Nights are getting cooler, days are getting shorter and kids are getting more restless lounging at home. That can only mean one thing. It must be August, and it’s time for school to start.

Companies everywhere are looking for innovative ways to tie in the beautiful autumn season into next quarter’s marketing plans. Need some jumping off points? We’ve got few to get you started.

Send Your Brand to School
Unless your company sells school supplies or school clothing, you can’t directly market as a “back-to-school essentials” brand. However, there are many great ways to market your services within the back-to-school season.

For example, a health clinic might advertise school immunizations or physicals needed to participate in school sports. A printer could market to schools that are getting updated banners posted for sports and student council activities. A cleaning service could advertise “student packs” for first time college students who’ll be tidying their rooms without their parents’ help for the first time.

Aim High
For the most part, parents purchase school items for kids (especially elementary and middle school). Keep parents in mind as your target audience when marketing back to school services. Additionally, kids returning to school typically means that parents will have more time for their own activities.

A gym could advertise specials during school hours for parents to enjoy. Hair stylists or any other pampering services could offer celebratory deals for “they’ve-gone-back-to-school” appointments. Restaurants could create newer updated menus for those now child-free lunch dates.

Get Out That Shiny Red Apple
Offer special treatment to teachers. Hard-working teachers don’t get enough credit for the wonderful jobs they do educating our children, so offer them some nice perks. Special deals available to teacher only, a free dessert for the first month of school or a teachers-only discount card.