Walmart leverages Facebook to promote local stores

By | October 12, 2011, 1:00pm PDT

Summary: Walmart has partnered with Facebook to more accurately target its loyal customers. The retail giant has launched 3,500 store-specific Facebook Pages and a Facebook app called My Local Walmart.

Walmart has partnered with Facebook with the goal of more accurately targeting its loyal customers. The retailer giant already has over 9 million Facebook Likes on its Facebook Page, but it believes they aren’t getting the local experience they deserve.

As a result, Walmart has launched more than 3,500 store-specific Facebook Pages and a
My Local Walmart Facebook app, which provides locally-relevant information on everything from new electronics to hot Rollbacks. It also allows shoppers to use social media to track exactly what’s in their Walmart US stores and when, including:

  • New Products: from the latest LED-TV to organic dog food, Walmart customers can now get updates on products available in their local stores.
  • Rollbacks: fans will be notified of additional savings for items ranging from popular hair care products to favorite cereals.
  • In-Store Events: information will be shared for family-friendly events and product demonstrations. For example, in the next few weeks customers planning their holiday shopping will be able to print a map for their specific store via the app.

To access their local Page, Facebook users need to follow a few steps. You need to visit facebook.com/walmart, click on the My Local Walmart tab, input your zip code, Like their favorite stores, and click I’m Ready to begin receiving the latest local store information. Facebook users will see their News Feeds updated approximately twice a week.

“From the checkout line to our Facebook wall, Walmart continues to engage with and listen to its customers,” Stephen Quinn, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Walmart US, said in a statement. “Our innovative approach with Facebook allows us to bridge the gap between local and social, giving millions of customers the personalized shopping experience they expect from Walmart.”

“People on Facebook want to connect with the brands that they love,” Carolyn Everson, vice president of global marketing solutions at Facebook, said in a statement. “Walmart’s new app offers enhanced local interaction at an unprecedented scale to their customers. Walmart continues to put people at the center of their marketing, in this case by bringing relationships to life locally.”

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Emil Protalinski has covered the tech industry for five years for multiple publications.

Disclosure

Emil Protalinski

Emil has nothing to disclose.

Biography

Emil Protalinski

Emil Protalinski has covered the tech industry for five years for multiple publications, including Neowin for two years and Ars Technica for three years. He has written 1,000s of articles for both, with a particular focus on scrutinizing Microsoft products and services. Recently, Emil has expanded his coverage to non-Microsoft technologies, including the social networking giant Facebook.

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WOOHOO! Sign me up and don't hold me back! Yea. RIIIIIIIGHT!

I wonder how much it is costing WallyWorld to pay facecrook to do this? I can't imagine it for free cause someone has to foot the bill.....
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iwdy23 7th Nov
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Thankyou ZDNet for explaining where it came from.

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