5 Back to School Marketing Tips
It is that time of the year again, but this year is much different from last. Students are finally able to get out of their houses and go back to school in person -- which means back to school shopping has returned. If you are a business that wants to market for back to school, you’ve come to the right place.
This post will cover five tips for the 2021 back to school marketing season, which include:
- Following Current Trends
- Making Social Media Content That is Specific to Back to School Products
- Offering Discounts or Promotions on Back to School Products
- Using Influencers to Engage and Promote Your Products
- Reaching a Specific Target Audience
Questions or comments? Contact us here.
Following Current Trends
Every year, “what is cool” changes, and it is important to stay up to date with the latest trends. It is important to shape your marketing strategy around the trends of the moment, and taking them into consideration when you include these trends on social media can help your business gain attraction.
For example, some 2021 trends are:
- DIY kits and products
- Online shopping
- Interactive posting on social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram
Although trends change year after year, it is important to stay up to date with them in order to gain the most traction for your business. Some trends that have died out can come back after many years, so even if they seem out of date they can be back stronger and more influential than they were before.
Making Social Media Content That is Specific to Back to School Products
Social media is a leading force in all of digital marketing. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, everyone has an account to at least one of them -- and your business should too. Social media is a great way to raise awareness for your business and services.
Simply posting pictures or status updates about your products can bring consumers in, and a dedicated social media marketing plan can go a long way. If you are trying to gain attention from back to school consumers, then it is important to have specific back to school products or marketing campaigns they would find useful and enjoy.
This can include:
- Clothing: Summer and Winter
- Backpacks
- School Supplies
- New Bedding for College Students
- Laptops
- Protectors for all Electronics
- Marketing campaigns that offer helpful tips for conquering the school year
- Campaigns aimed at parents shopping for their children’s back to school supplies
Along with posting the product, having your business’ ads circling the internet is another great way for your business to gain exposure. This can include display ads, search ads, Facebook ads, etc. These campaigns can either be posted on similar websites as your company or on the platforms themselves, such as on Facebook. By covering your bases across various platforms, your company can make people aware that you’re selling exactly what they need for the new school year.
Offering Discounts or Promotions on Back to School Products
Let's admit it, everyone loves a deal, especially when it comes to buying new clothing or products. Having special promotions or discounts for the new school year is something everyone can enjoy.
These promotions can include:
- BOGO on new school supplies
- Discounts of fall or summer clothing
- Donations of the proceeds to different organizations
- Show new collections of your business that have never been seen before
- Local businesses can promote deals
However, these perks do not only have to be with retail and supply stores. They can take place across practically any business. For instance, a local movie theater can offer a discount on movie tickets for students, restaurants can offer a two for the price of one deal, and a coffee shop can have discounts for students and teachers in the morning, so they can get their coffee and food before their morning classes.
The options for promotions and sales are endless, and everyone can take part. This can promote your business and make it so every student is ready for the new school year. Plus, parents, students, and teachers will be thanking you at the end of the day.
Using Influencers to Engage and Promote Your Products
Students love social media, and from social media comes influencers. These people set the standard for what to buy, use, and do, especially among Gen Z and Millennial audiences. They have a huge impact on what is bought and what is not, and they can increase awareness for your brand through sponsored posts and branded content.
These influencers will use your product, fall in love with it, and tell everyone they know or are followed by to go use it. Influencers can also help you get the word out about discounts and special promotions that are happening during the back to school season. For example, you can have an offer code that the influencer can tell followers about that gives consumers a discount on your goods -- which will incentivize your target audience to buy your product or services.
Using an influencer enables multiple demographics to see and use your product. People from all over the world follow influencers, so hiring them to post something about your product can help your company maximize your back to school marketing strategy.
Reaching a Specific Target Audience
What is your target audience? In this specific case it would most likely be parents, teachers, and most importantly, students. However, many you want to be more specific about your audience, such as including race, gender, or age in your targeting. Based on your brand it will vary, but the standard audience will most likely be students. There are different ways to go about making sure your company directly reaches your target audience.
To effectively reach your target audience, your business can hire a digital marketing agency to use:
- Geofencing: This allows you to use a virtual fence around target locations where you would want to campaign to, and send messages to your target audience once they enter the determined area.
- Email Marketing: Which allows you to send emails to anyone, all you need to do is filter who you want to send it to based on your desired audience demographics.
- Digital Audio: Digital audio allows people who are listening to music or podcasts online to hear an advertisement from your company. This allows you to target audiences based on what they listen to, and helps build brand trust and awareness.
While these are just a few ways to gain the attention of your target audience, they tend to be the most effective, since people are compelled to buy products when they feel they are being spoken to directly. This is simple to achieve when you have your specific target audience in mind. Not only does it help your company reach your business goals, but it also has the added bonus of making customers feel special.
How to get Started With Back to School Marketing
Interested in getting started with back to school marketing for your business?
Feel free to contact one of our expert digital marketing consultants or
find a location near you to learn more.
Questions or comments? Feel free to
contact us here -- we’d love to hear from you!
