Use Your Creative Arsenal
When we talk about holidays and business growth, I hope you’re thinking of pulling out all the plugs, using everything in your arsenal. When you’re busy with a brick and mortar store it may feel pointless to engage in social media, but let’s face it: just about everybody is plugged in these days! I found some really crucial advice in the social marketing guide we started into last week. Use all your creative assets was one important point the author made.
What are your creative assets? Chances are, they are right at your fingertips.
Use product photos and videos to showcase product lines. It doesn’t have to be a new line to generate interest. Think about the season, interest piqued when shoppers drop by and follow your own inclination. It’s not hard to upload photos from the vendors where you purchase product. It’s not hard to snap a shot of the product in your store. Better yet, profile some of your shoppers in the photos you take and tag them. Let your customers offer reviews in the process.
Add some real life to cut down the cheese. As much as business is all about selling, selling is not about selling at all. An authentic presence adds value to your efforts without saying a word. Use some lifestyle photos and videos every week. It’s okay to be goofy, mirror your faux paus, and be real.
It’s important to use branded graphics to highlight promotions. Bring out the big guns when you’re offering a sale or an open house. Those branded or vendor graphics offer a higher resolution and sometimes better quality than what you can take yourself.
Get over your stage fright. Grow your social media presence by posting short videos. I know, I hate the camera, too. But the social media algorithms will boost your posts when you include a video. Post something on Tik Tok or YouTube and insert a link. Post stories and clips as well. The broader your appeal, the more likely you will bring paying customers into your business.
Post no more than one selling item a week on each platform, but you can post all the other content you want. Begin by posting a survey or picture of someone in your store admiring product. Then post a video. Then post a branded shot of product and include a promotion. End with a lifestyle post. Balance holiday photos and sale-generating posts with lifestyle. It’s all about building a presence and creating a following. On the following Monday show yourself hard at work with a cup…and ask what you’re having.
Inviting engagement is where you begin reaping the value of all this input. It may feel like a lot of busy work, but I plan out a week of posts at a time and check them once I’ve posted them. I limit myself to just two social platforms and the type of content mirrors each platform. When you take control, you’ll be tangibly building a more secure platform for your business. Your cash register makes the invisible visible. Give it a shot.