5 tips for getting more from your summer social media strategy
Most of us look forward to summer but the summer season can actually mean the dreaded summer slump for many businesses – particularly those that aren’t seasonal. As people plan to spend more time outside and with friends, businesses tend to experience a bit of a slower season. While this certainly presents its challenges, there’s also an opportunity to have some fun and test the waters.
Here are 5 tips for getting more from your summer social media strategy.
Mix things up
Think about your social media content right now, what do you typically post everyday? Maybe you mostly stick to static images, maybe you publish the occasional video. Summer is the perfect time to mix things up a bit and try something new. Here are a couple ideas for mixing things up:
Post Instagram Stories: Stories are great because they allow you to have some fun, show some personality, and even be a bit more casual – and they only last 24 hours! You can also utilize Instagram Stories stickers such as quizzes and polls to encourage your audience to engage with your business.
Post a Reels video: An Instagram Reels video is a vertical video that is short and entertaining – and they’re super popular right now. In fact, according to Influencer Marketing Hub, Reels receive 22% more engagement than regular Instagram video posts. We suggest checking out other Reels videos, such as those from your competitors, to get some inspiration. Pro Tip: Before posting, check out the Reels section to find trending audio (these will be marked with an upward arrow) to reach more users.
Change up your posting schedule: You can also change up your social media editorial calendar. Try adding an additional post every week with a new theme, such as a meme or quote.
Make sure you keep track of the things that seem to work, such as the posts that lead to more engagement, so that you can do similar content in the future.
Try something new
While things slow down, it’s a great time to try something new and exciting – think of it as a trial period. Have you been wanting to join TikTok? Plenty of businesses, both small and large, are joining the app, having some fun, engaging with consumers, and growing their presence online. Maybe you’ve been wanting to start a blog? You may have a little extra time to plan out and write some quick blogs! The summer slowdown gives you the opportunity to put some thought and effort into trying something you’ve always wanted to do.
Boost your content/Create an ad
If you’re starting to feel a bit of a slump, you can try boosting one of your posts or creating an ad. This will give you the opportunity to reach more people than you typically would organically. The best part is you can start small on many platforms including Facebook and Instagram. That means you don’t have to make a huge investment. For example, on Instagram and Facebook, you can customize how much you want to spend per day and for how many days – and they’ll tell you the types of results you can expect. This offers flexibility so that you can choose what’s right for your budget and your goals.
Host a giveaway/contest
While many businesses offer giveaways during the gift giving season, the summer season is a great time to launch a summer contest. While a contest may not make sense for everyone, it’s a great option for those wanting to inject some excitement into their summer social media strategy. This will especially work well for those launching a new product or service or those who are lifestyle, fashion, or food and beverage brands. The prizes don’t need to be big or elaborate. For example, if you’re launching a new product or a series of summer products (i.e., a summer jewelry line) you can host a giveaway for that. This is also a great way to get a quick boost in your followers (make sure you make it an entry requirement that they follow you) and those who end up enjoying your content will continue to follow your business on social media.
Quick note: Check out the rules associated with each social media platform you plan on launching a contest on as they are not all the same!
Work with influencers
Partnering with influencers is a great option because it gives you the opportunity to reach a wider audience and gives your business a little more street cred – so to speak. It also works because you can build mutually beneficial relationships with the influencers you work with. Consumers trust influencers, in fact, according to Digital Marketing Institute, 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations. Here are a few guides for your influencer marketing:
6 reasons why you need everyday influencers as brand ambassadors
3 things you need to know about small business influencer marketing
We hope these tips help you get more from your summer social media strategy, but if you want to avoid the summer slump but aren’t sure where to start or feel like you don’t have the right resources, we can help! Book your FREE 20-minute consultation and let’s see how we can heat up your summer social media strategy!