Ah, summer! The season of sun-soaked adventures, sandy beaches, and well-deserved vacations. As a consultant, you know the importance of taking time off to recharge and rejuvenate. But what about your business marketing? You don’t want to lose momentum when you’ve worked so hard to increase your visibility over the first half of the year.
With some careful planning and a dash of automation, you can ensure your marketing efforts continue to thrive while you're sipping piña coladas by the pool. In this blog post, we'll dive into the secrets of preparing your marketing for the summer and keeping the momentum going, even when you're taking a well-deserved break.
Set Your Summer Marketing Goals
To kick things off, it's crucial to define your marketing goals for the summer. Are you looking to attract new clients, nurture existing relationships, or promote a new service? Whatever your objectives may be, jot them down and keep them front and center throughout your summer marketing journey.
If you don’t have specific targets over the summer, it’s a great opportunity to create content that provides pure value for your network and potential clients. They might also be relaxing by a pool, but many will be taking the opportunity to catch up on reading or check in with old contacts. Quality content they can get their teeth into might just be the reminder they need to reconnect with you when they get back to work.
Create Captivating Content
Content is queen, and during the summer, it becomes your most loyal marketing companion. Craft a content calendar that outlines your blog articles, social media posts, and email newsletters. Share valuable insights, tips, and industry updates that resonate with your target audience. Make your content engaging, energetic, and filled with the sunny vibes of summer.
Marketing works best when it meets your readers where they are right now. So put yourself into their sandals, what would catch your eye when you’re taking some downtime? Good content ideas for summer include:
A summer reading list of must-read books for professionals in your industry. Include a brief synopsis and highlight key takeaways from each book. This valuable resource will provide your audience with educational and engaging material to explore during their downtime.
Interviews with industry experts, thought leaders, or successful professionals. Ask them about their experiences, insights, and lessons learned. Share these interviews through blog posts, podcasts, or video content to provide valuable perspectives and inspire your audience.
Successful client projects or industry case studies. Highlight your expertise and problem-solving capabilities. Discuss the challenges faced, strategies implemented, and measurable outcomes achieved. This sort of content not only provides valuable insights but also builds trust in your consultancy services.
Personal reflections and lessons learned from your experiences. Offer valuable insights and actionable advice based on challenges faced, successes achieved, and professional growth. Authentic and relatable stories resonate with readers and provide them with practical wisdom.
Advice on time management, goal setting, and maintaining focus amidst potential distractions. These practical tips will resonate with professionals seeking a balance between relaxation and productivity.
If prepping enough quality content to see you through the summer feels like an onerous task, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to engage with a copywriter.
Look for a writer who has experience working with consultants and has a reputation for delivering quality content. Get tips about how to select and work effectively with a copywriter here.
Automate!
While you're busy catching waves or hiking mountains, your social media channels shouldn't sit idle. Embrace the wonders of automation by using tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social. Schedule your social media posts in advance, and watch as your accounts buzz with activity, even when you're lounging in a hammock.
Similarly, if you’ve been emailing your list regularly, don’t lose momentum by going quiet. You probably use an email service provider such as ConvertKit or Mailchimp to send out your emails, so just make sure you have enough content scheduled to see you over the summer.
Even if you automate, though, it’s important to set aside some time to engage. If you’re taking a complete break–and who can blame you!–outsource your social media and email management so you can relax with the peace of mind that your accounts are being monitored for any customer inquiries, comments, or mentions.
Analyze and Optimize!
Upon your return from vacation, take the time to review your marketing performance. Dive into analytics to measure the impact of your efforts. Analyze key metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, and conversion rates. Identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to optimize your marketing strategy moving forward.
And take a note of the content that connected most this summer. Often it’s possible to reuse and repurpose seasonal content in the future, so ensure you have a smart system for keeping it organized so you can revisit next year!
Summer Marketing Success for Consultants
Follow these simple tips and you can retain your marketing momentum even when you’re taking a well-deserved break.
The key is to create content that delivers value, educates, and inspires your audience, even when they're taking time off.
By providing valuable resources and insights, you can captivate readers and strengthen your relationship with them during the summer months. And get ahead of your competitors, who might well not be so well-organized!
If you need help to prepare quality email, LinkedIn, and blog content ahead of your summer break, let’s chat! We can create a summer backpack of quality content, so you can stay top of mind with your network, even while you’re relaxing!
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