Microsoft Ads has powerful tools to help you create campaigns that will drive results and help you make the most of the season.
Valentine’s Day is a celebration that is steeped in history. From its origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia to its evolution into a global day of love, it has always been about connecting and caring. It’s also a great opportunity for businesses to connect with shoppers looking for meaningful celebrations.
Here’s how to make Valentine’s Day a moment of roses and business ROI.
Microsoft Ads: Search Patterns on Valentine’s Day
The real action happens in February, although searches start to increase in January. Shoppers tend to procrastinate, with 40% of Valentine’s Day conversions coming from clicks from Microsoft ads in the last few weeks.
That means your campaigns need to be ready to respond to last-minute shoppers looking for quick and convenient options. Emphasis on same-day delivery, digital gift cards, or local collections can be key to winning this audience.
Microsoft Ads: Trends in Decision-making
As Valentine’s Day approaches, consumer search behaviour changes:
- Inspiration Searches: Early on, shoppers search for ideas using non-branded queries such as “unique gifts for him” or “Valentine’s Day date ideas.” This is your chance to offer curated gifting collections and themed landing pages to help them decide.
- Specific Searches: Brand searches increase as the day nears and shoppers finalise their plans. Make sure that your brand and your offers are easy to find and stand out from the competition.
Valentine’s Day trends to watch in 2025
- Affordability matters Shoppers are looking for deals and discounts. Searches for ‘promo codes’ and ‘budget-friendly gifts’ are trending. Whether through ‘gifts under £50’ collections or exclusive offers, make affordability a key part of your messaging.
- The rise of the local search convenience is king. Emphasising proximity and fast service can give you an edge with the rise of phrases such as “near me” and “local delivery“. Take advantage of this trend with location extensions and local inventory ads.
- Personalisation takes the lead: Shoppers are increasingly drawn to unique and thoughtful gifts. Keywords like “personalised gifts” and “sentimental Valentine’s Day ideas” are on the rise. To resonate with this audience, showcase customisable options in your Microsoft ads.
- Terms such as ‘best’, ‘first class’, and ‘perfect’ attract attention. To increase click-throughs and conversions, include these in your ad copy.
Attract attention with shopping campaigns.
Shopping campaigns are a great way to get your products in front of potential buyers. Grab attention with high-quality visuals, transparent pricing, and compelling product descriptions.
For example, if you’re selling jewellery, include close-ups that highlight intricate details and descriptions that convey quality and craftsmanship. Visibility and relevance can be further enhanced by using optional attributes such as ‘customisable’ or ‘Valentine’s edition’.
Stand out with multimedia advertising.
Multimedia ads combine rich visuals with compelling text to deliver advertising that catches the eye. Promoting Valentine’s gift sets, premium collections, or time-sensitive offers, these ads work exceptionally well. Use high-resolution images and clear, emotive messaging to get clicked. For example, an ad featuring a luxury watch tagged “Timeless Love” might resonate with gift shoppers looking for something memorable.
Dynamic search ads extend your reach.
Ideal for filling gaps in your keyword strategy, dynamic search ads automatically match user queries to your website content. If you’re looking to capture traffic from long-tail searches that aren’t included in your campaigns, these ads are particularly useful. To ensure your ad remains relevant and tailored to users’ needs, they dynamically generate headlines and landing pages based on your website.
Guide buyers with site links and image extensions
Sitelink extensions make it easier for shoppers to find what they need by directing them to specific pages, such as gift guides, special offers, or fast delivery options. For example, budget-conscious shoppers might be attracted to a “Shop Gifts Under £50” site link. Combine this with image extensions to display visually appealing product images that complement your ad copy. Encourage users to click and explore further.
Microsoft Ads: Local Inventory Emphasis
Local inventory ads are perfect for retailers with physical stores. They allow you to display product availability in real-time. To attract last-minute shoppers, highlight items that are in stock and available for immediate collection. For example, to add urgency and convenience to their buying decisions, show nearby customers that your Valentine’s Day floral arrangements are ready to be picked up.
Tap into your target audience’s ads.
Microsoft Advertising’s audience ads help you connect with specific segments, such as “Valentine’s Day Shoppers” or “Luxury Gift Buyers.” These highly targeted ads use Microsoft’s audience insights to focus on the users who are most likely to convert. Combine them with automated bidding to maximise ROI. Personalize the ad creative to resonate with your target audience.
Refresh your ad copy and creatives.
Incorporate Valentine’s Day themes to keep your campaigns fresh and relevant. Use emotional phrases like “Say it with a gift” or “Celebrate love this Valentine’s” to attract attention. To make your offer more attractive, promote perks such as free delivery or special bundles. To make it easier for users to take action, don’t forget to add call extensions to show exclusive discounts or limited-time offers.
Microsoft Ads: Automation for smarter campaigns
Streamline campaign management with Microsoft Ad’s automation tools. Use automated bidding to optimise conversions and track the performance of your campaigns in real time so you can make data-driven adjustments. Features such as responsive search ads can dynamically adjust your ad copy to match what shoppers are searching for. This saves time and improves relevance during this busy shopping period.
Turn love into long-term success.
Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships and build loyalty—it’s not just about a sales spike. You can create memorable experiences that last beyond one day by designing campaigns that meet shoppers’ needs and using the tools at your disposal. This season of love can be a season of lasting results with Microsoft advertising.
How do I become a Microsoft advertiser?
It’s easy to set up a Microsoft Advertising account. Just read our handy how-to guide and then check out Microsoft Ads to get started. Microsoft recommends first reviewing your budget and bidding strategy, expanding your targeting across locations and devices, and evaluating whether the keywords you bid on and the ads you show are relevant.
Is it worth it to advertise on Bing?
Yes, if set up and managed effectively. Microsoft Advertising can be a powerful tool to use as part of your PPC campaigns.
For best results, we’d recommend using Microsoft advertising in conjunction with Google Ads where possible. We help you manage your campaigns.
Are Microsoft Ads and Bing Ads the same?
Yes, Bing Ads was rebranded as Microsoft Advertising in 2019. This precedes Microsoft’s decision to rebrand the Bing search engine as Microsoft Bing in 2020.
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