Good news for everyone who’s grown weary of this dreary winter weather: we’re just a few short months away from the unofficial start of summer: Memorial Day Weekend! For food and beverage brands, Memorial Day Weekend represents one of the largest sales opportunities in the first half of the year. It’s estimated that Americans spend more than $1B collectively on food and beverages during the holiday weekend between hamburgers, hot dogs, and even berries – yes, berries – saw $223M in sales in 2017. (Gotta make those flag cakes.)

To help your food and bev brand start Summer with a bang, here are seven social media marketing tips for driving Memorial Day sales.

Seven Social Media Marketing Tips For Driving Memorial Day Sales

1) Do Start Early and Keep It Consistent

BBQ’s aren’t something you just throw together. Menus are planned weeks in advance. For F&B brands that want to win those MDW (Memorial Day Weekend, to us insiders) dollars, early promotion is key. Get on your customer’s radar and stay there through the weekend by consistently posting during the days, leading up to the weekend.

2) Do Remember The Reason for the Season

Memorial Day Weekend is not just about grills n’ thrills. It’s a time to recognize and reflect on the sacrifices made by Americans. Pay your respects with posts that feature patriotic imagery and honorable language. Use appropriate hashtags, imagery, and post copy that resonates with your audiences and aligns with how they honor this holiday.

3) Do Celebrate Summer

It’s also summer-, summer-, summertime. Remind your customers that it’s time to sit back and unwind with some fun summer-themed posts. Work to create a mental and emotional connection with your customers that connects your brand to the start of summertime – Memorial Day Weekend.

4) Do Create Content That Inspires

Sure, some consumers out there are always going to prefer a “traditional” burger, but you know what?

Some of us might like something a little different (tacos al pastor anyone?). Inspire your customers to try something new by creating branded recipes social media posts. Remember, Memorial Day is a time for families to get together and celebrate. Make sure your recipes are easy to follow and your menu items are kid-friendly.

5) Do Amplify Your Content

If you expect your social media content to help drive sales, that content needs to get seen! While many brands will turn to sponsoring posts during the weeks leading up to MDW (and drive up costs for all of us). Brands, like Avocados from Mexico, are using advocacy marketing to amplify their content to drive reach and increase content engagement.

6) Do Get Your Audience Involved

For many of your customers, Memorial Day is a time for gathering with friends and family, which makes this weekend a fantastic opportunity to encourage your audience to create user-generated content. Encourage customers to share their own photos, videos, and stories from their Memorial Day gatherings.

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

• Ask them to share how they use your product in their favorite Memorial Day food.
• Showcase the decor and party vibes of their bbq or pool shindig.
• Take a video of their beverage choices and hashtag your brand in their posts.

As the UGC rolls in, be sure to share and thank your audience for creating this content on your behalf.

7) Do Give Back To Your Community

Giving back is always a good marketing strategy, it breeds goodwill, showcases your authenticity, and is an all-around great thing to do. A charitable initiative can be especially relevant during a holiday like Memorial Day. Select a military charity or organization that aligns with your brand and your audience, then make a donation while letting your customers know that you’re doing so. Bonus points if you ask them to recommend the charity or organization.

Another option is to provide discounts or promotional offers for active military, veterans, and military families. Not only is this a great way to show your appreciation for their service, it also creates a timely incentive to boost sales over the holiday weekend.

—
With over a billion BBQ bucks at stake, Memorial Day Weekend is not the time for your food and beverage brand to slouch. Grab your camera, fire up the grill, and create content that inspires your consumers to get off the couch and get ready for summertime. Be sure to check out counterpoint blog, where we’ll discuss five “don’ts” for your Memorial Day social media marketing strategy.

And if you’re ever in need of a full social review, give us a call at 443.393.2600 or send us an email! We’d be happy to discuss what we can do to create deeper relationships with clients, customers, and fans that engage with your brand’s social media content.