January 15, 2014

Valentine Promotion Ideas for Your Store

Valentine’s Day Promotional Ideas for Grocers  
Still Plenty of Time to Connect With Customers!
 
Did you know that over 50% of women in relationships say they would break up with their partner if they did not receive a Valentine’s Day gift?   
 
For the sake of the 50%, it would be a great idea for you to promote Valentine’s Day in your store – if not to keep 50% of the relationships with women continuing on February 15th but to take advantage of the  annual spending related to Valentine’s Day —– a whopping $13.2 Billion.

 

Here’s a summary of our 4 tips to keep in mind to help connect with your customers for Valentine’s Day promotions: 

 

1.  On your store Facebook site – your goal should be to get Fans to share your Valentines Day content.

 

2. Run some simple Valentine’s Day promotions or contests.

 

3.  Use photos!

 

4.  Tap into your customers emotions for Valentine’s Day.

 

    

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Tip #1:  Get more Facebook Fans with your Valentine’s Day content.

 

The University of Indiana recently did a study to determine the primary emotions that can be tapped into with Facebook content to gain viewership.  Here’s a list of the top 6 emotions that you can use to help gain more Facebook views, likes and Fans:
1. Surprise
2. Joy
3. Sadness
4. Fear
5. Anger
6. Disgust
So, the first 2 emotions are opportunities for your Valentine’s Day Facebook posts – Surprise and Joy.
Tapping in to these two emotions will help you get more “thumbs up” and comments – which translate to more views by friends of friends and their friends of friends as well. Use Surprise and Joy to tap into emotions and the best way to do that is with simple photos.
Do you have a photo you can use to touch on “surprise” or “joy” for Valentine’s Day?
Here’s an example photo from Wal-Mart’s  (yes Wal-Mart’s) Facebook page on Valentine’s Day. 
Just the photo and the words “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
‘Nuff said.
 Another way to connect with you customers on Valentine’s Day promotions is to direct them to ideas to consider for Valentine’s Day menu ideas.
Here’s an example of what our Social Octane subscribers are posting for Valentine’s Day this year:
   
 Another suggestion would be to send out an e-Blast promoting a Valentine’s Day signature product.
Any of our customers can order one of our Special Deal-ivery eBlasts for Valentine’s Day.
Important:  CALL NICK, MICHAEL or PAULINO today to reserve your Special Deal-ivery eBlast for Valentine’s Day.   480-639-1200
We can further customize your eBlast if you wish. Doesn’t have to be $5 off a dozen……..
Here’s what it will look like:
 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Tip #2:  Run some simple Valentine’s Day promotions or contests.
Here’s a great goal for your Valentine’s Day promotion.  Simply ask your Facebook fans to participate in a conversation and reward those with great responses or feedback.
What kind of conversation starters can you use to get Facebook fans to respond?
Here’s a list of 10 simple conversation starters to consider for a promotion or contest:
  1. How we met or how I/he/she proposed.
  2.  Every new facebook fan, donate $1 to charity or foundation that shows love to those in need.  Cap the donation. Even if you cap it at $100 to the local animal shelter — you’ll have 100 new fans quickly.
  3.  Donate sales on specific item to charity.  Could be a $1 donation for every dozen roses sold.
  4.   Most words using letters in “Valentine’s Day”
  5.  Share the love- has one of our employees stood out in their customer service skills?  We’ll share our love     with that employee and the contest entrant – could be a store gift card.
  6.   “The nicest Valentines day gift I ever received was”
  7.   Your favorite Love Song
  8.    Favorite Love movie
  9.    Post a Valentine’s Day Appreciation post – have your employees sign Valentines Day card
  10.    Provide a “fill in the blank” style comment relating to Valentine’s Day.  Fill in the blank posts generate about 90% more    engagement than the average text post.
 Here’s an example of the Tide website from Valentine’s Day.
 
___________________________________________________________________________________
 Tip #3:  Use Photos!
I mentioned in the section above that “fill in the blank” style posts generate 90% more engagement than the average text.
Did you know that photos attract 104% more comments than average?  (According to Facebook).
 Here’s an example from the Coca-Cola Facebook site on Valentine’s Day and a few other photos that I’ve seen on Valentine’s Day Facebook for Business sites: 
                 
Social Media is a Great Way to Promote Valentine’s Day
_______________________________________________________
Tip #4:  Tap into your customers emotions for Valentine’s Day
OK.  Valentine’s Day postings don’t always have to be “sappy” to gain the attention of your Facebook followers.  “Sappy” is easier to deal with but the idea is to stimulate conversation with your Fans and get them to forward your posts to others.
Here’s an example from The Market in Hollister, California –  “The Man Valentine.”
The idea is to stimulate conversation and connect with interested Fans and here’s a humorous posting for those that may not be thinking of celebrating Valentine’s Day.
   
 Have a great week!
Don’t forget to call Nick, Michael or Paulino ( 480-639-1200) to order your Valentine’s Day eBlast or Social Octane subscription for Valentine’s Day.