July 19 is "Stick Your Tongue Out Day". I wouldn't make that up. (Hang in with me, because I'm going to make a connection here with real estate blogging. Please read on...)
It's just one of many daily, weekly and monthly celebrations you never heard of before - and neither did your readers.
Why not use this occasion to introduce your favorite ice-cream parlor in Localism or write a post reminding readers to schedule their children's back to school check-up at the doctor.
There's actually an off-the-wall holiday or celebration nearly every day of the week, and they can provide inspiration for your blog that will catch reader's attention, just as this title enticed you to read this post.
Here are some examples of posts inspired by such occasions:
One of Bob Stewart's mega-point contests last year challenged us to write about local businesses. Lucky me... I just happened to know that August is Foot-Health Month and "Tickle Your Toes Day" is in August. It was the PERFECT tie-in for a post about the Healthy Step Shoe Store in Crofton, MD. The last time I walked into that store - literally ten months after I wrote that post - the owner asked if I was a local real estate agent because he had seen my post, A HEALTHY STEP Sells Cute and Trendy Shoes, Too - Not Just Practical Ones. (Okay, 20 lashes for me because I didn't visit the store at the time and give him a copy of the post.)
I promised to stop in the last week of July to remind him about "Tickle Your Toes Day" this summer so he can do a promotion around it - perhaps clear out his inventory of summer sandals before the fall shoes go on display. And I WILL be taking in a copy of last year's blog post when I make that visit this week.
Inter-action is something we're told to strive for with our blogs and social media and I created plenty of that last month when I pointed out in An Informal Survey - Please Vote that June 16 was both "Fresh Veggie Day" and "National Fudge Day." Besides creating interaction, I was able to make it a teachable moment and share a few tools with Activerain Newbies which they could use in their blogging. I also linked to the survey from my Facebook page and had a number of comments, as you can see in this screen shot (right).
So - while you may not care that today is "Stick Your Tongue Out Day," you can see how knowing this could add a new twist to your blogging.
Where can you find these celebrations? About.com. Here's the Long List of Holidays and Special Days Celebrated in July 2010. This inspires a LOT of blog topics for me, so watch for a post on the local Five Guys Restaurant for Hot Dog Month and a review of The Cheesecake Factory in Annapolis on July 30 for Cheesecake Day. Did you notice that tomorrow is "Ice Cream Soda Day" and... well, you get the idea!
Now, aren't you glad you hung in there with me? I expect to see a lot of Activerain blogs inspired by this list in the coming weeks.
Copyright 2006-13. Margaret Woda. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
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Margaret Woda, REALTOR & Associate Broker
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114
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69 Comments on It's Stick Your Tongue Out Day - Really!
Margaret,
As usual some great tips for us newbies and the more seasoned blog writers both. I see mosquito day is coming up on the 23rd. Unfortunately I have been celebrating that alll summer long against my will.
Margaret... great post and you demonstrate one of its inherent values... it's sticky content. Love the shoe story. The cool thing to me is writing about the community gets you involved and I've met several business owners I wouldn't have simply because I felt they might be a good topic for a blog or Yelp review.
Nicely done Margaret, loved your train of thought and loved you logo by the way!
Our office admin does a great day of filling our office calendar with odd holidays like this. I 'll have to take a peek at the ones that are left in July and do a tie-in with my blog somehow. Great idea. And congrats on the feature.
Margaret, what a cute post and what a great idea. Thank you.
Margaret, Thanks for the great post. Love the link to the Holidays.
Margaret: I've learned many many things from AR. I now can add this particular day of celebration to the long list! Very novel, creative and "cool" ... just like the ice-cream parlors you suggest ...
Gene
What great advice given here! My mother is into these different Holidays, I'll have to ask her if she has heard of this one.
:)
Nargaret I stuck my tongue out at Arthur and he hollered at me :) Good lead on subjects for posts - thank you
Margaret, thanks for the info, I am sure I will find a way to use it and celebrate today...this does sort of tie into Karen Ann, don't you think?
Howdy and afternoon to you Margeret
I sure do like your title of your blog post!!! and you sure have found a mighty fine way to come up with new blog post, and to tie in lcoal business in your area, with some fun holidays.
Have a good one
Dale
in New Hampshire
Thanks, Margaret for sharing! I can't wait to check out the list of holidays!
Margaret, I just checked the latest rankings on web sites and localism.com comes in at 15,560 versus Active Rain at 833. Do you have a secret for localism.com that you could share. That doesn't look like a signficant site but you must be getting results.
Margaret, I like tongue sticking...lol, have fun!
Margaret, just another reason why I subscribe to ya! Great post. (And I like the idea of a pic of your granddaughter sticking her tongue out...)
Maureen - So the cow is to blame for my over-indulgent dietary habits... Now I know who to blame!
Karen - Now you know where to find them!
Monika - There is no shortage of unusual holiday celebrations.
Bob - I hope you found it okay.
Cheryl - If someone has even a smidgeon of imagination, there is a wealth of potential local posts suggested by this list.
Great ideas for blogging. I have always been a fan of creating your own off the wall corporate holiday for marketing but this is even better since you have the list created for you.
My favorite is national yo-yo day.
Fabulous! I have been stuck for ideas, more times than not, and this list is FUN! Also fun for everyday converstion....