As your audience prepares for May with trimmed waistlines and vacation plans, we bring you a suite of content marketing topics to let your brand be seen in their best digital avatars.

With the mercury soaring, taking with it the craze for T20 and air/train fares, here are 19 content pegs that brands like yours can leverage to provide a profitable portion of content to their audiences.

Content #1. Indian Domestic T20 League

What is it about?

The Indian Domestic T20 League, which started this year in April will reach its crescendo as it draws closer to the season finale on May 27^th.

Major conversation areas

The magnitude of this opportunity is such that even social media giant Snapchat partnered with four teams to create unique Indian T20 League-centric experiences.

Throughout the match, fans switch between multiple screens live posting and tweeting. With the digital space rife with memes, match updates, player information, forecasts, and opinions for a good month and a half, brands have a massive opportunity to be part of a conversation that millions of Indians dedicatedly participate in.

Content ideas

• Indian T20 League-centric contests
• Running polls on favourite T20 cricketers
• Fun match moments
• Celebrity sighting at today’s match
• WAGs of cricketers
• 5 Celebs and their favourite T20 cricketers
• ‘Excited for today’s T20 match? Stock up on these match munchies’
• ‘How Indian T20 League has changed cricket fandom’ (Two cents on how Indian fans have transcended from staunchly supporting Indian cricketers to rooting for international ones as our own.)

Disclaimer : These content marketing ideas are for the official sponsors of the Indian T20 League

Top searches – Topics for top search include live scores/streaming options, team details, updates and news on the teams, as well as analyses.

During April-May, Indian T20 League is one of the most talked-about and searched topics on the internet.

Listicles and ‘Why’ posts are the most engaging content for the T20 League

Snackable content usually ranging from 1000-2000 words is what is most engaging

Content #2. Summer Vacations

What is it about?

Unlike adults, kids welcome the summer with joy as it gives them a long respite from school. This also means that most families are busy planning a vacation.

Major conversation areas

Searches around travel inspiration and tips, summer activities and internship opportunities, and healthy recipes go up. Train and air fares too soar along with the mercury.

Content ideas

• ‘Top 5 staycation ideas’
• ‘Beat the heat by travelling to these hill stations’
• ‘5 Exotic recipes to try this summer’
• ‘How to get flight dirt-cheap flight tickets this summer’
• ‘Sync your travel plans with these 5 May festivals’
• ‘Make your Delhi trip better by attending the Yoga Shala Expo in May’
• ‘These pet-friendly hotels are perfect for beating the heat with your furry friend’
• ‘Tips for planning a budget trip’
• ‘Himalayan destinations only seasoned travellers know about’
• ‘Backpackers, you only need these 5 fashion basics to travel in style’
• ‘Give your kids a competitive edge with these educational summer camps’
• ‘Short-term summer courses for teenagers’
• ‘5 Foods you must have in your kitchen during summer’

Top searches – Related terms for search include holidays, homework, summer camps, travel agents, and list of places to visit.

Search trends – ‘Vacations’ as well ‘summer vacations’ both start to trend around early May, thus showcasing the active searches people do for the same.

Content #3. May Day, 1st May

What is it about?

An official global holiday, May Day commemorates the passing of the eight-hour workday bill for labourers by the American Federation of Labor. The first May Day celebration in India was organised by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Madras (Chennai), and the symbolic red flag was also hoisted on this day.

Content ideas

• ‘What happened on the day of the Haymarket massacre?’
• ‘What was it like being a working woman before the 8-hour work day law was passed?’
• ‘Foods and exercises to keep your energy up through a long day’
• ‘How did the status of labourers change after the law was passed?’
• Social media posts and memes praising workers

Content #4. World Asthma Day, 1st May

What is it about?

World Asthma Day is an annual event organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma for spreading awareness about the disease that affects almost 150 million people globally.

Content Ideas

• Throwing light on the preventive and precautionary measures for asthma through sachet-sized content will be highly shared on social media and messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
• Symptoms of asthma
• Positive approach to asthma management
• Available treatments
• ‘How to keep your asthmatic kid healthy despite the rising pollution’
• ‘How lifestyle choices affect the risk of getting asthma’
• ‘Ways to prepare asthmatic school kids for an attack’
• ‘What not to eat if you have asthma’
• Insurance companies can talk about health policies that cover asthma
• Healthcare brands can talk about existing treatment options and available medicines, success stories, and posts praising asthmatics living their best lives despite the disease.
• Electronic companies retailing air purifiers can circulate videos on the bacterial content in the air at home, its effect on asthma, and how to purify indoor air

Content #5. World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd

What is it about?

A day not just to reiterate the importance of the freedom of the press but also to remind governments across the world to respect the rights of the press. This year’s theme – Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law – aims to explore the current legal environment and its conduciveness to press freedom.

Major conversation areas:

In light of the Indian government’s recent announcement (and subsequent withdrawal) of rescinding journalists’ accreditations on publishing fake news and restrictive journalism laws already passed in countries like Malaysia, World Freedom Day 2018 is expected to trigger a lot of digital conversations around the state of modern-day freedom of the press.

Content ideas

• ‘Are we taking freedom of speech for granted while it’s teetering at its foundation?’
• ‘Can newspapers survive the era of digital news sharing?’
• ‘Journalists who risked their lives to get to the truth’
• ‘How journalism has changed over the years’
• ‘Does modern-day journalism need a serious audit?’
• ‘How to call out fake news’
• ‘Does the media influence our opinions?’
• ‘Movies that beautifully portray the lives of journalists’

Additionally, talking about career opportunities in mass media would make for an apt read.

• ‘5 Non-reporting career options in mass media’
• ‘Are you an aspiring journalist? Here are 5 short-term courses you can explore’
• ‘5 Websites where you can become a citizen journalist’
• ‘7 Character traits every good journalist portrays’
• ‘What are the top Indian institutes for studying mass media?’
• ‘5 options for journalists to consider if they want to switch careers

Content #6. Star Wars Day, 4th May

What is it about?

Chosen for the pun on probably one of the most popular dialogues in cinema history ‘May the force be with you’, May 4^th is celebrated by billions of Star Wars fans all over the world.

Content ideas

• Fun Star Wars facts
• ‘Star Wars fans reveal their favourite character (Hint: it’s not who you think it is)’
• ‘Crazy Star Wars fan theories that make total sense’
• ‘What Star Wars teaches us about life’
• ‘5 Products every star wars fans needs’
• ‘Star wars themed cafes from around the world’
• ‘Conversations the Star Wars fandom will never stop having’
• Brands and influencers can also do a Star Wars merchandise giveaway.

Content #7. World Laughter Day, 6th May

What is it about?

Celebrated on the first Sunday in May, World Laughter Day was started in 1988 by Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement. Based on the belief that facial expressions affect emotions, Dr Kataria attributes laughter as the best way for individuals to change themselves and the world.

Content ideas

• ‘Can laughter help reduce physical pain?’
• ‘Are emotions affected even by a fake laugh?’
• ‘Why include laughter therapy as a part of your daily yoga regime’
• ‘Babies laugh 20 times more than an average adult every day’
• ‘A good laugh is equal to a runner’s high’’

‘Laughter can boost your immune system’

Content #8. Rabindranath Tagore, May 7th

What is it about?

An eminent author, poet, visual artist, and composer, Rabindranath Tagore was Asia’s first Nobel laureate winner in 1913. His birth anniversary presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase his literary contributions and cultural and political influences.

Content ideas

• Excerpts from his powerful speeches and fiction work
• Publishing lesser-known facts about Tagore will be well-received
• ‘Did you know that Rabindranath Tagore drew influence from the Vedas and Upanishads?’

‘Did you know Tagore composed the national anthems of TWO countries?’

Content #9. Mother’s Day, 13th May

What is it about?

Celebrated every second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day – and the week leading up to it – is a field day for brands to push out their products as the perfect way to show one’s mother just how much she’s loved.

Major conversation areas

Searches around gift ideas, Mother’s Day quotes, and online flower/gift delivery options go up.

Content ideas

• Emotional video content around the contribution of mothers, their sacrifices, and quotes will be highly appreciated by the mommy community on social media.
• ‘A day in the life of a Mother of Dragons’ (showcasing how it is like dealing with screaming toddlers and moody teenagers)
• ‘5 things new mothers wish people around them wouldn’t say/do’
• ‘7 embarrassing situations mothers get into every day’
• ‘Motherhood isn’t just about cute baby yawns and tiny trotting feet’
• Brands can show their care for employees by publishing testimonials of new mothers who received good support at the workplace, initiatives such as flexi-hours, in-office crèche and babysitter, etc., and praising employees who manage motherhood and work like a pro.
• ‘5 unconventional gift ideas for your mother’
• ‘Gift your mother a solo trip this Mother’s Day’
• ‘A letter to a mother from her furry four-limbed kid’
• ‘6 ways to deal with post-partum depression’
• ‘What it’s like being a mother of a gay child’
• ‘Gift your mother good health this Mother’s Day’
• ‘7 things your mother wished you did’
• ‘5 great websites for mothers to find work-at-home jobs’

Top searches – Topics for Mother’s Day include searches pertaining to ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, gift ideas, quotations/poetry.

Content Performance for Mother’s Day (Based on data from the last two years): Facebook is the go-to source for putting out content for Mother’s Day.

Content #10. Global Road Safety Week, 8th-14th May

What is it about?

With an aim to improve global road safety and reduce road accident-related deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2020, UN Global Road Safety Week is an initiative that focuses on the issue of ‘speed’ and its danger to drivers, other vehicles, and pedestrians with its campaign #SlowDown.

Content ideas

• Road safety tips
• How to ensure teenagers understand the consequences of speeding
• Encouraging the masses to be vigilant on the roads
• Stats around city-specific road accident cases due to speeding
• Bite-sized posts on speed limit rules
• Listicles on clever ways to get drivers to speed down
• Automobile companies can talk about the various in-vehicle technologies that deter overspeeding as well as CCTV footages of actual speed-related accidents titled ‘We make cars to make your lives better, not end them, #SlowDown’
• Supporting the cause through internal corporate campaigns, wherein companies put up intranet content, take a digital pledge, and encourage employees to not overspeed, and social media posts drawn from this campaign would highlight the brand’s CSR initiative in the right light.

Content #11. World Turtle Day, 11th May

What is it about?

This day aims to bring attention to turtles and tortoises and encourage human intervention in helping them thrive. Pushing out content on World Turtle day may tie in well with the recent good news of Olive Ridley sea turtles hatching on Versova beach (Mumbai) for the first time in 20 years due to the efforts of the beach-cleaning crusaders.

Content ideas

• Insightful facts about turtles and tortoises
• How to protect turtles and their shrinking habitat
• Travel and tourism companies can post blogs on the best places in India to see turtles in their natural habitats
• ‘Who is your favourite animated turtle character?’
• ‘Did you know turtles don’t have ears?’

Cute images of baby turtles will make readers pause mid-scroll to like and share your content

Content #12. National Technology Day, 11th May

What is it about?

National Technology Day commemorates the Pokhran nuclear test done on May 11^th, 1998, along with celebrating certain milestones that India achieved in the technology sphere – from testing of the country’s first indigenous aircraft Hansa to successful test-firing of the first short-range missile Trishul.

Content ideas

• Posts on the multiple historical significance of the day as well as how India is progressing in the tech space
• ‘How has technology changed over the past two decades?’
• ‘7 movies on technology every techie will relate to’
• ‘What do these world leaders think about today’s technological advancements?’
• ‘These are the best tech innovations of the last decade’
• ‘10 Indians who changed the tech game globally’
• ‘Toys that teach young kids about technology’
• Financial institutions and insurance companies can talk about how tech has changed everything from the way we transact to the way we invest
• Brands from the food industry can talk about the technology behind appliances and equipment that make cooking so much easier and quicker
• Companies can also highlight their efforts towards winning the National Technology award, (awarded to companies that readily adopt new technologies) to smartly highlight CSR activities.

Content #13. 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival: 8th-19th May

What is it about?

Besides being an important event for the global film industry, Festival de Cannes also gives brands an opportunity to jump into buzzing digital conversations.

Content ideas

• ‘Recreate what these celebs wore at the 71^st Cannes Festival on a budget’
• ‘Did you know that a film cannot be screened anywhere if it has been invited for an official screening at the Cannes festival?’
• ‘Best apps to stalk these celebs as they explore France while on their visit to Cannes’
• ‘6 Bollywood movies that were highly appreciated at Cannes’
• ‘International celebs’ opinions on these Bollywood movies screened at Cannes’
• ‘5 Things to do in France once you’re done with Cannes’
• ‘History of the Festival de Cannes’

Top searches: Topics pertaining to red carpet, actresses, and their looks, fashion tips as well as the movies that are being showcased in Cannes.

Search trends: Cannes as a search topic starts trending mostly around mid-May.

Content #14. Ramadan, 16 May

What is it about?

The most important month for Muslims, Ramadan, the month of fasting, kicks off on May 16.

Common conversation areas

Searches around recipes, prayer timings, outfit ideas, and Eid gift options go up.

Content ideas

• ‘The complete one-month Ramadan timetable’
• ‘How to stay hydrated while fasting for Ramadan’
• ‘History behind Ramadan’
• ‘5 foods to eat to not feel thirsty while fasting’
• ‘One-month meal prep ideas for those still hitting the gym during Ramadan’
• ‘Steal these celebrity styles for Eid’
• ‘Overnight meal ideas for sehri’
• ‘5 ways to beat fatigue while fasting’
• Memes and fun posts along the lines of ‘What not to say to someone observing a fast during Ramadan’ should induce a few chuckles.

Content #15. World No Tobacco Day

What is it about?

Observed every year to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and to highlight the UN’s effort towards fighting the tobacco epidemic, World No Tobacco Day is a fantastic opportunity to encourage smokers to take the first step towards quitting, or at least observe a day of abstinence. With 120 million Indians smoking on a regular basis and a strong increment to the list, this is a great opportunity for brands to contribute to a global issue.

Content ideas

• Stats-based posts such as ‘Smoking kills 6,00,000 people every year… all non-smokers’ or ‘Every cigarette you smoke reduces your lifespan by 11 minutes’, etc. will encourage smokers to go clean for at least a day
• Emotional videos again will viscerally hit smokers and cement the glaring health ramification of this unhealthy lifestyle choice
• Fact-based videos in collaboration with health and fitness enthusiasts highlighting their own journey of quitting smoking (or the ill effects of smoking) will resonate well with your audience
• ‘What 8 former chain-smokers want to say to teenagers who recently started smoking’
• ‘How does your body change within a year of quitting smoking?’
• ‘5 proven ways to help you quit smoking’
• ‘How to help someone to quit smoking’

Brands can also publish a quiz that helps smokers to identify the best quitting technique based on their preferences and lifestyle.

Content #16. Festival and fun days

Moatsü Mong, observed in the first week of May at Mokokchung, Nagaland, in celebration of the harvest season is a time when the indigenous Ao people indulge in merrymaking and a village-wide feast.

Posting informative content such as ‘5 facts we bet you didn’t know about Nagaland’, ‘This summer vacation, explore the beauty of north-east India’, ‘7 hidden places in Nagaland every backpacker must explore’, or ‘You’ll love these 5 lip-smacking Naga dishes’ will be quite informative for those who do not know much about this part of India.

The Yoga Shala Expo, held during May 4-6 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, aims to divert yoga enthusiasts from Rishikesh – the yoga capital of India – to mainstream Delhi. Three days of international yoga and Ayurvedic and wellness sessions is bound to draw in the crowds in big numbers.

Brands would do well by talking about what to expect at the expo, as well as publish bite-sized content such as ‘5 yoga poses to do at your work desk’, ‘5 international yogis and their take on meditation’, or ‘5 tips from the Dalai Lama to help beginners meditate’, etc.

Dhungri Mela, in Manali, is a three-day grand affair (14^th– 16^th May) in honour of the goddess Hadimba. With a fairground full of multiple rides and local experiences, the mela is a must visit for anyone who want to experience Manali in its prime.

Content ideas: ‘7 safety tips for those visiting Manali for the Dhungri Mela’, ‘5 beautiful trekking expeditions in Manali’, ‘Old versus new Manali: which part is your favourite?’, and ‘10 quaint cafes you must visit in Manali’.

International No Diet Day, on 6^th May, is observed not just as an excuse to cheat on your (presumably) healthy diet but also to appreciate and cherish the body you have. It’s a fantastic opportunity for brands to encourage readers to have a cheat meal, pictures of their favourite cheat food, and talk about body image issues and body positivity, albeit in a non-preachy way.

May is also celebrated as National Photo Month. With the likes of Instagram rendering visual content as the quickest way to convey messages, brands can leverage the day for massive user-generated content by inviting users to share photos relevant to their products/services.

Content #17. Sports

Football

2^nd May: UEFA Champions League semi-finals, second leg
4^th May: UEFA Europa League semi-finals, second leg
4^th May: 20^th May: UEFA European Under-17 Championship
17^th May: UEFA Europa League final
27^th May: UEFA Champions League final
30^th May: UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals draw

Formula 1

13^th May: Barcelona Grand Prix

27^th May: Monaco Grand Prix

Cricket

11^th May -15^th May: Ireland vs Pakistan test match at Dublin

24^th May -28^th May: England vs Pakistan test match at Lord’s

Searches surge on where to buy match tickets, broadcast schedules, which our experts are betting on for today’s match, etc., creating a lot of online buzz.

Content ideas

• ‘Are these celebs going to be there for today’s match?’
• ‘Things to do in Monaco after the Grand Prix’
• ‘Epic football moments of all times’
• ‘Highlights from today’s match’
• ‘Did you know these facts about Lord’s?’
• ‘Tournament fashion from the most well-dressed spouses of your favourite players’
• ‘A dummy’s guide to packing for a day at the field with kids’

Content #18. Upcoming movies

Raazi, 11^th May – One of the most-awaited Bollywood films featuring Alia Bhatt as a girl-next-door-turned-spy will have cinemagoers lining up at the theatre. We foresee a power-packed performance by Alia and Masaan boy Vicky Kaushal.

Parmanu, The Story of Pokhran, 4^th May – This action drama sees the buff John Abraham grace the screen after years, along with Boman Irani and Diana Penty. Based on India’s first nuclear bomb test, the movie is bound to bring up the past and brands would find it profitable to share facts around the history.

Deadpool 2, 16^th May – The much-awaited sequel to the first laughter riot will be out this month, and it will undoubtedly trigger a storm of content – especially memes on social media.

Pope Francis: A Man of His Words, 18^th May – A personal journey with the Pope and his ideologies will be widely watched and highly debated as well. Brands can partake in the conversation on calibrated notes.

Solo: A Star Wars Story, 25^th May– Whether this Han Solo-Chewbacca reunion featuring Emilia Clarke sparks the same level of interest or not is something we’ll have to wait till the 25^th May to find out.

Content ideas

• ‘5 Deadpool merchandise every Deadpool fan must own’
• ‘Favourite dialogues from the movie X’
• ‘Behind-the-scene moments from Raazi’
• ‘Did you notice these movie bloopers?’

Content #19. Major celebrity birthdays

• Anushka Sharma, 1^st May
• Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, 2^nd May
• Adele, 5^th May
• George Clooney, 6^th May
• Sunny Leone, 13^th May
• Lillete Dubey, 13^th May
• Waheeda Rehman, 14^th May
• Madhuri Dixit, 15^th May
• Vir Das, 31^st May
• Sam Smith, 19^th May
• Naomi Campbell, 22^nd May
• Karan Johar, 25^th May

Parting words

From summer vacations to the Indian T20 League frenzy, from evoking a feeling of patriotism on India’s contribution to technology on National Technology Day to letting the kid in you surface to express love for moms on Mother’s Day, there are tons of talking points to build a strong editorial calendar and #EngageUnfoolishly in May!