Technology’s advancements have created exciting and new ways to network with your current customers and reach new demographics. The consignment industry has always relied heavily on more traditional marketing strategies while only recently, adopting social media platforms into their marketing regime. Times are changing quickly, and those who implement a stronger online marketing presence are going to have more opportunities than their competition.
- Post photos of your products. Make sure to geotag your photos. Even if the people following you aren’t looking for a specific item, they may know someone who is. Be sure to include some information in the comment section such as size, price, condition, and item number for quick look up if you are contacted. You can even post links on your social media page to YouTube videos of the product or your shop with the product spotlighted.
- Ask your customers to check in on Facebook, at your store. Offer a discount for check-ins. When your customers check in at your store, their friends see that they were there. When their friends “Like” their status, their friends see the post in their feed. All this means more exposure for you!
- Hold a contest. Contests don’t have to be complicated. Post a trivia question and give the first five people who answer correctly a discount code. You can track within your software by placing a note in the comment or note field under your customer profile. If you do this on a regular basis, your following will begin to expect it. For example, you can do #TriviaTuesday
- If you sell vintage items, do a #TBT (Throw Back Thursday) campaign. Post pictures and descriptions of the vintage items you have for sale. For example, a consignment store offering 1950s items could be advertised with text and images from those days, such as a photo of a 1955 soda fountain accompanied by the verbiage, “Mid-Century Masterpieces”. The key is to fortify your store brand by maintaining consistency in your marketing. Within the store, market items by staging them to highlight how vintage items might be used in modern interiors.
- Creating Content is Key. The ability to create quality photo and video content is now as simple as downloading an app or hitting “record” on your phone. Stores that decide to take advantage of these great tools to showcase their creativity and inventory are going to be the ones who will dominate Facebook timelines and Instagram feeds. To fully take advantage of online marketing, start thinking about how you can spotlight your inventory and increase customer interaction. Start experimenting with different apps for video and interactive photo collages. Look into new programs to help you create your own online flyers and graphics for events and store news. Make a lasting impression online and gain a new customer for life.
- Ask your customers to “Like” and “Follow” you for insider sales. Make sure you follow them back. It not only makes them feel good but you can learn your core audience likes and dislikes from their own pages.
- Share photos of your staff. Introduce them, recognize them, and make them visible so when people come into your shop, they see a familiar face. In general people pictures let your staff be noticed for their special qualities that stand out and help them to make your business different than the rest!
- Thought leadership is a great way to gain credibility. If you read an article that was interesting, share the link on your page for others to see. This can start a discussion around the topic, generating activity on your page. If others share your article, you will gain exposure that way too.
- Set a goal for the number of “Likes” or “Followers” you receive. Once you achieve that number, offer a discount to all your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram followers. You can do the same for any other social media channels you use.