If you offer no-contact delivery or curbside pickup, social media could be the key to a brighter spring for your customers, your employees, and your business. The same people who would normally browse your store are browsing online, where your social media presence can inspire them and drive them to your website. Now’s the time to activate your plan to capture a renewed interest in gardening, and the powerful gesture of brightening someone’s day with a surprise flower delivery. Here are some marketing tips you can use today.
Be informative
It’s likely that how you’re doing business right now is far from business as usual. Use social media to keep your customers apprised of how your business is operating, the types of products and services you offer, and how they can still shop online or place orders remotely.
Be inspiring
Once your customers know their options, it’s important to inspire them with ideas. Have they thought about sending flowers to family, friends, or even frontline workers? Have they started a victory garden project, or know how to get started? Visualizing these ideas on social media can be a powerful tool to remind customers that flowers or home gardens are a great way to add a little brightness into our lives and the lives of loved ones. Gardening, even on a small scale, is something most people can do while staying home. It’s a great way to fight stress. And vegetable gardening can put fresh food on the table, too.
Be proactive
Stay ahead of spring holidays and events. Even with social distancing, families want ways to celebrate and send joy to their families and friends. Mother’s Day and graduation are just around the corner. There’s no better time to promote ideas, deals, and discounts to delight and attract customers.
Be responsive
Social media isn’t purely about self-promotion. It’s also a means to hold conversations with customers, answering any questions or concerns they may have. Reply to customer comments while keeping your responses timely and meaningful. In this unusual situation, being responsive can become something bigger than a best practice. You could become a source of comfort and human contact people in isolation crave. Start a conversation, and you just might find yourself at the center of new online community.
Be empathetic
It’s a confusing and chaotic time for everyone. While it’s always a good idea to spread positive messages, be cautious of coming across as tone-deaf. Find opportunities to express care and empathy for your customers and community. It shows that you’re listening, and that you care.
Be consistent
It’s no surprise that many consumers spend a lot more time online these days. It’s your opportunity to ramp up communication—and connection—with existing and potential customers. You don’t need to (and frankly shouldn’t) flood their feeds every day, but consistently posting quality content keeps your business top of mind when inspiration hits.
Carefully tending to your social media presence may be unfamiliar, but it’s a skill worth cultivating. Doing so is an opportunity to continue marketing your business, potentially making online sales a growing bright spot at a time when success is a challenge.
Source: Hortica