The Start Small Blog

How One 'Silly' National Day Outperformed a Major Holiday for Clients

Written by Small Town Startup | Mar 7, 2025 4:49:35 PM

We all know that social media can feel like a mystery sometimes: what works, what doesn’t, and how to make your posts actually matter in the long run. But here’s something that might surprise you: National Pet Day outperformed Valentine’s Day across the board for multiple businesses!


Just take a look at the numbers from three of our clients who participated:


Stewart Williams Furniture Co.



Reach: 844 (UP 519% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Interactions: 130 (UP 1500% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Views: 1.9K (UP 416% vs. Valentine’s Day)


5th Avenue Uniting Church
Reach: 242 (UP 210% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Interactions: 54 (UP 227% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Views: 677 (UP 139% vs. Valentine’s Day)

Premium Food Delivery
Reach: 2.5K (UP 12% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Interactions: 169 (UP 483% vs. Valentine’s Day)
Views: 4.6K (UP 30% vs. Valentine’s Day)

On average, participating in National Pet Day led to:

📈 +247% increase in reach (unique people who saw it)
💬 +736% increase in interactions (likes, comments, shares)
🎥 +195% increase in views (unique views on a social media page)


Why This Matters for Your Business
National Days might seem small (and even silly) to participate in - who cares about National Cheesecake Day, really? Turns out, a lot of people.


When done strategically, they can boost engagement, encourage user-generated content (like people sharing their own photos), and prime your social media algorithm for better visibility down the line. That means when you do have something to sell or promote, your audience is already warmed up and paying attention.