Love Is in the Air: Valentine’s Day Marketing Ideas & Campaigns

Valentine’s Day. A time for love, connection… and a whole lot of spending. From heartfelt gifts to Instagram-worthy date nights, people go all out to make the day special. And for businesses, Valentine’s Day marketing is merely an opportunity.

In 2024 alone, U.S. consumers spent a massive $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day. That’s not just chocolates and roses yes, those are great too but Valentine’s Day marketing can actually be anything.

A personalized gift? Yes.

Last-minute digital subscription? Also, yes.

So, people are not just celebrating love on the 14th of February but they’re also spending big to show it in a way.

And with Valentine’s Day around the corner (tick-tock, tick-tock!) I thought that you may need some inspiration to develop your Valentine’s Day marketing campaign.

From sharing social media posts to offering limited editions, there are various ways to use the engagement and sales opportunities that the season offers. If you are ready, here’s what I’ll cover:

Where Love Leads: Explore Inside 💌

10 Valentine’s Day Marketing Campaigns That Will Steal Your ❤️

Valentine’s Day has always been an important day in the marketing calendar. So you can find numerous examples of Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns but which one will be your source of inspiration?

Here’s our selection for your inspiration:

1. Cadbury 5 Star – Valentine’s Day Alibi

Cadbury 5 Star India released a Valentine’s Day commercial promoting the idea that Cadbury is always there for you. Even if you don’t have someone special to celebrate this Valentine’s Day, you have Cadbury 5 Star and the island it offers you: my cousin’s wedding. This way, you can spend time in solitude without seeing couples everywhere or being pushed by family or friends to find someone special. 

2. Lush – Better Together 

If there’s anything worse than a heteronormative Valentine’s Day marketing campaign, it is a heterosexist one. Fortunately, the second one started to become illegal, but normativity continues to smash human rights and marketing campaigns contribute to it from time to time. 

So, it’s up to you to use the power of marketing to create an inclusive campaign as Lush Cosmetics did in 2017 to rewrite the norms and attract the queer community, or to follow an outdated and discriminative path.

3.  Savage X Fenty – Love Your Way

Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty knows that love isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why their 2025 Valentine’s Day campaign, ‘Love Your Way,’ embraces love in every form—romantic, platonic, and self-love included!

This year, Rihanna takes on the role of Cupid (but in true Savage fashion), serving confidence in Loveline Satin Balconette Bras, Lace Brazilian Panties, and Satin Heart Pasties in Timeless Red. The campaign also features Love Island’s Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, TikTok stars Hayley and Jules LeBlanc, and more, proving that love looks different for everyone—and that’s the beauty of it.

With sizes ranging from 30A to 46H in bras and XS to 4XL in loungewear, Savage X Fenty continues to push inclusivity, making sure everyone finds something to love, no matter how they celebrate.

4. Match – When Satan Met 2020

Match made a funny Valentine’s Day ad where Satan uses the app to find love, avoiding anything happy or normal like toilet paper as he mentioned in the video. 

It isn’t the usual love ad for February but it stands out because it is so clever and timely. 

With Ryan Reynolds’ help, Match told a funny love story that gave everyone a good laugh and a break from the tough year. They show that even in hard times, a good joke and a creative idea can bring people together. This campaign proves that humor and a unique approach can make a Valentine’s message memorable, even if it’s about finding love in the least expected places.

5. Tesla – Hot Single Robots In Your Area

For Valentine’s Day, Tesla makes an ad with robots trying to find love, not cars zooming around. It is funny and different, showing off how Tesla likes to think outside the box. People love it, watching it millions of times online. It is a clever way to spread the word about Tesla, using humor to show they’re about more than just cars (and politically incorrect discourse of Elon Musk) they’re about innovation and fun.

If you are curious about Tesla’s marketing strategy, check out our blog post analyzing how Elon Musk and non-paid ad strategies create a huge buzz around the brand!

6. L’Oréal – Valentine’s Day, The Essentiality of Beauty

This Valentine’s Day campaign by L’Oréal beautifully captures the enduring romance between Nadia and her husband, offering a fresh perspective on love that ages gracefully. On February 14th, we see a touching role reversal: Nadia, with a flower in hand, waits for her husband, symbolizing a lifetime of love that still cherishes surprises and tender gestures. 

This campaign elegantly reminds us that beauty and love know no age, portraying Valentine’s Day not just as a celebration for the young or newly in love but as a day for all who hold love in their hearts. 

7. Jared – Dare to Be Devoted

Jared’s Valentine’s Day commercials put an emphasis on being bold and daring to do whatever you want to do. There are different versions of “Dare to Be Devoted” commercials of Jared. Here’s the one featuring people who refrain from proposing but decide to do:

And here’s another one featuring stories of those who dare to challenge social norms—breaking barriers like ageism, long-distance relationship biases, and more.

8. Haribo – Berry Hearts Gummy Launch

Haribo is giving Valentine’s Day a fruity makeover with its latest release: Berry Hearts. These heart-shaped gummies come in wildberry, blueberry, and strawberry flavors, featuring a soft, triple-layer foam texture that makes them stand out from the usual holiday sweets.

While chocolates may dominate Valentine’s Day, Haribo knows that not everyone wants the same old treats. Berry Hearts offer something different—a playful, shareable candy that’s perfect for gifting to friends, family, or just enjoying solo.

As a limited-edition release, this campaign taps into the excitement of seasonal exclusivity, making these gummies a must-try before they’re gone.

9. Dunkin’ Donuts – Valentine’s Day Menu

Dunkin’ is bringing love to the menu with its Valentine’s Day classics, making it impossible to resist a sweet celebration. Their heart-shaped doughnuts are back, featuring fan favorites Brownie Batter and Cupid’s Choice—because nothing says love like chocolatey buttercream and Bavarian cream filling wrapped in festive icing and sprinkles.

This year, Dunkin is adding a Valentine’s-themed merch drop, including drinkware and a heart-shaped handbag designed by Corey Paige, proving that your coffee break can be as stylish as it is sweet.

10. Gucci – Love Story Zine

This Valentine’s Day, Gucci is weaving love into art with a limited-edition zine: “A Love Story Presented by Gucci” which turns fashion into a romantic narrative, celebrating love in all its forms.

Directed by Ariana Papademetropoulos and captured by Alexandra Cabral, this ‘60s surrealist-inspired graphic novella tells the story of a fairy in search of love.

The Valentine’s Day collection plays a starring role in this dreamy tale, with heart-shaped chain bags, vintage popcorn-carton purses, and “LOVE”-printed accessories creating a romantic, nostalgic feel.

5 Valentine’s Day Marketing Ideas to Fall in 🩷 w/

Choosing the best marketing ideas may be frustrating, as there are numerous options shared on the internet. But there’s no need to worry, we’ve listed five inspiring marketing ideas below for you to make your brand stand out from the crowd on this special day of love!

Heyy! 🙋‍♀️I’d like to mention our careful curation of online advertising agencies for your review, designed to assist you through your Valentine’s Day marketing process.

1- Email Marketing with a Heartfelt Touch 🫰

The Valentine’s season is one of the best times to connect with your audience through clever subject lines and emotionally engaging messages. A well-crafted email can spark interest, drive engagement, and boost conversions—all while spreading the love.

Take Hulu, for example.

Hulu aims to contribute to its audience enjoy Valentine’s Day spirit and offers them different options to watch and share with their dear ones because “love comes in all genres” meaning that there is always something for anyone on Hulu. Plus, to ensure that the open rates are high and the email content is on the audience’s service, Hulu sends this email with an intriguing subject line: “Spend Valentine’s Day with Our Favorite Couples.”

2- Limited Editions That Spark Desire ❤️

Nothing grabs attention quite like a product that’s here today, gone tomorrow. Limited-edition releases tied to Valentine’s Day make consumers feel like they’re getting something exclusive and special, leading to increased demand and FOMO-driven sales.

In 2014, Vans introduced its “love me, love me not” shoes just before Valentine’s Day season. Marketing them can be profitable anytime, but during the season of love, it stands out among the non-themed options, and its chance of leading to revenue growth increases.

3- Gift Guides for the Perfect Match 🎁

Many people get stressed as they can’t decide what to buy for their beloved ones. Choosing the best gift can be difficult but gift guides can be helpful in not buying something too fancy or low-end. At that point, your brand can be their savior angel by providing them with tons of options. You can categorize Valentine’s Day gift suggestions, ranging from budget-friendly DIY Valentine’s Day gifts to luxurious ones, according to the types of relationships and communication.

To see an example, you can check Vogue’s Valentine’s Day gifts for her list. With such helpful content, Vogue manages to sell its own product: its content. Besides, Vogue increases its brand awareness and audience loyalty as it sees them through the tiring process of gift selection.

4- Romance? Or, Bromance? 🤎

Although it is thought to be limited to romantic love, Valentine’s Day is not a special day for couples. Giving Valentine’s Day cards and gifts to friends is common in some countries, including the US, and it is becoming more popular year by year. Another trending Valentine’s Day concept is focusing on self-love and making purchases just for yourself. So, you can go with one of these options or try to promote all of them for a more extensive marketing campaign. 

If you decide to concentrate only on friendships in your Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns, you can shift your focus to another special day of love: Galentine’s Day. Parks and Recreation’s famous character Leslie Knope invented this day to be celebrated a day before Valentine’s Day. It praises the love for friends and friendships.

5- Turn a 👍 into ❤️ on Social Media

Using Valentine’s Day hashtags can be the first step in creating an effective Valentine’s Day social media marketing campaign. For example, Etsy offers the #etsymatch hashtag to help Etsy shop owners to boost their sales during Valentine’s Day season. It also provides them with social media post examples including this hashtag, so they can decide which social media platforms to focus on and what kind of products to highlight in their Valentine’s Day posts.

Can’t think about Valentine’s Day social media campaigns without video content, right? Let’s see how Target kills it on Instagram with a heart-warming reel:

If you are having trouble unleashing your creativity to develop a Valentine’s Day marketing campaign for your eCommerce business but aiming to succeed like Etsy, check out the best agencies providing eCommerce marketing services!

Similar to the use of hashtags, advertising with catchy slogans is another logical option to highlight your brand and the care it gives to this special day. Let’s look at some Valentine’s Day slogan examples:

“Get him a gift that gets him” – Man Crates

“Fall in love with your skin!” – L’Oréal Paris

“You never know where true love is located” – Turkish Airlines

Using Valentine’s Day marketing campaign ideas to show your customers that you care can be a wonderful way to reach out to and connect with them. From limited editions and gift guides to hashtag and email campaigns, there are many options available to increase your brand awareness and boost your sales this Valentine’s Day season.

So, what are you waiting for? Start to promote your brand and stand out with a pinch of creativity and love. If you are looking for professional help, reach out to top digital marketing agencies and get ready for this Valentine’s Day more than ever!