Walmart Goes Local for Facebook Strategy

Everyday low price giant Walmart operates more than 9,600 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. Social media colossus Facebook has over 750 million active users. With such an enormous outreach to people across the globe between both brands, it's interesting to note the approach Walmart is taking with its Facebook strategy: local.

 

Walmart's main Facebook page has close to 9.5 million fans. When these fans visit the retailer's page, however, they are given a personalized experience with its "My Local Walmart" and "Local Ad" applications.

 

"From the checkout line to our Facebook wall, Walmart continues to engage with and listen to its customers," says Stephen Quinn, executive vice president and CMO at Walmart. "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."

 

When fans click the My Local Walmart application, they can select the Walmart location they visit most frequently. By clicking "I'm Ready," they can begin receiving local store information on their newsfeeds approximately twice a week. From then on when a fan returns to My Local Walmart they can find new rollback prices and new items on display in their particular store. By liking their own individual local store, fans can see events and other offers happening at that specific store.

 

Local Ad determines where a fan is currently located when they access the tab and displays the nearest store's local weekly ad flyer. Fans can view each coupon separately and add individual coupons to a list. When they have selected all the coupons they want, they can print them all together to be used in the local store. The local ad also allows fans to view the entire circular or, at the bottom of the ad page, they can select to view coupons separated into apparel, home goods or health and wellness categories.