The 2021 holiday shopping season is quickly approaching and, while people are likely to be back to shopping in person at higher levels this season, getting them to come in and choose you is still part of the equation.
Finding creative, cost efficient ways to market your business has always been important, but with growing pressure from online marketplaces, making it simple and appealing to choose local could make a difference and translate into higher sales for small, local businesses this holiday season.
If you’re eager to use social media to push your business to more people this holiday season, here are some tips to help you get started now.
Holidays 2021: Tips for Using Social Media to Boost Your Business
Be intentional.
Social media marketing, like all marketing, is most successful when utilizing an intentional strategy with goals, KPIs and performance tracking.
The barrier to entry on social media marketing may be quite low, but you still can’t just throw up a post about your Black Friday sales and expect to reel in countless customers.
You need to develop and implement a concentrated, intentional strategy if you want to get the most out of your effort.
Need guidance? Check out our member marketing agencies who can help you develop a winning holiday strategy!
Start early.
A huge part of social media success is about consistency.
Social platforms don’t respond instantly to strategies – it takes time for the algorithm to get to know your content and behaviors and develop and audience around that.
You need time to develop an effective ad strategy and learn how to engage your audience effectively.
The sooner you start implementing your strategy, the more time you will have to perfect your content, build your audience and increase your reach.
Be a resource, not a sales pitch.
Social media is about adding value.
The most successful people in the spaces are able to create compelling content that meets a need for their audiences.
When it comes to holiday promotions, instead of thinking about how you can use your platforms to sell the most things, think about how you can use your platforms to help your audience have the best holiday ever.
Be the most entertaining, be the most informative, help solve a problem or locate hard to find gifts, give them great advice or tips for holiday celebrations. If you help them create a holiday season that is memorable in some way, they will have plenty of reasons to engage with you and, eventually, buy what you’re selling.
Be open to trying new things.
New platforms, new methods, new strategies on old platforms – social media is a constantly evolving industry and as the platforms expand and adjust, you have to be willing to do so with your strategy.
Be sure to follow platform’s channels on their platforms (i.e. follow Facebook’s Facebook account) to stay up to date on changes as they come out.
Be you!
Being authentic is so important on social channels because it gives your audience an opportunity to get to know you, your business and the why behind why they should support you.
Tell your story, share your why, and help locals connect with you and your business.
Want to get on our list for an IG Takeover this holiday season? Reach out to our marketing specialist, Amanda Rodriguez at arodriguez@frederickchamber.org
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.