In today’s Social Media world growing your fan-base is a big deal, but what some brands forget, or rather what some brands have remembered, is that it’s always important to say “Thank you”. Some brands have now seen that minding your manners pays big dividends (I guess mom IS always right). Here are a few ways that brands have said thanks to their fans.
Maybe you find yourself dancing at an underground party on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok or drinking lao lao with Mung Xing farmers. Maybe you’re watching the sunrise over Masada or watching the sunset while floating in the Dead Sea. You could walk along the ancient stone walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia or eat a hot dog in Freetown Christiania, a government free neighborhood of Copenhagen. While these may seem like experiences reserved for a select few, they can be attained by the masses…all you need are the right tools to get you there.
We swoon at Mr. Peanut’s wisdom. We dance along with Cheesasaurus Rex. We jump for joy at news that Ms. Brown—the brown M&M kept under wraps for far too long—has finally come out of her shell (pun intended).
But the practice of assigning our food a persona is a funny thing—a bit odd, even. How can cuteness whet our appetites? How civilized is it to adore both a creature’s big, goofy eyes and find comfort in its taste? Is this not a bit hypocritical…or, dare we say, crude? Does this love-yet-devour behavior go against all that modern society stands for?
By lowering the barriers to sharing, brands are discovering that they can harness the power of earned reach. At the pinnacle of that earned reach is advocacy. To-date, the definition of advocacy has been synonymous with positive sentiment, but advocacy deserves more credit as it is much harder to achieve than positive sentiment alone. Defined by Mr Youth, advocacy is a piece of content that must contain both positive sentiment and a clear call-to-action.
The 84th Annual Academy Awards aired on Sunday night, and upon tuning in, it was instantly noticeable about what the theme of the night would be: Hollywood’s (in)glorious past.
Social media has redefined New York Fashion Week. The magazine editors and celebrities that once filled the front rows of Fashion shows have been joined by fashion bloggers. The looks and styles that were once only seen by an elite group are now being broadcast via live video streams on Facebook. The industry that once thrived on exclusivity is now publicizing look after look on Twitter. Even the notorious Bryant Park venue has changed to Lincoln Center to allow for improved cell phone reception and wi-fi for fashion tweeters to provide updates and photos to their fans. We have entered into the new world of fashion—and it’s one where everyone is invited.
Before beginning any social marketing campaign, there are two fundamental questions everyone must answer: What social platforms does my target audience use, and how do I effectively reach them? With 845 million monthly active users, Facebook is more than likely the answer to your question. Reaching your audience on Facebook in an effective manner though depends entirely on the marketer’s strategic and creative execution.
Estate planning and social media
As an early adopter of social media (nearly the 1 millionth Twitter user, and avid Friendster contributor ca. 2003), I’ve truly spread my soul over the Internet. I’m everywhere and nowhere at once. So what happens when the “big show” is over?
The unfiltered oversaturation of posts from brands, friends, and family members has given users Facebook fatigue. Over time, the Facebook newsfeed has become a mosh pit of articles, vacation photos, brand promotions, viral videos and the mundane musings of your former classmates. Despite Facebook’s efforts to keep content relevant with its EdgeRank and groups, users are now searching for a more curated social experience.
