hootsuite: using social media to grow your business through community engagement
DESCRIPTION
Connor Meakins, Elizabeth Houston - HootSuite T. 10.7.14 Detati Digital Marketing Sunnyvale, CATRANSCRIPT
Inspiring strangers to do stuff Using psychology to build community around your startup
Community Manager, Americas @ConnorMeaks
Connor Meakin
They naturally formed communities for survival
The stakes are different, but the principle remains
You need to form communities for the survival of your business!
We can learn from this guy
How we ‘think’ as humans
What is important to us
What defines us
What makes us ‘tick’
+ Psychology = where the community magic happens
But also from psychology
• Find your current & future users
• Social listening
• Goal: become BFFs with every single user
Community starts with research
Like these two
But how do you get to BFF status?
• We crave social validation, so do your users
• This is easy online
• Likes, +1s, RT’s = Hurray!
• Social = 1st touchpoint
• Relationship building
Acknowledge they exist
Be local everywhere with social
• They want a solution• So talk about solving a problem
• Some will want more → #Handraisers • Keep this in mind in all your user interactions
○ Articles, blogs, emails, tweets, comments • Empathy!
Take your users point of view
• Send them stuff• 3D → 2D = wow factor
• Swag = warm and fuzzies • Unique per region• Make them work for it (SXSW)!
Identify your #handraisers
● We all have a need to belong● Develop programs and
communities to address this need
● Movember!● Make it about them
Arouse a desire to belong
● Like any other Ambassador program, but better
● Natural brand advocates ● Empowerment● Build and grow your global
community
Ambassador program
Treat them like royalty
“Regardless of what country you are in, each local Hootsuite community is built by the same grassroots efforts that has made them such a huge success.”
Danielle HatfieldHootsuite Ambassador, North America
#Takehome: Always build your tribe
• Great content speaks for itself• Document from day 1 • It’s a disservice not to share• Patchwork with what you got
Share interestingness
• Your brand ○ Hotsuit?
• Your competitors
• Listen to what your users want… and give them more
Social listening
• We’re wired to like :) • You can win anyone over
• Nuance
Every mention is an opportunity
“What differentiated our community programs and what contributes to our continued growth today is that we always prioritized users first and spoke to them over social media.”
-Ryan Holmes
• Show the good and the bad• People can sniff BS
• Brands can be real people too• Acknowledge everyone (if you
can)• Buzzwords = brutal
Let people in
Q: What’s the best sounding word?
Your name.
#lightninground
Start simple…
Remember what works…
People want to be appreciated
Virtual = scale. Real life = depth. Balance the equation so it suits your community
Change can be a good thing…
But stay true to your roots
blog.hootsuite.com/community-management-tips-hosting-community-events
blog.hootsuite.com/community-management-tip-brand-advocacy-program
blog.hootsuite.com/category/resources
Building a Brand Advocacy Program
100’s of FREE RESOURCES!
@hootsuite
/hootsuite
/company/hootsuite
/+hootsuite
Community Events With Strong ROI
Thank You!Connor Meakin Let’s be friends :) @ConnorMeaks