Pulse September 2017 | Page 43

“Having a charming Instagram and Facebook page is crucial, and seemingly underrated, in the industry. An important part of our marketing strategy has been incorpo- rating beautiful photos that speak to the products’ message.” — DANIELLE MUNLEY Co-Founder, Sorella Apothecary The Power of Social Media Perhaps the most popular form of budget-savvy marketing, social media is a great way to get your name out there without spending a lot of money. “I can’t say enough about the impor- tance of using social media,” says Katina Weaver Walker, owner and founder of KDW Apparel, a Pilates, yoga and athleisure-wear line based in Los Angeles. “Social media has been our friend since we started our company and we use these platforms, primarily Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, to stretch our dollars. Using these free platforms has expanded not only our followers, but our customer base and presence globally.” Agreeing with Walker on using the power of social media as free marketing, Danielle Munley, co-founder of Sorella Apothecary, a botanically-based skincare line that officially launched only last year, states that having a charming Instagram and Facebook page is crucial, and seemingly underrated, in the industry. An important part of her marketing strategy has been incorpo- rating beautiful photos that speak to the products’ message. And beautiful photos attract attention on social media. According to a recent study from BuzzSumo that looked at over 100 million Facebook updates over three months, updates with images had an amazing 2.3 times more engagement than those without. Plus, according to a recent Buffer survey, Tweets with images are 150 percent more likely to be retweeted. That engagement is paramount to sales success and it all starts with great imagery. “This form of marketing will let your audience see your personal side,” adds Brenda Kocak, president of Modern Male Spas. “Use organic material, keep it simple and keep it real.” Kocak also September 2017 ■ PULSE 41