Finding ideas for content can be a challenge sometimes! It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, to feel at a total loss for what to write. In those moments, it’s important to look around and see what’s going on — find some inspiration in what’s happening in the rest of the world, and maybe even what has already happened. I’m here to help, which is why I’ve created a roundup for topics to write about in October. If you’re struggling for ideas, check out the list for some inspiration!

Major Events

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October is the season for pink ribbons. Breast cancer is the second-most common type of cancer for women (behind skin cancers), with 12% of women developing an invasive form of it in their lifetime. If you point people toward any sort of charitable organization support, make sure it’s carefully vetted with a positive reputation.
Halloween (Oct. 31): All Hallow’s Eve is virtually synonymous with the month of October: pumpkins, costumes, candy, the whole shebang. Whether you want to show off your company’s culture by posting photos of your company party or promote a Halloween sale, there’s a lot you can do with this spooky holiday.
Need some inspiration? Check out this list of Halloween promotional ideas for small businesses, or this one.

Miscellaneous Holidays

National Do Something Nice day (Oct. 5): Sometimes all the world needs is a little bit of kindness. No matter what your field you work in, there’s no reason you can’t inspire people to do something nice for someone else!
National Dessert Day (Oct. 14): Indulge in something sweet on National Dessert Day. This is a great reason to share dessert recipes, of course, or maybe run a special promotion as a “treat.”
Sweetest Day (Oct. 15): Depending on where you’re based, you may never have heard of this holiday. Sweetest Day is especially popular in the Midwest and Great Lakes region, where it’s celebrated on the third saturday of the month. It’s absolutely a manufactured holiday that focuses mostly on romance, but there’s no reason not to celebrate!
National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day (Oct. 17): Every third Monday in October is National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day. It’s the perfect opportunity to write about some great organizational tips and productivity tools, such as cloud storage.
National Get Smart About Credit Day (Oct. 20): The third thursday in October is a day dedicated to educating young people about the importance of using credit wisely. While the day was designated by the American Bankers Association and focuses mostly on students, there’s no reason that you can’t use that as a launching pad for a larger discussion about personal or business finance, with a great blog post, a list of resources, or a great infographic (maybe make one yourself!).
National Chocolate Day (Oct 28): Just in time for Halloween is National Chocolate Day. What’s not to love about this particular day? (Just note that there are multiple chocolate-themed holidays, including International Chocolate Day on July 7.)

Historical Events

Premiere of the First Motion Picture (Oct. 6, 1889): Thomas Edison screened the world’s first motion picture using the Kinetophonograph. He didn’t set much stock in the future of the motion picture personally, but the Edison Company eventually went on to create its own film studio. In more than 125 years, the technology has changed dramatically — and today video is a hugely influential force, not just in entertainment but also marketing.
Death of Edgar Allan Poe: (Oct. 7, 1849): While he’s probably best-known for the rather macabre works “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Poe was a major influence in many forms of literature. He was a pioneer of the short story, the oft-credited creator of the detective story, and an influential figure in science-fiction, as well.
Birth of Eleanor Roosevelt (Oct. 11, 1884): Eleanor Roosevelt was wife to the longest-serving American president (Franklin D. Roosevelt), but she was also a hugely influential figure in American (and international) politics in her own right. A champion of civil rights who wasn’t afraid to publicly disagree with her own husband’s politics, she was the first American delegate to the United Nations, first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, and chair of the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women during the JFK administration. She also re-shaped the role of the American First Lady into an active position, regularly holding press conferences, writing a daily newspaper column, and more.
“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” opens on Broadway (Oct. 14, 1961): Think you know how to get ahead in business? Think again. This colorful musical — now more than 55 years old — is a silly commentary on corporate culture based on a 1952 satire. It spawned a 1967 movie and multiple revivals — including a 2011 Broadway revival starring Daniel Radcliffe (of Harry Potter fame).
This could be a great springboard for an actual discussion of what it takes to succeed in business.
(include embedded video from the musical. My favorite is “A Secretary is Not a Toy” but just about any song would work:
Premiere of “I Love Lucy” (Oct. 15, 1951): Perhaps the best-loved TV sitcom of all time (with awards to prove it), “I Love Lucy,” starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez, premiered on CBS. The show ran for many years and after the original run was cancelled continued in other formats. Not only that, but it’s fairly common to see references to “I Love Lucy” in other pop culture, even now. Lucille Ball went onto become the first woman to run a major television studio and played a formative role in the success of programs such as “Mission Impossible” and “Star Trek.”
The Federalist Papers first appeared in a New York newspaper (Oct. 27, 1787): Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical “Hamilton” took Broadway by storm, with its genre-fusing songs, incredible stage design, and amazingly diverse and talented cast. It’s also drawn attention to one of the more obscure American founding fathers: Alexander Hamilton, the creator of the American banking system, founder of the New York Post, and of course, one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, which encouraged Americans to adopt the new (and current) U.S. constitution. The Federalist Papers have been hugely influential in the American court system — and have been quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court in justifying a decision nearly 300 times in the history of the nation.
I hope this content roundup for October gives you a spark of creativity for creating your own content. If you use any of these ideas come back and share the link to your blog post in the comments. And if you have an idea that I missed share it in the comments as well.