“Let’s pumpkin spice things up a bit.” – Unknown
Ah, September. The month where we trade our beach towels for backpacks, poolside cocktails for pumpkin spice lattes, and lazy summer afternoons for something that vaguely resembles productivity. For us, September is like a giant reset button. It’s the time to dust off our planners, dive back into work mode, and — drumroll, please — rethink your social media strategy.
Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Why now? Why not January when resolutions are hot and my motivation peaks for a solid three days?” Well, we’re here to tell you why September is the perfect time to give your social media a little facelift — and don’t worry, this isn’t the kind of facelift where you can’t blink for a week. We’re talking about refreshing, refining, and rocking that social media game for the rest of the year. Let’s dig in.
1. Fall Brings a Fresh Audience
Like the seasons, your audience’s mindset shifts come September. During summer, everyone’s too busy perfecting their tan or figuring out how many s’mores are too many (hint: there’s no such thing). But as soon as the first leaf drops, people begin settling into routines again. They’re back at their desks, scrolling through Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok while trying to convince themselves they don’t need another latte. They are in a different headspace, and that’s your cue to meet them there.
September brings the opportunity to reconnect with your audience and show them you’ve got something fresh to offer. That summer FOMO has turned into a hunger for content that feels relevant, timely, and in tune with their fall mood. This is prime time to grab their attention!
2. The Holidays Are Right Around the Corner (We Know, We Know…)
We hate to break it to you, but the holidays are closer than you think. Seriously, before you know it, your feed will be filled with mistletoe memes and everyone’s questionable Christmas sweater choices. And if you’re not preparing your social media strategy now, you’re going to find yourself behind the eight ball faster than you can say “Black Friday.”
September is the perfect time to start planning those holiday campaigns. Why? Because good holiday marketing doesn’t happen overnight — unless you have Santa’s elves on your payroll, and in that case, we have a few questions. You need time to develop, plan, and create content that’s festive but also speaks to your brand’s voice. By getting ahead now, you can launch your holiday campaigns with confidence, instead of scrambling like you’re on a last-minute gift run at Target.
3. End-of-Year Marketing Push
While we’re on the topic of planning ahead, let’s talk about Q4. As ad agencies, we know the end of the year is the Super Bowl of marketing. Whether your goal is to boost sales, increase brand awareness, or just make it through without burning out on peppermint bark, your social media strategy plays a huge role in making that happen.
September is the sweet spot to assess what’s worked for you so far in the year and what, frankly, bombed. Rethinking your strategy now gives you the chance to pivot before you’re knee-deep in Q4 chaos. Look at your analytics, consider the trends that are working, and tweak your content to align with your end-of-year goals.
4. Summer Trends Are Old News
Raise your hand if your social media strategy is still living in June. Be honest. Hey, no judgment here — we’ve all been there. But while tie-dye tees and watermelon popsicles might’ve ruled your summer grid, fall is calling for something new.
September gives you the perfect excuse to hit refresh. Start integrating fall themes, colors, and moods into your content. Think cozy, think warm, think back-to-school energy. The summer aesthetic is fun, but by this point, your audience is ready to move on. They want new, exciting, and relevant content. So give it to them! Whether it’s an updated brand voice, a shift in visuals, or even just incorporating fall-inspired hashtags (#sweaterweather, anyone?), small changes can make a big difference.
5. It’s Time to Ride the Trend Wave
Trends, memes, and viral challenges move faster than you can say “TikTok.” If you haven’t checked in on what’s trending lately, you’re already behind. The good news? September is an awesome time to jump on board.
With back-to-school, fall fashion, Halloween, and even early holiday planning on people’s minds, there are endless ways to tie these trends into your social media strategy. But — and here’s the kicker — don’t force it. Authenticity is still king (or queen, in our case). Make sure that whatever trend you’re hopping on aligns with your brand’s voice and values. You don’t need to jump on every viral challenge (we see you, ice bucket challenge throwbacks), but staying tuned into what your audience cares about is essential to staying relevant.
6. Your Competitors Are Probably Doing It, Too
We’re all about collaboration over competition, but let’s be real for a second: your competitors are also rethinking their social media strategy right now. Why? Because they know that staying stagnant is a death sentence in the digital world. So if you’re not refreshing your approach, chances are they are — and they’ll be the ones catching your audience’s attention.
But here’s the silver lining: your brand voice is unique. Lean into what makes you different, what makes your audience keep coming back, and what will help you stand out in a sea of pumpkin spice content. A smart, timely refresh is all it takes to stay ahead of the game and keep your brand top of mind.
So, What Are You Waiting For?
Listen, we love a good lazy summer day as much as the next person, but September is the time to get back in the saddle and start thinking about how your social media strategy is going to carry you through the rest of the year. You’ve got new trends, new audience behaviors, and the holiday season looming on the horizon — so why not embrace the change and shake things up?
At the end of the day, a little social media refresh never hurt anyone — and if you do it now, you’ll be sipping that pumpkin spice latte with pride come October, knowing you’re ready for anything. So go ahead, open that planner (we know you have one) and start plotting out your revamped social strategy.
Because come January, you’ll be too busy breaking your New Year’s resolutions to worry about it.
Ready to revamp your social media strategy? We’re here to help. Give us a call!