There’s nothing better than hot summer months, is there? With school season over and seemingly longer weekends for adults, the shining sun is out in its full glory dictating family vacations, travel, long drives with friends, if not summer sports, beaches and more.
However, online stores selling not exceptionally summer products have already braced themselves for the proverbial summer sale slump that is likely to last for the next three months. After all, ecommerce sales typically drop by as much as 30% in summer months compared to December.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With just the right amount of creativity woven into your summer email campaigns, you can warm up your subscribers to your business the right way and make it a memorable summer season for everyone!
8 Email Marketing Strategy Steps for the Summer Newsletter
Here are a few guidelines to help you design attractive summer newsletters that also convert like crazy:
- Choose the right image
When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. Pick a visual or creative that is light or bright colored, so your message blends in with the season. Reserve those dark shades and filters for Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays!
- Insert an intriguing subject line
The only job of your subject line is to have your reader open the email by creating intrigue or interest. To make that mention your lip-smacking offer or hint at the massive discount the reader could benefit from.
- Add preheader text
Give yourself brownie points if you extend the subject line’s context into the preheader text area too. This can be a continuation of the subject line or adds to it to deepen desire in the prospect’s mind.
- Use a powerful headline
Headlines are not just for landing pages. If your summer newsletter idea takes the shape of an HTML email, the headline will be the most read line in your entire email. Keep it interesting and draw the reader onto the next line.
- Keep the email body short & sweet
Given that the average prospect is spending more time outside traveling and enjoying than inside pointing and clicking, this is not the right time to be rambling about.
Got an awful lot to say? Set it up as an article on your blog and point your readers to it. Else, keep it short and to the point.
- Ensure a compelling call-to-action (CTA)
Your readers loved reading your email, but if they’re not told where to go next, they are happy to get back inside their inbox and go about their business.
Prod your reader to the next step by inserting a text or button-based hyperlink that leads them to your latest blog or sales page.
- Include personalization
Address your prospect by their first name in the subject line and at least once in the body of the email to make it sound like a personal message. This simple act can help you get more engagements.
- Don’t forget email segmentation
Life keeps some of your prospects busier than others, so they cannot open and engage with your emails as others.
For a sale, it’s always recommended to message your most active segments first. However, your educational or entertaining summer newsletter can be rolled out to all your email lists.
10 Summer Newsletter Ideas
Does your head get emptier with summer newsletter ideas every time the season comes? We’ve all been there!
But believe us when we say there are 1001 ways (we’ve counted) to spread the summer vibes through inboxes and lure your sun-kissed prospects to your online store. These are just the tip of the ice cream:
1. Sizzling Start: Welcome to Summer
We don’t know anyone who doesn’t greet summer with open arms. Do you? That’s why the beginning of summer is such a great opportunity to connect with your audience in a fun way. If you make your subscribers’ first festival days memorable, they won’t forget you for the rest of the season.
The brand Snif made their newsletter fun, helpful, and, dare we say, tasty. It not only reminds the people about the relaxation days ahead but also about the importance of sun protection and an irresistible way to gain it.
Creating newsletters doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it’s a piece of cake with Sender’s drag-and-drop email builder.
2. Hot Deals: Summer Sales Newsletter
Don’t feel deterred from launching a summer sale when you imagine all those screen-free masses at the beach! People aren’t ready to miss out on great deals even during the chillest months of the year.
Whether it’s a mid-season sale offering means to make the best out of the remaining summer for less — or a summer clearance sale for those who refuse to say goodbye to summer until the middle of autumn.
Whatever sale you decide upon, remember that a simple offer isn’t enough to turn heads. You need some pizzaz. For instance, Fatty 15 kept their discounts under wraps, enticing their subscribers to visit their website and uncover the hidden treasures. The message that time was slipping away encouraged them to act promptly.
3. Summer Snapshots: Photography Tips
During the summer, people travel, vacation, engage in outdoor activities, and generally have fun, followed by taking thousands of pictures for memories and sharing them online.
Yet, a small percentage of us are born with photographer’s eyes and often sadly notice headless people portraits or blurry photos upon arriving home after a long, hot day enjoying ourselves.
Your brand can become a hero for these amateur snapshooters by sharing helpful photography tips, as Moment did. But it wasn’t just any tips. Understanding that analog photography is back in fashion, Moment collaborated with a renowned photographer and a popular YouTuber to create a unique photography guide.
4. Team Spotlight: Summer Vacation
The world is more connected than ever, meaning that summer vacation destinations are endless. While being able to experience a new location every time is a wonderful thing, the question “where to next?” may become a small headache.
That’s why people often search for recommendations from a trusted source — their well-traveled friends.
Why wouldn’t your brand become one of such friends? Recommending vacation destinations shows your friendly expert side, and if your audience finds the recommendations helpful, they’ll be more likely to trust you in the future.
How can you ensure that your newsletter stands out from the crowd of generic travel recommendations? The answer lies in the personal touch. Encourage your team to share their favorite vacation spots and compile these recommendations into a visually appealing newsletter, just like Booking did.
5. Summer Holidays: Outdoor Activities
Do you imagine staying inside during the summer holidays? Neither do your subscribers! It’s true that they’ll spend more time offline during the season.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that you can’t catch them before running off to the fields with a helpful newsletter with outdoor activity ideas. Make it real good, and your brand will keep popping up in their minds throughout the whole enjoyable experience!
Knowing that it’s the peak hiking season, AllTrails shared their top travel tips to get the most out of summer trips using its app. Even better – each tip is concise and has a separate CTA making it extremely easy to remember and follow.
6. Customer Stories: Your Summer Highlights
The results are yet to be announced, but we are pretty sure that most pictures are taken during those 92 days of summer. After all, there is so much to show!
What you saw, experienced, tasted, and with whom you’ve been with. This user-generated content (UGC) also presents a not-to-miss opportunity for your business. Encourage your users to share their summer content related to your brand, and others will follow.
For instance, Wildist launched a giveaway for the idea. It invited its customers to share their best nature photos with a unique hashtag for a chance to win an exclusive course. Even if they didn’t win, the customers could show off their best shoots, and the brand created a stronger bond with their audience. It’s a win-win!
7. Must-Reads: Summer Recommendations
During the season, many people close their laptops to open a book. After all, no online news, gaming, or doomscrolling can compare to a good read while lying surrounded by nature.
However, with so many tastes and choices, deciding on a book worthy of taking in an already bursting luggage can become a bit of a challenge. That’s where your brand can come in with a solution—a must-read newsletter.
If you aren’t sure which books to offer when there are so many great ones, take an example from Waterstones. Instead of trying to offer something for everyone, they’ve chosen a unique occasion to recommend related literature.
This way, the brand encourages its subscribers to unite in celebration of pride and discover something new.
8. DIY Delights: Summer Projects
Summer isn’t reserved for lounging exclusively. People are looking for ways to get crafty, too! Whether it’s freshening up a living space, trying out new recipes, or simply creating something cool, summer isn’t reserved for lounging exclusively. And what’s cooler than a pair of stylish shoes you’ve made yourself?
At least, that was the idea behind Wool and the Gang’s newsletter. The brand offered a unique DIY project their customers just adored. Making your shoes isn’t an opportunity you’ll hear about every day, but that’s precisely the reason behind this newsletter’s success.
9. Community Matters: Offer Discounts Email
Image source: Recess
If your brand boasts a strong community, congratulations! It’s something to make others jealous of. But don’t let your guard down in summer — your audience is waiting to be shown appreciation as in any other season. One way to make them feel valued is an exclusive discount on the products they already know and love.
Take an example from Recess, which offered its subscribers even more summer relaxation in the form of a drink. And to get it for less. Needless to say, the community took the chance.
10. Social Buzz: Follow Us for Fun
Even on the sunniest summer day, those little green dots pop up next to your friends’ names. People are too curious – they have to know what’s happening in the real world and online. You can’t precisely stalk your customers (creepy!), but you can invite them to connect where they’re already hanging out.
Before you blast out “Follow us on social media!”, ask yourself — would you follow your own brand? Your followers need a reason to hit that button. Make it worth their while with content that’s fun, useful, or relevant. Like Outdoor Play, they let their audience choose where to follow based on their interests.
Summer Newsletter Examples for Holidays
Summer isn’t just outdoor activities and festival season. It’s filled with plenty of occasions to celebrate, too. From National Ice Cream Day and World Chocolate Day (evidently, the food industry wants to party) to more solemn holidays like Independence Day and Flag Day, there’s something for everyone.
The question is – which holiday should make it to your summer email campaign? Here are a few great candidates for you to choose the one or all:
Father’s Day Newsletter
Father’s Day is here, and it’s bigger than ever! This global celebration is quickly gaining popularity, with spending on gifts growing yearly.
If you’re selling products that dads will love, Father’s Day is a must-have on your marketing radar. Dads are notoriously hard to shop for, but with the right messaging, you can help your subscribers find the perfect gift and make their Father’s Day extra special.
Take Straightaway Cocktails as an example. They crafted an email that not only highlighted the perfect gift for dad but also encouraged getting it on time and offered free shipping. It was an offer that was impossible to ignore, and it likely drove a ton of sales for the brand.
4th of July Newsletter
As the stars and stripes wave proudly in the summer breeze, the 4th of July approaches, promising a day filled with fireworks, laughter, and cherished memories. This iconic holiday has become a beacon of celebration, drawing crowds from near and far to join in the festivities.
Email marketers, in particular, are taking notice of the growing popularity of the 4th of July and are using this opportunity to connect with their subscribers and drive sales. Whether you sell patriotic-themed products or want to tap into the patriotic spirit, this holiday is not to be missed.
That’s exactly what Happy Socks did — over and above! The brand launched a limited edition collection just in time for the celebration and promoted it in a red, white, and blue (well, mostly red) newsletter. It’s a sure way to create a festive mood!
Memorial Day Newsletter
As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day is a time for Americans to unite to honor and remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. It’s a solemn day of remembrance, marked by parades, ceremonies, and moments of silence.
However, Memorial Day also presents a unique opportunity for businesses to connect with their audience and boost sales. With millions of Americans taking time off to spend with family and friends, it’s the perfect time to promote your products and services and capitalize on the holiday spirit and the start of summer.
The furniture brand Article, too, has seized this opportunity, announcing their Memorial Day sale. The newsletter, though not adorned in traditional stars and stripes, exudes the vibrant energy of summer, perfectly aligning with the start of this beloved season.
Flag Day Newsletter
Flag Day on June 14th is another moment to wave the red, white, and blue. This day marks the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777. But it’s more than just a day; it’s your chance to dive into American history and show respect for the flag, a beacon of freedom and democracy.
In its summer newsletter, Saucony showcased its American flag spin on a classical shoe. The exclusive collection turned heads both among brand fans and patriots. Showing off your pride while looking stylish? Yes, please!
Independence Day Newsletter
This summer, get ready to ignite your brand’s global appeal with a sizzling twist! While the United States revels in its Independence Day festivities, numerous countries worldwide are also celebrating their emancipation milestones. Why not join the international day and give your brand a global makeover? Here’s a tantalizing taste of what’s on the menu:
1. France. On July 14th, France commemorates the seismic Bastille Day, marking the start of the French Revolution. Ride the wave of passion, liberty, and fraternity with your brand.
2. Canada. With Canada Day on July 1st, celebrate the momentous anniversary of the Constitution Act. Let the maple leaf inspire your brand’s display of unity and pride.
3. Argentina. Set your sights on July 9th to honor Argentina’s Independence Day. Immerse your brand in the vibrant culture of tango and asado as you celebrate freedom.
4. Colombia. Celebrate Colombia’s Independence Day on July 20th and experience this nation’s colorful fusion of tradition and modernity.
5. Peru. The rich tapestry of Peru’s Independence Day festivities awaits you on July 28th and 29th. Bring a taste of Inca heritage and Peruvian zest to your brand celebration.
6. Belgium. Embrace Belgian National Day on July 21st and revel in the nation’s unique blend of Flemish, French, and German influences.
As you explore these diverse celebrations, remember to weave local customs, flavors, and colors into your brand campaigns. A culturally nuanced and thoughtful approach will not only set your brand apart but also resonate deeply with a global audience.
Making Summer Newsletter Ideas Work For Your Business
Summer newsletters are a small yet significant opportunity for email marketers to make a positive dent in the lives of customers and prospects. While the overall objective is to stay top-of-mind, a creative summer newsletter campaign can very easily add valuable revenue during the slow season.
These summer newsletter ideas are just a starting point. Imagination is your limit when it comes to crafting messaging that your tribe of fans will love!
If these newsletter ideas weren’t enough for you, try diving deeper specifically by the months:
