6 Content Ideas For Hardware Stores on Facebook

Learn from others. Crank up your marketing efforts on Facebook.  More people are connecting to Facebook on mobile devices and the new Facebook Graph search is going to be huge to local businesses.

So you got a Facebook page. Now what?  The hardest part is knowing what to post.  No one is in your store so you take a few minutes in the office and go on Facebook.  You sit with your fingers on your keyboard thinking about what to post.  Soon the store starts to fill up again so you go to help your customers and no Facebook post.

 

Set a posting Schedule

This will keep you from wasting time and allow you to measure results.  Create a document with a date and what you intend to post.  Start with a brainstorming session.  Write down as many ideas as you can think of.  Look at what other hardware stores are posting.  Ask employees in your store their ideas.

Here are a few ideas you can start with:

Offers.

The top reason people like a brand page on Facebook is a special offer or discount.

The built in offers feature on Facebook allows businesses to share a special promotion on their page. Each time someone claims the offer it is shared on that user’s Timeline so that all their friends can see it. This is a premium Facebook feature but these offers have a great reach and can generate interest in your store beyond the usual reach of your page. Customers who claim the offer are sent an email by Facebook that can be printed or shown to a retailer on a mobile device. This is a fantastic way to directly measure return on investment. The offers are bringing people directly in your door.

Sharing your specials as status updates on your Timeline can be effective. If you have a weekly offer, customers will begin to expect it to pop up on that day and watch out for it. This can encourage interaction. Some customers will ask you to hold an offer for them until they can get in to the store while others will ask for more info or will share the deal with their friends.

If you know your DIY traffic flow you can make offers at specific times.  Snow tomorrow means Ice melt post tonight. Saturday morning Gardening tip... It's time for crabgrass preventer.

Secrete word Wednesday.  Come in today and say ‘Jack Links’ for a free Jack Links beef stick with your purchase.

Questions

It can be as direct as asking what type of product they would like you to stock. Or more general like what time of day they do their shopping.
Sit down and take some time to construct a list of questions that you would really like to have answered.  Post a picture of some obscure hardware item and ask them what is this used for?  We just got a shipment of seeds in.  What do you plan to plant in your garden this year?  You should try and leave an open ended question at the end of every post. Asking quick questions on your Facebook page will really encourage interaction and give you an insight into what your customers want.

Embed Yourself In The Community

Local businesses have traditionally been the heart of the community and Facebook gives us the opportunity to remain there even when our customers are at work in front of their computers or out of town.
Sharing community news or something that will resonate with local people encourages more interaction. It also places you at the center of the online local community.  I recently saw a wonderful post that Burt’s Lumber did supporting a fundraising event for a your girl with cancer.  He truly supports his community and his customers know it.

Showcase Your Staff

Every business has something that they are exceptional at. With any luck, you have an exceptional staff and your customer service is spot on.
If this is the case, showcasing your staff on your Facebook page is a great way to develop this online. Use photos and video to showcase their friendly faces and their expertise.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous, you could design a contest amongst the staff but showcased on Facebook. Customers could get involved by voting for their favorite.

 

Showcase Your Product

What do you sell? What is special about your product? You have the opportunity to make your Facebook page your shop window. Show off your latest stock and entice your customers in with photographs.Is there a story you can tell about your product?  Can you tell the tale of how the products are made?
By telling stories, you are giving your customers something to share and talk to others about.

Create a How-to Event.

How-to events are great ways to teach your customers how to be DIYers.  Create a buzz about the upcoming event.  Ask your customers what projects they want to tackle?  List 5 project classes you were planning to have at your store.  Ask them to pick the one they would like to see.  Then post the event and sell all the supplies then need for the project.  Ask them by name how their projects are coming along. If they post a question, post the answer for all to see your knowledge of the task at hand. Ask them to post completed pictures online.  For some reason everyone who has ever laid tile loves to post a picture of their new floor online.
Get Started today create a Facebook plan with a set schedule then work that plan.  

Good Selling.