5 Trending Topics to Guide Your Marketing Strategy for June and July 2018

The golden rule of business marketing is to cater to your audience’s interests, likes and needs -- without hitting them over the head with “buy this!” messaging all the time. Tapping into upcoming holidays, seasonal events and social media trends caters to what they’re doing and thinking about (and gives you wiggle room to promote a bit, too). Plus, when you contribute to popular conversations, you’re more likely to catch the attention of your current and potential customers.

Here are a handful of celebrations to add to your marketing calendar for the summer – just make sure the ones you choose line up with your brand.

Fourth of July

The whole community comes together to celebrate America's Independence Day, making it easy to promote events that are going on in your area. If you attend a fireworks show or parade, share the experience on social media, and make sure to use location-based tags. Restaurants and bakeries can create create red, white and blue desserts, or name specials after Americana. People expect sales on the Fourth of July, too, and you can take advantage of this by holding a one-day-only flash sale.

Graduation Season

During graduation season, grads and families are going to be out and about a lot. Offer deals on weekend things-to-do while the whole family is together and celebrating, like catering, celebratory meals or party space for rent. Discounts on hotel rooms will be appreciated by visiting family, too. Create specialty foods in school colors, or name specials after local mascots. Connect with local students to find out their plans, and gear this toward your industry. For example, ask tech program graduates what their next steps are in the healthcare field. Share their stories on your blog and social media. Small businesses can offer limited-time discounts on products that new grads will need for their first job, like business cards, professional clothing or resume writing services.

National Give Something Away Day

July 15^th is National Give Something Away Day, and everyone loves a freebie. Plus, giving something away is one of the best newsletter list-building and new customer acquisition tactics out there. You can partake in this social media holiday whether you’re a brick-and-mortar shop or operate solely online, and whether you sell digital products or real ones. Offer free shipping, bundle freebies with purchases, or have a few major surprises to dole out to unsuspecting customers.

World Chocolate Day

No hospitality business should miss the opportunity to partake in the delicious World Chocolate Day on July 7^th. Make a sculpture out of chocolate, hold a chocolate-making class, host a chocolate-and-wine pairing dinner, create chocolate-infused drinks or entrees, or have complementary chocolate treats for your customers.

Ready to start thinking about August? National Book Lovers Day is August 9^th, and National Lazy Day is on the 10^th, closely by National Relaxation Day on the 15^th. You can also start planning for Labor Day and back-to-school prep in early September.