Summer is almost here, which means it’s time to warm up your advertisers with new ad opportunities. Summer is full of holidays your clients will want to use to their advantage. However, they may not be able to concept or ideate. That’s where you come in. Let’s look at some summer holiday ad campaigns that can heat up your advertisers’ ROAS (return on ad spend).

 

Hot Summer Holiday Ad Campaign Ideas

Looking for a hook to bring to your advertisers isn’t easy. Summer sizzles with ideas related to holidays, celebrations, events and more.

Graduations

It’s time to celebrate the accomplishments of high schoolers and college grads. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projected spending to be $6.1 billion in 2024, slightly down from 2023. It’s inclusive of gifts and celebrations. Per-person spending did increase slightly to $116.97.

The celebratory aspect could be hosting parties or dining out at restaurants. There are complementary categories here that could see increased local spending, such as retail and health and beauty. 

Within your market, many advertisers can get their share of these billions. Reach out to:

  • Retail (apparel, electronics, health and beauty)
  • Restaurants
  • Grocery and adult beverage stores

Along with advertisers with products and services, you should chat with community colleges, universities and trade schools. They can launch ads targeting recently graduated seniors who are still deciding on their futures. Employers may also be interested in catching the attention of new grads with recruitment ads.

Summer Vacations

Summertime is vacation time for millions of Americans. A summer travel report found that 44% of Americans are planning one in 2025. The average spend will be $3,861. One key trend from the survey is that travelers seek deals and savings.

The numbers are somewhat down from 2024, but there are still opportunities. Talk to these companies about summer vacation advertising:

  • Dealerships offering summer tune-ups, which often provide great margins for them
  • Special promotions for bundles that could include air, accommodations, rental cars and other services
  • Retailers bundling travel necessity deals, from luggage to sun care to hiking gear
  • Local attractions campaigning to get guests returning within their metro areas and beyond
  • Travel agents posting about special deals, booking bucket list trips and delivering need-to-know information for travel outside the U.S.
  • Boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts offering summer specials and highlighting what makes their accommodations exclusive

Summer Festivals and Concerts

Summer is always the time for festivals and concerts. Capitalize on people’s desire to get out and have fun by targeting your advertisers in the space. Organizers of the events will appreciate the coverage.

Additionally, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality-related businesses could use these activities to bolster promotions that tie in. For example, if a music festival is on the calendar, nearby restaurants and bars could offer special discounts for concertgoers who bring in ticket stubs.

Summer Sporting Events

Is your city or region hosting summer sporting events? Whether they are national or local, they can bring in residents and visitors to your market. Check the community sports schedule for ideas, then reach out to businesses nearby, including hotels, restaurants, attractions and retail.

They can benefit from this influx of people and use various ad tactics. One key one would be geofencing the event with ads that offer discounts or specials for those who attended the game.

Fourth of July

Celebrations for the country’s birthday are always a favorite time for people to travel and host events. There are so many ways for your advertisers to get in on the Fourth of July spend with special promotions, holiday sales, travel bundles and more.

Work with your retailers, convenience stores, hospitality groups and other groups putting on events to ensure they get noticed by their target audiences. One idea is to donate a percentage of sales to veteran groups or historical societies. Another option is an ultimate Fourth of July bundle that brings different advertisers together. It will reduce overall costs and get more exposure.

Back to School

Most school districts begin the new year in August. That means kids need supplies, new uniforms and other must-haves. Retailers that feature these products will want to advertise their promotions. The NRF notes that most of this shopping starts in July, so be sure you’re having these conversations early.

It’s not just elementary and secondary students that need supplies. College students also need dorm essentials, electronics and personal care items. Advertisers could create special promotions just for this group. Using real co-eds from local schools would be a great idea!

Additionally, the start of school also means parents need to find after-school programs and activities. YMCAs, dance studios, sports leagues and other kid-focused pastimes will be in high demand. Start early in promoting these events to fill them up fast.

Labor Day (September 1)

Labor Day is the official end of summer. It is a favorite long holiday weekend for beach trips, barbecues and end-of-season sales. Besides big-box, furniture and specialty retailers, car dealerships also have Labor Day sales. By this time of the year, the auto industry should be spending more on ads, according to expert projections on the market’s recovery.

Restaurants and grocers can also find positive ROAS with Labor Day themes. Party planners need the essentials for a day of grilling or may want to order takeout to save time. Putting together bundles for the perfect Labor Day party could be promising.

Which Ad Categories Will Best Support Summer Holiday Campaigns?

You have a variety of broadcast and digital marketing segments to consider. In most cases, using diverse inventory will drive the best response.

  • Over-the-top (OTT) and connected TV (CTV): OTT and CTV are ideal for visual products like Fourth of July and Labor Day bundles. These ads could also highlight experiences that make sense for summer vacation or back to school.
  • Radio: This tried-and-true medium is always a great go-to. Consumers still tune in, whether in the car or at home. The key is to make radio ads catchy and action oriented. Connect with locals with messages about exclusive radio deals for products to buy online or in-store with a specific code.
  • Geofencing: Fence venues where graduations are occurring with special deals for the new graduates.
  • Streaming audio: Target messages to those buying gifts for graduates with streaming audio. Higher education and employers can also use this engaging audio option.
  • Social media marketing: Many people turn to social media to research products and find events. If your advertisers aren’t using social ads, these summer holidays would be a great way to test and try. These will work best for specific products or events. For example, social media advertising will get the word out if a local business throws a Fourth of July bash. They can target people by demographics such as age, location and interests. Add a special offer to get a discount, and your client could be on their way to a sold-out event. You can select specific social media sites depending on their target audience. For example, Facebook is a good choice for reaching Gen X and baby boomers. Millennials and Gen Z prefer Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.
  • Banner ads: If you want to target specific users, banner ads are another excellent ad unit. Use these in conjunction with social media ads or radio. You’ll have a greater reach and reiteration of the promotion. You can use these for sales, events, activities and more.
  • SEM (search engine marketing): When people are looking to buy, plan or find, they often start with search. It’s a great complement to linear advertising. Research shows that many consumers search after hearing or watching a broadcast ad. SEM is an excellent option for advertisers in any industry, from travel to back-to-school activities to shopping for gifts.

 

Summer Holiday Campaigns: Start Sharing Ideas Now!

Holiday promotions will always be a mainstay for advertisers. However, you don’t have to keep doing the same thing in the same channels. Warm up your clients with these new ideas to drive better results for you and them.