5 Smart Summer Content Ideas to Keep Your Business Top-of-Mind During Vacation Season
Summer is often viewed as the “slow” season for small businesses—but in reality, it's one of the most active times for digital engagement. People are out and about, attending events, traveling, and most importantly - scrolling.
With more downtime and mobile use, your audience is still consuming content… they’re just doing it differently.
To help your business stay top-of-mind (and top-of-feed), here are five summer content ideas that can build community, boost visibility, and drive sales - even when your audience is on vacation mode!
1. Lean Into Local Events and Holidays
Summer is packed with moments to tap into - think July 4th, Pride Month, Austin’s iconic summer festivals, or neighborhood block parties. Use these events as creative content anchors.
Event-based content boosts visibility because it’s timely, relevant, and naturally shareable. You can align your brand voice with community vibes, show up at pop-ups or festivals, or create themed promotions around key dates.
Don’t just “announce” the event - create a full content loop. Tease it in advance, show behind-the-scenes prep, post during the event, and follow up with highlights or thank-yous. It’s a storytelling goldmine.
2. Showcase Behind-the-Scenes (with a Summer Spin)
Authenticity sells, especially in the summer when people are craving connection over perfection. Behind-the-scenes content - team moments, production sneak peeks, even office pets enjoying the sun - helps humanize your brand.
It builds trust and makes your business feel more personal. And in the age of TikTok and Reels, even a casual 10-second clip can outperform polished, static posts.
Use Stories or Reels to show “a day in the life” or “summer at our shop.” Feature team members or customers. The goal is to make people feel like they’re part of your world.
3. Create Limited-Time Summer Promotions
People love a good deal—but they act when there’s a sense of urgency and relevance. Summer-only promotions like “Beat the Heat Bundles,” “Vacation Essentials,” or “Flash Weekend Sales” give your audience a reason to buy now.
Scarcity + seasonality = a powerful combo. Plus, summer budgets are often directed at travel and entertainment—so you need to show how your offer adds value to their lifestyle right now.
Promote the sale with a countdown or a challenge (like “12 Days of Summer Perks”) to extend its reach and create excitement across your channels.
4. Refresh Your Visual Aesthetic for Summer
Don’t underestimate the power of visuals. Updating your brand’s color palette, photography, and even social templates to reflect summer can instantly signal to your audience that your content is current, intentional, and engaging.
Visual shifts catch attention, especially on fast-scrolling platforms like Instagram. Using bright, sunlit imagery, vibrant backgrounds, and outdoor settings helps your brand feel alive and in-season.
Here are some quick color tips to use!
Use warmer tones like coral, golden yellow, or sky blue
Incorporate seasonal props (beverages, flowers, sunglasses)
Shoot content outside, or use overlays with summer textures
5. Encourage User-Generated Content with a Seasonal Twist
Your customers are already living their best summer lives—why not let them co-create content with you? Prompt them to share photos, stories, or videos using your product or service, and reshare the best ones with proper credit.
UGC builds community, boosts trust, and gives you a steady stream of authentic content. It also tells your audience, “We see you, we value you, and you’re part of our brand story.”
Create a branded hashtag, offer a giveaway for participation, or set up a simple prompt like: “Where are YOU using (your product name) this summer? Tag us and we might feature you!”
The summer season isn’t a reason to slow down your marketing. It’s a chance to get creative, connect differently, and show up where your audience is already scrolling.
Use these five content ideas to keep your business relevant, relatable, and ready for growth all summer long!
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