A CBA social media seminar yesterday encouraged Christian retailers to connect with customers and build relationships while increasing sales by utilizing online services such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Hosted by former retailer and social media consultant Gunnar Simonsen and CBA Business Development Director Eric Grimm, the hour-long "Social Media for Today's Business Webinar" discussed several topics, including "Why Use Social Media?", "How to Make Money Using the Technology?", "Communicating Through Social Media Tool" and "How to Gauge its Success?"

"Relationships you build with customers in your store have an impact outside the store, and social media can help that," said Simonsen, former general manager of the Christian Supply Centers in the Pacific Northwest. He added that 80% of social media communication should be relational and the other 20% informational.

While many are hung up on having a large number of followers and fans regarding social media, Simonsen said success should not gauged by the numbers, but by the quality of the engagements-''how are you talking to people and if they are responding.''

He pointed out that no one is a "guru" in using social media technology, which places large and small stores on an equal playing field.

CBA is again offering the Webinar--which costs $39--Wednesday, April 28, 2 p.m. EST. Additionally, a social media workshop is scheduled for the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis, June 27-30.

Click here for more information and to register.

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