How can social media enhance your in-store experience?

my POV? hashtag campaigns died in 2010, and the only person legally allowed to use them now is rupaul — #ShadyApes and #BedBathandBeyonce still slap!

Les médias sociaux sont un excellent moyen de communiquer des changements et des informations en temps réel : comme par exemple les promotions, les lancements de produits, les heures d'ouverture ou les disponibilités des produits. Cela peut améliorer l'expérience client en fournissant des informations précises et à jour.

In the era of social media, one of the most powerful tools for retailers is social proof. Customers today crave authenticity and real-life examples of how products fit into their world. So, why not bring that social validation directly into your brick-and-mortar stores? One possible idea: interactive screens placed near product displays, showcasing a constantly refreshing carousel of photos and videos from your loyal customers wearing, using, or enjoying your offerings in their daily lives. With their consent, you've turned your biggest fans into in-store influencers!

Social media can significantly enhance the in-store experience by bridging the gap between the online and offline worlds, creating a seamless and integrated customer journey. Retailers can leverage social media platforms to engage with customers before they even step foot in the store, using targeted ads, promotions, and personalized content to drive foot traffic. Inside the store, interactive displays, QR codes, and digital signage can integrate social media elements, such as user-generated content and product reviews, to provide shoppers with additional information and recommendations. By harnessing the power of social media, we can create an immersive and interactive in-store experience that drives engagement and sales.

in my experience, social media can enhance the in-store experience by incorporating QR codes or NFC tags strategically throughout the store. By placing these codes or tags on product displays or signage, customers can easily access additional product information, reviews, or exclusive social media content directly from their smartphones. This seamless integration of social media not only enriches the shopping experience but also encourages customer engagement and loyalty both online and offline.

I am a big advocate for having cards at checkout and/or placing cards in shopping bags that have a QR code on them with instructions to follow on social media. I also love incorporating QR codes to review pages that say, leave a 5 Star review and be entered to our monthly giveaway (or along those lines). These QR codes can also go to landing pages with email/text signups where you can offer a discount on their next purchase for signing up to receive emails. All of these things will boost brand awareness, engagement and ultimately boost sales.

Having interactive walls/screens is a great way to incorporate digital marketing efforts such as social media into a traditional retail setting. Having screens that loop video content, sharing the company story, customer reviews, and even direct social content can be engaging. Having these in line at check-out, by the fitting rooms, or other high-traffic areas that sometimes require standing in line waiting, gives the customer an experience while they wait. They likely have their phone in their hand and may go and follow your social pages for more if they like what they see o the screens!

Essentially when you have employees in a brick & mortar or otherwise IRL location, you’ve got all the ingredients of a content shoot! Take advantage of the moment and don’t overthink it—you never know what might go be a hit!

Having employees who are social media savvy is huge! Your social media followers want to get to know the faces behind the brand and allowing them to shoot and share content that is relatable and will drive more foot traffic into the store to see them is huge. They can also respond to DMs asking questions about inventory, etc. I would not want every single employee to have access to the social media pages, but a trusted few that cover daily shifts would be ideal!