Fun in the Sun! How to Keep Your Content Marketing Playful during the Summer

Whether summer is a busy or a slow time of year for your business, one fact remains the same: it’s all about fun! This summer, try experimenting with the following approaches to engaging your audience during the summer months.

1. Have Fun with Holidays and Seasonal Activities

Use an upcoming holiday or seasonal activity to engage with your audience. Choose the holiday or seasonal activity that is relevant to your brand and aligns with your audience’s interests.

Here are a few ideas:

July

• National Blueberry Month
• 7/13: World Cup Final
• 7/13-7/14: Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and Homerun Derby
• 7/23 Hot Dog Day

August

• Water Quality Month
• 8/3 National Watermelon Day
• 8/5: Work Like a Dog Day
• 8/13 Filet Mignon Day
• 8/15: Relaxation Day
• 8/22: Hug Your Boss Day

So, let’s say that you work for the local humane society. You might want to do something for “Work Like a Dog Day.” You could:

1. Create a blog that details the day in the life of one of the dogs in your shelter
2. Design a “Work Like a Dog” meme using a picture of an adorable dog with its tongue hanging out
3. Make a YouTube video of your dogs playing catch

And don’t think that B2B marketers can’t get in on the summertime fun. Marketo, for example, has done a great job of capitalizing on the World Cup hype. Brands are projected to spend nearly $75 million on advertising, sponsorships, and social media campaigns, and Marketo has been there to compare their efforts. Check out the World Cup of Marketing.

Still struggling to think of fun, summery ideas? Here are a few more:

• Beer and Cheese Pairing Suggestions
• Grilled Pizza Recipes
• Unique Summertime Destinations
• How to Make a Watermelon Margarita
• Tips for Building a Backyard Waterslide

2. Play with New Social Networks

It’s summer! You need to have some fun, too! Why not utilize a new social network to engage with your audience? Take advantage of some down time and experiment with with other social networks such as Instagram or Pinterest. Additionally, you could explore some of the up-and-coming networks for 2014 such as Nextdoor, Medium, and Mobli.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few resources:

Instagram

Pinterest

Medium

In short…

This summer, remember to dazzle and engage with your audience by using unique content and trying out new social networks. In the meantime, leave a comment with examples of your favorite summertime marketing campaigns!

Thanks for reading and happy summer!

-Sean

Image credit: Raffaele Camardella on Flickr