By: 1Milk2Sugars

What is it about September? It’s like the moment the calendar flips we’re ready to channel all-things cozy and frolic through a pumpkin patch. It doesn’t even matter that it’s still warm hot outside, we just want a cowl-neck sweater and a cup of cider when September hits. Am I right?

Of course September is about much more than just the start of Hygge season. It also marks one of the biggest weeks in the marketing calendar. (not to mention the moment parents everywhere have been counting down to since June).

You guessed it, I’m talking about Back to School!

A+ Tips for Back-to-School Marketing  

If you’re asking yourself why back to school is such an opportune time for marketing your business, I have two simple words for you! Fresh start.

The fact is, people associate going back to school with a new beginning. And that spells good news for businesses looking to attract new customers or welcome back existing ones. It’s a calendar event no lifestyle brand wants to pass up when planning their campaigns and social media strategies for the year.

So without further ado, here are our Sugar-tested strategies for how to (ahem) make the grade with your back-to-school marketing:

  • Run a Back-to-School-Themed Giveaway: There’s nothing like the prospect of free stuff to build energy and buzz around a new school year. It’s also a great way of engaging new followers, customers and the media. The key to running a successful giveaway is ensuring that it feels authentic and relevant to the moment. For example, a ‘fresh skin, fresh start’ campaign would be great messaging for a skincare giveaway. Because it feels deliberate to the time of year. Get creative! The possibilities are endless.
  • Post Back-to-School Content Relevant to Your Brand: People want to know how your brand fits into their back-to-school routine, so make it easy on them! What do I mean? A beauty company might consider posting a ‘A 5-Minute Makeup Routine’ using their own products. While a health food brand might demonstrate ‘Energy-Boosting Smoothies to Power Kids Through Class.” The important thing is to figure out how your brand fits into your audience’s back-to-school way of life and go from there.
  • Create Content That’s Not Directly Tied to Sales: While it’s important that your brand is the star of your marketing, not everything you put out there should go to your bottom line. Instead, you should be mixing in helpful content geared towards making your customers’ lives a bit easier during a hectic time. Lunch-box ideas, back-to-school reading lists, backpack decorating tips and room organization hacks are just some examples of back-to-school-themed content you can have fun with on social media. These are the things that build brand affinity, loyalty, and appreciation from your customers. It’s the value-add that keeps them coming back for more!
  • Tap Into Trends: It can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends, but doing so is key to your marketing success this time of year! Thankfully, there are plenty of tools out there, like Google Trends, to provide insights about what students are interested in right now. If you’re a brand that caters to families, for example, you might consider tapping into the tie dye trend that’s all the rage among young kids. Staying on top of what’s new and ‘hot’ will demonstrate to your audience that you’re in tune with their wants and needs.
  • Offer Targeted Discounts to Parents, Students & Teachers: According to couponing website RetailMeNot.com, 25% of parents surveyed said finding the best deals on back-to-school items is a source of stress. While another 25% report feeling anxious about how much money they’re going to spend overall. Why not cater to these customers with limited-time discounts on your products? And don’t forget the deserving teachers who often pay out-of-pocket to set-up their classrooms. Give them a break too and your goodwill will be rewarded!

There’s a palpable buzz in the air the minute September rolls around as families gear up for back-to-school. Don’t get caught out in the cold by passing up this golden marketing opportunity! Take advantage of one (or more) of our tips and watch your business go to the head of the class!