On May 5, Strategic Entrepreneurs will have more than one reason to celebrate! It’s Cinco de Mayo and millions of people across America will celebrate with parties, fun and fiesta … and this festive time is a GREAT opportunity for entrepreneurs to capitalize on the celebration…

Holidays like these present great opportunities for Entrepreneurs because it gives us a chance to say something unique while tapping into the existing hype.

Strategic Entrepreneurs will be thinking about one-time promotions that fit with the Cinco de Mayo theme.

This is a chance to have more than your average sale.

While bars, restaurants, and other social gathering places are the first to come to mind as benefiting from Cinco de Mayo marketing ideas, smart business owners in almost any industry can also use this “party holiday” to spike in sales regardless of the business! 

Like any marketing campaign, Cinco de Mayo marketing ideas need to be interesting, unique, and give the audience a reason to pay attention. With a little bit of research, business owners can align their marketing with the traditional elements of this Mexican-American holiday, and create some enticing deals in the process.

Here are a three Cinco de Mayo marketing ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

1.  The Triumph of The Underdog – Cinco de Mayo is originally celebrated to commemorate Mexico’s unlikely victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla. It is this event that has helped turn the holiday into a source of Mexican pride, especially among Mexican-Americans. This piece of history makes a great theme for marketing campaigns as a story of triumph and rising above the odds – which can be equated to fighting back against oppressively high prices, defeating poor service, etc.
2. Have a Party! – For many, this date has become a party holiday, more about going out with friends than heritage or a historical battle. If this seems more your style, you can focus on the celebration that is sure to ensue. This can provide an opportunity for food and drink specials, a ‘Cinco de Mayo’ open house inviting prospective customers to your business, hosting a customer appreciation day  or discounts on fashion products for a night on the town.
3. Play on the number 5 – This can be implemented in any number of ways, from a “buy 4 get the 5^th free,” to 5% discounts, to a $5 specialty product available with purchase.

Cinco de Mayo marketing ideas can be as diverse as the celebrations as long as they coincide with the interests and behaviors of your target customer.

And one more thing: Don’t be afraid to think out of the box, people love being entertained and praise originality!

What type of Cinco de Mayo marketing ideas can you think of?