Creative Marketing Ideas to Drive Engagement This August

With no major holidays during August, businesses can sometimes have a hard time figuring out what to write about or post on their social media channels. Maintaining an ongoing presence on social media can be difficult. But, it is crucial to keep up with the algorithms that constantly measure engagement with your brand. Luckily, even though there aren’t many main events during August, there are still surprisingly a variety of interesting August marketing ideas to explore.

From back to school to the Summer Olympics, and more, August does come with fun opportunities to engage with your audience. We put together a list of some fresh, creative ideas to help round out your August marketing plan. 

Dogust (August 1st)

Did you know that August, better known as DOGust, is the month to celebrate rescue dogs worldwide?

If you have rescued a pup, then you know the feeling of not knowing the exact date of your adopted dog’s birthday.. Not anymore! Founded by North Shore Animal League America, DOGust, and specifically, August 1st, is your pup’s new official birthday.

Have your customers join in the fun this DOGust by offering discounts to rescue dog owners or even team up with a local animal shelter to raise money for some dogs in need. Better yet, reach out to local rescue shelters to see if you can get the word out for some furry friends who are still looking for their fur-ever homes. 

However you choose to celebrate DOGust, just don’t forget the belly rubs!

Hashtags to use:

#DOGust #DOGust1st #rescuedog #dogsofinstagram #adoptdontshop #rescuedogsofinstagram #dog #dogs #dogstagram #rescue #instadog #dogoftheday #puppy #doglife #doglover #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #doglovers #dogsofinsta #doggo #rescuedogs #puppylove #muttsofinstagram #puppiesofinstagram #ilovemydog #adopt #dogsofig #happydog

Back to School Month

Say goodbye to summer vacation and hello to a new school year! August is officially dubbed as Back to School Month and we’re here to make sure your business gets an ‘A’.

If you want to target the school crowd, you can offer discounts to students and teachers. Another angle is to reward students who get good grades with a special loyalty program. A back-to-school Instagram contest or giveaway can also be an easy marketing go-t0 solution.

Every business should find itself taking advantage of this great marketing opportunity. If you are a gym or fitness studio, now is the perfect time to offer moms a discount on fall classes. A restaurant or cafe? Offer those moms and dads that braved through summer vacation a hot coffee on the house for the first week of school. No matter what business you are in, you can surely take advantage of one of the best August marketing ideas out there. 

Don’t forget to share your choice of Back to School celebration on your socials! 

Pro-tip: Use one of Promo’s ready-made Back to School templates like this one for a quick and easy way to reach your audience. Whether you’re announcing a sale or just updating your customers on your hours of operation, video is a great way to get the word out!

Hashtags to use: 

#backtoschool #backtoschoolmonth #school #kids #education #covid #teachersofinstagram #teacher #backpack #schoolsupplies #distancelearning #homeschool #teachers #teacherlife #learning #virtuallearning #college #students #children #firstdayofschool #student #teachersfollowteachers #backtoschoolsale #firstdayofschoolsale #schoolsale

Black Business Month

Throughout August, we celebrate and honor Black-owned businesses across the country. With over 10% of all US businesses owned by African Americans, this is a phenomenal way to improve the impact you’re making in your community of followers and offline as well. 

If you are a Black-owned business, take this opportunity to spread awareness about other businesses like yours. Maybe you could even partner with a few local companies to create joint offerings in celebration of Black Business Month! Also, feel free to get on camera and share your pride and experience in a personal video. And last but not least, if you haven’t done so already, make sure to add Instagram’s Black-owned diversity badge to your Instagram profile.

If you are a retailer, you might want to think about making your support a year-round affair and join the 15% pledge. This wonderful initiative calls on multi-brand retailers and companies to dedicate 15% of their total purchasing power to support Black-owned businesses.

Partner with local black-owned businesses to offer deals to shared customers and boost brand awareness, or ask your followers to share their favorite Black-owned businesses in a social post! Whatever you decide, Black Business Month is a great opportunity for you to give back to your community.

Hashtags to use:

#blackbusiness #blackowned #blackownedbusiness #blackbusinessmonth #blackexcellence #supportblackbusiness #smallbusiness #blackbusinessmonth2021 #buyblack #entrepreneur #blacklivesmatter #blackbusinessowner #black #blacklove #supportsmallbusiness #business #blackentrepreneur #blackhistory #blackculture #blackpower #blackentrepreneurs #shoplocal

Summer Olympics

Yes, 2020 (well, technically 2021) Summer Olympics began in July, but half of it takes place in August! With all the added hype surrounding the Olympics this year after it got postponed due to COVID, you don’t want to miss out on your chance to hop on board the Olympic marketing train. 

If you haven’t already taken advantage of this amazing marketing opportunity, don’t worry. There’s still time to go for the marketing gold! Even after the closing ceremony on August 8th, people will still be talking about the record-breaking events of the games.

Try highlighting some of your teams’ star athletes and achievements, or perhaps offer a sale after your country wins a medal. You can  even get to know your audience by asking them where they’re from or the  teams for which  they’re rooting.  No matter what you do, focusing on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a winning marketing strategy.

Hashtags to use:

#olympicgames2020 #tokyoolympics2020 #olympics #tokyo #sports #sport #athlete #olympicgames #athletics #fitness #olympic #summerolympics #summerolympics2020 #goldmedal #japan #athletes #worldchampion #olympicchampion #champion #team[country]

Friday the 13th

Stand out from the competition and diversify your marketing strategy by celebrating Friday the 13th this year! Unfortunately, the date doesn’t come around too often, but when it does, it’s a fun way to help you boost sales during an otherwise slow season.

Turn your luck around on Friday the 13th with clever wordplay by ‘slashing prices’ and offering your audience a ‘killer sale.’ See what we did there? Of course, it wouldn’t kill you to offer a 13% off discount, either.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for social media engagement, sometimes humor is the way to go! Try sharing a funny video like this one to get some laughs (and some likes). No matter which option you choose, don’t forget to add music to your video. Spooky music, of course. 

Hashtags to use:

#fridaythe13 #13th #fridaythe13th #halloween #horror #horrormovies #13thpart #horrorfan #slasher #friday #horrorart #cosplay #horrorcommunity #scream #horrorcollector #horrormovie #horroraddict #scary #horrorcosplay #horrorcollection #slash #pricecut #pricecuts #badluck

Concerts Are Back

Don’t you miss that feeling of pure bliss while jamming out to your favorite band? You won’t miss out for much longer because, thankfully, concerts are back!

After almost two full years, concerts are finally back! So round up your groupies and throw on some merch because it’s about to be a rock and roll summer.

You can offer your customers an update on local shows worth checking out. You can even think about hosting a small live music event in your own place of business! However you choose to celebrate the return of concerts, we’ve got the videos to help you reach your goals.

Hashtags to use:

#concert #music #livemusic #live #concertphotography #singer #rock #band #musician #guitar #metal #festival #musicphotography #instamusic #artist #show #musica #art #tour #song #gig #pop #stage #livemusicphotography #guitarist #concertsareback #musicfestival

Family Fun Month

Ready to send your kids back to school? Not so fast; the month of August is also Family Fun Month! Every year, parents worldwide soak up this last month of summer vacation by participating in family-focused adventures.

Here are a few ways to tie in this great marketing idea for August.  Share the ways your business is celebrating Family Fun Month on your social feeds to encourage others to join in! Reward your employees by giving them some time off for family activities. You can also initiate the family fun yourself by organizing a company outing or picnic.

With so many ways to celebrate, your business can easily take advantage of all the benefits of Family Fun Month. Create customer giveaways for some family fun, or offer discounts to families that come in together. The possibilities are endless!

P.S. From our Promo fam to you, Happy Family Fun month and thank you for being a part of our family! 

Hashtags to use:

#familyfun #familyfunmonth #familyfunmonth2021 #family #familytime #fun #love #kids #familyfirst #familygoals #summer #adventure #familytrip #familylove #familyvacation #familytravel #familyday #familylife #familyovereverything #familyadventures

But Wait, There’s More!

These are just a few top examples of August’s awesome marketing ideas in store for your business. For our complete list of trending August dates and events, check out our monthly social media calendar!

With our social media calendar, you’ll never miss an important date again! Visit our August calendar for complete access to 31 fully customizable video templates for every single day of the month!

So why wait?  Get out there and start kicking some August marketing butt!