5 Content Ideas for Your Fall Destination Marketing
Summer may be winding down soon, but that doesn’t mean your social media presence should too! Instead, we’re going to make the most of the shoulder season by leaning into one of the most beautiful times to travel, autumn. Peak colors are breathtaking but short-lived, so let’s go over some organic ways to build anticipation and inspire trip planning. Keep on reading to discover 5 content ideas for your fall destination marketing.
1. Start Early & Build Anticipation
Don’t wait to start your marketing until peak color hits; get travelers planning now! This is your opportunity to make use of last year’s best shots, unused content, or take some time to dig up UGC from previous visitors. Use this content for posts that build anticipation, like this one from Traverse City Tourism. Include language like “Coming soon…” or “Just your reminder that in a month _____ will look like this.” Pair it with a strong CTA like “Start planning your fall getaway now” to spring these inspired viewers into action.
2. Create a “POV” Fall Day Reel
This is an awesome (and trendy) way to give your audience a front-row seat to autumn in your destination. Film yourself or collaborate with a local content creator to capture a fall day spent in your destination. Use language like “POV: You’re on a fall getaway in ___” to give people a sense of place and a preview of what their trip would look like. Don’t overcomplicate the stops, just highlight the best of autumn in your destination. Think coffee shop stops, leaf-crunching trails, peak color views, pumpkin patches, wine tastings, and more! These itinerary-style videos are perfect for short-form platforms and can double as paid ad content.
3. Weekly Peak Color Updates
Once the colors start popping and the fall vibes are here, now’s your opportunity to keep your audience up to date. This is for the last-minute trips, travelers wanting to time their trip perfectly, so help them out! Post weekly “Fall Color Updates” with photos or videos of the best viewing spots right now. Bonus: include text in your post telling users to see the caption for a “where to go” list so visitors can plan their routes.
4. Family-Friendly Fall Fun
Autumn is the perfect time for a cozy family getaway, so lean into that and show people exactly why your destination is the perfect spot! Create a reel or carousel post featuring your pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall festivals, stunning fall views, and more! Highlight opportunities to see your destination’s best offerings with smaller crowds, making it a stress-free time to bring the little ones along. Pro tip: partner with local attractions to offer family ticket bundles or giveaways that drive even more interest.
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5. Lean Into Spooky Season
If your destination has haunted houses, ghost tours, or legendary eerie spots, now’s the time to show them off. Build a “Spend Halloween in ___” or “5 Ways to Spend Spooky Season in ___” guide that mixes spooky adventures with cozy fall experiences. Don’t be afraid to lean into niche experiences like haunted locations; you could be tapping into a whole new group of travelers!
While fall is short, the marketing potential is huge! So, start early, keep your followers in the loop, mix up your content formats, and make the most of seasonal flavors, colors, and events. Happy posting!
Makenna Schmitz
