6 Smart Back-to-School Digital Marketing Tips for Shopping Centers
How to Build a Standout Back-to-School Digital Marketing Campaign for Your Shopping Center
Back-to-school season isn’t just about new pencils and fresh notebooks—it’s one of the biggest shopping moments of the year. Families are gearing up for a new academic season, which means they’re ready to shop for clothes, shoes, tech gear, and more. For shopping centers, this is a golden opportunity to bring shoppers through your doors and keep your retailers thriving.
But here’s the thing: simply putting up a few sale signs isn’t enough. Today’s shoppers expect fresh, engaging, and connected experiences across every touchpoint—online and in-person. That’s where a strong digital marketing strategy comes in.
If you’re planning your back-to-school campaign, here are some practical ways to make it pop:
1. Start with a Theme That Grabs Attention
Every great campaign starts with a clear look and feel. Think bold colors, upbeat messaging, and creative visuals that bring the back-to-school spirit to life. Keep it consistent across your website, social media, email newsletters, and digital directory boards—because consistency builds trust and recognition.
Quick Tip: Catchy taglines like “School Starts Here” or “Back-to-School Headquarters” paired with keywords such as shopping center deals or back-to-school offers can help your campaign show up in searches.
2. Showcase Exclusive Retailer Promotions
Parents and students are hunting for savings right now. Partner with your retailers to bundle offers, create special discounts, or launch limited-time deals, and then amplify those on your website, mobile app, and in-mall digital signage.
Adding keywords like back-to-school shopping deals and local shopping center promotions to your content helps drive organic traffic.
3. Create Buzz with Social Media Contests
Social is your playground for engagement. Run a photo contest where followers share their back-to-school looks or favorite finds from your retailers. Reward winners with a gift card—it’s a great way to boost interaction and encourage store visits.
Try hashtags like #BackToSchoolStyle or #ShopYourCenter to build campaign visibility.
4. Use Email to Drive Intentional Visits
Email marketing still delivers some of the best ROI. Send personalized emails with curated shopping lists, featured deals, and event invites. Include strong CTAs like “See the Deals” or “Plan Your Visit”.
Bonus: Segment your audience. Parents with young kids need school supplies; college students may be looking for dorm essentials or tech. Speak to each group directly.
5. Leverage Your Digital Directory Boards
Your digital boards aren’t just for wayfinding—they’re marketing real estate. Feature your top deals, retailer spotlights, and upcoming events in eye-catching visuals. Keeping shoppers informed in-mall helps them discover more and spend more.
6. Bring It to Life with an Event
Few things draw crowds like a good event. Whether it’s a back-to-school fashion show, family activity day, or a giveaway for school supplies, events create excitement and encourage extended visits. Promote across social, email, and your website so your shoppers don’t miss it.
Why It Matters
Back-to-school season is more than a retail rush—it’s a chance to create memorable shopping experiences that keep customers coming back. By combining website promotions, social engagement, email campaigns, and in-mall digital content, you’ll give shoppers every reason to choose your center.
Want to make this easy? Mall Maverick helps shopping centers manage websites, digital boards, mobile content, and email campaigns—all from one powerful platform. Let’s make this back-to-school season your best yet.