Steal These Summer Content Hacks 😉

Campaigns, captions, and scroll-stoppers you can launch before your iced coffee melts.

June 11, 2025

Summer’s not the only thing heating up – your content should be, too. From viral sounds to AI hacks, here’s how to keep your marketing fresh, fast, and ready to post:

  • ☀️ Summer Campaigns You Can Launch in a Week: Flash promos, fun bundles, and heatwave-worthy hooks.

    📊 Consumer Trends You NEED to Know: What your audience actually wants in their feed this month.

    🎵 TikTok + Reels Trends: The sounds, vibes, and formats catching fire right now.

    🤖 3 AI Prompts to Power Your Summer Content: Let smart tools do the heavy lifting on captions, offers, and spotlights.

 📆 Summer Campaign Ideas You Can Launch in a Week

Because nothing says local love like an iced coffee promo or a frozen sangria special…

☕ Cafés & Coffee Shops

⚡ Flash Iced Coffee Fridays
Offer $1 iced coffee every Friday from 2–4 PM.

  • Promote with countdown Stories + heatwave memes

  • Hashtags: #RhodeIslandEats #IcedCoffeeFix #CoolDownRI

👗 Boutiques & Retail Stores

🧊 Beat the Heat Bundle
Bundle lightweight summer outfits + a free fan or sunscreen.

  • Use Reels to create a “Cool Girl Starter Kit”

  • Hashtags: #SummerStyleRI #BeachBoutiqueVibes #ShopSmallRI

💪 Gyms & Wellness Studios

💦 Sweat Then Splash Challenge
7-day challenge: 30-minute workout + post-workout pool selfie.

  • Giveaway: branded towel or water bottle

  • Hashtags: #SweatThenSplash #RIFitnessChallenge #SummerSweat

🍽️ Restaurants & Food Trucks

🌮 Taste of Summer Menu
Launch 3 seasonal items—think grilled fruit tacos, frozen sangria, etc.

  • Incentivize tags with free appetizer for photo posts

  • Hashtags: #TasteRI #SummerOnAPlate #FoodieFindsRI

🧖‍♀️ Salons & Spas

☀️ Sun-Kissed Self-Care Packages
Facial + SPF gift, or mani-pedi + iced tea combo.

  • Exclusive discount if they bring a friend

  • Hashtags: #RISpaDays #SunKissedGlow #SummerZen

🧁 Bakeries & Sweet Shops

🍦 Pop-Up Frozen Treat Bar
Drop surprise frozen treat flavors every afternoon.

  • Free mini scoop for anyone who guesses the flavor

  • Hashtags: #CoolTreatsRI #SweetSummerVibes #BiteIntoRI

🧒 Kid-Friendly Businesses / Toy Shops

🎨 DIY Summer Craft Saturdays
Walk-in 30-minute workshops (tie-dye, seashell frames, etc.)

  • Feature finished crafts in Stories

  • Hashtags: #CreativeKidzRI #SummerFunRI #FamilyFriendlyRI

🛠️ Home Services (Plumbing, Cleaning, HVAC)

💨 “Chill Check-Up” Flash Sale
Offer discounted A/C tune-ups or seasonal cleanings.

  • Use slogans like: "Don’t sweat it, we’ve got you."

  • Hashtags: #StayCoolRI #RhodeHomeReady #RIHomeHelp

🔥 Consumer Trends You NEED to Know

As we continue our cruise through June, the algorithm is favoring bold moves. From viral sounds to AI-powered content and booming live shopping events, here’s what your brand should be doing right now to stay ahead (and examples for how to actually do it).

🎥 1. Short-Form Video Rules the Feed

Why it matters: 78% of users discover products through short videos, and content under 24 seconds boasts 90% completion rates.

What to do:

  • Retail: Post a 15-second "GRWM" using trending summer outfits.

  • Restaurants: Show a plate-to-table transformation set to a trending foodie beat.

  • Museums: Use Reels to reveal hidden exhibit gems or behind-the-scenes setup.

💡 Pro tip: Tap into seasonal aesthetics—think summer vlogs, festival energy, or nostalgic 2000s edits.

🛍️ 2. Social Commerce = Real $$$

Why it matters: Social commerce will hit $107B by year-end, and live shopping boosts conversion by 25%.

What to do:

  • Retailers: Host an Instagram Live with a local fashion micro-influencer to launch your summer collection.

  • Cafés/Restaurants: Sell a limited drink drop live on TikTok with giveaways.

  • Artists & Crafters: Use TikTok Shop to demo your creation process, then link products live.

💡 Favoured tip: Retarget viewers who watch your live to boost purchase conversions.

🤖 3. AI Is the Secret Sauce (When Used Well)

Why it matters: AI saves time, boosts output, and helps optimize content. But 62% of users want authenticity, not full-on robots.

What to do:

  • Retail: Use AI to create product mockups, but add a human face in the content.

  • Museums: Post a “What if Da Vinci vlogged?” AI-generated series.

  • Local Services: Use AI tools like HeyGen to create polished explainer videos.

💡 Keyword game: Optimize captions for platform search: “summer skincare,” “vintage tees,” “easy brunch spots.”

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 4. Community Is King (Again)

Why it matters: Gen Z loyalty soars in Discord/Reddit communities. Niche = sticky.

What to do:

  • Cafés: Start a Discord server for coffee fans and exclusive recipes.

  • Retail shops: Launch a subreddit for new drops and product polls.

  • Cultural Orgs: Host Q&As with curators on Threads.

💡 Mimic Innocent Drinks: Be playful, human, and consistent in tone.

📊 At-a-Glance Stats: May 2025

  • 5.24B people are active on social media 🌍

  • Gen Z spends 3+ hours/day online

  • TikTok + Instagram = #1 platforms for discovery

  • 55.7% of social actions are tied to apparel & accessories

  • 81% of users want more short-form content

Marketing ideas for marketers who hate boring

The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it. That’s what The Marketing Millennials delivers: real insights, fresh takes, and no fluff. Written by Daniel Murray, a marketer who knows what works, this newsletter cuts through the noise so you can stop guessing and start winning. Subscribe and level up your marketing game.

Trend Watch: TikTok & Instagram Edition

The trends that are lighting up feeds (and boosting engagement) this week. Get ready to post, pose, and maybe even dance a little.

🔈 “I Mean, I Could, But Why Would I Want To?”

Use this Selena Gomez sound when you want to clap back in a cheeky way. Click here for more examples.

🎶 Turning Texts Into Songs

Screenshot a funny, awkward, or sweet text and us AI to create a sound clip of it being sung and use it over dramatic music. Click here for more examples.

🐾 Cuteness (Still) Wins

Unfiltered pet content? Always a hit.
Example: Therapist, real estate agent, baker: Just post your dog sleeping under your desk. That’s the post.

🧍‍♀️ Imagine Hating On Me and I’m Just In My Room Like…

This one's all about self-confidence and chill vibes.
Example: Fashion brand: “Imagine hating on me and I’m just in my room pinteresting outfits like... 🧘‍♀️” Click here for more examples.

🎬 AI Vlogs + B-Roll Comeback

Use tools like Veo 3 to reimagine historical figures or showcase your brand with cinematic B-roll angles.
Example:

  • Museum: “If Marie Antoinette worked in guest services...”

  • Agency: B-roll of coffee, laptops, and logo mugs? Go for it.

1. Us Too?
Highlight team member switching roles for a day.

  • Law firm: Intern plays lawyer for a day.

2. How I Laugh
Use three types of laughs to react to three industry quirks.

  • Marketer: Quiet laugh (email opens), medium (good ad performance), big laugh (client says “just go viral”).

3. “I Think We’re Going to Sell…”
Walk around and ask team predictions.

  • Bakery: “How many cupcakes will we sell today?” No audio needed.

🎶🤖 3 AI Prompts to Power Your Summer Content

BeUsing tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, or Canva Magic Write, these plug-and-play prompts are perfect for creating storytelling posts, promo buzz, and community love (without staring at a blank screen).

✨ 1. Tell Your Story: Behind-the-Scenes

Prompt:

"Write a short, engaging Instagram caption that tells the story of how our [type of product/service] is made or delivered, with a focus on craftsmanship and local pride. Mention that we're a small business based in [City, State]."

Best for:

  • Cafés sharing coffee-roasting rituals

  • Salons showing pre-opening prep

  • Artisans, makers, or service pros highlighting local pride

💥 2. Promote Like a Pro: Summer Offer Buzz

Prompt:

"Create a fun, energetic social media caption to promote a limited-time summer offer called '[Your Offer Name],' tailored to [industry]. Include urgency, emojis, and a call to action. Keep it under 100 words."

Best for:

  • Flash sales & “first 20 customers” promos

  • Summer bundles & giveaways

  • Restaurants pushing limited menu items

🫶 3. Celebrate Your Customers

Prompt:

"Write a caption for a customer spotlight post. Make it feel warm and appreciative. Mention their favorite product/service, how long they've been a customer, and include a quote or short review. Include 3 local hashtags."

Best for:

  • Gyms spotlighting regulars

  • Boutiques featuring loyal shoppers

  • Any biz looking to build social proof & community

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Soak up the sun, schedule that post, and let your content do the hard work. Summer’s short – make every scroll count.