Depending on where you live, you may be weeks into your self-quarantine journey, but even if you aren’t, a lot of your customers probably have been in isolation for awhile. With shopping trends drastically changing over the last month, it’s hard to figure out how you should pivot and what you should be posting about on social media. Many sellers aren’t getting the same engagement levels on their posts as they used to because the interests of buyers have temporarily changed. So, what should we all do? We had fun searching through Instagram to see the clever and interesting ways people are still engaging with their audience. Let’s jump right in!
Show people visually that you’re still in business (or that business is down).
Not only does this remind people that you’re still operating, it shows that your products are popular and being ordered. If you only have a few orders to photograph, do it anyway! Be real with your followers and show them how you have been impacted. You can post a picture of the only two packages you have going out and say that you’re down X amount of sales from your average. Or, you can post a side-by-side picture of your current pile of packages next to a photo of a pile of packages going out when business was normal. Sometimes it takes visual aids to help people fully understand your situation.
Share a message.
Let your customers know you are thinking of them, update them on how you are responding to the crisis, or simply remind people to be safe.
Shake things up and try something new.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a “posting routine” and typically post the same kinds of things on your Instagram. Why not post something completely different from the norm? This is a great way to re-engaged followers who have gotten used to seeing the same types of posts from you.
Run a giveaway by yourself or partner with another seller.
We all know about Instagram giveaways and you’ve probably already tried at least one, but this is a great time to post contests because more people are online right now. And if you can partner with another handmade seller and double your reach, even better!
Post about the winner after the contest is over.
This is something we see surprisingly few people doing. Have you ever entered a giveaway competition and wondered, “Are they actually going to pick a winner or is this just a gimmick to get my participation?” By posting about the winner you legitimize your giveaway AND you make the winner feel quite special. 🙂
Create relevant products.
Yeah, we’ve talked about this one a lot because it’s important. How can your product be adapted to spread hope or comfort?
Be real…
This is a tough one. It’s hard to admit when we’re struggling, but when you open up and communicate your real situation with people, they come to your support. Give your followers a chance to show you how much they care.
And lastly, being real doesn’t always have to be serious.
Need a break? Tell your audience! Sick of quarantine? Tell your audience. They can relate to all of the things you’re going through even if they aren’t running a business themselves. And it’s always a wonderful feeling when you can help your followers laugh during stressful times. 🙂
