It’s currently the middle of winter and you know what that means. Time to go to the beach!

Okay, so that’s not a normal conclusion that one might come to in most places across the country. Even in sunny California, the beaches are pretty barren in the middle of winter. That’s all real word stuff. We’re talking about social media, a world of dreams and desires, wishes and aspirations. We may not be able to go to the beach right this very moment, but we can certainly wish we were there with a nice breeze coming off the water making it a comfortable 85 degrees in our swimsuits. That’s not reality today, but it’s definitely something that can work on social media.

For businesses, it’s often about standing out properly on social. Nobody likes the loud social media posting business, the one that posts crap all the time that has no substance, but they don’t mind the occasional creative post. Playing with seasons and circumstances (and more importantly, their opposites) is a way to get attention in a positive way.

A Nissan dealer who posts the image above could attach it to the caption, “It may be too cold to go to the beach right now, but when the time comes, we’ll be there to get you on the sand and under the sun.”

This would have a few different subtle but important effects. It’s appealing to many – there are those who are snowed in or stuck with the flu right now. A great looking truck with the ocean, sand, and sun can become a pleasant thought for those seeing it. It’s relevant – in most places right now, the weather is an issue. It’s downright freezing across the country. Lastly, the image is different but pertinent to a Nissan dealer – much better than trying to stand out by posting cat pictures.

Your messaging on social media can be timely without being bound by the constraints of the current time. Football season has ended for most teams across the country. If your local team is out of the playoffs, it’s not too early to start posting baseball pictures. For example, you could have a picture of your team’s star and a caption like this:

“It’s time to put football behind us for now and focus on winning the pennant. Chase Headley, show us the way!”

All of your competitors are likely posting things that everyone else is already posting on social media. There’s nothing wrong with doing the same, but mix it up from time to time by going “off season”, whether it’s about sports, the weather, or anything else that makes for an interesting topic in your area. Stand out. Be different. Be creative. Get noticed.