Let’s cover a few basics:

Why is using social media good for business?

Your customers are on social media. We guarantee it. They are looking for inspiration and connection. And you can give it to them.

Where should I start?

It’s important to understand your own brand and your customers before you can build an effective social media campaign. Who are you? How would you describe your business? Do you cater to a lot of different types of customers, or do you specialize in a niche? What do you sell? Home décor? Gifts? Interior design? Seasonal products? Write down a few words or sentences that describe who you are.

Now that you’ve defined your brand, let’s define your customer.  What are their interests? What are they shopping for?  What do they buy over and over? Are you catering to a certain socioeconomic demographic?

Now what?

Start with the social media platforms you’re already familiar with. If you’re on Facebook, utilize your FB page. If you’re on Instagram, showcase your business there. Begin connecting with the social media you already know and use. Start simple and build from there.

How do I decide what to post?

The options are endless! Post pictures or videos (also called content) of your best-selling products, a favorite corner in your store, or behind-the-scenes images of you creating fabulous displays. 

Here’s a great tip: if you sell Sullivans products, visit our social media accounts and repost our pictures and videos. We’ll do all the work, and your feed will look great! (And if you don’t have one of our fabulous products in stock, it’s no problem. We drop ship, so you can repost any of our images you’d like!) This Live is going to be repurposed as a blog on our Sullivan Gift site, and there we’ll be including examples of social posts you could borrow from us.

How often should I post?

You should post fairly often - 3 to 4 times a week is a good start. Regular posting will help keep you front and center with your customers and can alert them of new products, promotions, and special events.

Are you having an open house or an event? Post a few times leading up to the open house to alert and remind your customers that it’s coming up. Post during the open house to show customers what they can experience in real-time. And post pictures of the open house after it has ended to highlight customers who came and encourage customers who didn’t come to never miss another one.

Follow the same posting pattern for sales and promotions and for seasonal products that need to be purchased within a certain timeframe.

Don’t forget to engage with your customers!

It’s likely that your customers will comment on your posts. They may even ask you for pricing or tell you that they are ready to buy! Keep an eye on the customer interaction so you don’t miss out on a chance for a sale! Facebook - and other social media - take note of these conversations. If they see that there is activity on your posts, they determine that the content is engaging, and they will show it to more people.

You’ve got this!

Although social media can feel overwhelming, there’s no better time to start. You’ll find yourself getting more and more comfortable each time you post. And before you know it, you’ll be ready for more!