Sizzle & Sell: 6 summer marketing ideas to boost sales & engagement
Sunshine, vacations, outdoor events, and relaxed schedules – it’s summer and we are sooooo ready for it! However, as we’ve mentioned in past, the warmer months can also mean distracted customers, changing routines, and different spending patterns. Throw in talks of a recession and it can feel a little overwhelming when it comes to business. It’s more important than ever to just lean into it. Lean into summer’s energy and adapt your marketing to meet your audience where they are. Remember, it’s always about your customer.
Here are 6 tips to help your marketing campaigns truly shine this summer.
1: Tap into summer lifestyles
Summer is typically slower, and your audience is going to be spending more time outside and relaxed whenever they can. Align your messaging and visuals with summer activities and emotions. Think: adventure, relaxation, family fun, outdoor living, wellness, and connection.
For example, a boutique fitness studio might offer weekly themed outdoor classes like yoga in the park or beach bootcamps. It could be called “Sweat & Shine Summer Series” and offer branded summer swag like water bottles and towels as a sign-up incentive. Take it one step further and partner with a local smoothie or juice bar for post-class discounts.
2: Offer limited-time seasonal products or promotions
Time-bound offers can create a sense of urgency when it comes to purchase. Having a summer-exclusive product or promotion encourages customers to act quickly if it’s only available for a short time.
A great example of this is when Tim Horton’s partnered up with Justin Bieber for TimBiebs. There are limited edition Timbit flavours and customers could purchase swag. The swag sold out quickly and lineups were long with customers trying to get their hands on it. You don’t have to be a big brand to tap into this though. For example, a local ice cream shop could introduce limited edition summer flavours to encourage foot traffic. There is a lot of fun to be had with teaser campaigns before the flavours even launch.
3: Embrace outdoor & community events
Summer is the time for events and festivals, farmers markets, community fairs, and even kids’ sports teams. Events are a great way to build brand visibility and connect face-to-face with your audience. Sometimes you need to embrace the real life opportunities.
For example, A home décor company could set up a “Summer Style Lounge” pop-up at an outdoor music festival, offering attendees a cool place to relax. Not only with attendees enjoy it, but it’s a great way to showcase the products in use. Everyone wants to try before they buy whenever they can!
4: Create summer-themed social media content
Summer is the perfect reminder that social media should be social. Focus on creating content that is shareable and interactive. Take it a step further and launch that user-generated content campaign you have been thinking about. People tend to document their vacations and experiences more in the summer.
If you have a clothing or accessories brand you could launch an Instagram contest asking people to share photos of them wearing your brand on their summer adventures.
5: Adjust your timing & tone
Most businesses see customer behaviour change throughout the year. A big shift often happens in the summer when customers have different habits – spending more time outside, online less, varying schedules, etc. Test different posting times and consider using lighter, more playful tones in your messaging.
For example, keep an eye on your open rates for e-newsletters. If your open rates are down during the week, consider trying a weekend email in the evening with a more casual vibe.
6: Promote experiences over products
Honestly, we’re fans of this throughout the year, but your audiences will generally prioritize experiences during the summer. Position your offerings in ways that enhance those experiences.
For example, if you have a skincare brand, you could market your moisturizers with SPF as “your BFF for patio brunches and beach days.” This puts more focus on a life experience rather than just selling your product.
You have to get in the right mindset to reach your audience during the summer. Be flexible, lean into the joy and spontaneity of the season, and look for ways to make your brand part of their best summer memories. What are your favourite summer brand moments?