Roses are red, violets are blue, and oh boy do we have some Valentine’s Day marketing ideas for you! It’s the season of love, and we’re here to help you get your Valentine’s social media strategy so full of sweets it could heal a broken heart.
Nearly six in ten people will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year. And last year, Valentine’s Day sales exceeded $25 billion. Lovebirds everywhere have money to spend, gifts to buy, and sweeties to spoil. We’re here to help you get your holiday influencer marketing primed and ready to share the love this year.
Cost is top of mind for V-Day spenders this year, with 49 percent looking for max value when purchasing gifts. Americans plan to spend an average $180 on their romantic partners in 2025, and another $30 on gifts for friends and family. Last year, 29 percent of Valentine’s spending wasn’t on a significant other, so don’t sleep on non-romantic love in your campaigns this year
We’ve compiled 24 super cute, and uber effective Valentine’s Day marketing ideas to make the most of your holiday campaigns. We particularly want to encourage you to take advantage of Meta’s video features this year, as that’s where engagement will be particularly hot. We’re talking Instagram Reels campaigns, Facebook Live shopping, and so much more!
Let’s get started. ❤️
Pre-Valentine’s Day Content Ideas
The beauty of influencer marketing is that it’s almost never too late to whip up a post worthy of the heart eyes emoji. But here at The Shelf, we do advocate for planning ahead. We have a whole section on the blog dedicated to holiday marketing, so you can always start strategizing early for the big day. When it comes to your Valentine’s social media strategy, we recommend getting started with some pre-V-Day posts. Here are some Valentine’s Day marketing ideas to post leading up to the love.
1. Gift Guide Collabs
It can be hard to know what to get for that special someone. Especially after all the shopping we did for the winter holidays. That’s why shoppers love Valentine’s gift guides! Inspire your shoppers with gift guide collabs featuring your products and their favorite influencers. Take a look at this one from @thelovinsisters on Instagram.
2. Unboxing Series
Send products to your favorite influencer partners to have them unbox and share with their followers leading up to the holiday. This can create suspense and provide gift buying inspiration for eager shoppers. Plus, if you start early, you can show a variety of products and hit many of your niche demographics with the help of multiple influencer partners. Love this one from Veronica Cannady on Facebook.
3. Behind-the-Scenes Prep
Holiday magic doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of planning and preparation from people who love us and want to make the holidays special. Whether it’s a romantic evening for two, a Galentine’s Day party, or a branded event, there’s plenty of prep that goes into Valentine’s magic. Give your shoppers a peek behind the scenes!
4. Early Bird Promotions
The early bird gets the worm as they say. So give your early Valentine’s Day shoppers the proverbial worm of early bird promotions! They get rewarded for planning ahead and you get to boost your sales while spreading the love.
5. Product or Event Teasers
Offer teasers for your special Valentine’s Day products and upcoming events. These can also be combined with those early bird promos! You can even allow shoppers to pre-order their Valentine’s gifts. This is especially helpful for small businesses who don’t want to rush to fill all their orders in a mad dash before the holiday. Love this idea from @custom.crafts_g on Instagram.
6. Galentine’s Day Fun
Made popular by a 2010 episode of Parks and Rec, Galentine’s Day celebrations are still going strong 15 years later! While Valentine’s Day celebrations usually center around romantic love, Galentine’s Day is a day for the girls to celebrate the platonic love of femme friendship. This year, Galentine’s Day falls on Thursday, February 13th — the day before V-Day. So it’s a great option for your pre-Valentine’s posts.
Instagram Reels Strategies
Short-form content is king on Instagram. Although, as of quite recently Reels extended their max video length from 90 seconds to three minutes. Still, the Instagram algorithm favors Reels that are watched all the way through. So you’ll have a higher chance of virality if you post shorter clips. As of late 2024, Instagram Reels in the 7 to 15-second range perform the best. Here are some quick hitters to add to your Valentine’s social media strategy for your Instagram Reels campaigns.
7. Quick Tutorials
Instagram Reels are perfect for a quick tutorial. Be it for making a Valentine’s treat, a quick DIY gift, or how to use your latest product, social media users love learning something new in an engaging, short-form format. I especially love this Valentine’s Day marketing idea for makeup brands. Who doesn’t want to learn a new holiday-inspired look using their favorite beauty products?
8. Valentine’s Transformations
Speaking of beauty brands, you could also spotlight impressive Valentine’s Day transformations like this one. Whether it’s an all-out makeup look, an outfit change from drab to fab, or a fitness transformation, we all like to look and feel our best for Valentine’s Day. Lean into that in your V-Day marketing! Check out this post from @club.cosmicbeauty on Instagram for inspo.
9. Product Showcases
How do your products fit in with the themes of the season? Do they spark love? Maybe they make your lips perfectly kissable like these Dior lip glow products showcased by one of the internet’s favorite fashionable couples Young Emperors. Get creative with how you showcase your products and integrate Valentine’s Day themes with your brand creative and your influencer partners’ own flair.
10. Trending Audio Integration
One ticket to virality, or at the very least more exposure for your Instagram Reels, is to use trending audio. The best way to spot trending audio is to watch lots of Reels, identify patterns, and go to the audio page on Instagram. If there are a bunch of Reels using that audio, chances are it’s trending. One of my current favorite trending audio is “Juno” by Sabrina Carpenter. It’s a little spicy, but definitely fits with the romantic V-Day theme!
11. Self-Love Spotlight
Self-love comes in many forms, and it’s top of mind for lots of people this time of year. It’s more than just bubble baths and facemasks (although it totally can be!). How can your brand help people celebrate self-love this Valentine’s Day? Few ideas from @manshrie on Instagram.
12. Embrace Puppy Love
Because our furry friends deserve some love, too! And who doesn’t love to scroll through adorable videos of beloved pets? Don’t forget you can work with petfluencers for Valentine’s Day marketing.
Facebook Live Strategies
While we love a short-form Reel, sometimes it’s better to get up close and personal with your Valentine’s Day marketing ideas. Enter: Facebook Live. A Facebook Live Valentine’s social media strategy allows you and your influencers to really engage with your audience. And it allows for much longer content, especially when compared to the three-minute-or-less Reels. Here are some Facebook Live ideas to integrate into your V-Day marketing magic.
13. Live Shopping Events
Facebook Live shopping is a game changer for holiday influencer marketing. Shoppers can learn about your products from their favorite influencers and purchase them in real time? Yes, please! Host a Valentine’s Day Facebook Live shopping event to get your audience engaged and loving your products. Last year, Dyson’s first live event was its VDay shopping event on Facebook.
14. Q&A Sessions
Us online shoppers are a nosy bunch! We’ve got questions and we want to get some answers. The beauty of Facebook Live Q&A sessions is that you can take them in a multitude of directions. Sure, I want to learn more about the cool new products from my favorite brand, but I also want to know all the hot goss from my favorite influencer couple. Consider pairing with creator couples to do Q&As with their followers while showcasing your products for your V-Day campaigns.
15. Expert Collaborations
It’s the season of relationships. And what is a relationship really if not an incredibly successful collab? Collaborate with influencers your audience loves or other brands to share the love and boost your engagement this Valentine’s Day. And it doesn’t have to be something lovey dovey. Pearly is a Facebook creator with more than 62K followers on Facebook. Claim to fame? Dyeing and crushing gym chalk for ASMR lovers, like this VDay collab. #notkidding.
16. Virtual Experiences
Host virtual events and experiences on Facebook Live to get your audience engaged with your Valentine’s Day campaigns. Whether you pair with your favorite influencer partner or go live directly from your brand account, giving shoppers direct access to your brand can help develop trust and confidence in your brand. It just might inspire them to make a Valentine’s purchase!
17. Giveaways & Contests
Go live on Facebook to run giveaways or reveal the winners of contests you’ve run throughout your campaign. This gives viewers the opportunity to participate and to see in real time if they won. Giveaways are a great way to generate buzz around your brand and embrace the generosity of the holiday.
18. Tug Those Heartstrings
After all, Valentine’s Day is the celebration of love. It just may call for getting a little sappy on Live. Encourage your influencer partners to share what the holiday means to them, how they’re going to celebrate, and how your brand will play a part in their special day. When it comes to holiday marketing, feel-good content often performs well.
Last-Minute Campaign Ideas
Look, sometimes the holiday sneaks up on us and we’re stuck frantically searching for a reservation a few nights before the most romantic night of the year. And sometimes it’s more than a reservation we’ve forgotten to plan. Like say, our entire Valentine’s Day marketing campaign. Don’t worry. It’s never too late to spread the love. Here are some last-minute Valentine’s Day marketing ideas to make your socials sparkle lickety split.
19. Flash Sales
Who doesn’t love a sale? Shoppers have money to spend and loved ones to spoil on Valentine’s Day! Make their special day sweeter by offering more bang for their buck. The best part? You can even offer a same-day sale! No pre-planning required.
20. Quick Shipping Highlights
While you’re planning a last-minute campaign, plenty of lovebirds are scrambling for a last-minute gift for their Valentine. Run a quick campaign to offer expedited shipping to help out those who should’ve started planning a little earlier. Win-win!
21. Digital Gift Options
And if it’s even too late to rush the shipping, why not offer digital gift options? Save the environment with less shipping waste and save those last-minute Valentine’s scrambling to get something sweet for their sweetie. Think gift cards, vouchers, and experiences.
22. Same-Day Experiences
Speaking of experiences, you could even offer a same-day Valentine’s special. This is especially helpful for service-based brands, but it can work for traditional product shops as well. Who wouldn’t love a super cute Valentine’s Day shopping spree or private date with their lover or bestie?
23. Don’t Be Afraid to DIY
Who hasn’t whipped up a few 1 Free Breakfast in Bed coupons when they forgot to get a Valentine’s Day gift? What’s that? Just me? Oh, cool… Well, in case it’s truly too late to offer your audience the perfect V-Day marketing, you can always inspire them with DIY gift ideas! Are you a makeup brand? Encourage your lipstick lovers to try out these super cute DIY cards!
24. Anti-Valentine’s Day
You know what, this lovey dovey crap isn’t for everyone. Maybe you’re looking for a last-minute way to capitalize on the holiday rush because your brand doesn’t fit with the sickly sweet heart-shaped aesthetic of the holiday. That’s okay! There are plenty of people celebrating their own way with Anti-Valentine’s Day. Whip up a last-minute post, sale, or offering for the haters. Haters love donuts, for instance. The lovers have enough to choose from!
Go On, Feel the Love, and Try Out These Valentine’s Day Marketing Ideas
There you have it! 24 Valentine’s Day marketing ideas that will capture hearts this season. We hope you found the Valentine’s social media strategy that works best for your brand. Whether you’re focusing on Instagram Reels campaigns, Facebook Live shopping, or an omnichannel approach, make sure to give your marketing some extra love this season.
If you love these ideas, there’s plenty more where that came from. Download our Always-On Influencer Marketing Guide to access a full year’s worth of campaign strategies to make the most of all the major holidays and marketing pulse periods.
If you’d like more hands-on influencer marketing help, you can always schedule a strategy call with one of our experts. We’ll work together to create marketing magic that will dazzle for the holidays and beyond. Whatever your influencer marketing needs, we’ve got you.
