People may forget ads, but they remember stories. Emotion-driven storytelling builds trust, strengthens connections, and makes your brand more memorable.
Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that emotionally connected customers are 52% more valuable than those who are simply satisfied. They buy more, engage more, and remain loyal over time.
Similarly, Nielsen reports that ads with strong emotional appeal generate 23% higher sales than those that focus purely on information.
How to implement this tactic:
Organic example:
Real customer stories add authenticity and credibility. Consumers trust people more than brands—BrightLocal found that 91% of people trust online reviews and personal stories as much as recommendations from friends.
Example: A heartfelt Father’s Day campaign could highlight a customer’s story about how their father inspired them. A jewellery brand could feature a customer who wears a necklace passed down from their father, tying in themes of love and legacy.
Showcasing real experiences fosters trust and emotional engagement.
Paid example:
Video is one of the most effective mediums for emotional storytelling. HubSpot reports that 72% of consumers prefer video content over text when learning about a product.
Example: John Lewis’ Christmas adverts in the UK consistently use emotional storytelling to drive engagement. Ads like The Man on the Moon and Monty the Penguin create deep emotional connections, leading to higher brand recall and positive sentiment.
Influencer example:
Influencers have strong trust with their audiences. Edelman’s Trust Barometer found that 63% of consumers trust influencers more than brands.
Example: A wellness influencer sharing their mental health journey on World Mental Health Day while incorporating your self-care products into their story.
This approach feels authentic rather than overly promotional, making it more persuasive.
Pro tip: Stories do not always have to be serious—humour, nostalgia, and inspiration all work. Brands like Coca-Cola use nostalgia in their Christmas campaigns to evoke childhood memories.
By weaving storytelling into your brand’s content, you tap into emotions that create deep, lasting connections—ultimately driving engagement, loyalty, and sales.
By strategically leveraging milestone dates, interactive content, and emotion-driven storytelling, brands can create deeper engagement and stronger connections with their audience.
These tactics not only boost visibility but also foster trust, making consumers more likely to buy, share, and remain loyal over time. By planning ahead and adapting your approach across organic, paid, and influencer campaigns, you can ensure that your social media efforts deliver maximum impact.