Why do People Use Social Media?
October 6, 2009
People use social media because it’s easy
It’s easy to upload a video to YouTube. It’s easy to share photos on Flickr. It’s easy to connect with friends on Facebook. Social media has made it easier for all of us to tell stories about our experiences.
Customers use social media to publish stories about their experiences working with you, buying your product or service and how you subsequently delighted or disappointed them. They might be recommending you to their friends, or they may be telling about the horrific experience they had with your competitor. Think TripAdvisor, Amazon or Angie’s List.
New publishing platforms for storytelling
Marketing is all about telling stories. The best ones are concise, easy to repeat and easy to share. Today, social media offers marketers new publishing platforms for storytelling.
You can tell a story in a 140-character tweet or you can invite customers who are fans of your business to share their experience. What about recording a video with your customers, publishing it on YouTube, your website & offering it to your customers for their website? Think Word-of-Mouth marketing on steroids.
It’s not about having a Facebook page or setting up a Twitter account. It’s about choosing your goal and being specific.
Yes, I know you want to increase sales, but what do the results look like? Who is the audience you need to connect with? What is the story you are going to tell? Where and how are your going to reach them?
For example, you’ve got publishing options that were unimaginable just a few years ago – blogging, tweets, status updates, videos, pictures, podcasts etc. When someone hears your story, how can they respond? Have a call to action that correlates to you achieving your initial goal. What is the result you are looking for?
Tell me a story (but don’t be boring)
Start with a goal, know your audience, and use social media to tell your story in a way that delivers outcomes & results for your business. Enjoy!
*Note: This post is also published in the November 2009 Maddux Business Report
Surfing, Skateboarding and Social Media Marketing
October 4, 2009
If you are into surfing or skateboarding, you’ve got stories. I know because I’ve seen them all over the internet when I was doing research for a talk I gave on Social Media Marketing to the Board Retailers Association at Surf Expo 2009 in Orlando. Via pictures, videos, blogs, meet-up groups, events and LinkedIn groups – there are tons of conversations happening online where fans a.k.a. customers are telling stories and talking about brands. Marketing is all about telling stories, and for board retailers there is plenty to talk about.
The slides are here for your viewing pleasure.
View more presentations from Julia Gorzka.