Affiliate Marketing in June: Dads and Grads

Although the lazy days of the summer ‘sales slump’ are just about upon us come June, don’t give up your marketing efforts too soon.

June is the time to pick up revenue from Father’s Day and graduation season sales.

From years past, here is a list of topic ideas and titles to consider:

• Top gifts for Grads
• Top gifts for Dads
• (Merchant name) Offers Smart Gifts for Dads and Grads
• Dads and Grads June Special
• Celebrate Dads and Grads
• Top Tech Gifts for Dads and Grads (or just Dad, or just Grads)
• Top 10 (product) for College Students (think laptops, cellphones, etc.)
• Top 10 Tools for Dad in 2011
• 10 Excellent (product type) Gifts for Your Dad or Grad
• Dad’s and Grad’s Gift Guide
• Greener Gifts for Dads and Grads
• Personalized Gifts for Dads and Grads
• Unusual Gifts for Dads and Grads in (year)

My personal preference is always to promote the unusual as well as stuff folks really want, and here’s my list of gifts suggestions for Dads and Grads this year.

1. Microbrewed Beer Delivered Every Month
2. Salsa of the Month Club
3. Pizza of the Month Club
4. Beer of the Month Club
5. The Roll Up Drum Kit.
6. BBQ Sauce of the Month Club
7. Multiple-Gadget Charging Stations
8. The Stainless Steel Wallet.
9. Gaming Chairs
10. Emergency Roadside Kits
11. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die (for Dad)
12. Fogless Shaving Mirrors
13. MP3 Speakers & Docks
14. Leatherman Multi-Tools
15. Charlie Sheen Winning Tees
16. BBQ Tools
17. MBA Degree in a Box
18. Life.doc: Your Life Buttoned Up
19. Graduation Charms
20. MOVA Globe

OK, maybe that’s MY list of wants. Actually, I have the MOVA Clouds Satellite globe in my office and it’s too cool. It rotates without batteries or wires. Of course, it sits beside my Sony Digital Photo Frame that flashes pictures of all the places in the world that I’ve visited over the past half century.

Tips for Promoting Grads and Dads

Promote the 2 separately if your niche allows it. With different needs and interests, it’s best to target the markets separately.

In the USA, UK and Canada – Fathers’ Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June since being made a national holiday in 1966. In Australia and New Zealand, fathers are honored the first Sunday in September. Other countries celebrate fathers throughout the year.

Graduation ceremonies typically are held throughout the month of June in North America.

Make your blog and email subject lines enticing, i.e. “No shipping fees for Graduation gift purchases.” NOTE: Avoid the word “Free” in your subject line to make sure your message doesn’t get caught in a spam filter.

Speak to your potential buyers – not recipients. If you are addressing parents of graduates, avoid ‘hip’ terminology.

Present an array of options. If your niche is fishing, promote everything from cheaper lures to boats. Don’t underestimate the willingness of people to spend big money online.

In 2010, Internet Retailer reported that among the consumers celebrating Father’s Day:

• 36% will spend less than $25 on a Father’s Day gift.
• 27% will spend between $25 and $49.
• 15% will spend between $50 and $74.
• 22% will spend $75 or more.

The top three Father’s Day gifts are hobby-related items for golf, running and baseball (43%), entertainment gifts such as music, video games and movies (30%), and outdoor items such as barbecue tools (26%).

Last but not least, give your readers the option of purchasing a gift certificate, in case the buyer isn’t sure what the dad or grad will like.

Check out the Holiday Calendar for next month’s events.