June 2020 - 29

SOCIAL MEDIA
you are working, but you are happy to talk to them prior to
each visit over the phone to focus on their needs first.
This is an ideal time to use Instagram Stories to showcase
the new Product Packs you offer, or your smiling delivery
crew, or your people sanitizing their equipment.
You can also set up a display with " Bonus Offers " showing
soil and fertilizer amendments, drip irrigation connections,
or a fun time-lapse video of your crew unloading the
delivery truck.
Everyone loves a peek behind the scenes, and this allows
you to leverage the social media tools best. Reuse these
videos on Facebook Stories, or use two cameras to film
(Facebook prefers horizontal video), to reach more people.
3. Connect: Remember that people are lonely, confused and
worried right now. This is an ideal time to stay the course, and
show people what you do and how your business operates.
They want to be connected, reassured and entertained. We
are in a unique period of experimentation where we can try
new techniques and no one cares how professional they look.
Use Instagram Live to collaborate with your clients and
offer virtual garden tours of your own backyard. You can talk
about the design decisions you make at home and ask them
to go live with you to ask their own questions.
You can walk the aisles of your garden center with a
client on the split-screen and pick out container plants to
order, showing the viewers special features of plants you are
selecting. This makes everything interactive and fun, and
reassures people that you know your stuff, so much more so
than the big box stores.
4. Teach: If you have a two-person team (or a tripod) have
someone hold the camera for you and create a how-to video.
Give people projects to do at home ... perhaps using supplies
that they can order from you online or by phone, with
curbside pickup or delivery.
Save this video to IGTV or YouTube. Make a 15-30 second
teaser for your Instagram stories and encourage them to
watch more. Share the content to Facebook. You can even
hold a " contest " for the best completed project that they can
showcase on their Instagram stories with your hashtag.
Remember, stay the course, have fun, and connect. We're
all in this together.
Grace Hensley is the owner of Fashion Plants LLC, a business
strategy and digital marketing company she founded to
keep busy while raising two young sons after a career in
biotechnology. She is a certified professional horticulturist and
continues to work in seasonal container design to remain current
with the hot new plants. Plus, she's addicted to soil. Find her
online at www.fashionplants.com.
Editor's note: Grace Hensley was originally scheduled to address
social media techniques for IGCs at Cultivate'20 in July. With the
ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, please check
www.cultivateevent.org for the latest scheduling info on the
virtual event.
MARKETING
MAKEOVER
BOOST YOUR BUSINESS
Now more than ever, retailers need to make sure their online store is easy to find and
easy to use. SmartSolutions can help with its exclusive marketing makeover service.
SOCIAL MEDIA
* Review/evaluation
* Content creation
* Paid ad campaigns
EMAIL MARKETING
* List growth and loyalty
campaigns
* Content creation
* Email newsletter design
and deployment
WEBSITE
* Review/evaluation
* SEO improvements
* Content creation
ONLINE STORE
* Setup and design
* Current online shop
evaluation
* SEO
* Marketing campaign
Book your free consultation today - and learn how marketing
can help your store survive and thrive.
Visit https://smartsolutions.media/surviveandthrive
or email kbaker@smartsolutions.media.
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June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020
