Social Media Effectively?

[FranchiseTweets.com]

Indeed, many franchises have embraced social media marketing (with coupons, specials etc.) - but what franchises or chains do you think are doing a 'Great' job with these fairly new marketing tools?

We are hearing some pretty 'genius' techniques in terms of driving customers to individual stores and restaurants, but overall - are there specific Company's and Brands you have come by?

[DougSchadle]

Personally, I use social media to build my company brand in order to get awareness of the various franchises I work with. I am active on LinkedIn and Twitter (@DougSchadle), always posting information about the franchise opportunities I work with. I have started discussions and basically just try to get the word out there.

Also, I turned one of my clients to social media as well. I work with Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, expanding their franchise base. They are quickly spreading throughout the country and I told the founder to jump on to Twitter and LinkedIn as well. He just started a few weeks ago (Twitter handle @Doctors_Express) and tells me he is loving it. He is posting different medical issues he sees and is tweeting about Doctors Express. He is joining medical groups on LinkedIn and trying to connect to other doctors.

So in short, I do think franchises can be very successful with social media, they just have to put in the time to do it.

[Ringo So]

Hi FranchiseTweets,

I personally think Burger King is doing an outstanding job with social media.

The Subservient Chicken I guess would be one of their most successful campaigns.
And from there on they began to use similar techniques to create spinoffs that were
fairly popular and successful as well.

There are more information on the campaign on Google.

And here is the original website: (You can command a chicken.)
http://www.subservientchicken.com/

[Ryann]

First brand that comes to my mind is "Sephora". For those of you that may not be familiar with Sephora; it is THE superstore of cosmetics, beauty and skin products. Most of their products are targeted to women, but there are great lines for men as well.

I have been a loyal customer to Sephora for a long time. What has impressed me the most about Sephora is that they provide a consistent level of high quality service both on the web and offline. The offline and online experience of a customer is completely integrated. It means that, for example if I purchase a product at the physical store, a few days later I would receive a follow-up email from Sephora. See how the whole purchase experience transcended from the store to the net. The follow-up emails would ask you to rate the products that you purchased, or write a review on their website, which has become one of the biggest community of skin care and beauty product users. By doing this you are eligible to receive free samples at the store- Sephora is driving their customers right back to the shop.

In my opinion, the seed of Sephora's huge success is their consistency in service. When it comes to generating interest and awareness, social media marketing can be highly effective, but if what you are offering falls short on the customers' expectations and is unable to satisfy their interests, they would most likely to never come back.

Something to think about before executing social media strategies..

[PromoBusiness]

Probably the easiest piece of advice when it comes to leveraging one's time might be to 'tie' your twitter account in with your blog. . . most every Social Media site/tool can use an RSS feed in some way - I recommend folks hooking that to their twitter and facebook and linked in accounts. Its a fast and easy way to save yourself alot of time and kill several social media birds with one (blog) stone.

Hehe.

[asefati]

it really depends on your type of biz. Yes restaurants and things people use daily social media works pretty well but if you have a use car dealer, then I don't know if social media is going to help you sell that many more cars. I would probably not invest so much time into it, or use it as means to connect with my existing customers or whatever

[Riyaguptab]

Hi..can u pls suggest me how should i make best use of social media tools to promote..quitters(search it on Google, 1st link)..it is really a nice initiative to help people start their own business..you can go through the website and the FB page..and suggest me some ideas how can I spread my message virally...thanks!!

[honitel]

FranchiseTweets,

In my part, social media is very effective especially in promoting one's business! I never doubt social media in that.

[snmo4him]

Probably the easiest piece of advice when it comes to leveraging one's time might be to 'tie' your twitter account in with your blog. . . most every Social Media site/tool can use an RSS feed in some way - I recommend folks hooking that to their twitter and facebook and linked in accounts. Its a fast and easy way to save yourself alot of time and kill several social media birds with one (blog) stone.

Hehe.

Tho one thing is, twitter account shouldn't be spammy and more interaction with users and treating yourself as a normal user it helps.

[drdony]

I will chock this one up as one of my online failures, until I started using social business networks

Facebook was too social for me, language used by many, children signed using they parents DOB, probably I have not learned how to use it effectively,other than branding. To many hassles with connections, blocked a couple of time for trying to connect with members that already have several mutual contacts with me. To me times have changed, it used to be when I joined an organization, I had access to all members, I could pick and chose which members to associate with and could delete members that were connected just for spamming - not relationship building

Others such as linked in I use for branding not interaction

I think the day is coming when all these sites that tweet your posts to FB, Twitter and others will consider active member as spammers (2 many tweets in a day) I recall disconnecting my tweeter one day when I happened to make a comment about my wife's cooking and she noted it on twitter - smiles

Tho one thing is, twitter account shouldn't be spammy and more interaction with users and treating yourself as a normal user it helps.

I agree, for me 4 or 5 posts spread over the day is not spamming, I don't like the 2000 contact limit, and how in the world can your interact with other in what 140 characters.

For me it social business networks, groups, blogs, etc and oh yes now Forums for me

[snmo4him]

I agree, for me 4 or 5 posts spread over the day is not spamming, I don't like the 2000 contact limit, and how in the world can your interact with other in what 140 characters.

For me it social business networks, groups, blogs, etc and oh yes now Forums for me

Don,
Twitter is so much a weird social networking site for me, one thing to reason out is the 140 characters! It limits our ideas to share, to react.

[drdony]

Thanks perhaps i misunderstood your

Tho one thing is, twitter account shouldn't be spammy and more interaction with users and treating yourself as a normal user it helps.

which I followed with

and how in the world can your interact with other in what 140 characters.

Twitter is so much a weird social networking site for me, one thing to reason out is the 140 characters! It limits our ideas to share, to react.

I agree, "how to interact" So why is Twitter such a big deal and why are there so many twitter follower products, that don't seem to work - at least for me

"Where is the beef" for those you you that remember the old lady ads of many, many years ago

I hope we get more input for I really don't understand the twitter rage

[snmo4him]

Don,
Hope you don't mind,

I agree, "how to interact" So why is Twitter such a big deal and why are there so many twitter follower products, that don't seem to work - at least for me

how do you mean "why are there so many twitter follower products" ??

[drdony]

Seem like everyone is created some form of products to get your followers, what am I missing, I dont see the value of Twitter, the limitation of 2000 until other are are following you, how to communication in 140 characters or less,

where is the relationship building, where are the spam filters?

[drdony]

Forgot to add this

Isn't it great to receive a solicitation from a Twitter member that you have decided to follow (in this case also forum member) and then when your prepare your acknowledgement of his solicitation, Twitter waits until you have prepared your response. It then block your response and says you cannot reply because that person has not followed you back, What a waste of time trying be nice and do business