Fall is almost here, and along with cooler temperatures, it means kids have been heading back to school. While parents may have mixed feelings about their kids returning to school — or perhaps going for the first time — there's one thing that they all share in common: the hassle of back-to-school shopping.

Though there's nothing that can take away the stress of fighting for the right color notebook or a pack of crayons, there are back-to-school trends marketers should take advantage of to make this annual ritual a little bit easier for parents and increase their own sales.

In the broadest sense, the goal of marketing is to connect customers with products and brands that will improve their lives. In the past, marketers have used a variety of media to cast a wide net, hoping that customers who would benefit most from their products would see them. In today's world, marketers have a greater ability than ever before to focus their dollars on specific audiences, thanks to the overwhelming amount of data available. While this is great for spending efficiently and focusing on qualified customers, there's another benefit to aggressive targeting: increasing customer lifetime value.

The lazy days of summer are finally here, and for most, that means the time for vacations, grilling and plenty of relaxing. However, if you own a home improvement or services business, that may also mean less activity since home owners are preoccupied with summer fun. While this trend may have been true in years past, here are three solid home services marketing tips to implement this year so consumers come to your business, even as temperatures rise.

Reaching an online audience is hard. And while marketers may use a number of innovative strategies to seek out that consumer base, it's all too easy to sabotage yourself through simple marketing mistakes.

These mistakes can run the gamut from small oversights to huge blunders, but they all have one thing in common: They can torpedo your marketing campaigns, slashing your ROI and hurting your ability to find relevant consumers who are interested in what your company has to offer.

The list of potential mistakes can run into the dozens, if not the hundreds. But here are three simple mistakes you can correct right away.

As the leaves and temperatures fall, the busiest season of the year heats up. That means now is the time to start planning your fall advertising. Being proactive with your holiday marketing plan will provide you with a leg up on the competition. It may even allow you some time to enjoy the holiday season yourself instead of scrambling last minute! Get ready to start planning with some of these ideas.

Deck The Handles

A low-cost way to spread holiday cheer is to hire a graphic designer to give your media images a seasonal feel. A holiday-inspired logo or cover is affordable and reusable. Using the same images across different platforms will help establish brand consistency through your website and social media accounts, too. Continuity is especially important if you conduct transactions online. A simple holiday wreath or strand of lights used across all marketing channels can instantly make your message pop. Take it a step further by creating images to coordinate with each holiday starting with leaves in September.

Being a mom in the 21st century is a tough business. Stay-at-home moms, working moms and even work-at-home moms are facing increasing demands and pressures on their schedules. As marketers, it can be tough to reach a demographic that is seemingly always on the go and checking things off her to-do list with rapid-fire efficiency. While supermoms often power through the day with laser-focus, marketers can use audience targeting in a way that feels familiar, meaningful, and doesn't interfere with busy schedules. Ignoring the group just isn't an option. Moms are often the key financial decision makers in the household, according to a report by ClickZ