Free Shipping Promo! (March 12-24, 2024)

• Beginning Tuesday, March 12 and continuing through Sunday, March 24, 2024, GSGI is paying the entire cost of shipping, offering FREE SHIPPING for your customers who select the Direct Ship option at checkout with 8-12 packages in Digital Cookie! 

  • Shipping remains $7.49 on orders of 6-12 packages through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. On Monday, March 11, there will be no applicable shipping promotion, so please let your customers know if they place a Direct Shipped order on March 11, they will be charged full price for their shipping. The free shipping promotion begins at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. 

COOKIES ARE COMING! (JANUARY)

Cookie season is right around the corner! Start sharing cookie buzz on your social media pages. You can post a picture or change your cover photo to let your friends know that cookies are coming.

Sample Messaging:

• Get ready to get your #GirlScoutCookie on- Girl Scout Cookie season is coming! Order taking starts on February 1. What is your favorite flavor? Comment below!

• I am so excited to be selling Girl Scout Cookies this year! Mark your calendars, I can take your order starting February 1. What are you most excited for? Comment below!

COOKIES ARE HERE! (FEBRUARY 1 - MARCH 24)

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is here! Start sharing your cookie content on the first day of the cookie program, February 1! Change your profile picture, cover photo, or post a picture to your timeline or story to let your friends know that it’s cookie time and you are ready to take their orders!

Sample Messaging:

• The day has finally come! Everyone’s favorite season is here. Not winter, spring, summer, or fall - it’s Girl Scout Cookie season!

• I am so excited, it’s cookie time! My goal is to sell XXX packages of cookies this year. Will you help me reach my goal? I’d love to take your order now!

• Trying to eat healthy this year? You can still support my Cookie Business by purchasing cookies to donate to essential workers. Help spread some cheer by donating now!

• For Parents: As you know, my daughter ____ is selling Girl Scout Cookies this year. If you would like to help her meet her goal, let me know and we can set up a time for her to take your order.

• For Parents: Here is a message from my Girl Scout. If you would like to buy cookies, here is the link to her online page!

Messaging Pro Tips:

• Tell your friends what your goal is and update them with how you are doing throughout the season. If you are close to reaching it, they may order more!

• Along with sharing your goal, tell them what you and your troop plan to do with your cookie proceeds. Do you want to go to summer camp? What about a special service project? Knowing that you have something special in mind for your goal can help increase your sales.

• Include a link to your online store so they can buy cookies right away.

• IMPORTANT: When you include your online store link in your post, always post your message and a picture FIRST, before adding the link. If you post the link first, a generic picture will prepopulate, and you want to make your post as eye-catching as possible!

• Don’t forget to thank everyone at the end of the cookie program and let them know if you reached your goal!

VIDEO

Parents! Help your Girl Scout make a compelling video to share on social media. Many Girl Scouts have success with parody songs, skits, or even simple introduction videos talking about their goal and favorite cookie.

Video Tips:

• Keep the camera steady.

• Check the lighting so your audience can see you!

• For social media it’s best to shoot video with portrait (vertical) orientation rather than landscape (horizontal). This is different than if you were planning to make a video for YouTube or your TV!

• Keep it short and catch attention quickly! The first 30 seconds are the most important to get your audience’s attention.

• Many phones have video editing apps to help trim out any unnecessary parts.

• Have fun!

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAFETY GUIDANCE

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa allows parents/guardians to make decisions with their Girl Scout about using social media to achieve their Girl Scout Cookie Program goals. Social media can be a great tool, but the time-tested methods of booth sales, door-to-door, and online sales to friends and family have proven to be the highest-performing sales channels!

Social Media Best Practices:

• Social media or online posts should be signed with a Girl Scout’s first name only, troop number (optional), and council name (Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa). You may also include the community, as customers often prefer to support local troops!

• Personal emails or street addresses of girls should never be used.

• Girls should be involved in the process—for instance, they can share their goals, photos or artwork, and messages of thanks. Remember, customers are getting more than delicious cookies—they are supporting the development of future leaders!

• Be age-appropriate—most sites state that children should not have their own accounts until age 13.

• GSGI urges caution when families choose to utilize swap sites (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Community Pages, eBay, etc.), after the February 1 start date.

• If your Girl Scout sales link is posted on a public facing site, be aware the link is now searchable by anyone and could potentially appear anywhere on the internet.

• Ultimately, families will make different choices about how their Girl Scouts can use social media to promote the Cookie Program. If you see something you disagree with, please be respectful and move along. Neither GSGI nor other parents/volunteers have the authority to remove posts or reprimand others.