When summer rolls around, content performance can look a little different depending on your industry. Some businesses may see a natural dip in engagement as audiences head out on vacation, while others may find this is the season when their followers are the most active. Either way, your strategy should shift with the season. If the heat is rising, so should your engagement! In this week’s blog post, we’re diving into five summer-ready content ideas to help your brand stay relevant, build community, and keep your social channels buzzing.
1. Bingo Cards That Spark Participation
During summer, people are always looking for creative ways to stay entertained, keep kids busy, or just escape the heat. That’s where bingo cards come in. Creating a branded summer bingo card on your social media is a fun and low-lift way to encourage engagement and highlight the unique offerings of your business. The key: Make it relevant to your products or services and include a reward for completing the card.
Ideas by Industry:
- Restaurant: Include each item from your summer menu. Guests can check off everything they try.
- Winery: Feature seasonal wine tastings, purchasing a bottle to-go, or attending a vineyard event.
- Home Goods Shop: Tasks like visiting your pop-up, attending craft night, buying a gift card, or making a first purchase.
Use colorful graphics, encourage followers to tag you when they complete a row, and feature winners on your page to build even more excitement.
2. Community Itineraries That Encourage Exploration
Want to build deeper local connections? Partner with a few complementary businesses nearby to create a Summer Itinerary. Think of it like a mini bucket list: one day, multiple stops, all within your part of town. This isn’t necessarily incentive-driven. It’s about highlighting experiences and building community.
Example: A coffee shop, pizza spot, book store, and antique market can collaborate to create “The Perfect Summer Day” itinerary. Post a visual map, share behind-the-scenes reels of each business, and cross-promote across platforms to expand your reach.
3. Party Planning Content for Every Celebration
Summer is full of events like Father’s Day, July 4th, back-to-school bashes, birthdays, and more. Use that to your advantage by curating content that helps people host stress-free, stylish events. This is a smart way to both promote products and create content that drives saves and shares.
Ideas by Industry:
- Restaurant: Highlight your summer catering menu in an Instagram carousel or Reel.
- Gift Shop: Promote ready-made goodie bags or party bundles with a “party in a box” theme.
- Bakery: Create party pack options (cupcakes + cookies + candles) and showcase them through short-form video content.
Include simple captions with tips like “Hosting this weekend? Don’t forget the dessert!” to keep it conversational and helpful.
4. Create a Challenge
Social media challenges are still one of the most effective ways to generate organic buzz. They’re interactive, easy to join, and can bring out the personality of your brand. Plus, adding a prize for participation (or for the most creative entry) adds extra incentive.
Examples:
- Pizzeria: Host a wild photo contest—your pizza at the beach, in a tree, or being flipped like a frisbee.
- Brewery: Challenge followers to try every beer on the menu and post a selfie holding it before Labor Day.
- Gym: Launch a “PR Challenge” and track who makes the biggest gains by summer’s end.
Use hashtags, feature submissions on Stories, and turn entries into weekly roundup posts to keep the momentum going.
5. Themed Giveaways That Feel Like Summer
Giveaways are always a crowd-pleaser, and summer is the perfect time to make them even more exciting. Choose a fun, useful prize that reflects the season and your brand’s vibe.
Great Prize Ideas:
- A branded cooler or koozie set
- A portable fan or premium sunscreen
- A gift card to your business or one of your summer products
Promote your giveaway through in-feed posts, Stories with countdown stickers, and even a pinned post if it’s a longer campaign. Encourage likes, comments, tags, and shares to maximize reach.
Summer’s too short for boring content. Whether you’re building community, spotlighting new products, or just giving your feed a seasonal refresh, these ideas can help drive real results while having a little fun.
Need help planning your summer social strategy? We’d love to work with you. Reach out today and let’s make this your brand’s best season yet.
