De Beers’ rough diamond sales were down 18 percent year-over-year in its latest round of sales.
5 Social Media Resolutions for 2016
Likeable Local’s Beth Henderson outlines five steps jewelers should take in the new year to reach a wider audience on Facebook, Instagram, etc. and, ultimately, bring in more sales.
We’re less than week into the new year; now is the time to plan your social media strategies for 2016.
Struggling to figure out where to begin? Look no further. Let us help you with five social media resolutions. These strategies will help maximize your jewelry store’s success on social media, reach a wider audience and, ultimately, bring in more sales. Diamonds will be (figuratively) flying off the shelves.
Let’s begin...
1. Customize Content for Different Audiences
There’s no need to confine your valuable content to only one form. Start transforming your content into different forms and post them through different mediums. Convert an informative webinar to an easy-to-read blog post. Expand an article and make it into a visually appealing e-book.
Remember, what your audience likes, and where they consume it, should inform your content strategy. Expand your audiences by creating multiple forms of content.
2. Introduce a Partner or Referral Program
In the jewelry business, friends can be very valuable, but these friendships generally take the form of mutually beneficial business relationships.
At Likeable Local, we’re always looking for new opportunities, which is why we have our Partner Program. Our partners enjoy numerous perks as part of the program and in return, represent our company and product in front of their clients and prospects.
A referral program is also extremely useful when it comes to business friendships. Setting up a referral program allows you to access customers without having to do the work. Your customers and partners can refer their friends to your company.
The reality many companies come to realize quickly is that it is difficult to do everything yourself. That’s where partners and referrals come in.
Partnerships will strengthen your business. Even some of the largest companies, such as Facebook and Google, have partners to help them perform the functions they don’t necessarily have the time to perform themselves. No matter the size of your jewelry company, partner and referral programs are something you should definitely start.
3. Improve your Social Listening Skills
Listening is the single most important skill in social media. Those on social media tend to be really great when it comes to talking; however, they tend to fall short when it comes to their listening skills.
Social media gives jewelers the opportunity to listen to customers and prospects effectively. Listening
Where is the best place for jewelers to begin social listening? Where their prospects and customers will go, social media and Google.
4. Take Advantage of Instagram Ads
Instagram ads are here. It’s true; Instagram ads are now available to everybody. So you should jump on board. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Although it is still early, preliminary reports are showing that Instagram ads are seeing higher engagement than standard Facebook ads. In fact, for web click conversions, Instagram ads are seeing an average 1.5 percent click-through rate, versus 0.84 percent for a comparable Facebook ad at a similar cost per click, according to The Motley Fool.
Come on! Hop on the Instagram train. Show off those sparkly jewels you are selling.
5. Perfect your Hashtags
From a business perspective, hashtags are a great way to create a unified campaign across your social platforms. Recently we used the hashtag #SearchisSocial for a webinar. The hashtag explained our partnership with a search engine optimization expert and explained that he webinar would be about the benefits of SEO and social media for businesses. We used this hashtag in all our tweets, email marketing, and on Facebook, and we encouraged people listening to the webinar to tweet along with us live.
When constructing a hashtag for your marketing efforts, here are a few things to keep in mind.
A) Make it unique: In order to make sure nearly everyone who is using your hashtag is actually interacting with your marketing, you need to make a unique hashtag.
B) Make it simple: As much as you might want to put lots of campaign details into your hashtags, simple is always better.
C) Make it fun: When making a hashtag for your marketing campaign, you want people to use it, so make it catchy and conspicuous.
For more information on hash-tagging and utilizing them specifically on Twitter, check out our free eBook on Twitter success, 7 Proven Strategies to Maximize Twitter for your Business.
We’ve done our part; now it’s your turn to put these strategies to work. Which resolutions will you choose to carry out in 2016?
Beth Henderson is the marketing coordinator at Likeable Local, a partner of Jewelers of America and the creators of Likeable Hub, a powerful platform with an easy-to-use mobile app that helps small businesses, like jewelers, succeed with social media. Reach her at beth@likeablelocal.com.
The Latest
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
The Patek Philippe expert will serve as personal curator for the brand-focused company.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The 553-square-foot shop is aboard the Carnival Jubilee cruise ship.
NDC filed a complaint against Skydiamond for use of phrases like “diamonds made entirely from the sky.”
John Carter received the AGS’s highest honor Tuesday afternoon at Conclave in Austin, Texas.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
LVMH said the company performed well despite an uncertain geopolitical and economic environment.
B&D Sales and Service held a ribbon-cutting event for its new location in Cranston, Rhode Island.
It’s ultra-feminine and filled with gold, pearls, and soft pastels.
Emily Highet Morgan and Emily Bennett have joined the agency’s team.
Its updated book for mountings is also now available.
She has been with the organization since 2010, most recently serving as its chief officer of PR and industry relations.
He is remembered by loved ones for his loyalty, integrity, and kindness.
Hosted by Freeman’s | Hindman, the sale will take place May 7-8.
The auction house said all 24 timepieces offered in its underground sale of rare and avant-garde watches quickly found buyers.
From lab-grown diamonds and AI to the inevitable Taylor Swift mention, here are some of Conclave’s most intriguing educational offerings.
From cybersecurity liability to trade show coverage, insurance experts share tips on how to build the right policy.
The charm is a modern rendition of the evil eye amulet that has been worn for thousands of years.
Ahead of its trade show next month, TJS awarded free registration and accommodations to one jewelry professional and three students.
By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.
Members can still sell lab-grown stones, it said, but only natural gems are allowed on the show floor.
He is remembered for his charisma, passion, integrity, kindness, and wit.
The retailer also appointed two new board members, avoiding a proxy fight from a potential buyer.
The bridal collection consists of 35 engagement rings and seven wedding bands.
The crown introduced a dozen timepieces in Geneva, including a heavy metal version of its deep-sea divers’ watch.