Are you a business owner with an online store? With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and more just around the corner, now is the time to start planning your social media strategy if you want to get ahead of the competition.
Everyone is after a bargain. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great opportunities for businesses in the UK, with sales over 2021’s three-day weekend reaching nearly £9.5 billion. But how can you ensure that your business takes advantage of these lucrative shopping days? A well-developed social media strategy is key!
So why should you be using social media?
- It doesn’t cost you anything. If you’re not using pay-per-click (PPC) ads, then promoting your business on social media is free.
- Even if you are running a PPC campaign, it is low-cost and can reach exactly the people you want as customers.
- When you post, your followers can see your message instantly.
- You can reach a huge audience.
- It’s not difficult to plan ahead.
- It works
It’s no secret that social media is a powerful tool for businesses. With more than 50% of sales across 14 different sectors originating from this platform, it’s the perfect time to capitalise on the holiday shopping season. But how can you make your business stand out from all of the other companies vying for attention?
More than 50% of sales across more than 14 sectors originate from social media activity.
Get cute and cuddly
While it might sound like a tired cliché, the facts are undeniable: studies have shown that posts featuring pets can generate up to 295% more comments than other types of content. That’s an enormous boost in engagement!
Competitions
Running competitions can be a great way of encouraging user engagement and loyalty. Promotions such as offering prizes hourly are relatively easy to setup and maintain, helping your brand remain visible and engaging your users in a fun and exciting way. Competitions can also give you valuable insights into your customers, helping you to better understand their preferences and interests. Just be sure to check the rules and regulations of running any competition.
It’s not always about profit (well, not just about profit)
For some businesses especially those associated with a social conscience, such as non-profits or charities, leveraging the power of social media can be crucial for connecting with like-minded people, spreading awareness and making a real impact. Not only can sales during holiday seasons benefit worthy causes, but they can also generate lots of positive publicity for your brand.
Make your product stand out.
Don’t underestimate the power of good professional photography when it comes to making your products stand out online. Professional photographers know how to capture images that are well-lit, focused, and dynamic – all essential components in making products stand out online. The right photographs can help you bring your products to life and help take your sales to the next level.
And don’t forget video
Many business owners overlook the power of video. Visitors to your website are more likely to remember a message when they watch it in a video rather than just read it as text. Studies have shown that viewers retain 95% of the message when watching a video, compared to only 10% when reading it as text.
Under the influence
Influencers are big news in social media marketing. While having a Kardashian-level megastar promote your product may not be in the budget, there are plenty of influencers who have the brand values and followers that match your target audience. Additionally, influencers can provide greater visibility and exposure to your product or service, leading to increased sales and engagement.
Build excitement
You can get even better results by extending Cyber Season beyond the usual three days. To get the most out of the season, it’s important to create some excitement beforehand. Consider running a flash sale or offering early access deals to those who sign up to your newsletter. With the right data, you can keep in touch with customers and turn them into repeat buyers. So make sure you take the time to plan ahead to make the most of the pre-Christmas shopping season.
Tips for a winning social media strategy
Pinned posts
Many social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook allow you to “pin” a post so that it is always seen at the top of your profile. You can use this to highlight your Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals making it easier for potential customers to find your offers and increase conversions.
Encourage engagement
Use competitions, polls and quizzes to boost engagement. The more people interact with your posts, the more likely they are to be shown to other users.
Make it about more than just price
Add value to your deals with extras? Offers on delivery and returns, free giftwrapping, or exclusive discounts for members of your mailing list. Or, as we mentioned earlier, make a charitable donation.
Prepare for the onslaught
Being able to efficiently respond to customer inquiries, comments, and reviews helps build a strong online presence and increase customer loyalty. It also helps create a positive brand identity. So make sure you have a team in place to handle them properly. This means training everyone on how to respond in a timely and professional manner. With the right preparation, this can be an ideal opportunity to create a lasting relationship with your customers.
Schedule your activity
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the busiest shopping days of the year, so it pays to be prepared. Scheduling your content in advance is a great way to make sure your brand is ready when the influx of customers come – leaving you free to focus on other business tasks. So start planning today!
Take advantage of the traffic
Be aware of the potential for increased traffic when your online sales take off. This influx of visitors can provide valuable data that can help you optimise your online marketing efforts in the future. In addition, it presents an opportunity to capture new customers and increase engagement with existing ones. Consider offering early access to deals or discounts; setting up web forms in prominent positions on your website; and test beforehand to make sure everything is working as it should.
Use those hashtags
It’s really important to include hashtags. But don’t just add #blackfriday or #cybermonday to your posts – it’s essential to include product names or features and benefits in order to increase visibility and reach potential customers who are searching for specific items.
Small Business Marketing is here to help you
Business owners often face the challenge of managing their social media in an effective way. With the ever-changing landscape of content creation, maintaining an active presence on different platforms can be daunting. This is where we come in, providing solutions to help you manage your social media effectively and efficiently. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn or any other platform, we have the expertise to ensure that your business harnesses its true potential. Let us take the hassle out of social media management!
And we can also help you create a new website; refresh your existing one and make sure your site is optimised for search engine visibility
Do you need fresh new content? We can write copy that sells.
And it’s not all just about online. Our creative team can boost your business with traditional marketing activities such as print, display and signage.
Give us a call on 01482 652420 or drop us an email at hello@smallbusinessmarketing.uk. We love to help businesses grow – after all we’ve been doing it in Hull, East Yorkshire and beyond for more than 30 years.
