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Cool Content for Hot Days đ„”
From niche holidays to Insta updates, weâve got your content covered.
You know what pairs well with sunshine and iced coffee? A scroll-stopping content plan. As June winds down, weâve pulled together the smartest, trend-savviest tips to help your business show up strong this July.
Instagram-Worthy Dates to Post in July: Use fun, niche holidays to spark fresh, timely content your audience actually wants to engage with.
Whatâs New on Instagram This Month: Stay ahead with the latest features, algorithm changes, and updatesâplus what they mean for your posts.
Simple Video Wins for Small Businesses: A quick-start guide to the video types that bring visibility, trust, and conversions without needing a pro setup.
Summer Trend Alert: Pinterest to Instagram: Tap into the hottest summer themes from Pinterest and rework them into compelling Instagram Reels, Stories, and posts

Julyâs Made-for-Instagram Holidays
Summerâs heating upâand so is your content game. Here are the most fun, scroll-worthy holidays coming up in July and how your business can turn them into carousel gold or Reel-worthy wins.
đșđž Independence Day â July 4
Carousel Idea:
Retail: Showcase red, white & blue products with a âFireworks-Worthy Findsâ swipe-through.
Museum: Highlight 4 Rhode Island history facts that tie into U.S. independence.
Reel Idea:
Restaurant: BTS of your team grilling, mixing, or prepping festive specials with a patriotic playlist.
Coffee shop: Red, white, and cold brew challengeâfun drink styling in 15 seconds.
đ« International Chocolate Day â July 7
Carousel Idea:
Bakery: 3-5 must-try chocolate treats you offer. Add a poll: âWhich one are you grabbing first?â
Retail: Gift guide for the chocoholic (local collabs welcome).
Reel Idea:
Museum: Chocolate through the ages exhibit snippet or vintage packaging in your collection.
CafĂ©: How our double-chocolate muffin gets madeâcrack, pour, bake, bite.
đč National Mojito Day â July 11
Carousel Idea:
Bar/Restaurant: âMojito Menu Mashupâ â classic, strawberry, spicy mint.
Reel Idea:
Behind the bar: Show your bartenderâs perfect mojito in under 30 seconds.
Bonus: Add a mini cocktail class for extra value.
đŠ National Ice Cream Day â July 21
Carousel Idea:
Creamery: âOur 5 Most Underrated Flavorsâ with scoops that donât get enough love.
Tourism business: âTop 5 RI spots to cool off with a cone.â
Reel Idea:
Any biz: Host a blind taste test with your team. Pure chaos = pure engagement.
Retail: Ice-cream-inspired product color drop? Make it visual.
đšâđ©âđ§ Parentsâ Day â July 28
Carousel Idea:
Retail: Gift ideas for parents (include local artist or maker shoutouts).
Museum: âParents & Kids: Then vs. Nowâ exhibit highlight or vintage comparison.
Reel Idea:
Restaurant: âWhat parents really want for Parentsâ Dayâ â a quiet meal, a strong drink, and no dishes.
đ« International Day of Friendship â July 30
Carousel Idea:
Boutique: âBestie Buysâ â items that come in pairs or encourage twinning.
Café: Create a menu bundle for two with a friends-only discount.
Reel Idea:
Any biz: Run a âTag your bestieâ giveaway Reel. Boost reach and reward loyal customers.

đč Video 101 for Local Biz
Video marketing isnât just for big brands with big budgets. Itâs one of the most effective tools available to local businesses â and the right video can build trust, increase visibility, and drive real sales. Hereâs how to make video content that actually works for your business.
đWhy Video Works
Viewers retain 95% of a message when watching a video, compared to just 10% when reading.
Adding video to your site improves your SEO by increasing time spent on the page.
A single product video can boost conversions by up to 80%.
Bottom line: video marketing helps people find you, trust you, and buy from you.
đMatch the Video to the Goal
Every video you create should focus on one of the following:
Get noticed
Build trust
Drive action
Trying to do all three in one video is a common mistake. Instead, choose the format that fits your goal and your time.
For example:
A retail shop in Providence might use short-form Reels to showcase new arrivals.
A contractor in Cranston could post a demo of a recent home upgrade.
A café in Newport might share a quick testimonial from a happy customer.
đVideo Types That Drive Sales
Product Demo Video: Show your product or service in action. Short and clear works best â aim for 1 to 2 minutes with a strong call to action.
Featured Product Video: Highlight one item with a benefit-driven message. Ideal for email campaigns or social posts.
Explainer Video: Break down what your business does and why it matters. Use this on your homepage or landing pages.
đBuild Trust with These Video Formats
Testimonial Video: Let satisfied customers speak for you. Keep it casual and honest, not overly produced.
Case Study Video: Tell the story of how your product or service solved a problem, including measurable results.
User-Generated Content: Encourage customers to share unboxings, reviews, or reactions. Feature this on your site or socials.
đEducational Content That Builds Authority
How-To Video: Answer a specific customer question or solve a small problem using your product or expertise.
Tutorial Video: Step-by-step guides to help customers use your product or service more effectively.
FAQ Video: Address your most common customer questions on camera. Useful for websites and social.
Tips and Tricks Video": Short, actionable advice your audience can use immediately. Great for social media.
Video Series": Create recurring content like "FAQ Fridays" or "Monthly Highlights" to build engagement over time.
đShow Your Personality
Behind-the-Scenes Video: Give a glimpse of how your business runs or how your product is made.
Company Culture Video: Highlight your team, workspace, or what itâs like to work with you. Especially helpful for hiring.
Interview or Q&A: Chat with team members or customers. Keep it natural and unscripted.
Vlog (Video Blog)": Share what you're working on, reflect on your business journey, or walk your audience through a typical day.
đProfessional and Platform-Specific Video Ideas
Corporate Video: Clean and polished video for investor decks, B2B clients, or your About page.
Live Video: Engage in real time with product launches, Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes content.
Webinars and Online Events: Teach, share insights, or promote services with live or recorded sessions. Repurpose these into shorter clips.
Social Video Content: Create short, engaging videos for Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. Focus on quick value and strong visuals.
Roundup Video: Feature expert tips, product highlights, or customer favorites in a single compilation.
Personalized Video: Create short, targeted messages for leads or existing clients using tools like Bonjoro or Vidyard.
đInternal Videos for Team Communication
Onboarding Videos: Help new hires feel welcome and informed with a consistent intro to your business.
Training Videos: Teach tools, tasks, or systems. Reusable and ideal for remote or growing teams.
Company Updates: Share news, milestones, or staff changes. These can also be shared publicly to build transparency and connection.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.
Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

đ± Instagram Updates You Need to Know
Instagram just dropped some big updates â and theyâre especially useful for small businesses trying to look sharp, post consistently, and connect more directly with local customers. Hereâs whatâs new, why it matters, and how to use it.
đŻ Grid Customization: Curate That First Impression
You can now reorder your top nine Instagram posts. Why does this matter?
First Impressions: Those top 9 posts = your storefront window.
Marketing Strategy: Got a Reel that brought in leads? Pin it to the top.
Local Example: A Providence boutique can keep its new collection, store hours, and latest event pinned at the top (even if they were posted weeks ago).
đ· 3:4 Aspect Ratio = No More Cropping Headaches
Instagram now supports natural 3:4 photo sizes, just like what you shoot on your phone.
No more resizing in Canva just to post a simple photo.
Single & Carousel Friendly: Works for one-off posts and multi-slide stories.
Local Example: A Narragansett cafĂ© can post latte art or oceanfront views exactly as they lookâquickly and beautifully.
đŁïž Edits App Teleprompter: Talk to Your Camera Like a Pro
Want to make direct-to-camera videos that donât feel awkward or scripted?
Built-in teleprompter lets you read your script while looking at the camera.
Customize it: Control speed and font size.
Easy workflow: Write in Google Docs â copy/paste into the app.
Local Example: A Newport yoga studio can record confident, clear intro videos for new students in one take.
đŹ Advanced Comment Filters (For Growing Accounts)
If your account is scaling â especially past 100K followers â Instagram now offers:
Top Comment Filters: Prioritize the most liked/engaged replies.
Follower Size Filters: See what your biggest fans are saying first.

âïž Pinterest Summer 2025 Trends â Instagram Content Ideas
This summer, Pinterest says weâre going full Digital Detox Mode, and Gen Z is leading the wayâsearching for forest getaways, garden aesthetics, and all things rustic. Here's how you, can turn that intel into scroll-stopping Instagram content.
đŸ 1. Rustic Farmhouse Interiors = Instagram Home Inspo Reels
Whatâs Trending: Searches for âthrifted home,â âfarmhouse kitchen,â and ârustic living roomsâ are soaring.
Instagram Ideas:
Home Decor Shop: Post âbefore & afterâ thrift flips.
Realtors: Share walk-throughs of rustic homes or cozy cottage-style listings.
Cafés: Highlight your wood textures, old brick, and vintage cups.
đ§ 2. Nature Bathing + Book Retreats = Mindful, Scenic Content
Whatâs Trending: Nature retreats and book clubs are in.
Instagram Ideas:
Wellness Coaches: Share B-roll of RI parks or beaches with meditation tips.
Bookstores: Host and share your own book club + picnic content.
Travel Brands: Curate guides for nature-focused weekend trips in Rhode Island (hello, Arcadia and Block Island!).
đ 3. Garden-to-Table = Farm-to-Feed Freshness
Whatâs Trending: Think âMartha Stewartâ with urban gardens, fresh recipes, and detox drinks.
Instagram Ideas:
Farmers Markets or CSAs: Reel your garden harvest into a recipe.
Local Restaurants: Spotlight a summer dish made with garden ingredients.
Skin & Wellness Brands: Share smoothies or detox drinks with skin/glow benefits.
đ 4. Garden Parties & Book Clubs = Events That Convert
Whatâs Trending: Garden party themes and âbook club hostingâ are peaking.
Instagram Ideas:
Event Planners: Curate dreamy summer tablescapes for IG.
Boutiques: Sell âhost kitsâ with table decor, candles, and invites.
CafĂ©s: Partner with local authors or readers to create a âSip & Readâ series.
đ 5. Boho Fashion + Dill Green = Visual Gold
Whatâs Trending: Crochet, 2000s boho, and this summerâs IT color: Dill Green.
Instagram Ideas:
Retailers: Post reels styling green linen pants or crochet accessories.
Artists/Crafters: DIY tutorials for boho crafts or summer crochet.
Markets: Promote vendors offering vintage or boho fashion.
đ 6. Astrology Makeup & Cool-Toned Beauty = Niche Meets Aesthetic
Whatâs Trending: Zodiac-inspired looks and summer nail art with tropical and blue vibes.
Instagram Ideas:
Salons: Run a zodiac makeup or nail series: âThis weekâs look: Gemini season.â
Beauty Brands: Drop reels showing astrology makeup tutorials with trending blue/red tones.
Content Creators: Use trending sounds to dramatize each zodiacâs âvibe.â
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Turn Up the Comfort, Not the Costs
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To take advantage of this program, Rhode Island Energy customers can call 1-888-633-7947 to schedule their assessment. You can also request an appointment online at rienergy.com/saveathome.
Donât miss your chance to make your home more energy efficient. Schedule your no cost Home Energy Assessment today to reduce your environmental impact, lower your energy usage, and increase your homeâs value and comfort.

Got a burning social media question? Wondering how to get more engagement, what to post next, or if hashtags still matter? đ€ Nowâs your chance to pick a marketerâs brain â no consulting fee required! Drop your questions in our quick survey, and weâll tackle the hottest topics in an upcoming newsletter. Whether itâs content creation, branding, or social media trends, weâve got you covered.

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So go ahead â schedule that iced latte brainstorming session and let your feed do the heavy lifting. Julyâs vibe is bold, bright, and built for business.