Sprint’s incredible new 4G ‘What’s Happening Now’ commercial
Competition is fierce in the phone world these days. The validity of Sprint’s 4G network has been hotly debated, but this commercial is a pretty solid stake in the ground to get things started. As social media makes an even larger stamp on all industries, Sprint is very smart to embrace the challenges it brings and throws out some incredible statistics at the same time. 10/10 for this commercial. GG Sprint.
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Why Companies FAIL at Social Media in One Word
BALANCE
More precisely, a lack of balancing social media efforts with clearly focused company objectives. Social media is growing rapidly. It’s exciting. It’s scary. It’s changing the way companies are viewed, presented, and talked about. There are a fair number of companies that are skeptical at how social media can benefit them and a large number of organizations that are so excited about this new “trend” that they rush forward blindly at 100 miles per hour. Lists and acronyms are easy to remember, so I’ll try to make this simple. Here are four things to consider to help establish balance and prevent your company from FAILing with social media.
1. Focus
What are your goals of using social media? How can you connect and participate to improve your brand? Which outlets best serve your purpose (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc)? What is your 30 second elevator speech for why you use social media? If you can’t answer each of those questions, you aren’t focused. Remember the 6 P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. You won’t use every social media outlet in the world, if you try, you’ll fail. Find places where you can make an impact and that relate to your goals or needs.
2. Anticipate
What will be going on at your company over the next year? Are you starting a blog? Are you launching a new product? Are you gathering marketing research? Do you anticipate any customer feedback, positive or negative? I’m guessing Nostradamus isn’t on your payroll, but try to anticipate where you’ll be and what can happen and align those things with your efforts. Social media is growing rapidly because it is interactive. It’s collaborative. It is the largest scale cocreation campaign in the world. Find where you fit in and be proactive with your approach to social media.
3. Interact
How can you improve your brand perception? What can you offer to a customer? How can you help with training? How will you handle negative feedback or complaints? Please know that interacting with your customers, potential customers, industry leaders, or just generally interesting people is one of the biggest benefits of social media! This is not a one-way conversation. This is not an advertising push. This is not an infomercial about your company. How else could I have some insight as to what Shaq is doing every day, or how a conference is going for David Armano and Chris Brogan, or even what Andy Beal is reading? Social media gives you a window into places that you couldn’t get to before and if you are smart with how you interact in this environment, you will learn a lot!
4. Listen
What are people saying about your company? What are people saying about your industry? How can you contribute to their conversation? Let’s be honest, if you don’t listen, you won’t ever engage anyone. If you want bananas and I’m talking about oranges, I’m not improving your daily experience. People talk. Ask Tropicana, Pepsi or Motrin if people talk. These are big brands obviously, but if people aren’t talking about you…do something to make them talk about you and listen to what they say.
Hopefully you can remember this short four pointed acronym and apply it to your social media campaign!
Focus
Anticipate
Interact
Listen
- Did you know that 93% of Americans want companies to have a social media presence? Read more.
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Avoid Cash4Gold even though they had a Super Bowl ad – Scam Alert
Please note: the following links contain opinions and views of other people.
Hammertime.
I’m sure we all watched the Super Bowl and saw the Cash4Gold ad with some celebrities touting the great benefits of sending in your jewelry and receiving cash for it. There is a great deal of information (mostly on Consumerist) on Cash4Gold and I thought it would be nice to aggregate it into one post.
Full frontal assault.
UPDATE: I received an email from Cash4Gold regarding this post (linking to other sources), actually the exact same email listed here: Take No Prisoners. An aggressive PR campaign that in my opinion is only hurting their brand perception.
The Dirt.
Read the email that was sent to me and feel free to contact Weronika – Cash4Gold PDF Attached.
Cash4Gold Super Bowl Commercial
Example 1: 10 Confessions Of A Cash4Gold Employee
Example 2: Cash4Gold Offers Blogger $3,000 To Remove Negative Post
More resources are available thanks to The Consumerist. Thanks to Nick for bringing this to my attention.
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Twitter takes coffee shop to a new level in Houston
Good Twituation.
There are TONS of coffee shops in busy cities. Having the best coffee, service, food, atmosphere, or even prices can still leave you wanting more. A Houston, TX based coffee shop was looking to increase their business and chose Twitter and social media as their method.
Their clientele doubled.
I’ll send you over to the full article shortly, but it is very important to note what happened here. It wasn’t a massive blitz of adding followers and spamming their services, it was something we all know how to do and never do enough…listen. They listened to their customers. @maslowbeer said that it would be awesome if he could drive through and pick up a burrito, and @coffeegroundz was listening. They met his request which wasn’t a huge sacrifice for them, but it catipulted their brand and their perception to a level I’m sure they didn’t even imagine Twitter could help them accomplish. That’s the joy of social media folks. You join communities, you listen, you help, and sometimes you can profit from that.
Read the full article here by @ericaogrady.
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UPDATED: Social Media for a Good Cause: A Case Study 1.15.09
Armano & Daniela.
Daniela needs our help. Daniela recently divorced her husband. In recent years her mortgage went unpaid and she’s lost her house. Her youngest has Down’s Syndrome and Daniela has very little family support. They need a place to live. Won’t you help?
If you haven’t read this, seen this, or heard about this, go to Armano’s blog here.
This shows the power of networks, the power of social media, and more importantly, the power of doing something good.
Update
Daniela is almost in a new house thanks to a 329% contribution
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