Small Business Summer Marketing Ideas
Summer is here, and while we all look forward to the sunshine and outdoor activities, marketers and business owners can treat the summer as an opportunity to create sales and raise awareness of their brands. Here are some of my favourite summer marketing ideas to get you inspired.
Holiday-Based Marketing Ideas
Summer is the prime holiday season, which presents plenty of opportunities for businesses to create summer-themed sales and promotions.
One great way to take advantage is to offer discounts on your products or services. For example, if you run a restaurant, you could provide a special discount on meals for families throughout the school holidays. Or, if you run a clothing store, you could offer a sale on summer-themed clothing and beachwear.
Make sure you check out the national and international awareness day calendar to see if there are any events that are a good fit for your business. June and July, for example, include National Picnic Week, Plastic Free July and National BBQ Week. Find a way to use these events as a hook for your own related products and services.
Making The Most Of Summer Sales
The summer season is when retailers run summer sales and take advantage of the increased spending that comes with the season, especially on items such as summer clothes, swimming gear and garden equipment. You can showcase your brand, attract new customers, and increase sales by running a summer sale.
One way to make the most of your summer sale is to offer exclusive discounts to your customers. This will not only encourage them to make a purchase, but it will also make them feel valued and appreciated. Promote your discounts via your website, emails and social media accounts to ensure that your customers know about the sale and the savings they can make.
Another way to make the most of your summer sale is to promote your products in a way that showcases their relevance to the season. For example, if you sell summer clothes, you can create summer-themed content that shows how your clothes are perfect for a day at the beach or a summer barbecue. This will not only help to sell your products, but it will also create a connection between your brand and the season.
Festivals and Outdoor Events
Summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy your area’s fantastic festivals and outdoor events. From parks and beaches to festivals and food fairs, there is no shortage of fun and exciting activities to get involved with.
One way to make the most of these events is to partner with local organisers and become a sponsor. By doing so, you can get your brand in front of a large audience and show your support for the community. You can also give away flyers and offer your products for sale on-site, giving people a chance to try them out and fall in love with them.
But don’t stop there! Branded merchandising is another excellent way to promote your brand and get people talking about your products. Imagine people walking around wearing your branded sunglasses or sitting in your branded folding chairs (or, in the UK, under branded umbrellas). Not only will this create a buzz around your brand, but it will also help people associate your products with fun and excitement.
Another way to make the most of these events is to create a unique experience for attendees. Create your own branded stand at the event, using festival flags and a gazebo, and give your staff branded T-shirts to wear.
You could set up a photo booth with props that tie into your brand or offer a unique discount code for people who visit your stand. These little touches can go a long way in creating a memorable experience for people and turning them into loyal customers.
Outdoor catering and street food are really popular right now. Food businesses can make a big impression with branded menus, napkins and loyalty cards, and be sure to use hashtags on social media to generate awareness.
With a bit of creativity and some strategic planning, you can use these events to promote your brand, connect with new customers, and have a great time in the process!
Making the Most of Summer on Social Media
Summer is a time for fun in the sun, and what better way to capture those moments than on social media? With the rise of influencers and the popularity of sharing holiday photos, there’s never been a better time to get your brand involved in the summer social media scene.
Creating a dedicated hashtag for your brand is one way to get started. Encourage your followers to share their summer experiences while using your hashtag and tagging your brand. This increases engagement and brand visibility and creates a sense of community among your followers.
You can take it further by offering exclusive discounts and giveaways for those participating in your summer hashtag campaign. This not only incentivises your followers to participate but also creates a buzz around your brand and encourages others to get involved.
If you’re looking for another way to engage your audience this summer, consider hosting a social media contest. This can be built around a summer theme, such as the best beach photo or the most creative summer recipe. Just make sure to tailor the prize to your target audience, whether it’s a free product or service, a gift card, or a unique experience.
Finally (and this is not my area of expertise at all), you could partner with local influencers or bloggers who have a significant following in your target market to promote your products or services through sponsored posts, reviews, or giveaways.
By incorporating summer themes into your social media strategy, you can connect with your audience on a more personal level and increase your brand’s visibility.
Taking Advantage of Summer Promotional Opportunities
Summer is a time when people are out and about, enjoying the great outdoors and spending time with family and friends. And what better way to make the most of this time than by taking advantage of summer promotional merchandise?
One of the best ways to promote your brand during summer is by giving away branded items. These items include anything from beach towels and cooler bags to insulated bottles and sunglasses. By giving away these useful items, you show your customers how much you appreciate their business and create walking billboards for your brand.
Imagine your customers taking their branded beach towels to the beach or carrying their branded cooler bags to a picnic. Everywhere they go, they’ll promote your brand to everyone they meet. And the best part? These items are practical and valuable, so your customers will be happy to use them again and again.
But promotional items aren’t the only way to take advantage of summer marketing opportunities. You can also create summer-themed marketing campaigns that tap into the fun and excitement of the season. For example, you could create a summer-themed email campaign that offers exclusive discounts and promotions to your subscribers.
Partnering with other businesses is another way to make the most of summer promotional opportunities. For example, if you sell outdoor furniture, you could partner with a local landscaping company to offer a joint promotion. Or, if you sell barbecues, you could partner with a local butcher to provide a summer BBQ package.
Finally, as old-fashioned as it seems, traditional advertising methods like billboards, banners or A-boards strategically placed in high-traffic areas will capture the attention of passers-by during the summer months.
Overall, summer is a great time to promote your brand and connect with your customers. Remember to tailor these activities to your specific business goals and target audience. Also, it’s important to track the effectiveness of each promotional activity you do and adjust your strategy accordingly to maximise your marketing efforts.
Summer is a time to embrace the season, and these marketing ideas will help your brand do just that. So, what are you waiting for? Get started on creating some summertime fun that your customers won’t forget!
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