Sun, Sales & SMS: Your Guide to Winning Memorial Day

Sun, Sales & SMS: Your Guide to Winning Memorial Day 🇺🇸

The unofficial start of summer is comin’ in hot. 🔥

As the unofficial kickoff to summer approaches, now is the pivotal moment to refine your Memorial Day marketing strategy, particularly focusing on optimizing email marketing strategies and SMS campaigns.

Haven’t aligned your Memorial Day marketing strategy for Email and SMS yet? Now’s the time because the holiday weekend brings major opportunities to drive sales.

80% of Memorial Day Weekend celebrants are expected to shop during the holiday weekend. Memorial Day ranked among the top 3 most popular holidays in the U.S. in 2023, sandwiched right between e-comm’s heaviest of hitters: Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, if you’re not giving Memorial Day Weekend the same time and attention you do BFCM, you and your brand could be missing out on a lot of revenue. 

Winning the weekend can be tricky, given the somber meaning behind Memorial Day itself and the fact that so many people are intentionally offline and on the go. 

To capitalize on this peak consumer interest, it’s crucial to tailor seasonal marketing campaigns that resonate effectively with mobile users, ensuring your brand captures maximum visibility and engagement during this bustling holiday period.

Here are some tips on how to navigate this major marketing holiday with a mobile-first approach using Email and SMS while remaining respectful of the day itself.

Choose the Right Messaging ✍️

Given the somber nature of Memorial Day and the more personal nature of Email and SMS marketing, it’s crucial to strike the right tone in your messaging and ensure it aligns with your brand voice and your audience. 

If it feels on-brand to recognize the holiday itself, do so, but be sure to avoid overly celebratory language. Instead, focus on expressing gratitude and respect for the fallen heroes by using phrases like “We remember” or “Join us in honoring the brave souls who gave their lives for our freedom.” Avoid wishing your subscribers a “Happy Memorial Day” or thanking veterans for their service—that is not what this holiday is for, and using the wrong messaging can negatively impact the perception your subscribers have of your brand.

If your brand typically uses a more lighthearted tone or does not have a direct or natural tie-in to the military or their families, it’s recommended you lean into the “start of summer” theme. 

This thoughtful, authentic approach can help to better effectively engage your audience during the holiday while still optimizing your seasonal marketing campaigns.

However you choose to show up in your email and mobile marketing campaign strategy, ensure it’s authentic and crafted in a way that resonates with your subscribers while driving them to take action on the goal of your campaign—be it to endear them to your brand through thoughtful, respectful messaging or to drive sales as summer heats up.

Keep It Relevant ♨️

Given the precedent set by all of the Memorial Day sales that came before yours, people have come to expect discounts during the long weekend. They’ll be tuned in and looking for a deal, but they’ll also be equally checked out—gearing up for outdoor activities, summer travel, and celebratory gatherings.

For your email marketing strategy and mobile marketing campaigns, ensure subscribers have ample time to shop and celebrate during the holiday weekend. Look to target them at the right time and with the right content for the most impactful results. 

Start promoting your offer before the weekend and have it run through the day after Memorial Day. This will give them the opportunity to shop Memorial Day sales whether they’re still at their desk or jet-setting to a tropical destination. A one-day sale can be great in some instances, but this isn’t the time for that.

Also, keep in mind that what’s on sale is just as important as when the deal is live. Products featured should be relevant for the season, such as a curated collection of summer getaway essentials. If your products aren’t as relevant to their summer adventures, consider leveraging a sitewide sale, which allows your brand to stay on theme as part of your Memorial Day sales strategy in the messaging used.

Embrace the *Slams Laptop Shut* Vibe 💻

With Memorial Day Weekend being a prime time for outdoor activities and travel, your subscribers are likely to be away from their desks and laptops. Meet them where they’re at—on their mobile devices—by leveraging SMS push marketing campaigns and mobile-responsive email designs. 

A well-timed text or mobile-friendly email can grab their attention while they’re on the go or checking their email on their phone while waiting to flip the burgers. With 97% of Americans now owning smartphones, ensuring your mobile marketing campaigns are seamlessly integrated into your seasonal SMS push campaign is essential for maximizing engagement and increasing the chances of Memorial Day sale conversions.

Make sure your emails are optimized for mobile viewing with a clean, easy-to-scan design and prominent, easy-to-tap calls to action. SMS messages should be direct with all essential information included, such as your offer, the discount code, and a link to a collection page. 

By utilizing both SMS and mobile-optimized email campaigns, you’ll maximize your reach and conversion potential throughout the Memorial Day sales period.

This timely, proactive approach to your email and SMS marketing strategy ensures you engage with subscribers wherever the holiday weekend finds them, driving increased sales and brand visibility.

👋  And if you need an agency partner who will support you through every holiday and occasion, let’s talk. The Lifecycle Marketing team at MuteSix specializes in crafting tailored email marketing plans and SMS strategies to help your brand reach conversion goals.