98 Easy & Engaging August Marketing Ideas

August is 31 days of opportunities for creative marketing. And we have tons of engaging August marketing ideas to prove it—for blog posts, social media, events, promotions, and more—plus real examples to inspire you.

Let’s get into it!

Contents

• August marketing ideas for any business
• August promotion ideas to boost campaigns
• Full list of August holidays

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August marketing ideas for any business

As you can see from the different categories of observances, you can appeal to all kinds of emotions in your marketing. Use these ideas to connect with your audience in a more meaningful way than any of your competitors.

Black Business Month

Black Business Month was founded by John William Templeton and Frederick E. Jordan in 2004. Use this as an opportunity not to just support Black-owned businesses, but to get into the habit of doing it year-round.

• Retailers: Take the 15% Pledge and start selling products made by Black-owned businesses. You can use the Support Black-Owned Businesses Directory to find Black-owned businesses near you.
• B2B businesses: Interview a Black business owner and share their tips on running a business, overcoming prejudice, or dealing with challenges your clients commonly face.
• Any business: Show your followers how to support Black businesses.

Family Fun Month

Centering your August marketing campaigns around Family Fun Month is sure to be a crowd-pleasing strategy. Here are some ideas to start you off:

• Partner up with nearby attractions and offer coupons for an offline marketing campaign.
• Share a blog post or email newsletter roundup of your favorite family-friendly spots in town.
• If your target audience is parents: Write a post on how to actually have family fun this month in the depressing last days of summer when your kids are at each other’s throats, and you’ve had no alone time in weeks.
• Team up with other local businesses in town and run a family fun night. Photographers can offer family portraits (before little Jane gets a butterfly plastered to her face), restaurants can provide the food (and coupons to get them through their doors), and other businesses (like preschools) can set up informational (but fun) tables.
• Clothing companies could run a series of sales each week for men, women, babies, and tweens via social or email.

Back to School Month

Back-to-school season and January are friends. Go wild with all the fresh-start, back-in-gear, goal-setting themes you used in your January marketing.

• Salons offer special deals on back-to-school haircuts.
• Spas, invite parents in for a much-needed massage after a long summer.
• Schools and after-school programs offer early bird registration deals.
• Personal trainers or fitness centers offer discount packages.
• Dentists or nutritionists can encourage appointments or give healthy tips.
• Run a re-engagement campaign to bring back any customers who went quiet over the summer.
• Run a back-to-school sale with a fun back-to-school pun, like this Facebook ad below:

Check out more back-to-school marketing ideas here.

Simplify Your Life Week (first week in Aug)

According to Amazon, “seeking simpler living” is the latest trend in consumer behavior. As a business owner, take this time to clean out clutter (virtual and physical) and organize your mind and workplace before the September storm hits.

As for marketing ideas:

• Productivity tool providers could offer a free trial during this week.
• You could share a roundup of tools or apps you use (or have deleted) to simplify your life.
• Interior designers can share their organizational tricks.
• Break down a complex topic into plain English for your audience.

Life is as broad as it gets, so anything related to simplifying works here.

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National Friendship Day (first Sunday of Aug)

This day gives a good excuse for promoting referral programs and running BOGO sales promotions. You might also use catchy taglines like “You never know how many friends you have until you own [the product you provide].”

National Dollar Day (Aug 8)

On this day in 1786, the US monetary system was established. A nice history lesson, but also a great marketing opportunity.

• Use a money-saving-themed blog post to teach your audience how to save a dollar (or hundreds).
• Take a dollar off your (low-priced) products.
• Offer something for just $1.
  

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National Book Lovers Day (Aug 9)

There are readers in every audience. Share a post on social media recommending your favorite reads, top industry influencer authors, or asking for recommendations from your followers. Your audience likes opportunities to share their input; you like post engagement; everyone wins.

National Relaxation Day (Aug 15)

It is National Wellness Month, after all. Ideas:

• Spas and salons can offer discounts or even volunteer to visit a local office and give short chair massages.
• Restaurants can promote signature drinks as a way to kick back and relax.
• Yoga instructors can run free sessions for offices.
• YOU can close up shop early to allow employees to enjoy some hard-earned rest.

National Spirit of ’45 Day (second Sunday in August)

On August 14, 1945, President Truman announced the end of WWII. The national pride, can-do spirit, and eagerness to step up and play their part are not only what made this victory possible but also what laid the groundwork for future generations. The Spirit of ‘45 is a great platform for inspirational blog posts, emails, and social media posts.

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World Humanitarian Day (Aug 19)

On World Humanitarian Day, we recognize those who lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. Incorporate this into your marketing by:

• Donating proceeds to a humanitarian organization near you.
• Encouraging your audience to do something good.
• Sharing quotes from modern-day humanitarians.

There’s nothing wrong with a Mother Theresa or Gandhi quote, but featuring newer individuals provides an opportunity for both you and your audience to learn about the current crises the world is facing.

Senior Citizens Day (Aug 21)

Even though these folks get year-round senior discounts, why not throw an extra one in the mix on this day?

• Senior living communities host an open house barbeque on this day to honor their residents and give potential residents (or their adult children) a chance to check you out.
• Local businesses, contact local senior centers to see if you can sponsor or cater an event, or even stop by with free manicures to brighten up someone’s day.

Secondhand Wardrobe Day (Aug 25)

Many local secondhand stores are part of nonprofits that fund needs in the community or even worldwide. Consider running a clothing drive to give your audience the opportunity to make a difference while cleaning out their wardrobe (perhaps to simplify their lives…see #4).

Or, for businesses NOT in the clothing industry, publish mission-statement-friendly posts like these:

National WebMistress Day (Aug 26)

This holiday recognizes women in web development. Recognize #womenwhocode, do an employee spotlight on a female developer, or donate to learnership groups like GirlCode.

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National Just Because Day (Aug 27)

The creative marketing possibilities are endless for this day.

• Send your email subscribers a promo code just because you appreciate them.
• Encourage your patrons to buy that outfit (or any product you sell), book that ticket, or do something spontaneous for no reason other than because you can.
• Go against this post on how to write copy that sells and promote something with “just because”—no features or benefits.
• Inspire your audience to do a random act of kindness. Just because.
• Run a giveaway that not only ramps up engagement but sparks an inspirational comment thread your followers will enjoy.
• Write a post on X of inspirational things to do just because.

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August promotion ideas to boost campaigns

You don’t need a specific August social media holiday or monthly observance to market your business this month! Here are some additional August marketing ideas that can be framed around special promotions.

Work with influencers

Want to engage a group of younger buyers? Work with an influencer.

Influencer marketing offers a way to connect with an audience in a more authentic and personal way that most brands would struggle to do alone. That’s why the youngest buyers trust this type of advertising more.

You don’t need Nike money to partner with influencers. Many micro-influencers are happy to work for free gear or a small per-post payment. Just make sure the ones you choose match your tone and have an audience that would be interested in what you sell. Gen Z and Alpha shoppers can sniff out insincerity in a heartbeat.

Offer exclusive discounts

Everyone likes to feel special! An exclusive discount code tells people “they’re in the club.”

The best part is that customers can share the code with their friends, making them feel a little extra special.

Have an end-of-summer clearance event

If those yellow duckie swim trunks didn’t fly off the shelf the way you’d hoped, now is a great time to get them gone with a clearance event.

This colorful ad will catch attention, and the big discount will keep it.

You can also feature a few images of clearance items. Let people know what kind of goodies they can nab at low prices, and they’ll be more likely to click for more.

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Share a “beat-the-heat” promotion

Your customers have been battling high temperatures for a few months now. Use some of your August promotions to help them stay cool until fall arrives.

Indoor attractions like movie theaters, themed restaurants, and go-karting are great for this type of promotion.

But don’t restrict yourself here. You can use this theme for just about any product under the (really hot) sun.

Notice that you don’t even need a discount to use this promotion idea. Just tie your product into the theme, and you’re good to go.

Hold a summer-themed giveaway

Giveaways are great any time of year. They’re versatile, eye-catching, and adjustable; you can ask more or less of your audience with a bigger or smaller gift.

This ad makes a huge splash with a big prize: Ten grand in cash and a Winnebago. Also, notice the cool-weather images, even though this was shared in August.

That’s not a bad strategy. Your customers might be attracted to chilly scenes when temps are unbearably high.

One tip for your August giveaway promotions is to make the entry directions very clear. This one does a great job of that by giving a three-step entry process right in the ad creative.

Create inspirational visual assets

Speaking of visuals, when people scroll social media while dreaming of adventure, they’re much more likely to stop at posts and promotions with eye-catching images and videos.

This short clip is an excellent example. It’s appropriately emotional and tells a great story about camping with your best four-legged friend.

You don’t have to go full-feature film. Even a high-quality social media image of someone jumping in a pool, setting up camp, or driving down a dirt road can capture the feeling people crave this time of year.

Get ahead of Labor Day promotions for September

It doesn’t feel like Labor Day is right around the corner, falling on September 7 this year. But it is. And if you time your promotions right this month, you can gain a first-mover advantage on all the Labor Day sales.

You’ll want to track your Labor Day promotions to see how they help move the sales needle for your business. A Labor Day-specific discount code is an easy way to do it.

The code also hints at urgency since one can assume the code won’t work after the holiday.

Make your last few August promos time-sensitive

Speaking of adding urgency, there’s no better way to motivate action quickly than with a countdown timer. Adding one to your pre-Labor Day ads will get people on the fence about buying to smash the “add to cart” button.

A timer like this is perfect for your August promotion landing pages.

Plan for state/county fairs

Many state fairs happen in the fall, so plan ahead and see if you can get on the list!

• • • Be a web sponsor—get your logo on their website (good for a backlink).
    • Be a vendor—food, tables, bouncy houses, and more.
    • Donate an auction or raffle item.

Lean into the summer weather

August can be a coin toss when it comes to weather. Odds are, your customers are either trying to beat the heat and getting excited about cooler weather, or they’re enjoying their last few warm, sunny summer days. You could frame your August summer marketing promotions around either angle. Whether you share tips for soaking in those last few summer days or get your audience excited for the upcoming cooler temps, this August marketing idea is sure to be effective.

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Summer is ending, but August marketing must go on

Whether you’re heading into fall with gusto or dragging your feet, your marketing needs to stay consistent and strong! Use these ideas to engage your audience, attract more customers, and stand out above your competitors. For more ways to maximize your monthly marketing, see how our solutions can help take your seasonal strategies to the next level!

All things family

• National Sisters Day (first Sunday in August)
• Respect for Parents Day (Aug 1)
• American Family Day (first Sunday in August)
• Sons and Daughters Day (Aug 11)
• Middle Child Day (Aug 12)

Vertical specific

• Shapewear Day (Aug 10)
• Secondhand Wardrobe Day (Aug 25)
• Brazilian Blowout Day (Aug 21)
• Tooth Fairy Day (Aug 22)

Patriotic

• Spirit of ’45 Day (second Sunday in August)
• Aviation Day (Aug 19)
• Park Service Founders Day (Aug 25)
• Ride The Wind Day (Aug 23)

Fun/funny

• Underwear Day (Aug 5)
• Water Balloon Day (first Friday in August)
• Lazy Day (Aug 10)
• Tell a Joke Day (Aug 16)
• Sneak Some Zucchini Into Your Neighbor’s Porch Day (Aug 8)
• I LOVE My Feet Day! (Aug 17)
• International Beer Day (first Friday in August)
• Beach Day (Aug 30)
• Mail Order Catalog Day (Aug 18)

Niche/nostalgia

• Power Rangers Day (Aug 26)
• Book Lovers Day (Aug 9)
• Left-Handers Day (Aug 13)

Dog appreciation

• Work Like A Dog Day (Aug 5)
• Never Bean Better Day (Aug 22)
• International Mahjong Day (Aug 1)

Compassionate

• Relaxation Day (Aug 15)
• Thoughtful Day  (Aug 28)
• Grief Awareness Day (Aug 30)
• Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day (Aug 28)
• International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug 31)

Sales

• National Dollar Day (Aug 8)
• National Thrift Shop Day (Aug 17)
• National Thoughtful Day (Aug 28)

Food and beverage

• National Raspberry Cream Pie Day (Aug 1)
• National Ice Cream Sandwich Day (Aug 2)
• National IPA Day (Aug 3)
• National Watermelon Day (Aug 3)
• National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (Aug 4)
• National Jamaican Patty Day (Aug 5)
• National Oyster Day (Aug 5)
• National S’mores Day (Aug 10)
• National Filet Mignon Day (Aug 13)
• National Rum Day (Aug 16)
• National Pinot Noir Day (Aug 18)
• National Fajita Day (Aug 18)
• National Lemon Juice Day (Aug 29)