21 Summer marketing ideas to help your business shine in 2025

Source: Farmacy Beauty

2. Sell limited-edition summer products or special collections

Want a surefire strategy for boosting your sales this summer? Play on the idea of FOMO by offering products that are only available for a certain amount of time!

Many shoppers love picking up limited-edition items, and selling summer-themed products or introducing a summer-themed collection that they can buy for just a few months or even a few weeks can aid in triggering impulse purchases.  

Seasonal versions of products—like tropical scents, flavors, or summer-themed patterns—allow you to present exciting new items to your target audience and see how they fare. 

If they’re a hit, consider offering them the following year to give customers something to look forward to!

The Brooks Summer Melts collection features shoes with an ice cream theme to celebrate summer and National Ice Cream Day.

Source: Brooks Running

3. Try pop-up events or stands

Although you might have an online store, it never hurts to have a pop-up event or stand and meet potential customers in person. 

Selling face to face allows you to let people see the human who exists behind the business and answer shoppers’ questions directly. 

Whether your event takes place locally or across the country, holding it during the summer will likely offer you more flexibility in terms of being able to sell outdoors. 

You might, for instance, set up at beaches, parks, or summer festivals to showcase your products or services.

You should feel free to spread the word about your event as much as possible, as clothing brand Octobre Editions does in this fun video on Instagram!

Source: Octobre Editions

4. Avail of user-generated content 

User-generated content (UGC) is a valuable tool for businesses looking to boost engagement and build consumer confidence with their customer base.

Sharing content created by your followers helps them to feel seen and appreciated, strengthening their connection with your store. 

This in turn can lead to increased brand loyalty, positive word of mouth, and product sales. 

For your summer marketing strategy, encourage users to share photos using your product during their summer adventures with a specific hashtag.

You can alternatively take a more general approach like REI, where the company simply requested that their audience post photos of themselves enjoying the great outdoors with the #OptOutside hashtag.

Source: REI

5. Partner with influencers for summertime content

A great way to expand your business’s reach is by collaborating with influencers on social media or other platforms to promote your offerings to their followers. 

Known as influencer marketing, this popular strategy can be successful for all kinds of brands due to it being similar to people getting product or service recommendations from a trusted friend or family member.

In fact, Sprout Social states that the results of the 2024 Influencer Marketing Report indicate that 86% of consumers make influencer-inspired purchases at least once annually.  

Take advantage of this powerful marketing tactic and partner with content creators who specialize in travel, fashion, fitness, or food for your summer campaigns.

For instance, check out how Uniqlo partners with TV personality Amanda Batula to shine the spotlight on their bra tops, ideal for summer vacays.

Source: Uniqlo USA and Amanda Batula

6. Hold a summer sale

One of the best ways to boost your revenue in the summertime is to launch special sales, tempting shoppers with enticing promotions. 

Keep in mind that you don’t need to knock 50% off your offerings to get people to buy—even a small discount that’s only available for a limited time, say a week or a month, can pique their curiosity and build a sense of urgency to make a purchase before time runs out!

A nice thing about this marketing idea is that there are all kinds of different sales you can create during this period.

As the weather heats up, you might, for instance, offer discounts based on what temperature it is outside.

Another approach is to get patriotic and have a sale to celebrate Independence Day, highlight Labor Day, or shine the spotlight on another national holiday.  

And as you can see with this Sephora example, even a general summer sale will do!

Source: Sephora

7. Sponsor local outdoor summer events

Large and small businesses alike can benefit from getting involved with their local community by hosting special outdoor events in the summertime for people to enjoy.

By sponsoring local events, such as a 5K race, outdoor movie, farmers market, etc., you can

boost your business’s visibility before, during, and after the event via social media, emails, and even print ads. 

If your budget doesn’t allow for sponsorships, consider participating in a local event instead. With this strategy, you’ll still be able to connect with your community, boost brand awareness, and have fun in the process!

In this example from LEGO, the company delights fans of the colorful bricks by making it possible to take a LEGO-themed boat ride on the River Seine in Paris.

Source: LEGO

8. Curate a summer playlist

There’s something about the warmth of the sun, longer days, and fresh breezes that calls for a curated set of tunes to serve as the perfect soundtrack as you get ice cream on the boardwalk, catch some waves, go for a run at sunset, or lie on the beach or poolside with your favorite beverage in hand!

Help your customers get in the summertime mood by creating a shareable playlist that reflects your brand’s vibe on Spotify, Apple Music, or another streaming platform.

You can add your (or your team’s) favorite music, or you might opt to get your audience’s input by asking them via an Instagram Story poll what summer-themed songs they’d like included. 

Whether your collection of tunes is upbeat, chill, nostalgic, or dreamy, don’t forget to promote your playlist and tell people how to find it, as Cult Beauty does in this Instagram post. 

Source: Cult Beauty

9. Shine the spotlight on Father’s Day

Occurring on the third Sunday of June every year in the US, Canada, the UK, France, India, Japan, and other countries around the world, Father’s Day is a holiday that celebrates dads, fatherhood, and fathers’ influence in society.

According to Statista, 75% of consumers in the US expected to celebrate Father’s Day in 2024, with total predicted spending amounting to around $22.4 billion for Father’s Day that year.

With all the sales potential that lies with this holiday, it’d be a shame not to take advantage of it!

You might, for instance, curate a selection of special items for dads or provide a discount code like Eden Perfumes does in the example below.

Source: Eden Perfumes

10. Provide educational summer content

Regardless of what you sell, supplying your audience with educational content, whether in the form of an infographic, video, blog article, etc., demonstrates that you care about more than just making a sale.

Sharing informative summer-related content that can benefit your target market is an excellent way to increase brand awareness and authority, leading to more trust in your business and what you have to offer.  

This summer, think about offering helpful seasonal tips, delicious recipes, how-to lists, or tutorials to assist both your current and potential customers.

In the following post, Zooplus UK details what summer fruits to avoid giving to dogs due to their toxicity when ingested by our canine companions.

Source: Zooplus UK

11. Get your audience excited about summer

Although it’s always good to treasure the season you’re currently in, it can also be nice to look forward to the future.

Start to build anticipation for summer in the spring by sharing content that evokes all the major themes associated with the season: freedom, relaxation, warmth, and exciting new possibilities! 

This is also a wonderful opportunity to tease an upcoming product launch or special promo, perhaps by even doing a countdown in the days leading up to the first day of summer.

Even if you don’t have any new product releases planned, think about how you can subtly promote your current offerings in your blog post, image, story, or video, as done by Herbivore Botanicals.

Source: Herbivore Botanicals

12. Design limited-edition summer packaging

Designing limited-edition summer packaging is a smart marketing move—it grabs attention, boosts seasonal sales, and creates a sense of urgency. 

Shoppers love fresh, vibrant designs that evoke summer vibes like sun, surf, and fun! 

To make it shine, keep your branding clear, use bold colors and seasonal themes, and promote it with summer-specific campaigns. 

Think beach days, barbecues, and tropical escapes.

Here’s some summer packaging to inspire you from Coca-Cola!

Source: Packly

13. Show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community

Dedication to LGBTQIA+ issues shouldn’t be a once-a-year activity. It’s important to stay committed all year long.

But with June being Pride Month, it’s the perfect month to focus on the LGBTQIA+ community and demonstrate your support!

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to crafting a successful campaign that shines the spotlight on Pride Month, authenticity is key. 

Instead of pushing sales, let your audience know what actions and steps you’ve taken to assist the LGBTQIA+ community. 

You might also opt to give LGBTQIA+ community members a platform to share their stories, like in this video from Levi’s.

Source: Levi’s

14. Celebrate a lesser known summer holiday

While Father’s Day and Independence Day are big holidays in the summer marketing calendar, they certainly aren’t the only ones you can use in your strategy! 

For a creative twist, think about including lesser known summer celebrations in your campaigns, from the serious to the goofy, depending on what you think will best resonate with your customers.

In need of some inspo? Here are a few options to consider:

• World Music Day (June 21)
• World Social Media Day (June 30)
• World UFO Day (July 2)
• World Chocolate Day (July 7)
• International Friendship Day (July 30)
• International Cat Day (August 8)
• National Book Lovers Day (August 9)
• National Relaxation Day (August 15)
• International Dog Day (August 26)
• International Day of Charity (September 5)
• International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19)

A simple post on social media to call attention to the holiday, free shipping or a special discount on all orders that day, or a product launch tied to the celebration like Funko did with the Garfield with Mug creation for International Cat Day… It’s up to you how far you want to take it!

Source: Funko

15. Tie in wedding season

Wedding season is generally the period between late spring and early autumn, with the summer months being right in the middle. 

Though the most popular times to get married will vary based on where you’re located in the world, incorporating weddings into your summer marketing is a strategy that can help you appeal to a specific customer base and increase your business’s revenue. 

Campaigns for wedding season might entail targeting engaged couples, wedding guests, or even both groups, depending on what you sell. 

If applicable to your brand and your audience, consider how to promote your offerings in a fun, creative way, taking inspiration from Lulus! 

Get inspired for your future email newsletters with this well-crafted example by Commodity, highlighting their Juice fragrance.

Source: Commodity

17. Highlight your personal summer favorites

Sharing your favorite summer products is a good way to not only advertise your offerings but also show your customers the human behind the brand. 

Whether shared in an image or video, this marketing idea allows for plenty of flexibility in how you get your message across to your audience.

Furthermore, you aren’t limited to just talking about your fave products for the summertime—you can also discuss beloved summer traditions or your top spots for roadtrips, for instance!

If you have a team, like at Drunk Elephant, consider asking them to share their favorite items too!

Source: Drunk Elephant

18. Have a back-to-school prep campaign

Just like how it’s advantageous to start pushing your summer product catalog in spring, you’ll want to begin promoting your autumnal offerings as summer winds down.

This is where a back-to-school campaign can come in handy, especially if your audience includes students or parents.

Depending on where your target market tends to return to classes, telling them about your back-to-school must-have items in advance like haircare brand Amika can ensure that they have your offerings in mind as fall approaches, giving you a head start on the competition.

Source: Amika

19. Create travel or road trip-themed content

With the warmer weather and kids being out of school, June, July, and August are prime traveling months for many people.

Whether it involves an annual trip to the family cottage or an international voyage to someplace new and exciting, summertime vacations offer plenty of opportunities to make wonderful memories that can be cherished for years to come.

Of course, having the right supplies on hand can make traveling all the more enjoyable.

You can capitalize on this summer marketing idea by framing your product as a travel essential, just like Sézane does in this post. 

Source: Sézane

20. Post tasty summer foods

For many people, food is one of the best parts of summer, with many delicious items to fill up your plate: barbecued chicken, grilled veggies, apple pie, corn on the cob, pasta salad, watermelons, strawberries, fresh salads, and more!

Incorporating food into your summer marketing strategy helps you appeal to your customers’ tastebuds and increase engagement.

Why not share your favorite summer recipes in a social media post, in your newsletter, or on your blog?

Note that you don’t need to limit yourself to recipes for humans—pets enjoy tasty summer treats too! 

Here, Chewy shares an easy-to-make watermelon mocktail recipe for dogs.

Source: Chewy

21. Offer summer loyalty program bonuses

According to an early 2024 Statista study, 68% of consumers in the US consider loyalty programs to be somewhat or very important when picking a brand.

If you don’t already have a customer loyalty program in place for your business, now’s the moment to start one!

Already rewarding loyal customers? Think about stepping it up in the summertime and giving extra points or rewards for purchases made during this period to encourage purchases and keep shoppers coming back for more.

You could, for example, multiply customers’ points for all purchases made during the first week of July or even for the entire month. 

To create an even more enjoyable shopping experience for loyal customers, you could combine loyalty program bonuses with other promotions, such as a discount for program members, as seen in this example with Ulta Beauty.

Source: Ulta Beauty

Ready to turn up the heat on your business’s marketing strategy this summer?

As the sun shines brighter and temperatures rise, it’s the perfect time for you to heat up your strategy with fresh summer marketing ideas. 

Whether you’re launching a seasonal offer, riding the wave of a National Ice Cream Month promo in July, or celebrating a fun weekly theme in August, there’s no shortage of ways to create buzz. 

Summer is a golden opportunity to engage your audience through social media, connect with your community, and bring your brand to life with vibrant, memorable campaign ideas. 

Each week and month brings new reasons to celebrate and market creatively. 

With a little planning and a lot of inspiration, your business will thrive during this energetic season. 

So dive into these summer marketing ideas and make this your hottest season yet—because success doesn’t take a vacation, but it definitely loves the sunshine!