Whether you’re a Valentine’s Day lover or hater, February 14th finds a way to tug on all of our hearts. Holding roots in ancient Rome, Valentine’s Day has evolved into a textbook Hallmark holiday, fueled by big consumer spending and traditions of gifting to loved ones.
With Valentine’s Day being the fifth largest spending event in the U.S. after the winter holidays and Mother’s Day, investing in strategic marketing, including video, is essential for businesses in January and February.
In a 2026 survey, 86% of consumers told Animoto that video is their preferred way to learn about a brand. A
s we close in on the season of love, it’s time to plan your video marketing strategy, including where and when paid advertising is worth the spend.
Why video is key for Valentine’s Day
Valentine's Day spending is expected to reach a record $29.1 billion this year. According to the National Retail Foundation, 33% of consumers plan to purchase gifts for friends, 27% will purchase gifts for their children’s classmates and teachers, and 21% will buy gifts for co-workers/
As the upswing in online shopping continues to increase, businesses must advertise both products and services online, leading up to major spending holidays like Valentine’s Day.
Valentine's Day videos to make this year
Now that we know where consumers are shopping, we need to understand how they’re shopping. In the previously mentioned survey hosted by Animoto, consumers expressed a strong preference for video over photos and text when shopping online. That means whether you’re advertising a product, a gift card, a gift list, a service, a sale, or a brand, video should be at the top of your list. Here’s how to do it for each:
Valentine's Day sale promos
Show off your products for gift-givers, deal-lovers, and self-indulgers alike with a short, seasonal promo video. Use these templates and simply drop your own photos, business info, and logo for a lovely video, ready in minutes.
Special offer
Have a product that would make a great Valentine’s Day gift? Share a special offer just for the holidays! The Valentine's Day Discount template is perfect for showcasing your product in a romantic light.
Sale promo
Consumers always appreciate a discount, especially when it comes to holiday shopping. Get customers clicking by highlighting your top Valentine’s Day deals with our Valentine’s Day Ad template.
Service promo
Have a great service that can be given as a gift or experienced by couples on Valentine’s Day? Give them a sneak peek with our Service Teaser template.
In need of some extra photos or video clips to include? You can get unlimited access to 1 million+ photos and videos on our Professional plan or 100 million+ photos and videos on our Professional Plus plan.
Gift card
With in-person shopping on the decline, nothing’s more practical than a digital gift card. Help your customers give the gift of a spending spree with the Gift Card Promo template. Plus, you can capture the interest of last-minute shoppers!
Gift idea list
Valentine’s Day shopping goes far beyond just getting a gift for a significant other. Whether your customer needs to get a present for a spouse, grandchild, friend, or teacher, use our Valentine’s Day List template to include gift options for nearly everyone.
Happy Valentine's Day message
Even if you’re not advertising a specific Valentine’s Day deal, selling your brand with video is equally important during any spike in online activity. Take this opportunity to make a more personal connection by saying happy Valentine's Day to your customers and team.
How to plan your Valentine’s Day ad spend
Planning your Valentine’s Day ad spend starts by identifying where your target audience is. For example, if most of your marketing efforts are on social media, this isn’t the right moment to test the waters on email marketing. No matter where your audience is, keep these best practices in mind to find success with your spend.
Social media marketing
Countless small businesses are finding success on social media with video. In fact, 83% of consumers have purchased a product after watching a brand’s video. Check out 3 social media success stories from long-time Animoto users, then explore the full story on paid social media content.
SEO
A rich video marketing campaign goes beyond making a compelling video. Make sure your customers can find your content by revisiting your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.
Audience targeting
Knowing who your audience is and where they’re spending their time is great, but it means nothing unless you’re targeting them with your video ads. Take full advantage of your paid ads by using the advanced audience targeting features Facebook and Instagram have to offer.
How to create a successful Valentine’s Day video
There are a lot of elements that add up to a successful Valentine’s Day video, so many that we wrote a whole guide on it! That said, even the most well-made video can use a little heart. Check out our three top tips for reaching your audience on a deeper level with video:
1. More than just romance
In the same way that love isn’t only romantic, consumers aren’t only shopping for their significant others. Evaluate what the appropriate audience is for your offering, then create a video with confidence that they’ll see the opportunity for their spend.
2. Tell a story
On a holiday centered around emotional connections, don’t be afraid to be a bit softer in the tone of your video.
Rich Honiball of Navy Exchange Service Command put it beautifully when he told AdAge, “Yes, Valentine's Day is about marketing traditional products and services, but it is also an opportunity to engage with our customers and allow each to tell their story—what is most important to them.”
Be vulnerable with your customers. You may be surprised at how effective it is.
3. Make it interactive
Last but not least, allow your customers to interact with your campaign. This can be with stickers in your social media stories, with bold CTAs, or with a catchy campaign hashtag that customers can share when they shop with you.
Start your Valentine’s Day video marketing now
It’s never too early, or too late, to start planning for Valentine’s Day. Explore all that Animoto has to offer for Valentine’s Day video and start planning which videos you’ll make for your business this year. Need some inspiration? We’ve got you covered with all of the video ideas and templates you’ll need for life, business, and just for fun, all in one place.
