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Business owners, on both large and local scales, typically experience a season of lighter consumer traffic during the warmer months. This “summer slump” may not apply to businesses located in trendy travel destinations, but those in college towns similar to the Quad Cities often notice a significant drop in sales when a large portion of their target market is no longer in the area. Despite the costs associated with rising inflation, the U.S. pandemic emergency is officially over, and nearly 85% of Americans intend to travel this summer. If you’re looking for ways to “beat the heat” of the summer marketing slump, keep reading for a list of tips and tricks.

Lean Into the Season of Summer

With summer in full swing, don’t be afraid to play into the facets of the season that people associate with it. Look for local marketing opportunities in your area that pertain to events like baseball games, cookouts, or pool parties. If you are running any deals, you might find it most successful to plan them around important dates. People expect deals around Labor Day and back-to-school time, leverage that to your advantage.

Additionally, you can focus on creating summer-themed content that entertains your audience and associates your brand with the joys of warm weather. Using the editing software of your choice, create themed posts easily and efficiently to boost traction on your website and social media profiles.

Run an Online Promotion

Like-and-share campaigns on social media are another tool that increases traffic, and ultimately sales, to your business or e-commerce site. You can ask your audience to interact with a post for a chance to win a prize/discount, or ask them to submit a photo, video, or testimonial to be entered into a drawing. By holding a summer-themed contest or giveaway, you are giving your audience a chance to directly interact with your company, spread your brand’s message to their feeds, and feel a sense of generosity in relation to your business. Not only is this good for marketing, but your public relations may also see an improvement as a result.

Remain Relevant and Consistent on Social Media

Don’t let the summer slump cause you to neglect your social media presence. If it feels like you’re at a loss for content, use the season to inspire new ideas. You can also build a stockroom of content just by capturing the seemingly “mundane” things about day-to-day business administration during the summertime. Humans are curious by nature and they may be interested in what you do behind the curtain. Transparency online has become a way to solidify brand loyalty, don’t be afraid to use this to your advantage.

Staying up to date on trends is another way to encourage people to return to your online profiles and increase conversions. Take a look at what videos or posts are receiving the most impressions and use those formats to create entertaining content that remains relevant to your brand’s overall message. This practice assists in grabbing the attention of your audience and increasing brand awareness.

In terms of remaining consistent on social media, it is best to create a calendar and schedule posts in advance. This helps you stay organized and ensure that posts are being sent out on a regular basis. If you find that remaining consistent on social media acts as an obstacle to your brand’s success, check out TAG’s social media services here.

Invest in the Power of Paid Search

While the above tips focus more on increasing organic traffic to your business, it is unwise to ignore the influence held by paid search. While content marketing and organic search tactics help to build and retain target markets over time, paid search can provide immediate results that directly increase sales. Paid search advertisements are implemented to garner individuals with a high buyer intent, leading to increased conversions among this demographic. While paid advertisements can seem like an overwhelming hindrance, they serve as an incredibly useful tool when exercised properly. At TAG, we have the expertise to guide your message through the endless sea of online content. If you’re looking to really reach your target audience and maximize your investment, read more about our media buying services here.

For more tips and tricks on how to beat the summer marketing slump, head over to the links below.

Boost Sales During Summer Slowdowns with These Tips

Avoid the Summer Slump In Business: 4 Tips to Keep Your Metrics Hot

 

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