Planning for a Social Media Holiday: Giving Thanks

The Holidays Are Here

Are you ready?  How can you use your social media efforts to show your customers and fans how grateful you are for their support and business or organization?

Whether you are a for profit small business or a not for profit organization, you have a community to thank for existing.  Everyone wants to feel appreciated.  I have come up with some ideas to help you keep connected with your social media community through the holidays, while avoiding to appear needy.  Needy as in, "Buy, buy, buy" or "Give, give, give".  

Soliciting sales and donations are important goals and should be part of your marketing plan this time of year, but it is a sure fire way to alienate all those fans you gained during the past year.  It's all about balance and making people feel special.

Today's tip: Giving Thanks

Give them a "Thank You" gift. 

You can give a coupon for a free service or a discount. 

• Some of you can take advantage of Facebook Offers.  This is a pay per click way to give you fans (and their friends) a deal.  You may also drum up some new business this way.  You can limit how many offers to send out, but it will cost you.  So if you are on a tight budget, this may not work.  However, if you can afford it, by all means, do it!
• Insert an custom application on your Facebook page for the offer.  I use Shortstack.  It is very user friendly and most of the templates are free. You can also insert a "Share" option.  You can use this to gain new fans by posting a link to it in your email newsletter.
• Create a hidden page on your website and link your posts to it.  This is also a good option to drive business to other pages on your site.

If you are a business/organization who does not have a "product", how about:

• Host a customer appreciation day or week.  Invite your fans and customers in for a treat or offer a giveaway in house and online.
• Partner with another local business.  Offer them a "Coffee on us", etc.  This is a win/win for both you and your partner.

Tie in anything you plan with Thankful posts.  Ask you staff for positive stories from the past year and include a photo of that staff member holding a Thank You sign.  Be creative and have fun. You are forging relationships.