20 Sizzling July Newsletter Ideas to Heat Up Your Marketing Game

Ah, July. There’s no month like it!

It’s the beginning of the third quarter and a period of fireworks, barbeques, hot dogs, and sunblock. It’s harder to keep your email audience engaged during the dog days of summer when they’re out at the beach and checking their inboxes less.

It takes a smash hit of an email newsletter campaign to make fireworks in your customers’ inboxes, but don’t stress. You can count on me for some great July newsletter ideas as you plan your email marketing.

Table of Contents

July Newsletter Ideas for a Red-Hot 2024

Let’s get right into it!

1. Serve Up Something Great for National Grilling Month

Who says you have to wait until Labor Day for a grill sale? It’s National Grilling Month all July long, baby! Now is the time to bust out the best deals of the year on grills, tongs, mitts, racks, and brushes.

You can send several emails about your awesome deal, such as one announcing it, then a reminder in the spirit of this one from Traeger reminding people to take advantage before the savings are gone.

2. Facilitate Fun Outdoors for National Picnic Month and National Park and Recreation Month

Is there a better month than July to go outside? Okay, maybe it’s hot out, but the shade of an overhead tree will feel so refreshing, and it’s worth getting out there to witness the swirl of summer colors in the sky as the sun sets.

Alright, no more waxing poetic. July has two occasions dedicated to time outside: National Park and Recreation Month and National Picnic Month.

If your business specializes in any type of food supplies, from grills to tablecloths, cookware, dining ware, and the like, use National Picnic Month to run some exclusive promotions.

You can bet people will be biting, as a picnic is an excellent way to celebrate Independence Day, a birthday, or any day this month.

As for National Park and Recreation Month, medical facilities and wellness brands should use this opportunity to explain the physical and mental health benefits of visiting a park and getting some exercise.

Companies that sell kid and baby supplies or outdoor clothes might run a discount for this month.

3. Consider a Photo Contest for Capture the Sunset Week

Is there a time of year when the sunsets are more beautiful than in the summer? Many of us would agree that the answer is certainly no.

So, why not ask your audience to share the sunset’s luminant brilliance with all your email subscribers during Capture the Sunset Week? This holiday is on the third week of the month, as July is in full swing, and the dog days of summer are truly upon us.

I love how Photo Contest Insider laid out its contest announcement. A pretty picture to grab attention? Check. Catchy hashtag? Check.

All you need to do is add the rules in your announcement image, or you can save that for your email copy if you want to keep your graphics uncrowded.

4. Or Have a Fun Contest on Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

July 1^st kicks off with Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day.

Ice creameries from small mom-and-pop brands to bigger names on par with Ben & Jerry’s shouldn’t miss the opportunity to promote their ice cream with this fun, tasty contest.

Invite your customers to invent their own ice cream flavors and names. Your company can choose the most creative, funny, and inventive creations (or different categories of your choosing), awarding prizes to all winners.

Perhaps they get a year’s supply of ice cream or even a lifetime supply for the grand prize winner?

More so, you should make and package the winning ice cream in a limited batch so everyone can try it.

5. Send an Email on I Forgot Day

Have you been slacking on your email newsletters this year? Listen, it happens. You get busy, or maybe you were late in renewing your email automation software, and before you know it, it’s been a month or several since you’ve connected with your email audience.

Fortunately, there’s a holiday for that on July 2^nd called I Forgot Day.

Well, it’s not exclusively for email marketing. You can use it to make up for any occasion in which your business said it would do something but then forgot.

I would recommend a sweet discount code to truly show you’re sorry. Oh, and try not to make a habit out of forgetting, as it can lead to lost customers over time.

6. Fly High for Independence Day

Before you know it, Independence Day is here on the fourth.

Here’s the fun thing about Independence Day, and no, it isn’t grilled hot dogs or fireworks. Regardless of your industry, whether you sell products or services, you can have a sale, and people will happily partake.

Consider offering a really good discount, like 50 percent off or more, since you know every one of your competitors will also have a sale for the long holiday weekend.

Use plenty of patriotic symbolism in your emails, whether a multicolored popsicle, imagery of celebrating people with sparklers, or the classic stars and stripes of the American flag.

7. Offer Stress Relief Tips for Work-a-Holics Day

Oddly enough, July 5^th is Work-a-Holics Day on the calendar. Why is that odd? Well, because many people are still in vacation mode following the Independence Day holiday.

However, this is still a good occasion to acknowledge the general propensity to overwork ourselves anymore. Today’s hustle culture is more than alive and well, and it leads to burnout.

An email newsletter with tips and strategies for relieving stress, done in the spirit of this Children’s Health graphic, is always nice to send on a day like this.

8. Have a Sale on Video Games Day

Video Games Day on July 8^th might seem like a strange placement, considering July is a month about spending time outside, but chilling indoors with the air conditioning and a nice video game or several is another excellent way to enjoy your summer (speaking from experience).

Retailers should lean into the spirit of this holiday, offering discounts and sales for popular titles.

9. Do Something Nice on Cheer Up the Lonely Day

Cheer Up the Lonely Day, which is on the 11^th. What exactly is it all about?

It’s for making someone’s day special with your presence. Perhaps you give a stranger a smile or take time to visit an elderly relative who lives alone. You could donate your time to a nursing home or volunteer at a food kitchen.

There are many ways to reduce loneliness and improve happiness. Consider putting together a tips list in your July newsletter, especially if you’re a nonprofit or offer elder care services.

10. Rev Up Your Engines on National Motorcycle Day

National Motorcycle Day is the second Friday of the month, a time for gearing up and hitting the open road. Automotive retailers shouldn’t miss this chance to discount prices on motorcycles and supplies, like helmets, jackets, and fuel.

Here are some great examples to emulate.

Summer is primetime for riding, so by timing your email newsletter campaign for National Motorcycle Day, you can ensure there’s about a month and a half left of summer and still plenty of temperate weather to come in early fall.

11. Contribute to the Chaos on Pandemonium Day

Midway through July is Pandemonium Day. This is a day of sheer craziness, at least among those who choose to acknowledge it.

So, how can you get into the spirit of Pandemonium Day? A mystery sale is a great way to throw chaos into someone’s day but in a fun way. Plus, your business can profit, so that’s a win-win.

12. Give Your Audience Something Great for National Give Something Away Day

It’s time to give up something of yours on the 15^th, which is National Give Something Away Day.

You can encourage your customers to go through their closets and donate what they’re no longer using. Perhaps you give each customer who can show a before-and-after of their closet or bedroom a code for 10 to 30 percent off their next purchase.

If you want to go straight to the sales, that’s also an option. You never need an excuse for a sale, after all.

Of course, watch how many sales you offer across this month as a whole. Remember that your audience is less engaged during July, and offering too many discounts might not pay off. Be selective in which ones you utilize.

13. Go On – Put an Emoji in Your Subject Line for World Emoji Day

Although you should use emojis in your subject lines selectively at best, there’s a case to be made for increasing their usage on World Emoji Day on the 17^th.

This is the day when you should see the most emojis, not only in email subject lines but also in social media posts, email bodies, and some sales materials.

There are hundreds of emojis to choose from, and while you have creative license with most, think about what meaning your emojis convey.

For example, check out this little guy.

😤

He looks angry, right? Most of us might assume he is and use him that way, but we are wrong! He’s actually the emoji for triumphant. I know, right?

So, while you should have a ball with emojis on World Emoji Day, it pays to be selective about the emoticons you use in your marketing.

14. Recycle a Funny on Tell an Old Joke Day

International Joke Day is the 1^st of the month, while Tell an Old Joke Day falls on the 24^th.

If you played up the joke routine on April 1^st, this is another great chance to flex that funny bone and erupt your audience into side-splitting laughter.

Keep your jokes audience-appropriate. For example, this email …

Funny email example by Shinesty — *Image courtesy of* *Popup Smart*

It is probably not the best choice for most audiences. However, you know your audience best, so choose what works for them!

15. Close a Sale on All or Nothing Day

As July continues to inch toward a close, we have All or Nothing Day on the 26^th.

This drastic-sounding day is about winner-takes-all scenarios. If you’ve waited to close some deals with email marketing, consider this day your sign to convert those customers!

16. Go Outside on Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day and Take Your Pants for a Walk Day

No, you didn’t read those wrong. July has some odd holidays on the calendar, but Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day and Take Your Pants for a Walk Day may take the cake.

I don’t know why these holidays exist, honestly. I’m not sure how you take your pants for a walk. Maybe by wearing them? Certainly not by carrying them. And houseplants don’t really benefit from being taken on a walk. If anything, there’s a greater chance you can drop them.

At the very least, you know that acknowledging these off-the-wall holidays will grab people’s attention when they see a subject line mentioning Take Your Pants for a Walk Day or Take Your Houseplants for a Walk Day.

As far as the email content therein, that’s up to you. An infographic or facts sheet with summer safety tips when walking will surely be appreciated.

17. Honor Familial Ties on Parent’s Day

We had Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June. July recognizes both mom and dad with Parent’s Day on the fourth Sunday of the month.

This holiday is celebrated a lot less often than the other two, but why not change that with your July newsletter?

You could host an event for Parent’s Day in your community, especially if you have a brick-and-mortar presence. Your newsletter could be full of personal employee stories, tips, and advice on parenting at all ages and stages.

And, of course, a Parent’s Day sale is always on the table.

18. Discount Your Cosmetics for National Lipstick Day

Listen, as a lady, I’ll be the first to say that good cosmetics are expensive. By acknowledging National Lipstick Day on the 29^th with a sale, you can rest assured that you will make your customers’ July brighter and sunnier.

The ad above is for Valentine’s Day, so use different copy language when putting together your email. You can talk about summer flings or makeup that handles the summer heat or will last well into the fall.

The image of a woman applying lipstick, as the Sephora ad shows, is attention-grabbing. Makeup brands will want to get in on National Lipstick Day, so your message needs an eye-popping element like that.

Think beyond the sale, too. For example, maybe you have a 3D service that helps your customers find their perfect lipstick or foundation shade based on their skin tone, eye color, and hair color. You can link to that tool in your email.

19. Celebrate Besties on International Day of Friendship

Friendships are the cornerstones of our lives, our most cherished relationships, the family we get to choose. And while many days throughout the year give us opportunities to honor the special friends in our lives, none do so quite to the same extent as the International Day of Friendship.

This July 30^th holiday exists on a multinational scale, so you can broaden your business aspirations as you prepare to celebrate those who matter the most to us.

I love this email from Aromafloria, which uses a holiday-specific code (FRIEND17) on a deal where if you buy two of the same product, you can get 20 percent off.

20. Bask in the Many (Many) July Foodie Holidays

Did you bring your appetite? From restaurants to grocers, food suppliers, bakeries, butchers, and everyone in between, July has a holiday for you.

Let’s review, as this is a long list:

National Blueberry Month all July
National Grilling Month all July
National Hot Dog Month all July
National Ice Cream Month all July
National Picnic Month all July
National Watermelon Month all July
Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day on July 1^st
International Chicken Wing Day on July 1^st
Eat Beans Day on July 3^rd
Sidewalk Egg Frying Day on July 4^th
National Apple Turnover Day on July 5^th
International Cherry Pit Spitting Day on July 6^th
National Fried Chicken Day on July 6^th
Chocolate Day on July 7^th
National Strawberry Sundae Day on July 7^th
National Blueberry Day on July 8^th
National Sugar Cookie Day on July 9^th
Pick Blueberries Day on July 10^th
Pina Colada Day on July 10^th
Teddy Bear Picnic Day on July 10^th
Make Your Own Sundae Day on July 11^th
National Blueberry Muffins Day on July 11^th
Pecan Pie Day on July 12^th
World Kebab Day on the second Friday of July
National French Fries Day on July 13^th
National Nitrogen Ice Cream Day on July 13^th
National Macaroni and Cheese Day on July 14^th
Gummy Worm Day on July 15^th
Tapioca Pudding Day on July 15^th
Fresh Spinach Day on July 16^th
National Hot Dog Day on the third Wednesday of July
Peach Ice Cream Day on July 17^th
National Caviar Day on July 18^th
National Daiquiri Day on July 19^th
National Raspberry Cake Day on July 19^th
Ice Cream Soda Day on July 20^th
National Lollipop Day on July 20^th
National Ice Cream Day on the third Sunday of July
National Junk Food Day on July 21^st
Vanilla Ice Cream Day on July 23^rd
National Drive-Thru Day on July 24^th
National Tequila Day on July 24^th
National Chili Dog Day on July 25^th
World Tofu Day on July 26^th
National Milk Chocolate Day on July 28^th
National Chicken Wing Day on July 29^th
Lasagna Day on July 29^th
National Cheesecake Day on July 30^th
National Avocado Day on July 31^st
National Watermelon Day on July 31^st

Whew, I told you it was long!

Bottom Line

July offers myriad opportunities to dive into your email marketing the same way you would a crystal-clear swimming pool.

You can focus on wholesome holidays like International Day of Friendship or Parent’s Day, embrace the strange for National Walk Your Pants Day and Pandemonium Day, and whet your audience’s appetites with sales for occasions like Independence Day.

It’s time to make your month shine as bright as the fireworks in the sky!