When you're running a multichannel store, you want to ensure that you're reaching your customers where they are – whether that's through social media, email, or physical stores. But how does your strategy change when it comes to email? Does your approach depend on what channel the customer is using most often? How do you decide which one to focus on?
To find the right answers, you need to think about what makes customers click.
What is the one platform your customers use most often to interact with you? If you're not sure, look at your analytics first. Once you know which platform, you can craft the perfect email pitch to reach them with. In this article, we'll discuss the differences between multichannel outreach through social media, email, and physical stores, so you can choose the right channel for your message.
As someone who has managed social media channels for a living, I know how hard it can be to get organic reach on social media. Unless you're paying for ads, your content has to be relevant and interesting to attract potential customers. In addition, you have to establish a good reputation on social media to generate trust and build credibility with your audience.
If you're not seeing the results you want on social media, it's time to switch gears and explore other avenues to reach your customers. If you sell luxury goods, you may want to consider a luxury retail store engagement or co-branding strategy. Luxury brands have huge followings on social media, and it's the perfect place to connect with your customers. If you have a storefront, you may want to consider doing business as a partnership with a luxury brand. As part of the deal, you would get a small foot-hold in a retail location. You get the perks of the partnership – including marketing benefits – and the customer gets the satisfaction of buying a luxury item from a well-known brand.
While the name might make you think otherwise, cold email outreach is something you need to do even if you have a social media presence. If you've been doing business with these customers for a while and you've built up trust and credibility, then you can use your stored email list to engage with them. Depending on the size of your email list, you may want to do this throughout the year rather than just at the end.
For example, if you notice that a significant portion of your customers are on social media but haven't interacted with you on email, it may be worth your time to send them a short email asking them to connect on social media so you can continue the conversation. Remember, you can always follow up with a quick phone call to make sure they receive the message.
If none of the above seem to be working for you, then it's time to explore your last option – physical stores. A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with physical stores. While some love going into a store and seeing products in person, others avoid it like the plague. If you're interested in doing business in a physical store, you need to do your research. Find out what type of visitor you're likely to get and plan your route to the store accordingly.
When it comes to physical stores, you have two options: you can either focus on one channel or all of them. If you're looking to get the most out of your physical location, then you should focus on all of them. You can use your social media following to get people in the door, and you can use your email list to engage with existing customers. You may also want to consider offering special deals and discounts to get people in the right frame of mind. A lot of luxury brands do this, and it often works like a charm. Once people experience the luxury, they often crave it even more and become brand loyalists.
Now that you know the differences between the various channels, you can choose which one to focus on. Think of your customer base and the type of content you'll want to create. What is the one platform your customers use most often to interact with you? If you're not sure, look at your analytics first. Once you know which platform, you can craft the perfect email pitch to reach them with. In this article, we'll discuss the differences between multichannel outreach through social media, email, and physical stores, so you can choose the right channel for your message.