How convenience stores can support their community even more using social media

by Fiona Beckett

As the Covid 19 outbreak takes hold, the ACS members are playing a vital role in supporting their local communities. This is going to be a period of great challenge on the shop floor with stock logistics and staff shortages. Customers will be social distancing and be worried about how to keep their family looked after.

Why social media now?

Social media will enable your business to play an even more important role in your community as people isolated at home, look to stay connected and search for information on local services.

Keep your customers informed

Use social media to communicate any changes to your operating hours, changing stock levels or any other ways in which you could be helping customers. This is all essential and relevant information. By communicating this information proactively, you are serving customers at a high level, empathising and showing community support.

Our independent retailers have been extending their services to ensure people in their communities don't go without during the #coronavirus outbreak. This is independent retail at its best. https://t.co/ToTJjrGkDz #shoplocal pic.twitter.com/5amsjT12ms
— Nisa Retail (@NisaRetail) March 18, 2020

Let those that are socially isolated ask for help

As more and more people move into isolation, they will be looking to social media to communicate with the businesses they need. With your social media presence in place you can use it to tap into local conversations, understand the sentiment of how people are feeling, what they need and when they need it.

By serving your customers in today's difficult times you will be building brand loyalty for the long term.

Encourage the local community

At times like these, it’s important to tap into how people are feeling and be in tune with the challenges being felt. Social media will help you listen to the conversations in your area by searching on local hashtags or by joining local groups on Facebook.

In understanding the sentiment and joining the local conversation your business will boost its visibility to attract new customers and keep your existing customers coming back.

View this post on Instagram

We're open, practising high levels of hygiene procedure, moving tables to a safe distance apart for #SocialDistancing and offering take away soup, sandwiches, salads and more. Drive up outside and we'll run it out! ?? #COVID19 #Cheltenham #ThursdayMotivation #supportlocal @simonjwooduk
A post shared by WoodKraft Cheltenham (@woodkraftcheltenham) on Mar 19, 2020 at 2:08am PDT

Simple steps to get started on Social Media

We can help you get started on social media if it's new to your business. Or if you have the channels ready to go, we can help you learn how to engage locally and show up in the conversations that matter to draw customers to your store.

We can help you understand the kind of content to post, when and how, and give you great examples of other businesses like yours that are doing it well.

What can I do right now?

Use our guides below to get your social media up and running for your business.

Set up your free account with Maybe and pull in your social feeds to start finding the conversations that matter and get engaging with your community today.

Using Facebook to connect with your community:

Setting up your Facebook page and presenting your business well online.

How to create your first post on Facebook.

How to engage in your local community using your Facebook page.

How to provide customer service to your customers using Facebook.

How to maintain your presence on Facebook and engage with your followers.

How to boost a post on Facebook to reach your local audience.

Using Instagram to connect with your community:

How to set up your Instagram presence.

How to create your first post on Instagram

How to engage with your local community using your Instagram page

How to provide customer service using Instagram