Think the back-to-school sales rush is just for retail?

Think again!

There are many ways non-retail businesses can take advantage of this time of year whether its through selling their services or providing valuable advice to their clients. Here are a few ways you can help your audience with your social media channels.

Reduce Stress

Many parents, teachers and students get nervous, stressed out or anxious during this time of year.

What could you do to help alleviate those worries?

A spa owner or massage therapist, for instance, could target their services to this group on Twitter in a tweet while emphasizing the relaxation and therapeutic benefits.

Or say you’re a counsellor, you could advertise your services by running a Facebook ad that reaches out to teachers who are feeling anxious about returning to work or parents whose young children are entering the school system for the first time or parents whose children are changing schools. There’s also worried students entering grade 12 who aren’t sure what they want to do after high school or university students who are stressed about switching their major or area of study.

Even if you are not a counsellor, you could find articles with advice on how to cope with these things and post them on your social media channels.

Think of ways your business could help reduce the stress level of your clients during the back-to-school shopping season.

Party Time

Are there ways you could celebrate the final days of summer and the start of the new school year?

A party planner, for example, could organize a party for teachers or a networking event for parents.

Heck, you don’t even need to be a party planner, you could throw one yourself at your business or at a local restaurant. If coordinating an event isn’t your thing, you could share upcoming events with your audience that could be beneficial to them.

Commuting

The beginning of the school year means more vehicles on the road and longer commutes to work in the morning.

This means more wear and tear on your vehicle.

A mechanic could use this time to promote a ‘Get Your Car Ready for School’ deal.

An auto-detailer could target people who will be car-pooling and how they can get their car looking its best for September.

One thing you could do is a post about bus and school zone safety: remind people to budget in extra time during their morning commute, to be aware of school bus stops and to slow down while driving through school zones.

Shopping Assistance

What about if your business doesn’t lend itself to getting sales during the back-to-school season?

There is still an opportunity for you to provide valuable information that could help your followers.

Show your audience you care by researching and listing the best deals on school supplies, where to get inexpensive school clothes, or where university students can find used textbooks at a low price.

Conclusion

In the summertime, social media slows down considerably which most certainly mean less traffic and engagement on your pages. But as the slowdown ends and the back-to-school rush begins, be open to opportunities to help your audience in ways you may not have considered.

Let’s Hear From You

What are your thoughts? What are some other ways non-retailers can capitalize on this time of year or provide value to their followers? Leave your comments below.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Trites is a Social Media Consultant and is the Owner of Knockout Social Media