9 Steps to Announce a Business Closing on Social Media
How to Announce a Business Closing on Social Media
1. Give everyone a heads up
Don’t just make the announcement the day before you close. Instead, if possible, do it at least one or two months in advance. That way, your employees and customers can prepare for the big day.
Your employees can start looking for new jobs. You can help if everyone is on good terms. Write reference letters for your workers and help them update resumes.
By making the announcement early, your customers can also plan their last visit. They want to enjoy your products and/or services one last time.
Therefore, allow everyone to do so.
2. Create a draft
You should write a draft for the announcement before logging into social media.
Try not to use the built-in text editor that comes with many of these websites. There are so many things that can go wrong if you do.
For example, you can potentially publish the post too early after clicking the wrong button. This will lead to a confusing and stressful situation.
Many text editors on social media websites also don’t have Save functions. You can easily lose your work if you’re not careful.
Thus, to be on the safe side, you should write the draft using a word document. You can also use pen and paper.
Only log into social media when you are ready. Publishing the post then should be relatively easy. Just transfer what you’ve written onto the website and click the submit button.
3. Decide what to say
There are a few things that you should include in your business closing announcement.
First, you should obviously state when the business will close. By doing so, you should anticipate the following questions from your audience.
Why is the business closing?
What will you do next as the business owner?
How can people keep in touch?
It is up to you to decide how vague or specific you want to be.
Most importantly, end the post on a positive note. Talk about what the business has been able to accomplish. Mention the business’ mission and why you wanted to start the business in the first place. Finally, thank everyone who has helped you along the way.
4. Consider using video
This is something to think about:
For your announcement, are you just going to type something out? Or will you stand in front of a camera and record a message?
Video may be a better choice if it creates a more personal connection with your audience. For example, if you’re the face of the brand, then people want to hear from you directly.
They would prefer watching a video over reading a statement by themselves.
Ultimately, the optimal medium for the business closing announcement depends on the situation and the effect that you want to have.
5. Engage with people in the comments
People will react to the business closing announcement. Some people will simply use emojis, while others will take the time to write a thoughtful comment.
Stay updated on these reactions. Try to answer questions when you can and thank everyone who wishes you well.
In general, communicate well so that everyone affected by the situation can understand what is going on.
6. Update customer service policies
Some customers with recently placed orders will feel worried after the announcement. Will their orders still be fulfilled? If so, then it is up to you to reassure these customers that everything will go smoothly.
In the meantime, update your refund and exchange policies now that the business is winding down.
When the time is right, disable the buy button on your website so that new orders don’t come in. Do the same with any in-person checkout processes.
7. Preserve social media accounts
Don’t delete the social media pages for the business after you close.
First of all, it took a lot of time and resources to build up a following. You wouldn’t want to just delete everything after all that effort. Besides, the pages can still be useful.
For example, you can use the photos, videos, and posts as reference material for your next project.
The pages themselves can also serve as sales funnels for other businesses. Redirect visitors to a new website or location. This is a smart marketing strategy if the new business sells similar or related products.
In addition, you might want to revisit the business one day. After obtaining more experience, you might attempt to create an improved version of the business. If so, then you can log back into these social media accounts. You wouldn’t be starting from scratch. Instead of level 1, you would be starting from level 2 or 3.
8. Launch final sales
After making the business closing announcement, you will probably make subsequent announcements on going-out-of-business sales. Bargain hunters will appreciate these updates. Maximize your revenue before you lock the doors for good. By building up a cash pile, you can pay off debts and minimize losses.
9. Keep other audiences in mind
I know you’re reading this article because you want to learn how to deal with the social media side of things. However, keep in mind that some people do not go on social media. This trend is accelerating as people start to learn about the negative effects of social media on mental health.
Therefore, be sure to use other channels to communicate with your stakeholders. Send letters in the mail. Tell people in person. You can also call or text.
Don’t be afraid to sound redundant. It’s better for one person to get the same message twice than for another person to not get the message at all. Besides, some people can only remember if they hear the same message multiple times.