We caught up with the ever so stylish and always on the go Bonnie Pollard, Style Coach at Mayfair Shopping Centre.
Bonnie is still fairly new to social media but she was good enough to share some of her thoughts and stories with us.
When did you first start using social media as a marketing tactic?
Started firstly with Facebook in 2009 and then Twitter in May 2010.
What attracted you to social media?
It was an easy way to additionally keep in touch/build relationships with customers and also keep them updated on what’s new/happening.
What was your first impression of Twitter?
Yikes how will anyone ever find me – it’s so big!
But I’m really excited at Twitter’s potential and am constantly learning how others successfully use it.
See great value in using Twitter to promote blog/facebook postings and create instant buzz about events/contests/our achievements.
What social media tools do you currently use?
Facebook (primarily) and Twitter.
How has using social media affected your business?
I’m able to deliver fashion and beauty content that is relevant to Vancouver Island People and it has enabled me to network on a broader scale and time effective manner.
The regular communication keeps me in touch with what my clients are doing and they are aware of my news/happenings
Do you have a particular success story you could share?
I truly believe that everything is linked together, and that by starting our social media it has created more media and customer awareness about our events and what we have to offer seen increase in repeat client bookings, referrals and more communications with existing customers(better relationships).
I also now host weekly tv Fashion Segments with CHEK TV and am excited to see more opportunities unfolding as we speak 🙂 customers comment regularly on how helpful and great it is to see my tips on how to wear the fashion trends and share how easily they found items when shopping = success … I made shopping easier for them @ Mayfair.
What has surprised you most about using social media?
I am always pleasantly surprised when I see results from non-traditional marketing styles thrilled that this is an easy, cost effective way for me to share information with the customers and that I can do it (with some bWEST training and guidance) but most importantly that the messages can come personally from me in a conversation style.
On average, how much time do you spend on social media per day?
Approx. 1-2 hours per day doing posts/ articles (including photos) and as I’m in the learning stage – I also do approx. 1 hour per day doing research
What advice would you give to a company just starting to use social media for their business?
Be real, share information – not selling start with one good quality post per week and let it grow.
It’s very important to start social media – so jump in and start now let your customers get to know you better – (benefits will follow in many ways).
What’s next for the Mayfair Style Coach and social media?
Blogging / new website / more video posts and twitter …. the possibilities are endless and I find this very exciting :)
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us Bonnie.
Bonnie and her ever so useful style coaching (I know I could use some) can be found on Twitter, Facebook and of course the Mayfair website. We can’t wait for the Style Coach blog.
