Posts Tagged ‘Creating a buzz’

Social Service

The presence of social media in modern marketing is no secret these days.  Almost every major brand you can think of can be found on Facebook or Twitter.  As I mentioned many times before I truly feel social media yields the best results when you actually interact with your audience instead of simply posting updates and links.

As a business person reading this I’m sure you are thinking ‘That’s great in theory but I don’t have the time or money to sit online and chat with everyone in my network.”  Interacting on social networking sites does not always mean mindless chit chatter. Take a page from companies like Dell and Comcast who both use Twitter for customer service.  Twitters search options makes it easy for any company to type in their name or product names and see what people in the twittersphere are saying about them.  If you happen to run across a customer who is complaining about your products or services you can @ reply them instantly and take care of the situation.  Most likely other people in the customers’ network will see this interaction and appreciate your company taking the time to resolve the matter.

Good customer service is an essential component of any successful business.  Using social media as a way to provide customer service will not only help you keep existing costumers happy it will also prove to potential customers that you are a company that cares about its clients.

Launching a New Brand – 5 Keys to Doing it Right

Everyday I see a new sign going up for a new store or an online ad for a new product. Before I can even settle down on my laptop to Google these new brands it seems they have already closed up shop. Many people have a great idea but fail to take the time to strategically plan a successful launch. Before you let a good idea turn into a waste of time take these steps into consideration.

Hire Professionals! – Probably the number one step people feel they can bypass is hiring professionals to help them launch their brand. Most people avoid this step because they want to keep cost low. At first consultant fees may seem like a pretty penny but in actuality the money you will spend hiring experts is nothing compared to the money you could potentially lose by blindly going into a new venture. I recommend you seek out someone who can help you with the strategy of your launch as well as someone who can help with the look of your brand. In fact save yourself the hassle and hire a company that can do both!

Know your competition- Almost every wonderful idea you can think of belonged to someone else 5 minutes ago.  Competition is everywhere and it’s important to know whether you stand a chance in your market or not.  Research is critical in order to create a smart plan that stands out.

Strategic planning is your friend – Take your time to develop a thorough strategic plan. Most launches fail because the people behind them never bothered to create a plan. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a great idea which can sometimes lead to off-the-cuff decisions. Just remember all buried treasures require a map to get to them.

Baby steps- If your idea or product is as good as you think it is what’s the rush? There is no need to make a full investment right out the gate. A soft launch or test run to see how your new brand fares in low stakes situation will save you and your wallet from any unexpected curve balls.

Time to assess – Once you have taken all the above mentioned steps take a step back and assess what you have learned. If people are raving about your soft launch it’s a good time to start making a significant investment into your brand. Did your test run fizzle? Perhaps it’s time to tweak a few things and go for a round two.

Launching a brand can seem a little overwhelming but a good idea paired with a good plan is always a success.

Missing the Mark

It is becoming more common to see companies advertising their social networking sites. Merging your online marketing with your offline marketing is a great way to not only easily measure the success of a campaign but also build up your following. Maker’s Mark bourbon company decided to take this approach with their recent billboards.

In the past Maker’s Mark advertising has been consistent with the look and feel of the product — a very classic, refined and exquisite spirit. They usually pair their classic image with tongue-in-cheek copy to keep it current, modern, and with the times. While out and about our president Melissa noticed this new billboard and snapped this photo with her cell phone.

makers mark ad

This ad is a prime example of a company trying to keep up with changing trends but losing their brand consistency in doing so. Simply slapping what appears to be a cut-and-paste friend request button onto an existing company stock photo not only lacks creativity but weakens the company’s brand. If I could give this ad a makeover I would love to see a picture of someone serving a Maker’s Mark cocktail and copy along the lines of “Watch the friends start pouring in.” with a URL to their social networking site.

It is important to be conscience of the delicate balance between current trends and your brand’s integrity. I commend this company for including social media into their marketing approach but what looks like a lack of strategy and creativity has left them with an ad that has missed the mark.