5 Content Marketing Ideas for July 2015

Patriotism, projects, smooches, and even summertime activities can drive your company’s contact marketing campaigns this July, boosting site traffic and, ultimately, sales.

When businesses create, publish, and distribute content with the goal of attracting, engaging, and retaining customers, we call it content marketing. It is one of the best things that small and mid-sized businesses can do for long term success.

Try using some of these ideas in your content marketing efforts this July.

1. July Fourth

The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is an extremely popular American holiday, celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which ultimately helped to create what would become the United States of America.

Fireworks, even as simple as a sparkler, are one of the ways Americans celebrate July Fourth.

The Fourth is, of course, celebrated with fireworks and cookouts. But it is also a date that businesses can commemorate in a few ways, including:

Featured holiday lookbooks;
Articles or videos about the holiday’s history;
Informational content, like tips and tricks;
Patriotic sentiments.

Here are a few examples of articles, blog posts, and video titles.

“The Ultimate Independence Fashion Cheat Sheet”
“Look Great, Stay Cool with These 10 Fourth of July Fashion Tips”
“Independence Day Evolution: How Celebrating America’s Birthday Has Changed”
“A Street Vendor’s Guide to Perfect July Fourth Hot Dogs”
“Grilling 101: 7 Tips for Your First July Fourth Cookout”
“6 Reasons July Fourth Is Important for Your Kids”

2. Any Article or Video — Similar to an Instructable

Launched 10 years ago, Instructables is one of the Internet’s premiere how-to websites. Visitors can find or post step-by-step tutorials for tackling projects that solve common problems, encourage new experiences, or that are just fun to build.

Instructables may be a great source of inspiration for your how-to related content.

Some popular Instructable posts include:

“Cooking with Crayons: A Recycled Firestarter“
“Mosquito Killing Ovitrap“
“How to Make Vinaigrette“
“Personalized 3D Printed PEZ Dispensers“
“Smoked Thai Spare Ribs with Bourbon-Peanut Butter Glaze“
“Low Poly Art in Photoshop“
“How to Make Apple Boxes (Photography)“
“Bartop Mini Retro Arcade – Raspberry Pi and Customised Icade“

For your content marketing in July, draw inspiration from Instructables, and create how-to articles or videos that will be useful or entertaining to your shoppers. Whenever possible, include products that you sell. Remember the aim is not to push products, but nonetheless, it is appropriate to show products in use.

3. International Kissing Day, July 6

Content marketers may think of July 6th’s International Kissing Day as a sort of mid-summer, miniaturized Valentine’s Day, since the holiday, which has its origins in the United Kingdom, is an opportunity to promote relationship-related content and gift giving.

Celebrated on July 6, 2015, International Kissing Day may be an opportunity to enjoy a boost in the sale of relationship-related products and gifts.

Consider publishing articles or videos that raise awareness of the holiday, suggest Kissing Day date ideas or activities, or encourage kissing-related gift giving. Here are some sample video or article titles to fuel your creativity.

International Kissing Day Awareness

“The History of Kissing Day”
“10 Amazing Facts about Kissing”
“Why We Love Kissing Day (And You Will Too)”

Kissing Day Ideas and Activities

“How to Pick the Perfect Netflix Movie for International Kissing Day”
“7 Tips for Lovers on Kissing Day”
“The Married Couples Guide to Celebrating Kissing Day”

International Kissing Day Gift Giving

“21 Great Kissing Day Gifts that Will Get You More Smooches”
“19 Kiss-inspired Gifts”
“Everything You Need for Planning the Perfect Kiss”

4. Summertime Activities

July can mark the real beginning of summer in North America as the weather changes in earnest and many folks begin taking seasonal vacations. It is also the time of year when your customers act differently. Their activities changes and their interests might change, too. So with this in mind why not give them useful content, related to your industry that is specifically applicable to the summer months.

Your customers change behavior in the summer.

Here are a few example titles for summertime-related articles and videos.

Home Improvement Retailer

“Create a Backyard Retreat on a Serious Budget”
“Clean, Stain, and Seal Your Deck This Weekend”
“The 7 Power Tool Upgrades That Will Save Your Summer”

Home Decor Retailer

“9 Great Ways to Decorate a Small Patio”
“The Secret of Setting a Summertime Table”
“3 Simple Tricks for Summer Decor”

Apparel Retailer

“The Search for the Perfect Summertime T-shirt”
“The Ultimate Guide to Sunglasses”
“Find the Perfect Bikini for Your Body”

Outdoor Gear Retailer

“Choose the Perfect Tent for Summer Camping”
“8 Ways Your Backpack Is Killing You, and How to Save Yourself”
“15 Things Ernest Hemingway Can Teach You About the Outdoors”

5. How to Wear and Use Product Content

REI is a good example of a company that includes product information and promotion in its content.

At its core, content marketing should seem more like expert advice than a visit to the local used car lot. The emphasis is on serving the customer, not hard selling products. But this does not mean that there is not a place for products in content marketing. In fact, in July try to come up with useful content on how to use, how to wear, or how to do something that does feature the products you sell.

For example, REI, which is very good at content marketing, has a good article about stand up paddling basics. The post includes a list of the gear you would need (all of which REI sells) and includes a couple of great videos, like how to carry your paddle board to the car or to the water, which, again, features the products that REI is selling.