Technology

5 Social Media Resolutions for 2016

TechnologyFeb 06, 2016

5 Social Media Resolutions for 2016

Likeable Local’s Beth Henderson outlines five steps jewelers should take in the new year to reach a wider audience on Facebook, Instagram, etc. and, ultimately, bring in more sales.

We’re less than week into the new year; now is the time to plan your social media strategies for 2016.


Beth Henderson is the marketing coordinator at Likeable LocalStruggling to figure out where to begin? Look no further. Let us help you with five social media resolutions. These strategies will help maximize your jewelry store’s success on social media, reach a wider audience and, ultimately, bring in more sales. Diamonds will be (figuratively) flying off the shelves.

Let’s begin...

1. Customize Content for Different Audiences
There’s no need to confine your valuable content to only one form. Start transforming your content into different forms and post them through different mediums. Convert an informative webinar to an easy-to-read blog post. Expand an article and make it into a visually appealing e-book.

Remember, what your audience likes, and where they consume it, should inform your content strategy. Expand your audiences by creating multiple forms of content.

2. Introduce a Partner or Referral Program
In the jewelry business, friends can be very valuable, but these friendships generally take the form of mutually beneficial business relationships.

At Likeable Local, we’re always looking for new opportunities, which is why we have our Partner Program. Our partners enjoy numerous perks as part of the program and in return, represent our company and product in front of their clients and prospects.

A referral program is also extremely useful when it comes to business friendships. Setting up a referral program allows you to access customers without having to do the work. Your customers and partners can refer their friends to your company.

The reality many companies come to realize quickly is that it is difficult to do everything yourself. That’s where partners and referrals come in.

Partnerships will strengthen your business. Even some of the largest companies, such as Facebook and Google, have partners to help them perform the functions they don’t necessarily have the time to perform themselves. No matter the size of your jewelry company, partner and referral programs are something you should definitely start.

3. Improve your Social Listening Skills
Listening is the single most important skill in social media. Those on social media tend to be really great when it comes to talking; however, they tend to fall short when it comes to their listening skills.

Social media gives jewelers the opportunity to listen to customers and prospects effectively. Listening

and demonstrating empathy builds brand identity and trust. Also, by paying attention to what your customers are saying, you can find out what they’re looking for.

Where is the best place for jewelers to begin social listening? Where their prospects and customers will go, social media and Google.

4. Take Advantage of Instagram Ads
Instagram ads are here. It’s true; Instagram ads are now available to everybody. So you should jump on board. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Although it is still early, preliminary reports are showing that Instagram ads are seeing higher engagement than standard Facebook ads. In fact, for web click conversions, Instagram ads are seeing an average 1.5 percent click-through rate, versus 0.84 percent for a comparable Facebook ad at a similar cost per click, according to The Motley Fool.

Come on! Hop on the Instagram train. Show off those sparkly jewels you are selling.

5. Perfect your Hashtags
From a business perspective, hashtags are a great way to create a unified campaign across your social platforms. Recently we used the hashtag #SearchisSocial for a webinar. The hashtag explained our partnership with a search engine optimization expert and explained that he webinar would be about the benefits of SEO and social media for businesses. We used this hashtag in all our tweets, email marketing, and on Facebook, and we encouraged people listening to the webinar to tweet along with us live.

When constructing a hashtag for your marketing efforts, here are a few things to keep in mind.
A) Make it unique: In order to make sure nearly everyone who is using your hashtag is actually interacting with your marketing, you need to make a unique hashtag. 
B) Make it simple: As much as you might want to put lots of campaign details into your hashtags, simple is always better.
C) Make it fun: When making a hashtag for your marketing campaign, you want people to use it, so make it catchy and conspicuous.

For more information on hash-tagging and utilizing them specifically on Twitter, check out our free eBook on Twitter success, 7 Proven Strategies to Maximize Twitter for your Business.

We’ve done our part; now it’s your turn to put these strategies to work. Which resolutions will you choose to carry out in 2016?

Beth Henderson is the marketing coordinator at Likeable Local, a partner of Jewelers of America and the creators of Likeable Hub, a powerful platform with an easy-to-use mobile app that helps small businesses, like jewelers, succeed with social media. Reach her at beth@likeablelocal.com.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

The Latest

The Retail Smiths partner and National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith
ColumnistsApr 30, 2026
Peter Smith: A Sleazy Salesman and the Case for Regret Avoidance

Smith uses a comment he overheard in the grocery store to remind retailers that their job is to inspire buying behavior, not just sell.

Claire’s new summer campaign
MajorsApr 30, 2026
Claire’s New Summer Campaign Is a Sensory Wonderland for Gen Alpha

“A Girl SMR at Claire’s” celebrates girlhood through the five senses with stacked jewelry, slime toys, scented accessories, and ASMR.

Cartier London Crash Watch
AuctionsApr 30, 2026
Vintage Cartier Watch Crashes Through Records, Selling for $2M

Believed to be one of three made in 1987, the Cartier London Crash was hot at the “Shapes of Cartier” sale at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

Antique Jewelry & Watch Show
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las Vegas

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

Police cars
CrimeApr 30, 2026
Masked Group Uses Hammers, Pepper Spray in Texas Jewelry Store Robbery

Officials are looking for a group that robbed Marc Robinson Jewelers at an outlet mall in Round Rock, Texas, in broad daylight on April 21.

Weekly QuizApr 30, 2026
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
OAR26_NJ_bulletin_1872x1052_01.jpg
Supplier BulletinApr 30, 2026
OROAREZZO 2026: The B2B Event for Italian Excellence in Goldsmith, Jewelry and Silver Manufacturing

Sponsored by OROAREZZO International Jewelry Exhibition

Tiffany & Co. Mother’s Day email opt out
MajorsApr 29, 2026
The Thought Process Behind the Mother's Day Email Opt-Out

Some retailers are taking a nuanced approach to marketing what can be a difficult holiday for many.

lvajws image 1.jpg
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the Globe

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

Dick Abbott
IndependentsApr 29, 2026
Dick Abbott to Retire From The Edge

The Edge has announced its new CEO, as well as a new partnership with an investment firm focused on founder-led software businesses.

The Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa
SourcingApr 29, 2026
De Beers’ Production Rises, Market Remains ‘Challenged’

De Beers’ diamond production was up 17 percent in Q1, boosted by increased output at its mines in South Africa and Canada.

John Wayne Signet Ring
AuctionsApr 29, 2026
This'll Be the Day You Own John Wayne's Ring

A signet ring belonging to the Western film star of Hollywood’s Golden Age will be up for auction at Elmwood’s next month.

Stock image of money
Policies & IssuesApr 28, 2026
Tariff Refunds: How to File, What to Expect

Importers can submit claims now to receive money back for the IEEPA tariffs they’ve paid, with refunds expected to take up to 90 days.

Gregory's Jewelers storefront
IndependentsApr 28, 2026
This North Carolina Jeweler Is Passing the Torch

The owners of Gregory Jewelers in Morganton, North Carolina, are heading into retirement.

Doug Hucker
SourcingApr 28, 2026
Doug Hucker Retires From ICA

The colored gemstone industry leader is heading into retirement after four years as the association’s CEO.

Natural Diamond Council Chief Marketing Officer Susie Dewey
SourcingApr 28, 2026
NDC Hires Tapestry Exec to Head Global Marketing

Susie Dewey joins the Natural Diamond Council as its new chief marketing officer.

The Ocean Dream diamond
AuctionsApr 27, 2026
12 Years Later, the ‘Ocean Dream’ Diamond Resurfaces at Christie’s

The largest known fancy vivid blue-green diamond could fetch more than $12 million at its second auction appearance.

Smart Age Solutions CEO and National Jeweler columnist Emmanuel Raheb
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an Afterthought

Emmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.

Longnecker Jewelry storefront
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 Years

In honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.

Jeff Corey
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board Chair

The trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.

Fourteen August Irene mom ring
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF Says

NRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.

Hamptons Jewelry Show exhibitors Maison Mèrenor, Jochen Leën, Studio Javo
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in July

The open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.

Photos from Day’s Jewelers 2025 Mother’s Day campaign
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s Jewelers

The jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.

National Jeweler - Supplier Bulletin - April 2026 - JMSS Graphic.jpg
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value Goods

Sponsored by Jewelers Mutual

Woman wearing Charles & Colvard lab grown diamond jewelry
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5M

The proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.

John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic pocket watch and a gold pencil case
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1M

The Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.

Adam Neeley Dali Garden Collection Eyris Ring
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s Garden

The “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.

Natalie Feanny
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying Director

Natalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy