We may be in the dog days of summer, but it’s time to prepare eCommerce content and strategies for September and the upcoming season. Check out our 7 ideas to engage customers and drive conversions next month.

1. End of Summer
The days are getting shorter and summer is coming to a close. Run a last-minute summer sale if you still have inventory. Create engagement by asking customers where they went on vacation or what their favorite summer memory was. After that, it’s time to increase promotions and sales on your fall and winter merchandise.

2. Labor Day
Labor Day is Monday, September 5 and recognizes the hard work and achievements of workers across America. According to the US Department of Labor, the holiday was created by the labor movement and become a legal holiday in 1894. There is still a debate over who officially created the holiday, Peter McGuire or Matthew Maguire. The first Labor Day was celebrated in much the same way it is today, with a parade, picnics, beer, and fireworks. If you sell any beach, pool, or home improvement supplies, run some promotions as this is when shoppers look for these items on clearance.

3. Back to School
Of course, this idea can also be used throughout August, but many schools still get started in September. Clothing, accessories, and office supply retailers can easily take advantage of this marketing opportunity, but others can make use of it as well. Promote any products that may be relevant like art supplies or storage containers. Also, don’t forget about college students who need a much wider range of products. Regardless of what you sell, the back to school theme can be used to offer coupons or discounts to any kind of shopper. Check out our Back to School series from last year for more inspiration and tips for your site.

4. Football
The first regular season NFL game is on September 8. Sports Illustrated reported that last year, Fox, CBS, and NBC telecasts of NFL games all averaged about 20 million viewers. A 2012 Gallup poll found that 63% of Americans are fans of professional football. That’s a huge marketing opportunity! Dive in to the Interests section in Google Analytics to see how many of your customers love sports and football and use this data to inform your marketing efforts. Employ language like “game plan,” “end zone,” “teamwork,” and more to evoke football culture in any ad. Of course, if you sell any sports-related products, this is a great time to ramp up promotions and take advantage of social media. Look for a football-related post from us next month!

5. Beginning of Fall
It seems hard to believe but fall officially begins on September 22 with the Autumn Equinox. Prepare for the onslaught of pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween decorations, and cooling temperatures. Try creating a fall shopping guide using your products – this could include home décor, outdoor projects, travel, camping, etc. Fall is also a great time to get user-generated content. Run a photo contest for best Halloween costume, best picture of the changing leaves, or best decorations. Ask users to submit fall craft project ideas, pumpkin or squash recipes, or their favorite fall memory from childhood.

6. Holiday Season
At this point, it’s down to the wire to prepare for the 2016 holiday shopping season! It seems like the holidays start earlier and earlier each year and comparison shopping starts earlier too. Put the finishing touches on promotional campaigns to stay front of mind when customers prepare their shopping lists. Also, make sure to deliver superior customer service leading up to and throughout the holidays to retain those customers and encourage repeat purchases. Another idea is to offer a product bundle or discount for customers who like to finish shopping before the rush.

7. Weird Holidays
Speaking of the holidays, here is a list of some wacky holidays in September that could help inspire social media posts:

9/3 - Skyscraper Day
9/5 - Be Late for Something Day
9/6 - Fight Procrastination Day
9/9 - National Teddy Bear Day
9/10 - Swap Ideas Day
9/13 - Fortune Cookie Day
9/17 - International Eat an Apple Day
9/18 - National Cheeseburger Day
9/19 - International Talk Like a Pirate Day
9/22 - American Business Women’s Day
9/27 - National Voter Registration Day
9/28 - National Good Neighbor Day
9/29 - National Coffee Day

There you have it, ideas and inspiration for your September marketing plan. Check back for more tips and tricks every week!