Kick off the festivities and drive summer sales with these seven strategies and examples.

One of the biggest holidays of the summer is almost here. The 4th of July falls on a Thursday this year, so many consumers will likely celebrate the weekend after with activities like cookouts, community celebrations, fireworks, and travel.

While a lot of consumer spending usually goes toward food, people will still be on the lookout for great deals from their favorite brands. 

Explore these seven 4th of July marketing ideas brands have used to drive revenue around the holiday, and snag some inspiration for your own campaign planning.

1. Delight shoppers with fun freebies

There's something about the promise of free shipping that makes us more likely to click "buy.” In fact, most consumers would opt for slower shipping over faster delivery, as long as they don't have to pay for it.

To celebrate the 4th of July, Blenders Eyewear generously offered their customers free shipping for one day only. They didn't set a minimum purchase requirement, so people had the freedom to buy whatever they wanted without having to spend a certain amount of money.

If you borrow this strategy, remember that free shipping isn't the only type of "freebie" that can incentivize purchases. Get creative with other options like free gifts with purchase or buy-one get-one free offers.

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2. Share savings with new subscribers

Bobo’s launched a special promotion to help their customers stock up on snacks for the 4th of July. To make sure no one missed out on the limited-time offer, the baked goods brand also updated their sign-up unit to capture new subscribers on-site. 

New subscribers gained early access to the sale in exchange for signing up, and were greeted by a personalized welcome message that included a discount code and a friendly reminder to grab their snacks for the holiday.

Even if you're not offering a specific deal for the 4th of July, refreshing your sign-up unit design can still be effective in converting interested shoppers into email and SMS subscribers.

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3. Inspire “oohs” and “ahhs” with an on-theme offer

Bulova put a colorful spin on their 4th of July savings event. Rather than launching a traditional sitewide sale, the watch brand only discounted their red, white, and blue models to align with the theme of the weekend. The offer was a creative way to showcase a curated collection of their timepieces and treat their customers to a great deal at the same time.

If your product catalog doesn't feature a lot of (or any) red, white, and blue, you can still embrace the spirit of this strategy. For example, can you create bundles that complement popular 4th of July festivities, like an exclusive set of grilling tools for barbecuing or a picnic blanket and cooler combo for a day at the beach. It's all about finding unique ways to make your products shine.

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4. Help people wow their party guests with great food

Many people spend the 4th of July weekend with friends and family, hosting backyard barbecues, or going to group gatherings that center around fun food and snacks. So Baked by Melissa—best known for their handcrafted bite-size cupcakes—reminded customers to order their party-ready 100 packs before the shipping deadline, to get them in time for the weekend celebrations.

By sending the message a few days before July 4, and including a dollar-off discount offer, the brand created a sense of urgency for people to click through and shop immediately.

For a non-promotional take on this strategy, consider sharing a delicious 4th of July-inspired recipe with your audience to help them impress their party guests. Include links to any required ingredients or tools available for purchase, making it easy for people to add these items to their cart and check out. You'll drive awareness, traffic, and conversions organically, no discount or promotional offer required.

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5. Increase customer loyalty with a subscription sale

Peet's Coffee launched a subscription sale over the 4th of July to make sure their coffee-loving customers never run out of their favorite blends. The limited-time promotion gave people the chance to get a discount on their first three subscription orders, along with other ongoing subscriber perks like free shipping and access to exclusive roasts. 

Encouraging subscription sign-ups is a smart strategy that not only drives immediate sales but also fosters long-term customer loyalty through built-in repeat orders.

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6. Put your summer-ready products in the spotlight

If you have products that are perfect for people to enjoy over the summer, find creative ways to make them the focal point of your 4th of July marketing campaigns. 

Sustainable travel brand Paravel, for example, tapped into the summer vacation mindset by offering a sale on their best-selling luggage sets. They gave customers a full week to shop their curated pairings, generating excitement by announcing the sale a few days before the 4th and emphasizing that the discount would only be available until the 6th.

By doing so, Paravel made sure that their products took center stage, capturing the attention of summer travelers looking for high-quality and sustainably-made luggage options.

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7. Keep the celebration going after the 4th

Marleylilly used the element of surprise to boost engagement and conversions during their 4th of July promotion. The shop, known for their monogrammed clothing, accessories, and gifts, kicked off their campaign with a compelling offer: 30% off everything on the site.

Then, just when customers thought the deal was expiring, Marleylilly extended the sale for another 48 hours. The strategic move created a renewed sense of urgency, encouraging anyone who missed out the first time to act quickly before the deal disappeared again. 

‍Looking for even more 4th of July marketing ideas? Browse our SMS gallery, Texts We Love, for inspiration from top brands. And explore our 2024 Marketing Campaign Calendar, packed with tips and templates for key marketing dates throughout the year.