Facebook Ideas for Christmas

I believe the statistics are staggering for this time of year.

80-90% of the entire year for a small retail business is earned in the months of November and January.

That’s a big deal.  It’s a huge weight to carry around as well.

So how can social media make a difference?  Please note I do call it social media, because is involves being very social and reaching out to your customers and creating relationships with them.

At least 50% of the population in the United States is on Facebook.  If you don’t have a fan page for your retail business, you are really missing out.

A few things you can do on Facebook are:

• take pictures of customers using your products (or wearing them or playing with them) – be sure to get their name and permission to use the picture – and post them on your wall.
• create an event.  Are you have a 20% sale on two items in the store this week? Make it an event.  Is new product coming and being displayed on Saturday?  Make it an event.
• team up with another retailer and create a joint project.  Shop at your store and get 10% off a slice of pizza next door!
• highlight a product in your store.  Get creative, tell a great story about it.  Show us how your customers love it and what they do with it.
• Have a contest.  Perhaps a treasure hunt in the store – hide three items well, and give clues on how to find them.
• If your staff is dressing up for the holidays (Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc.) – take pictures!  

This time of year, the object is to get people into your store.  Give them a reason to come in.  But first, make sure they know you are there!

What are some other ideas of things retailers can do?