Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most powerful forms of marketing out there because people believe what other consumers say more often than they do those who are marketing the product or service. If a customer believes the claims, they are more likely to try it/buy it for themselves. That’s why it’s essential to get people talking about your shop local program.
But how do you make that happen?
Tips for Generating a Buzz about Your Shop Local Program
There’s more to this than marketing your shop local program. You need to get people excited enough about it that they tell others, expanding your reach and audience. Here are a few tips on how you can make that happen.
Surprise Them
Catch people shopping local and reward them with a small token of appreciation. It could be something as small as a lollipop for their child but do something unexpected for them and you can be sure they will tell someone.
Host a Social Media Contest
Selfie picture contests are easy to run and get people excited about your shop local program and local businesses. Look into the rules of specific social media sites before launching a contest but Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are easy to use for these purposes.
Ask Them
As part of your social media posts, periodically ask your audience to share their favorite local business and what makes it so.
Pay Them
Some chambers and local business associations offer occasional specials where you bring in receipts as proof of doing business with a local merchant and they reimburse you a percentage of that amount in chamber bucks or local currency. This is an extremely popular incentive around the holidays.
Tease Them
Social media is one of the best tools you have at your disposal to get people talking. One way is to post teasers, hints, or sneak peaks at things coming down the pike for your audience. Is a new business coming to town? Reveal it with some of the tension-building excitement Hollywood uses in movie trailers. Always hold something back and you’ll build a buzz.
What’s the most effective buzz-building technique you’ve seen in action? Please share it with us.
