How To: Encourage Your Customers to Share MORE This Holiday Season

By Gaby Piazza

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping – and, of course, for holiday marketing!  The growth for sales driven by social media is increasing at a RAPID pace, and you need to make sure you’re your company has a piece of that pie.  In the next few weeks, packages are coming and going, online orders are being added to shopping carts faster than the blink of an eye, and customers are a completely captive audience, with your product in their hand. For most companies the ultimate goal is to acquire new customers – this will obviously increase the consumer base, drive awareness, and of course amplify sales. However, one thing to keep in mind is that retention is JUST as important as acquisition – the ability to turn one-time customers into lifelong purchasers is where social media marketing can show the most success. How do I know this?

67% of online shoppers spend more AFTER recommendations and “ok’s” from their friends. (Internet Retailer, September) Have you ever gone to purchase a piece of clothing and asked your best friend whether or not you should?  If you haven’t, you’re either unbelievably self-confident, or you have no friends (sorry). Social media takes friend approval to a whole new level when users share links, photos, videos, websites, etc. on their networks to get approval from their entire community. By making it easy users to share your products to get feedback, they’ll not only be more likely to purchase, but your product will get in front of that many more friends and followers.

83% percent of online shoppers said they are interested in sharing information about their purchases with people they know. People are excited to talk about what they are buying, so

you need to make sure that you encourage them to share their purchase.  This doesn’t mean just slapping on a “Share” button on the confirmation page when they order online.  Incentivize them with a call to action to use a pre-designated hashtag for the chance to win a surprise and delight offering anytime they share their purchase. Make sure everytime you ask for something, you are giving them an added value to help your brand.