social networking: the new driver for corporate success in the knowledge era
DESCRIPTION
This presentation explores the concepts of Social Capital and more specifically Social Networking, as it applies to the corporate sector. The notion of various types of social networking as a means to a marketing approach is presented along with current corporate views of these segments and strategies. The presentation finally examines the cautionary topics related to social networks and provides solutions that may be tailored to individual corporate cultures, circumstances and goals in order to maximize the efficiency of social marketing. Thank you for your interest in Social Networks and Social Capital. I have prepared this slide show with the actual presentation as the first set of slides- followed by a second set of slides to be used by a speaker should you decide to use this as your actual presentation. If you are interested in the actual paper on this topic you can find a copy at www.knikookary.comTRANSCRIPT
Connecting with the Customer
Corporations &
Social Networking
By: Louise Ling, Sridhar Avuthu, Kay Nikookary
Introduction
Social Capital & Social Networking defined
Link between corporations and social media
Social Media Segments
1
2
3
4
Legitimate reasons against social networks
Solutions to mediate & succeed
Examples of successful implementation
Conclusion
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2
3
4
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Network of Blogs
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ExecutiveParticipation
PowerTo
Employees
Loyalty&
Commitment
IBMcreated an entire network.
Lesson: Having a CEO that blogs is great, but increase the number of blogs and you increase the number of connections. Leveraging your employees to write about what they love conveys the corporate dedication to the industry.
400,000 hits per
month (2006)
Positive &
Negative Comments
TransparencyTrickles down •Employees•Customers•Partners
FacebookTwitterNetworkOf Blogs
CEO Blog
Transparency
Also on OtherSocial
Networks
Jonathan Schwartz’s blog
Sun MicrosystemsLesson: Social media is a culture of transparency and honesty that must be embraced, leading by example is one of the best ways to introduce it to a company. Few things are better than a CEO that blogs or uses twitter.
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CustomerFeedback
StrengthenCorporateMessage
Custom Tailored
Site
CustomerLead
Strategy
StarbucksLesson: Thinking of ways to build your company are great, but directly asking your consumers what they want, is better. Acting on that information and doing it publicly is key to the success of this campaign.
My Starbucks Idea.”
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@Comcast cares
Comcast
TargetThe
Problem
Real Time Customer Service
Handle Customer Complaints
Change speed of delivery
Lesson: Being active on Twitter is great but tracking and seeing who’s mentioning you, is the next step. Social media allows for the possibility of great customer service, and with it, better brand loyalty
Allow customers to solve problems
2.7MM
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Ad
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0.7MM
2.5MM
6.8MM
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www.willitblend.comhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1ckCkm8YI
Blendtec
YouTube Video Marketing
Various Attention Getting Videos
Proving the point about the products
Customer participation in marketing
Lesson: Social media marketing doesn’t always need to cost a lot of money. Creating funny, original video and leveraging an already large user base can be used to increase sales.
Continued CustomerInteraction
With Personnel
EmployeesTo Share Insights
Thru Web Contact
CommunicationEngagingInterestingTrustConsistencyRoutine
Empower
Relationship
Empower
Zappos
Lesson: Take a CEO that twitters, add in a great personality and you have a recipe for social success. Ingraining social media into the culture of a corporation means that every consumer interaction is personal.
Zapposwww.zappos.com
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Belonging
Possibility
Event Hall Mall Museum
Park Music
Garage Homes
Toyota
Being a Second Life resident, the
possibilities of this seem fairly limited.
We are used to living where we
want (or where we can afford rent),
“razzing” whatever car we want (if we
own it), using whatever
transportation we want (you can’t
think of anything that we can’t
drive!)Toyota Metapolis
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v-0AVtg0eM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.
vintfalken.com%2Ftoyota-metapolis-toyotas
-very-own-virtual-continent%2F&feature=
player_embedded
Introduction• Social Capital & Social Networking defined• Link between corporations and social media• Social Media Segments
– Internal Social Networks– Employee Personal use– Corporations on social networks as a profile
• Legitimate reasons against social networks• Solutions to mediate & succeed• Examples of successful implementation
IBM
• When IBM decided they wanted to start using blogs, they didn’t just create one blog, they created an entire network. IBM created a way and allowed their employees to write about their experiences, what they’re working on, or any other topic of choice.
• IBM capitalizes on the intelligence of their employees to give consumers insight into what happens behind the scenes. By giving the industry experts they’ve hired a voice, IBM is able to highlight the people behind their products. Users get to see how IBM operates, and are given a direct connection with IBM employees.
• Lesson: Having a CEO that blogs is great, but increase the number of blogs and you increase the number of connections. Leveraging your employees to write about what they love conveys the corporate dedication to the industry.
Sun Microsystems
• Want your blog to really make a splash? You could learn a lot from Sun Microsystems’ CEO blog. Jonathan Schwartz’s blog received about 400,000 hits a month (in 2006).
• It’s not the number of hits that make his blog a social media success, but the openness on it. Positive and negative comments are allowed, and even the most inane are approved. Transparency from the highest position in a company trickles down and increases trust from consumers.
• Lesson: Social media is a culture of transparency and honesty that must be embraced, leading by example is one of the best ways to introduce it to a company. Few things are better than a CEO that blogs or uses twitter.
• Sun Microsystems also has a network of blogs, friends on Facebook, friends on Twitter, and their own Twitter account as well.
Starbucks
• Social media isn’t only about using existing websites, but sometimes creating your own. To get a better handle on consumer feedback, Starbucks did just that with “My Starbucks Idea.”
• The site allows users to submit suggestions to be voted on by Starbucks consumers, and the most popular suggestions are highlighted and reviewed. Starbucks then took it a step further and added an “Ideas in Action” blog that gives updates to users on the status of changes suggested.
• By empowering their exceptionally web savvy consumer, Starbucks strengthens their campaign to add a personal touch to coffee.
• Lesson: Thinking of ways to build your company are great, but directly asking your consumers what they want, is better. Acting on that information and doing it publicly is key to the success of this campaign.
• Starbucks has also embraced Twitter, you can see their stream at @Starbucks.
Comcast
• I never expected to be writing good things about Comcast, but because of Frank Eliason things have changed. Frank is the man behind @Comcast cares, a Twitter account setup to help Comcast users in need.
• Comcast has found a way to offer exceptional customer service to their consumers, but the thing that really makes them stand out is how well they monitor discontent. Complain about Comcast and you can bet you’ll hear from @comcastcares to see if they can help.
• Lesson: Being active on Twitter is great but tracking and seeing who’s mentioning you, is the next step. Social media allows for the possibility of great customer service, and with it, better brand loyalty.
Blendtec• Who doesn’t know about the “Will It Blend” series on YouTube? Created
by George Write, the marketing director of Blendtec, the campaign was low cost and instantly became a hit. In the video, Tom Dickson the CEO of Blendtec, attempts to blend objects in their blender. This simple idea led to a “five-fold increase in sales”.
• Blendtec leveraged YouTube’s subscriber base and tried something fun and original. The campaign was a success and continues to entertain and sell.
• Lesson: Social media marketing doesn’t always need to cost a lot of money. Creating funny, original video and leveraging an already large user base can be used to increase sales.www.willitblend.comhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1ckCkm8YI
Zappos• The reason why Zappos stands out on Twitter is because of their ability to bring
the company to life. The Zappos CEO has lent his personality to the company brand, a personality that is friendly, helpful, funny, and trustworthy. They use Twitter to highlight interesting facts, and to talk to their consumers. Talking to Zappos is like talking to a friend that happens to sell shoes.
• The most obvious of companies to make Twitter work is Zappos, an online retailer that has really led the way in corporate Twitter use.
• The idea of micro-blogging and the sense of exceptional customer service is ingrained in the corporate culture. Most Zappos employees have an active account, and the Zappos site has a page that aggregates all the streams.
• Lesson: Take a CEO that twitters, add in a great personality and you have a recipe for social success. Ingraining social media into the culture of a corporation means that every consumer interaction is personal.
• Zappos also does a great job of using their blog and Facebook to engage their avid fan base.
Toyota• Toyota started its own virtual world to promote its products in Japan (site is in Japanese).• Their own virtual world? Well, not completely. More of a continent. Toyota Metapolis is
based on the MeetMe server technology and software. • For now, Toyota Metapolis exists of:
– Mall where you can buy Toyota cars. – Event Hall – The Museum is totally dedicated to Toyota. – Toyota’s Community Areas are split up in four main areas: Cars, Eco-park, music and
beginners – The Residential Areas aren’t as sophisticated as we are used to, – The Garage. I think this is a virtual first: building a giant structure, just to let your
residents park - and show off - their cars. • Being a Second Life resident, the possibilities of this seem fairly limited. We are used to
living where we want (or where we can afford rent), rezzing whatever car we want (if we own it), using whatever transportation we want (you can’t think of anything that we can’t drive!) but…
Virtual World of Toyota
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v-0AVtg0eM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vintfalken.com%2Ftoyota-metapolis-toyotas-very-own-virtual-continent%2F&feature=player_embedded
Conclusion
• Corporations are looking for new ways to sell their products and engage their consumers.
• Companies from all sectors and all sizes are taking advantage of social media.
• Companies are taking part in the areas of concern or meeting various objectives.
• Commitment levels vary and range widely in cost.• The trend leaders are some what consistent. • All of the above are reasons to trust the growth of social
networks and social media.