How retailers can use social media to attract more customers

Customers are accessing their social networks via smartphones, making the presence of retail brands on these social outlets even more important. Approximately 80% of smartphone users access social networks on their devices, and 55% of those users visit social networks on their devices once per day, according to Monetate.com.

Shoppers are using their mobile phones to shop, as well. According to Digby.com, 40% of shoppers in 2012 checked three or more channels before a purchase, compared to just 10% a decade earlier. And Monetate reports that 96% of smart phone users have researched a product or service on their phone.

How retailers can use social media

Social media strategies can be used to promote your products, showcase your company talents, highlight your CEO’s pursuits and humanize your company. Interacting with customers in the hope of increasing sales can also play a part.

• Share new products
• Promote exclusive deals and offers
• Share employee recommendations

Suggested social media metrics for retailers

• Fan/follower growth: How many new fans are you gaining during a select time frame?
• Engagement rate: The number of user interactions (likes, comments, retweets, replies and shares).
• Response rate: The percentage of user posts or questions that the administrator responded to.
• Response time: The average amount of time it takes for the administrator to respond to user posts or questions.
• User activity: Identifying the hours and days of the week your users are engaging most frequently.
• Shareability: The number of shares and retweets a post gets.
• Interactions: The number of interactions that a page or post receives and the types of interactions (likes, comments, retweets, replies and shares).