Summer is the season of soaking up rays and being outside. Children are out of school, vacations are underway, and everyone is always on the go.
Summertime can be a challenging time for many businesses, though. The habits that make summer so much fun also change shopping and spending habits. However, if you adapt your summer ads and marketing strategy, you can capitalize on their summertime spending.
We’ve put together some quick advertising ideas that will help you do just that. Learn more below.
Quick Advertising Ideas for Summer
Weather-Triggered Marketing
The summer weather can play a big part in people’s day-to-day activities. You can take advantage of these micro-moments with summer ads specifically ready for weather situations, like extreme heat or rain. When consumers see that you are in tune with what is happening at any given moment, they will be inclined to connect more with your brand.
This strategy is especially advantageous for companies offering products and services that align with the weather. A perfect example of this might be advertising a light-weight rain jacket on a rainy day. Having an arsenal of ads and emails geared toward specific weather is a quick advertising idea that can show great rewards down the line.
Utilize Outdoor Marketing
On those beautiful sunny days, throw a sidewalk sale. Foot traffic is essential, and having your products on display as consumers walk by is a quick advertising idea that’s likely free.
If you’re a small or digital native brand with the right budget, you may even consider investing in a pop-up. Today’s consumers want memorable experiences, and there’s no better time for those experiences than the summer.
Even if your area has restrictions on sidewalk sales or pop-ups, a simple street sign, billboard, or bus wrap with a catchy value proposition will get your brand noticed in no time. It’s all about having summer ads where people are most likely to see them – and during the warm months, that’s outdoors.
Take Part in Outdoor Events
While you’re at it, another quick advertising idea is to reach out to other organizations in your community and collaborate on events. Align your business locally with sporting events, street fairs, block parties, and festivals throughout the summer. You’ll be able to get your brand, products, and services in front of new customers just by affiliation. Sponsoring these events is a way to ensure even higher visibility, with your logo present on all of the event collateral.
Local event involvement will build credibility and trust for your brand. Customers will start to think of your business as a pillar of the community and will want to support that. That word of mouth support is invaluable.
A bonus to getting involved with local events is your business showing up in search engines, like Google or Bing, for local searches, like “things to do near me.”
Messaging and Imagery
We all know that advertising is about reaching your target market for new and existing customers in the right place at the right time. One of the most unfortunate marketing mishaps, even when you are reaching the right people, is to have messaging and images out of sync with the season.
Try drawing your summer target audience in with summer ads and displays that are new and exciting. Highlight what summer is all about with summer ad verbiage – think “Sizzlin’ Summer Deals” or “Summertime Special Offers.” Capture interest with quality content photos and images that appeal to the active, recreational nature of summer.
Take Advantage of Summer Holidays
There are great opportunities to align PR and summer ads with holidays or summer-themed days. Of course, there are the standard holidays that most businesses capitalize on, like Memorial Day and Independence Day. However, you can also try posting interactive polls and contests for lesser known things, like National Hot Dog Day or National Parks Week.
This light-hearted strategy can be a fun way to get your customers to post their favorite unique hot dog recipes, for example, on Facebook, Twitter, and your other social media platforms. This quick advertising idea can generate viral brand engagement if done right.
Summer Gifts and Giveaways
A great way to grab attention and draw customers in is with a free giveaway. Everyone loves something for nothing. What can your business offer that shoppers would appreciate? It could be something as simple as a branded frisbee or beach bag.
Try to make these marketing ideas relevant to your company. Do you offer a service that would allow someone more free time to enjoy summer activities? Focus on what your customers might value most, don’t just make swag for the sake of making swag.
Market to Last-Minute Customers
As summer starts to draw to a close, business owners or marketers should change their messaging and strategy again. Focus on an end-of-summer blowout sale or some other message that aligns your brand with the season. This seasonal message shift will signal to returning and potential customers that your brand is plugged in and ready to cater to their needs.
The closing of the summer season is the time to play on urgency and push those last-minute deals. Do a countdown, making the deals more and more desirable by offering inexpensive 2-day shipping or discounts on summer-related items. This will grab the attention of those who waited until the last minute and make you the easy and quick choice.
Got Questions?
If you have any questions about any of these quick advertising ideas or the services that we offer, do not hesitate to reach out or call 818-703-0218. You can also visit our website to learn more about our media buying and planning services.
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