It’s that time of the year. Kids are enjoying the endless hours of no school, and parents are ready to send them back to the classroom.
Whether it’s clothing, accessories, or school supplies, parents are gearing up to set their kids up for success. This is the perfect time for you to turn your brand’s back-to-school rush into the best sales season yet.
Knowing how to capture the excitement and urgency of getting ready for a new school year is essential. The best way to reap the benefits is to be where your customers are shopping—on social media. Roughly 62% of the world’s population uses social media for shopping, spending an average of 2 hours and 23 minutes on it daily.
So, are you ready to turn the back-to-school rush into your best sales season yet? From savvy ad campaigns to engaging social media tactics, dive into fun and effective ways to make your social selling strategy drive sales and provide a great customer experience.
Understanding the Back-to-School Season
Back-to-school shopping is the second-largest retail event of the year, right after the winter holiday season. Millions of families across the U.S. participate in this annual shopping spree, preparing their children with everything they need for the upcoming school year. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), in 2023, American families with children in elementary through high school planned to spend an average of $864 on school supplies, apparel, electronics, and other necessities.
This shopping season isn’t limited to families with school-aged children. College students and their families also contribute significantly to back-to-school spending, with average expenditures reaching over $1,200 per household. This collective surge in spending presents a massive opportunity for brands to boost their sales and engage with a wide demographic of shoppers.
The Evolution of Back-to-School Shopping
Back-to-school shopping has evolved significantly over the years. What started as a simple trip to the local store for notebooks and pencils has transformed into a multi-channel retail extravaganza. Today’s shoppers use a mix of online and in-store shopping to get the best deals and find the trendiest items.
eCommerce has played a pivotal role in this evolution. With the convenience of online shopping, parents and students can easily compare prices, read reviews, and make purchases from the comfort of their homes.
Social media and digital marketing have further amplified the reach of back-to-school campaigns, allowing brands to connect with their audience through targeted ads, influencer partnerships, and engaging content.
How Brands Can Capitalize on Back-to-School Season
To make the most of this lucrative shopping season, brands need to be strategic and creative in their approach. Here’s how.
Stay Social
Consistency is key on social media. Keep your followers in the loop with regular posts about your back-to-school deals, new arrivals, and special offers. Don’t forget about stories – they’re perfect for behind-the-scenes peeks, customer shoutouts, and quick demos. Keep the content coming to stay top of mind. The more present you are on social media, the more likely your audience is to think of you when they’re ready to shop.
Engaging content is essential for maintaining an active and loyal social media following. Use a mix of photos, videos, and interactive posts to keep your audience entertained and informed. Highlight customer testimonials, share user-generated content, and showcase your products in real-life scenarios. By creating a dynamic social media presence, you build a community around your brand and foster lasting connections with your customers.
Make Ads an Experience
Say goodbye to boring ads and hello to Click-to-Experience (CTX) Ads. These interactive gems let your audience dive into your back-to-school products in a fun and engaging way. Imagine your customers virtually exploring your latest backpacks, notebooks, and tech gadgets – it’s like giving them a virtual shopping spree! Not only does this boost engagement, but it also drives higher conversion rates.
Interactive ads are all about creating memorable experiences. When customers can interact with your products before purchasing, it builds excitement and confidence in their buying decision. CTX ads are designed to be immersive, ensuring that customers feel connected to your brand and products. This connection often leads to increased loyalty and repeat purchases, making it a win-win for both you and your customers.
Chat with Influencers
Influencers are the rock stars of the digital world, and they can seriously boost your brand. Team up with influencers who vibe with your style and get them to share a unique link that lets their followers chat directly with you. It’s like having a personal shopping assistant right there to answer questions and build trust. This personal touch can make a big difference in turning curious followers into loyal customers.
When selecting influencers, it’s crucial to choose those who align with your brand values and resonate with your target audience. Authenticity is key in influencer marketing, and followers can sense when a partnership is genuine. By using social chat commerce, you create a seamless communication channel between potential customers and your brand, providing immediate responses and personalized recommendations that enhance the shopping experience.
Host a Giveaway with Tag to Chat
Who doesn’t love a good giveaway? Get the back-to-school excitement going by hosting a fun contest. Ask your followers to post about it in their stories and tag you. With Tag to Chat, you can jump into their DMs, thank them for entering, and chat about your awesome products. It’s a win-win! You create buzz, engage directly with your audience, and potentially convert giveaway participants into long-term customers.
Giveaways are a fantastic way to increase brand awareness and grow your social media following. By encouraging participants to tag you in their stories, you extend your reach to their followers, potentially attracting a whole new audience. The Tag-to-Chat feature adds an extra layer of engagement, allowing you to build relationships and gather valuable feedback from your customers in real-time.
Nudge Them with Push Notifications
We all know how easy it is to get distracted and forget about that awesome item you were just about to buy. Use Push Notifications to give your customers a friendly nudge when they leave a conversation or abandon their cart. A quick reminder can go a long way in bringing them back to complete their purchase. It’s like having a virtual sales assistant who’s always there to help them finish what they started.
Push Notifications are a powerful tool for re-engagement. They serve as gentle reminders that keep your brand at the forefront of customers’ minds. Whether it’s a reminder about an abandoned cart or a notification about a limited-time offer, these prompts can significantly increase conversion rates. Push Notification feature is designed to be subtle yet effective, ensuring that your customers receive timely and relevant messages that encourage them to take action.
Don’t Forget About Email Campaigns
Capture those emails! During your social selling efforts, make sure you’re gathering email addresses. Then, run targeted email campaigns with personalized back-to-school promos, product suggestions, and exclusive discounts. It’s an easy way to keep your brand in front of your customers and drive those sales home. Plus, emails give you the opportunity to build a more personal relationship with your customers, keeping them informed and engaged long after the back-to-school rush.
Email marketing is an effective channel for driving sales and nurturing customer relationships. Use segmentation to tailor your messages to different audience groups, ensuring that each recipient receives content relevant to their interests and needs. Include compelling subject lines, engaging visuals, and clear calls-to-action to maximize the impact of your email campaigns. With social chat commerce, you can capture contact information to expand your email list.
Get Ready for Back-to-School Shopping
The back-to-school season offers a unique opportunity to connect with your audience and boost your sales. With social selling, you’ll create engaging, personalized, and highly effective marketing campaigns that your audience will love.
Remember, the key to successful social selling lies in creating authentic, engaging, and interactive experiences that resonate with your customers. So, put these tactics into action—your best sales season is just around the corner.
Drive higher customer engagement & sales this back-to-school season with ZEALS! Chat with us to learn more.
