Social Media Marketing Tips For Fall Campaigns

 

Social media marketing should be a key element of your back-to-school (BTS) marketing campaigns. BTS is second only to Black Friday and Christmas as the biggest shopping season. Over 60% of all 3rd quarter sales are to back-to-school shoppers. 

 

Everyone from kids and parents to college students and professors will be shopping next month, so it’s time to get your BTS social marketing plan nailed down. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

 

Create a promotion for customers that interact with your social media marketing.

A great way to bring in new customers and build your social media reach at the same time is to offer anyone who posts and tags your business on social media a single-use discount code delivered via direct message. Alternatively, you could create a photo or “Why I love [your business]” contest and offer prizes. Either way, create a unique, dedicated hashtag to make the posts easy to find and be sure to respond to each one. Remember that two-way engagement is crucial on social media.

 

Do a themed photo/video shoot.

Images and videos increase your post reach and are more likely to drive engagement than text only. Do a fall-themed photo or video shoot with your products or staff to create an inventory of content for your social media marketing campaigns. This does not need to be a major production – your phone camera is fine. You can also set up a themed selfie booth in your brick-and-mortar location and ask customers to tag your business and/or use a dedicated hashtag when they post their shots.

 

Offer a free gift with purchase.

Have your logo and website or physical address printed on promotional merchandise that is useful to back-to-school shoppers, like pencils or backpacks, and give them away with purchases. This not only incentivizes fall purchases but improves your brand recognition out in the world.

 

Start a discount/rewards program for students, parents, and/or teachers.

There’s a reason almost every major retailer (and an awful lot of small ones) has a customer loyalty program. It can keep your BTS shoppers coming back all year. 

 

Host a back-to-school party.

A shopping event with giveaways and special promotions gets customers in the door and excited to shop. Events can be held virtually or in person.

 

Support your community.

Community-building is an excellent way to show your customers that you care. Choose a local organization and donate a portion of sales from a certain day or week to them.

 

Utilize paid social media advertising.

It is now possible to sell your products or services directly on Facebook and Instagram, but ads that link to your website are still useful as well. Either way, paid advertisements are the best way to convert sales from social media. Beware the “boost” button, though – it does not give you control over several factors that affect ad performance, like customizing placement options, creating split tests, and more advanced scheduling options. In the Ads Manager, you not only have the option of using materials designed for advertising rather than just post engagement, but your ads can be more effectively optimized for different objectives.

 

At REAL Moxie, our social media account managers monitor emerging trends and are experienced researchers, bloggers, and social media professionals. They are proficient in social marketing strategies, relationship building, productive interactions, and reputation management. We get to know your business and your client’s social habits, and then work with you to develop social media management strategies to fit your business model and budget.

 

For more information about social media marketing from REAL Moxie, LLC or to request a free consultation, click here.