Summer is here, and with it comes the challenge of keeping your audience engaged. As people trade in their laptops for beach towels and their commutes for pool time, it can be tough to stay on the top of their minds. The holidays are far in the future and many people are simply spending less time shopping or looking for new services. 

You don’t have to let the summer slump get the best of you! With a little creativity and planning, you can keep your audience coming back for more even during the most fun season of the year. Read on for our top tips for keeping your audience engaged this season. 

Mix it Up with New Content Formats

Summer is the perfect time to try new content formats and mix things up. It keeps your website and social media fresh and you won’t be doing it during a high-risk time like the holiday season. It’s a great opportunity to experiment.

Go above and beyond the usual blog posts and try a video series showcasing your team’s summer adventures, interactive polls and quizzes that keep things light and fun, or behind-the-scenes peeks at your company’s summer events. This will not only keep your audience engaged but also provide a refreshing change of pace from the usual content.

You can also switch up your social media posts. Try going live, making reels, and doing longer-form videos about what your business offers. If possible, try following comedic trends on video sharing platforms like TikTok.

Make it Seasonal and Relevant

Tie your content to summer themes and trends to make it more relatable and relevant to your audience’s interests and lives. Create content that’s perfect for the season, such as summer bucket lists featuring your products or services, tips for staying cool and productive during the hot summer months, or seasonal promotions and limited-time offers that create a sense of urgency.

You can also focus on the summer holidays and events. Things like Father’s Day, Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, and all of the other summer celebrations are all relevant to your audience (to different degrees depending on who you’re targeting). While they may not be as big as the autumn and winter holidays and events, they’re still worth mentioning and using in your ads. If you have a brick-and-mortar store or you operate locally, try getting involved with local events to get your name out there. For example, a brewery may sponsor an event’s beer garden. A cosmetics company may set up a booth giving out sunscreen samples at a local beach event. This will help your audience connect with your brand on a deeper level.

Host a Summer Event or Webinar

Summer is a great time to host events, webinars, or workshops that bring your audience together. Choose topics that are relevant to your audience’s interests. Things like industry trends and insights, product demos or tutorials, and networking opportunities with other professionals can all go over well depending on who you’re targeting.

This will not only provide value to your audience but also help establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry. It’s also a fun way to shake up your marketing efforts. This is especially true for in-person events if you’re able to do them. Break up the monotony of your online efforts and bring people out into the real world for a more immersive experience. 

Get Social and Interactive

The busy summer season is the time to get social and engage with your audience in new ways. Host social media contests or giveaways and create summer-themed social media challenges (or follow challenges other brands have started to network). This will help increase engagement, drive brand awareness, and make your audience feel more connected to your brand.

This is also a good time to consider influencer marketing or UGC (user-generated content) if it makes sense for your brand. During the summer, people are still spending time online. Meet them where they are. 

Offer Exclusive Deals and Discounts

Who doesn’t love a good summer deal? If sales are slowing down, it’s time to give people an incentive to come in out of the summer sun and buy your products or services. There’s no better incentive than saving money. 

Offer exclusive discounts or promotions to your audience, such as limited-time offers for summer services, bundle deals on popular products, or free shipping or handling on summer orders (especially during the summer holidays). This will not only drive sales during what may be a slow time but also make your audience feel valued and appreciated.

Stay Consistent and Authentic

Consistency is key to keeping your audience engaged. Stick to your content calendar and continue to produce high-quality content that resonates with your audience. Be authentic and true to your brand’s voice and tone, and don’t be afraid to show your personality. 

While you’re changing things up, you should still stay recognizable unless you’re taking summer as an opportunity for a full re-brand. Your consistency will help build trust with your audience and establish your brand as a credible and reliable source of information and a more reputable provider of products or services.

Keep the Sales Going This Summer

Don’t let the summer slump get you down! By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your audience engaged all summer long. Stay creative, stay consistent, and stay on top of the minds of all of your customers (or future customers)!

With a little planning and creativity, you can create a summer content strategy that drives results and keeps your audience coming back for more all year long. 

Ready to beat the summer slump? Let’s chat about how the expert marketing team at Payani Media can help you create a summer content strategy that drives results. Reach out today to learn more.