We can be creative because we can’t all have Burger King’s Valentine’s Day marketing budget. Creativity and resourcefulness and love abound. Use your existing marketing channels and / or tools to show your smitten.

Each year, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with love ones sharing cards, flowers, candy or gifts. Some mark the day with a Galentine’s Day celebrating, toasting the joys of female friendship. Others toast to being single.

The Chief Rocker’s family is particularly fond of this holiday. For instance, think rose pedals in the hallway, balloons in the kitchen, special breakfast and candy and little gifts for the kiddos. In other words, face throwing a kiss emoji.

Valentine’s Day is a few short days away.

We welcome our clients and advocates sharing their Valentine’s Day traditions with us by commenting on this post, emailing us or leaving comments on our social media posts. Hey, tweet them to us! Heart emoji.

Creative Marketing Love

1. Utilize email marketing. Begin with a charming subject line. Include emojis. Make sure your message is delightful and apropos.
2. Endear your social media followers with creative content. Branded tiles with a lovely message. Run a contest for best love story, love-themed poem, etc. Create a video. Use relevant hashtags where appropriate. Check out this Twitter hashtag tool.
3. Add some tenderness to your website. Blog about Valentine’s Day with relatable to your clients, industry or overall business. Add a popup with a charming message. Change your header to be Valentine-themed.

Here’s another creative idea.

Next year, consider sending an inventive Valentine card to your team, client and advocates. We know people that can help you with this from concept to production.

We heart the one from Corps Team Dallas this year.

Above all, be ours?

Valentine’s Day, Saint Valentine, and the history behind it all lies in somewhat of a mystery. Today, it seems as if this is just a holiday created by a card company that reminds millions of people all around the world that they need to purchase something romantic and sometimes expensive for their significant other.

Yet, it’s not true. The biggest misconception about Valentine’s Day is that it’s supposed to burn a hole in your pocket. You don’t need to break the bank to give that special someone that feeling of being wanted, you just need to show them that they’re on your mind.

Let’s rewind back to when we were in grade school for a moment, or for those of you that have young children, this will be quite applicable. Remember, each year on February 14th, you would put on your backpack stuffed to the brim with little Valentine’s Day cards that usually had a piece of candy in them. There was one for each student in the class, nothing exclusive. Although you may not have known all the students in your class, it was exciting to receive a little note from everyone. It was the thought that counted. Now, that’s what I believe Valentine’s Day should be about, the thought behind the message, even if it is just a simple one.

I believe that companies can learn something from this! Companies can promote their business while also providing social media users with that warm feeling of getting a Valentine in grade school by creating shareable content this Valentine’s Day. Since the invention of the “Share” button on Facebook, there are quite a few ways to spread this thoughtful holiday. Imagine a Facebook notification popping up while you’re in class or at work from that person you’re thinking about on Valentine’s Day. Even if it’s a corny message, you’ll get that warm, fuzzy feeling. On top of that, you’ll create a positive association with the brand that made the Valentine that you’re proud to have on your Wall.

Another way to utilize this shareable content in through Snapchat, and my favorite campaign I saw a few years ago was something Taco Bell created. Taco Bell generated simple Valentine’s Day cards, similar to those we received in grade school, but digital, and had a space open for “to:” and “from:” The company really went back to the basic meaning of Valentine’s Day, to send a kindhearted card that showed others that they were being thought of.

So this Valentine’s Day, get back to basics! Thoughtfulness still reigns supreme.

Several Valentine’s Days ago, my sweet husband gave me an over-the-sink colander on February 14th. You think that is lame, don’t you? You know you do … and that’s okay. I really wanted it, hadn’t had time to get it, but he did. Simple, sweet acts on this day that is dedicated to love go a long way.

Valentine’s Day gets a bad rap. Some say it is a “Hallmark holiday” and a day for amateur dinners and many people don’t put a lot of stock in it.

I’m here to say – STOP IT.

A day dedicated to LOVE is a good day on our porch. Just as a Birthday celebrates the day a person entered the world, Valentine’s Day should celebrate all the things you LOVE in the world. All the world needs is love, right?!

Take a deep breath and forget all the Valentine’s Day clichés! Let the companies you like love on you (look for giveaways & discounts); enjoy the special confections only available in February; indulge in Valentine’s Day menus; tell your families and friends and your kids’ friends that you appreciate and love them. Enjoy this day for what it is … a day dedicated to LOVE.

On the porch we all love our families. We all love our dear friends. We all love our Clients! We all love business strategy, branding and marketing! Here’s what else we are currently loving on the porch …

Chief Rocker – “I LOVE the Collagen facial at the Four Seasons. Really just the Four Seasons in general, because everything there is fantastic, but the facial is like a box full of GOOD chocolate.”

Rockette – “I LOVE flex time and our team at FPM! It’s a lifesaver when there are special needs, like a 13th birthday celebration and family emergencies. And air mattress pumps … or I would have burst a lung blowing up balloons for my son’s birthday celebration!”

The Rock – She’s crazy in love and could not stop at one …

• “Scotch nail polishes have such great colors and they are non-toxic and eco-friendly. They have polish for kids too!”
• “My Helen Ficalora charm necklace – it’s the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve had it for years but every time I get a new charm, I feel like I have a new necklace and it’s so fun to stack up the charms!!”
• “The Madewell Transport Tote is the best catch-all bag I have found and you can even add a cute monogram!”
• “Sea Elise tassel bracelets look great with everything – dressed up or dressed down! Really reasonable price point too!!”

Rock Star – “I truly appreciate AWESOME, over the top customer service – the customer is always right, we will make it right kind of service! Five companies that have rocked my world in the past month: Camp Gladiator, Tiny Prints, Stitch Fix, Office Max and Premiere Designs.

Back Porch Rocker – “I LOVE shopping at Elements on Lovers Lane. I literally have NO TIME to shop, so when I want something chic and special I call Darla, tell her what I need and for what, and she has five things waiting for me in a fitting room that are amazing with accessories to make it all work! The best part is that it takes 10 minutes to try on and I’m out the door in no time flat. Everyone there is stylish and fantastic and I can’t imagine shopping any other way.”

Tectonic Rocker – “I LOVE Best Friends Animal Society based in Kanab, UT. At the core of Best Friends’ work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters. This is an organization of people that have love in their hearts not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day of the year, year after year.”

From the simple acts to the grand gestures ~ rock the LOVE! Happy Valentine’s Day!