A tale as old as time: our TVs, magazines, radios and billboards are flooded with back-to-school messages. While the mediums have evolved, with mobile marketing taking the lead, the messages remain the same: it’s almost time to swap those towels and bathing suits for backpacks and notebooks. Whether you sell school supplies or not, the back-to-school season is a prime opportunity to strengthen your customer base and boost sales. Seize this moment with an effective back to school campaign. Keep reading to learn why you should capitalize on back-to-school sales and how we can help.
One in four Canadians will be shopping for back-to-school items this year, spending an average of about $700 per student, according to recent studies by Deloitte Consulting. You can take advantage of this surge in spending with an effective marketing campaign. Back-to-school marketing offers numerous benefits, even if you don’t specialize in school uniforms, supplies or electronics. It allows you to tap into increased consumer spending and better connect with your audience. For instance, if you own a coffee shop and your target audience includes young adults, you can offer students discounts during certain hours of the day. This type of back-to-school promotion makes your audience feel seen, heard and understood, going above and beyond their expectations. Moreover, back-to-school marketing can foster customer loyalty. When people start associating your business with great deals during the back-to-school season, their devotion to your brand will skyrocket. Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth marketing either- news about your back-to-school sales can spread quickly among students and parents alike. So, whether you sell directly related products or services, leveraging the back-to-school rush can significantly boost your business’s visibility and customer loyalty.
We’re glued to our phones – no matter how much we don’t want to admit it, it’s a fact. Recent statistics show that mobile users are consuming more data than ever before, with each subscription averaging 6.6 GB per month in 2023, marking a 17.7 percent increase from the previous year. As of 2022, the top mobile activities in Canada were social media, emails and instant messaging, with social media usage showing continuing to grow due to the expanding array of apps. Harness this surge in mobile activity by making social media a main component of your back-to-school campaigns. There are several effective strategies you can employ. Create engaging text and eye-catching visuals for social media ads that attract both students and parents. Be sure to check out our blog on common reasons why customers don’t convert after clicking on social media ads to avoid these pitfalls during your campaign. Consider adding excitement with a giveaway. It’s a great way to increase your business’s visibility while offering students and parents a chance to win back-to-school supplies. The key to a successful giveaway? Make people want to enter! Ensure your giveaway is compelling enough to attract plenty of entries, driving your back-to-school sales in the process.
Knowing which social media platform to use is crucial for the success of your back-to-school digital marketing campaign. And no, you don’t have to use every single one! Understanding the unique characteristics of each platform and adjusting your strategy accordingly is key to achieving success. We’ve extensively explored different marketing channels, their demographics and which types of businesses they’re most effective for. Dive deeper into these insights in our blog. When selecting which platforms to prioritize for your business, always keep your specific target audience and their preferences in mind. This approach ensures that your marketing efforts resonate and engage effectively with your intended audience.
Remember those first few days back to school after a relaxing summer break? We’re right there with you! Let’s brighten up those post-summer days with some exciting perks to look forward to. For example, if you own a coffee shop, consider hosting a happy hour with special drink hours. Once you’ve decided on your back-to-school promotion, the next step is spreading the world. There’s no better way to do this than through email marketing. Did you know? Email marketing boasts the highest ROI of any marketing channel, bringing an average of $44 for every $1 spent But effective email marketing goes beyond drafting a quick message and hitting send. With our data-driven email marketing solutions, you can create accessible, personalized templates that reflect your brand and values. Plus, you’ll receive regular reports with valuable metrics that track the performance of your campaigns – from who opened your message to what links they clicked on. This information is crucial for converting leads into sales! Download our guide on the top five reasons every business needs e-mail marketing to learn more about how it can benefit your back-to-school promotions.
Think beyond sales and discounts when highlighting your products and services. Get back to business with memorable events that leave a lasting impact on customers. If you run a bookstore, bar or coffee shop, think about hosting trivia nights, open-mic sessions or movie screenings. These events offer a creative way to draw in new customers and keep existing ones coming back. The key is to promote the event well in advance to ensure a good turnout. Use social media posts and an email marketing campaign to spread the word effectively.
Customer benefits are great for attracting new customers and encouraging repeat business. Programs like punch cards or point systems work especially well at fast-service restaurants and coffee shops. After a set number or purchases or accumulating points, customers can earn a free item. Who wouldn’t appreciate knowing that after buying eight coffees, the ninth one is on the house? Especially after all that back-to-school shopping.
Regardless of your target audience, ensuring a seamless shopping experience from start to finish is essential. It could be the deciding factor in making a sale. Consider parents, who are already juggling work, picking up kids from activities, making dinner and now school shopping. Finding ways to make their shopping experience more convenient could set you apart from other businesses. Brainstorm how you can make the overall shopping experience easier for your customers, both online and in-person.
Besides offering great back-to-school sales, customers appreciate seeing businesses collaborate and support their local community. Partnering with local organizations, whether through sponsorships or funding local initiatives, can raise awareness of your own back-to-school promotions and endorse your deals to a wider audience.
A well-executed back-to-school marketing campaign has the power to transform your business, attracting new customers and boosting revenue. Finding the right strategy, however, can be challenging. Trust our team of marketing experts to help. With a record of successful email and digital marketing campaigns across various industries, we can assist you too! Connect with us today to discover how we can maximize your impact during this year’s back-to-school season.