Attire Accessories - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 75)

SOCIAL MEDIA 101 WEB WATCH Attire Accessories is at the heart of the online accessories community. Here’s a quick update on what’s been happening… ATT I RE ACCESSOR I ES @AttireAccessories @AttireAccessories @AttireAccMag OUR MOST RECENT FOLLOWERS: Instagram @lakelandleather @dorsya_london @maggieandsuzi Social status Sarah Watmore from independent accessories brand Miss Milly gives some insightful predictions for the future of social media SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE: Company name: Miss Milly @missmillyuk When did the company set up its Instagram and Twitter accounts, and what prompted it to do so? I set up Twitter in April 2013 and joined Instagram in June 2014. I joined the networks as it seems like an essential part of creating the Miss Milly brand. Has your business benefited as a result? If so, how? We have gained two or three new customers as a result and have prompted retailers to visit us at trade shows, but I really need to ramp up the activity. Where do you see the future of social media going, and how can it continue to drive brands forward? I expect social media to get more interactive – for example, being able to tap directly on images to access further images and details. I also think it will take notice of where you are and try to guide you around large stores, suggest products you might like and to rate in-store experiences as you leave. How often do you post, and what do you tweet/Instagram about? With everything else going on in the business, my tweets and posts are a bit ad hoc and centred around product launches and trade show attendance. I am getting better at also sharing content that is related to the industry but not directly about Miss Milly, and the odd quote or meme that I find funny or touching. What advice would you give to first-time social media users? If your time is limited, set up one channel at a time and get used to how it works and build your followers there before adding another one. Try to think like a customer; what we think is old hat because we’ve been exposed to it for a long time could be really interesting to your followers. Create a personality for your brand, and try to post more regularly than me!   Which accessories companies do you follow on Twitter/Instagram? I follow several of my competitors to see what they’re up to and also retailers to see trends in what stores are buying. I don’t follow many big suppliers, as I find their posts clog up my feeds. There is definitely a magic formula for how often to post! My Instagram is very fashion industry-focused, but my Twitter is much broader, encompassing more of my life’s passions along with Miss Milly-related accounts. THIS MONTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE’VE MAINLY BEEN: • Tweeting about our fabulous editorial features – if you want to get involved, email louisep@attireaccessories.com • Following our advertisers to keep abreast of their company developments • Welcoming our newest followers • Reporting industry news Kay ’ s Top Tip Everything you post should have a purpose – a message that you’d like to put across. Simply, popping up a post here and there with any old image isn’t going to grow your online presence. You should have a variety of posts to achieve different business goals and keep your audience engaged, whether it’s relevant industry news, product arrivals, or even a simple ‘Monday motivational’ post that gets you relating to your followers – everything should be thought out. Avoid anything too sales-like and remember have fun – every profile should have a personality. Twitter @HauteSwan @middiamonds @anchorandcrew