10 ways to promote your business this summer

Practical summer marketing ideas for small businesses that want to stay visible, generate enquiries and make better use of quieter months

Summer can be a useful time to review, refresh and promote your business. For some sectors, it is peak season. For others, it can be quieter, which makes it a good opportunity to improve your marketing before September.

The best summer marketing does not need to be complicated. It should be timely, relevant and linked to a clear commercial goal. Whether you want more enquiries, better visibility, stronger local awareness or improved customer engagement, here are 10 practical ways to promote your business this summer.

How can small and medium sized businesses promote themselves in summer?

Small and medium sized businesses can promote themselves in summer by using seasonal offers, local partnerships, events, useful content, PR, targeted advertising and stronger visibility across its website, social media and customer journey.

The key is to choose activity that fits your audience, budget and capacity.

1. Run a focused summer promotion

A good promotion can give people a reason to act now. This could be a limited-time offer, added-value package, referral incentive or seasonal bundle.

Try to avoid discounting for the sake of it. A promotion should support your brand, not make your business look cheap. Think about:

• What you want customers to do

• How long the offer will run

• Where you will promote it

• Whether your website and team can handle enquiries quickly

  
  

Paid social media can help give a campaign extra reach, but only if the landing page, message and follow-up process are clear.

2. Use advertising carefully

Advertising can still work well for SMEs, especially when it is targeted and linked to a specific message.

This might include:

• Local magazines

• Newsletters

• Online directories

• Sponsored social posts

• Community publications

• Event programmes

  
  

Before booking space, ask who the audience is, what response you can realistically expect and whether the advert supports your wider sales and marketing strategy.

3. Host or attend an event

Summer is a good time to get face-to-face with customers, prospects and your local community.

You could host an open day, workshop, taster session, networking event or informal drop-in.

You could also attend local events, markets, business fairs or community days.

Start promoting the event at least a month in advance. Use reminders, teaser posts and a clear call to action so people know why they should attend.

4. Build local partnerships

Partnership marketing can be highly effective, especially for businesses in Kent and Tunbridge Wells that rely on local reputation and word of mouth.

Look for businesses that share your audience but do not directly compete with you. You could:

• Run a joint offer

• Share each other’s content

• Create a local guide

• Host a joint event

• Recommend each other where appropriate

  
  

The best partnerships are simple, useful and mutually beneficial.

5. Support a cause that fits your business

Giving back should never feel like a marketing stunt. But when it is genuine, it can strengthen reputation and build trust.

This could include fundraising, volunteering, supporting a local charity or donating a percentage of sales from a specific campaign.

Research by PwC found that consumers are increasingly looking for clear information about values such as sustainability, health, local sourcing and responsible business practices.

6. Create useful summer content

Blog posts, guides and FAQs can help your business appear in search results and answer the questions your customers are already asking.

HubSpot’s 2026 marketing statistics report notes that website, blog and SEO remain the top ROI-generating channel for marketers, with blog posts also among the highest-ROI content formats.

For summer, think about topics such as:

• What customers need to know before the holidays

• Seasonal mistakes to avoid

• Summer planning checklists

• Local things to do

• How your product or service helps at this time of year

  
  

You can also use national awareness days and seasonal moments to give your content a timely hook. The key is to choose dates that genuinely fit your business, rather than forcing your brand into every trend.

Useful UK dates for summer 2026 include:

• National BBQ Week: 25–31 May

• Volunteers’ Week: 1–7 June

• World Environment Day: 5 June

• National Fish and Chip Day: 5 June

• Bike Week: 8–14 June 

• Carers Week: 8–14 June 

• Global Wellness Day: 13 June

• National Picnic Week: 15–21 June

• Clean Air Day: 18 June 

• Father’s Day: 21 June 

• Summer Solstice: 21 June 

• Armed Forces Day: 27 June 

• Plastic Free July: 1–31 July 

• World Chocolate Day: 7 July 

• Thank You Day: 5 July 

• International Day of Friendship: 30 July

• Cycle to Work Day: 6 August 

• Afternoon Tea Week: 10–16 August 

• World Photography Day: 19 August

  
  

This is where Answer Engine Optimisation matters. Structure content around real questions, give direct answers and make your advice easy for AI tools and search engines to understand.

7. Use PR to raise visibility

PR does not have to mean national press coverage. Local media, trade publications, podcasts and business features can all help build credibility.

Consider whether you have a story linked to:

• Summer trends

• Local events

• Business growth

• Community activity

• Expert advice

• Customer success

  
  

Useful, timely commentary is often stronger than a sales-led press release.

8. Consider door drops or local print

Door drops can still work for the right business, especially if you are targeting a defined local area.

The DMA’s 2025 Door Drop Report found that door drops delivered an average response rate of 0.5% across 2021 to 2024 and returned £2.90 for every £1 spent.

This can be useful for local services, events, hospitality, retail, home improvement and community-based businesses.

9. Use branded merchandise wisely

Branded merchandise can work when it is useful, good quality and relevant. Summer products such as water bottles, tote bags, picnic items or travel accessories can keep your brand visible.

PPAI research published in 2025 found that 57% of consumers kept their most recent promotional product because it was useful in daily life, while 42% kept it because it looked good or felt high quality.

Do not buy giveaways just to have something with your logo on. Choose items that reflect your brand properly.

10. Refresh your signage and visibility

Good signage, vehicle branding, uniforms, packaging and window displays can all help people notice and remember your business.

Strong visibility matters, but it needs to be clear. Your branding should be legible, consistent and easy to understand quickly.

What is the best summer marketing strategy for a small business?

The best summer marketing strategy is one that combines visibility with a clear customer journey. It is not just about running a campaign. It is about making sure people know what you offer, why it matters and what to do next.

That means checking your:

• Website

• Google Business Profile

• Email follow-up

• Social media

• Sales process

• Content

• Customer service

  
  

Make summer work harder for your business

Summer can be a brilliant time to test ideas, build visibility and prepare for a stronger autumn. The most effective activity is usually practical, focused and joined up.

If you need senior marketing support, a clearer B2B marketing strategy or help creating a marketing plan for your small business, Sharp Thinking Marketing can help.

As a freelance marketing consultant, fractional CMO and marketing mentor based in Tunbridge Wells, I work with established SMEs that need clear, commercially focused marketing strategy advice.

Get in touch to talk about strategic marketing support for your business.