Marketing with a Flair

Social media is the wave of the present and future. By using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you can put your messages directly in front of media professionals, potential customers or even organization professionals. Through platforms like these, your company will be able to have a conversation with your audience, rather than the standard talking “at” them, as well as being able to receive feedback from these audience members. One company that has truly capitalized on its social media marketing opportunities is Starbucks.

So exactly what resources did this popular coffeehouse use to conquer the social web?

1. Twitter- As well as being one of the top 25 most visited websites out there, tweets from this site can also be received by mobile devices, allowing you to contact some of your constituents, wherever they are, with your important message. Starbucks engages with customers on this platform by answering questions, retweeting and posting “micro blogs” about daily happenings inside the company.

2. Facebook- This site is more of a profile-based social networking tool. Starbucks interacts with customers on this site by having conversations through comments, as well as inviting people to events. It also uploads content such as videos, blog posts and photos.

3. YouTube- On this website where you can “broadcast yourself”, Starbucks uploads videos of commercials, informational coffee videos, charity work videos and videos about the origin of the company. Consider it a visual “getting to know you” for your company.

4. Create your own Social Media Site- Starbucks created My Starbucks Idea, which is a place for open discussions about their company, allowing customers to share their ideas, vote on other ideas, and rapidly check out product results.

5. Blogging- Keep your customers in the loop! Starbucks has a blog titled “Ideas in Action” which updates readers on new products that are in the brainstorming stage, as well as the dates that upcoming products are going to be available.

In the same way that Starbucks communicates with many of its customers (current and potential), your company can too! Pay attention to corporations, like this one, that use social networking tools effectively. Identifying a specific social media strategy and policy is a critical component in marketing these days, and it will help your company dominate in the social networking domain. Moral of the story: Get Social!      

Starbucks article source: http://thenextweb.com/2010/01/11/starbucks-formula-social-media-success/