Promoting Discounts, Specials and Sales in Social SpacesJean Ann Van Krevelen, President

White Willow Media

There are hundreds of ways to promote sales and specials in social spaces. And, there are thousands of businesses promoting all of the time.

Separate yourself from the pack. Be creative!

EXCLUSIVES

Offer sales or specials, specially targeted to customers on Facebook and Twitter.

Create an exclusive coupon for your Facebook page and track the response rate at check out.

WORK WITH PARTNERS

Partner with a non-competitive company or get a larger company to sponsor your campaign. Share information across networks to find consumers with similar affiliations.

SNEAK PEAK

Announce upcoming specials online before you announce to the general public…build a sense of anticipation.

TRENDS & NEW PRODUCTS

Keep your customers up to date on what’s hot by creating blog posts or notes on your Facebook page. Give them the inside scoop on the latest and greatest products arriving at your store.

MULTIMEDIA

Don’t just talk about your products, use photos and videos to create excitement. Ask followers to submit photos of their gardens (or your plants in their gardens).

GIVEAWAYS

Giveaways don’t have to be expensive to be effective, but make the prize something worth winning.

Use this opportunity to increase followers by increasing discounts for customers who share your message.

BRAND REPS/INFLUENCERS

Identify the most active and influential followers in your social networks. Offer special access, advance notice, products for review and get them talking about how great you are.

CASE STUDY: ANNIE’S ANNUALS

Annie’s Annuals:• California nursery with mail order• 1605 followers on Twitter, 2700+

fans and 3-5 comments/likes per post on Facebook

• www.anniesannuals.com

CASE STUDY: ANNIE’S ANNUALS

• In December, had a 15% sale off of everything, including gift certificates.

• Partnered with several garden writers to cross-promote with giveaways and reposts.

• Combined with email blast for maximum coverage.

CASE STUDY: BOTANICAL INTERESTS

Botanical Interests:• Mail order and wholesale seeds• 1605 followers on Twitter, 1700

fans, 6-15 comments/likes per post• www.botanicalinterests.com

CASE STUDY: BOTANICAL INTERESTS

• Partners with well-known garden bloggers for seed giveaways

• Uses Facebook to cross-promote and direct traffic to the blog

• Keeps high level of engagement on their Facebook page by asking questions, posting recipes, highlighting new products

CASE STUDY: BOTANICAL INTERESTS

• Uses Facebook to get customers to submit pictures of their seeds grown as plants

• Pictures are posted to their website• Result: free endorsements and free

photos, as well as customer research

Free Social Media webinars:February 15 & 22www.ballpublishing.com

Find me:

jeanannvk@whitewillowmedia.com

www.whitewillowmedia.com

503-217-4086