Shells in Style - scouting social media

A business page gets thousands of likes on Facebook. A sparkly necklace generates hundreds of pins on Pinterest. An Instagram feed earns tons of followers with its beautiful images. These are just a few of the dizzying ways technology and social media are creating community and bringing businesses and consumers together.

This is why it’s important as a Scout and Molly’s boutique owner to engage with clients through social media. If you’re not using social media to your advantage, you’re missing out on the conversation. Your fans are out there yearning to connect with you, but if you aren’t using these channels on a regular basis they are left out in the cold.

It’s not just connections to loyal clients you’re missing out on, but ideas you can implement within your own four walls. For example, Nordstrom, the venerable department store, is a force to be reckoned with on Pinterest. It actually analyzes the products pinned on Pinterest to merchandise its stores. Going a step further, Nordstrom now has signage in its stores with the Pinterest logo to let customers know when an item is hot on Pinterest. It also shares images from its catalogs with Pinterest users before the printed images arrive at homes. Convenience. Everyone appreciates convenience.

“We believe our customers are telling us, through their pins, which items are the most relevant and exciting,” Nordstrom social media manager Bryan Galipeau told Pinterest. “Our goal is to share these products with likeminded customers.”

Want to get connected with social media? Here are a few ways to start:

  • Use Pinterest, which is basically the world’s biggest wish list, to find new and exciting products you want to offer to customers. If you’re looking for a place to start, this list of the top 50 fashion accounts on Pinterest should do the trick.
    • Take your boutique online by creating a Pinterest business board featuring photos of your well-curated items, as well as special events at your location. Pinterest offers free analytics tools to business users that show which pins generate the most social activity, clicks and repins.
  • Create a Facebook business page. Tutorials are here and here. Be mindful of, and responsive to, any client feedback you receive here. Check out magazine’s list of the top 20 Facebook business pages.
  • Establish a business presence on Twitter. Keep in mind that tweets are limited to 140 characters, and that Twitter is about sparking a conversation, not just promoting yourself. Share relevant content that inspires thought (and retweets).

Once you’ve established your business’ social media presence, don’t forget to add us to your network! Follow us on Twitter (@scoutandmollys), Facebook (facebook.com/scoutandmollysboutique) and Instagram (@scoutandmollys). Owners and clients, if you have any social media tips, please comment and share!

 

Further Reading:

Why is Pinterest so addictive? An infographic explains.

Why do people share on social media? Take a look at another enlightening infographic.

Posted on December 3rd, 2014