October is just around the corner, and we can almost see Black Friday and Christmas looming in the distance now. How exciting. October is when email marketing starts to get a little spook-tacular, with Halloween references, discounts and surprises all around. But if you don't have an American market, or you're just not too fond of spiders and ghosts, you may not want to jump on the spooky bandwagon.
Does that mean October is a month of educational emails and life updates only? Absolutely not.
Halloween is one of October's best-known holidays, but it's really just the tip of the iceberg. There's a whole month of moments to celebrate with your database, spiders entirely optional.
The dates worth circling first
Not sure what else you can celebrate this month? Start with the three biggest hooks, then browse the full month below:
Three anchors for the month. Now here's everything else, laid out week by week.
Your October, week by week
Mental Health Month, World Mental Health Day and the Eradication of Poverty day are awareness moments, not sales hooks. If they suit your brand, lead with genuine support rather than a promotion.
Not every date will suit every brand, and that's the point. Pick the handful that fit your voice and products:
Evergreen idea: do more of what you love
Branding is one thing. Authenticity is another, and it's what customers crave more of as shopping becomes more isolated. Walk into a brick-and-mortar store and you meet the owner or their team, and get a snapshot of the people behind the brand. Online, that experience can vanish entirely. That's why your email needs to make up for it where it can:
So while your branding matters, don't forget that showing who you are, what you love doing, and simply having fun with your emails matters just as much. Take small offsides where they fit, self-insert where it feels natural, and share your story:
Give customers a full shopping experience, not just a snapshot of what's on the sales rack.
Adding the elements you love helps characterise your brand in new ways, making you more approachable, and more shoppable, down the line.
Let's make your October emails unmissable.
Want help turning these dates into campaigns that feel like you? The Email By Design team can help you plan a month of emails your customers actually look forward to.
Book a free 15-minute consult
