As of this writing, there are 523 members of the Starting Point Facebook. The unintended side effect has been many new people joining Facebook in our community, and, the last few days I have had many discussions about how to market a business on Facebook.
It isn't just Facebook, it is also Twitter and the hundreds of other opportunities out there. There is so much marketing power in social media...it just takes a little time, and some creativity so that you offer value to your fans or followers. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
The hair salon I go to has recently started using Facebook to promote specials. They have been posting on their "wall" since January and have included everything from Men's Night to Valentine's Day specials to a free eye brow shaping .
Twitter can be even more effective in my opinion, because it breaks through the clutter that is Facebook (but what makes Facebook so great.) A quick last minute deal sent out via a tweet offers tremendous value to your customers. And gaining and keeping followers is all about offering them value.
There was a great article in Sunday's Wall Street Journal about businesses using Twitter to promote specials and improve customer service. Major airlines, such as JetBlue and retailers like Amazon are using tweets to alert their customers to last minute deals and special offers. Banks such as Bank of America are using Twitter to tick up their customer service levels. They search tweets for mentions of the bank and then respond directly to those customers. Brilliant.
In NH, PSNH is using Twitter for customer service - such as alerting customers of power outages.... "Outages scattered state-wide, but many in the Epping/Raymond area. Crews are responding and working to restore power."Good morning! Today on The Exchange, the life and career of Ted Kennedy. Call in, or post a comment: http://www.nhpr.org/node/22092"
But for marketing your business....Wow! Tweet away. Offer something of value. The more value, the more followers, the more followers, the more customers. And, did I mention that it is free?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The power of social media...Facebook
We love social media - in all forms, shapes, kinds. We love blogs, twitter, ning, facebook. You name it, we'll try it. Today, we experienced the power of social media in a way we haven't before, and it is so exciting and heartwarming.
The story isn't so much that the local selectmen chose not to support a nominal amount of funding to Starting Point, a much needed, and unfortunately, much used service for victims of domestic violence. And the story it isn't entirely that one of the selectmen actually had the audacity to say that "some women use domestic violence as a gimmick in divorce proceedings" - yes, he actually used the word "gimmick" and "domestic violence" in the same sentence. He also told a reporter that he understood why men get angry at women. As one guy in our office said "are you kidding me?" No, unfortunately not.
The story is about the power and impact that social media can have for a cause like this. Within minutes of the article being circulated, a member of our team had set up a Facebook page to support Starting Point. She sent invitations out to her friends. I sent it to my friends, and so on. Within a few short hours, we have 44 members. Both men and women. Just like that. People joining to show their support of Starting Point and important organizations like them. And, they joined together to express their outrage about someone who claims to be in "public service" but has completely lost touch with what that means.
Update: On Friday, February 20, just a little over 24 hours since launching the Facebook group, there are nearly 150 members and the story has been picked up on the Associated Press, the Boston Herald and hundreds of other related networks.
To check out the discussion, go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68657000338
Social media meets cause marketing. Love it. Now, what can you do? In this time of hope and optimism and with the tools readily at hand, what can you do to reach out, to engage action, to change the world?
The story isn't so much that the local selectmen chose not to support a nominal amount of funding to Starting Point, a much needed, and unfortunately, much used service for victims of domestic violence. And the story it isn't entirely that one of the selectmen actually had the audacity to say that "some women use domestic violence as a gimmick in divorce proceedings" - yes, he actually used the word "gimmick" and "domestic violence" in the same sentence. He also told a reporter that he understood why men get angry at women. As one guy in our office said "are you kidding me?" No, unfortunately not.
The story is about the power and impact that social media can have for a cause like this. Within minutes of the article being circulated, a member of our team had set up a Facebook page to support Starting Point. She sent invitations out to her friends. I sent it to my friends, and so on. Within a few short hours, we have 44 members. Both men and women. Just like that. People joining to show their support of Starting Point and important organizations like them. And, they joined together to express their outrage about someone who claims to be in "public service" but has completely lost touch with what that means.
Update: On Friday, February 20, just a little over 24 hours since launching the Facebook group, there are nearly 150 members and the story has been picked up on the Associated Press, the Boston Herald and hundreds of other related networks.
To check out the discussion, go to: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68657000338
Social media meets cause marketing. Love it. Now, what can you do? In this time of hope and optimism and with the tools readily at hand, what can you do to reach out, to engage action, to change the world?
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