Summer is the perfect time to launch some summer marketing ideas that take advantage of the season. With people feeling relaxed and receptive to new places and activities, it may be the perfect time to reach people in an unexpected way with your messages about your product or service. We’ve put together a list of great summer marketing ideas that can heat up your engagement with current customers as well as your outreach to new ones.
1) Partner or Participate in Local Summer Sporting Events
The warm weather brings different types of sporting events to every community. Golf outings, tennis tournaments, swim meets, baseball games, and even 5K runs come out to shine. Typically, lots of sponsorship and/or branding opportunity exists (think golf holes, banners, ads in programs, swag bag novelties) in each of these types of events. This is a particularly good summer marketing idea for any company with a service or software. If you are marketing a consumer product, you may even be able to provide free samples or experiential encounters on-site at these events.
2) Create a Local Event
How about launching your own summer event to reach the community? To make it even more worthwhile, partner with a local nonprofit who shares your company’s mission and values. It could be as typical as a 5K run or as unusual as a rubber duck race down a local river. Either way, this is a summer marketing idea that can connect with your audience while raising money for a good cause.
3) Parades
While July 4 is the big day for parades in this country, the summer is dotted with other parades that celebrate seasonal events around the country too. Parades provide an opportunity for hyperlocal brand awareness in an impactful way. Be creative as you plan your parade entry. Can you use clever signage? Hand out a branded novelty item? Use a mascot? Show your playful side with chorography or an original float? Any investment you make can most likely be used in the following year’s parade as well!
4) Generosity to the People
A few years ago, amusement parks started using sponsored and branded “misting stations” to cool their patrons. For the sponsoring companies, it was a way to get their name out to the masses while providing what people needed at the right time—soothing (not soaking) cool mist to keep them at the amusement park in comfort. It’s the same reason many stores offer cold water to patrons, even though some people just come into the store to escape the heat. Showing this kind of generosity is an important way to connect with others and portray yourself as a brand who cares. What can you do to show care for your audience at the time they need it most?
5) Summer-ize Your Ads and Social Media Images
Summer is a great time to change up the ordinary. How can you playfully bring summer into the ads you typically run or your social media cover image? Changing it up with a little sun-soaked humor can bring new life to an old campaign!
6) Create a Summer Sale
If summer sales are not part of your typical marketing plan, they are worth considering. Summer is a great time for sidewalk sales, or to call attention to discounts on merchandise that you need to clear. For services, look at the holidays in the summer and see if it makes sense to tie a discount with your particular product or service. See a list of the “biggies” below. Don’t forget those funky “national days,” like “National Hot Dog Day” on July 5 or “National Trail Day” on June 4. They can provide inspiration too!
Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
June 6 (D-Day, WWII)
June 14 Flag Day
Father’s Day (third Sunday in June)
June 19 Juneteenth (observance days vary)
July 1 Canada Day
July 4 Independence Day
August 14 V-J Day
August-Back to School Month
Always remember to promote any summer sales throughout all your marketing communication channels, including your social media, newsletters, etc.
7) Use the Outdoors
People spend more time outside in the summer so let your imagination run wild with summer marketing ideas. Try sidewalk chalk outside your store to advertise a sale or skywriting or airplane banners which will stand out and grab attention against the pristine, blue summer sky. Place your message in summer hot spots, like parks and pools.
Embrace summer in your marketing. It’s a time to reach people in a special way at a special time. And if you’re looking for summer marketing ideas or marketing ideas at any time of the year, call us today at JJR Marketing.