Posted by Dino Anagnostopoulos
Companies are reaching out to tens of millions of people daily by using social media outlets. It is a cost efficient and simple way to get in touch with consumers, investors, and job applicants. Organizations across the world are using Facebook and Twitter to promote themselves but how are they doing it?
When is the last time you saw a Starbucks commercial on T.V.? I don’t think I ever have. With nearly 38 million “likes” and followers on Facebook and Twitter combined, they don’t need to pay for very many T.V. spots. They subtly reach out to consumers using social media. They utilize Twitter, Facebook and YouTube effectively to get customers through their doors. The Starbucks Facebook timeline has photos of their coffee drinks and sandwiches. They post updates on promotions and advertise new products. Click on the Locations button and you will see a map with pin-points on all of the Starbucks locations near you.
The Starbucks Twitter feed doesn’t just showcase tinyurls of Grande Caramel Macchiatos and current promotions. Their Twitter feed also displays their many volunteer organizations and how the average Joe can get involved to give back to their communities.
Starbucks is constantly engaging on Twitter with everyday people. They have several Twitter handles for different countries around the globe. They also have a handle called @starbucksjobs where they post Job openings, which is a resourceful way to reach out to a vast array of applicants. One of the more unique Starbucks Twitter accounts is @MyStarbucksIdea. This account is linked to a Starbucks website that gives people a chance to contact the coffee giant and offer them ideas for items that they would like to see on their menu. A person might leave the comment “Low Carb Frappuccino” along with a recipe for it. Starbucks (and its customers) can leave comments and feedback on the idea which could possibly be implemented as a menu item. A revolutionary way to keep their customers interested and engaged.
McDonald’s is also keeping up with the social media trend. McDonalds updates Facebook and Twitter constantly. They more or less stick to the basics, Tweeting pictures of their Premium Wraps, Dollar Menu Items and current promotions. The McDonalds Facebook page has Job Openings, Locations, and has new Menu Items on it. Although their social media campaign has recently drawn criticism for their social media strategy on Twitter, McDonalds’ won’t miss a beat. I mean, come on. It’s McDonald’s. They are still reaching out their golden arches to a combined 30 million people just by sending out simple Tweets and status updates.
So, is social media effective for companies? Absolutely. Within a half hour of waking up everyday, I check my Facebook account and my Twitter feed. With large numbers of people using social media outlets, I am not alone. When I casually scroll through my Twitter feed, I may see a Tweet from Starbucks and I’ll be in the mood for a venti cup of Pike’s Place. A status update from McDonald’s might get those golden french fries in my head and I know where I’ll be going for lunch before I even eat breakfast. It is marketing brilliance and big companies know it.
Follow me on Twitter @dinoalphabet
Yes Starbucks is really doing good with their online marketing. Last year it was one of the 20 most liked companies on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteStarbucks seems to be deviating from the standardized company tweets that you see, but not by much. They are trying to convey that local small coffee shop vibe and appear to be doing well with it, but its still a cookie cutter strategy.
ReplyDeleteMcDonalds is just following the normal company tweeting stereotype, post your product and promote it and just appear everywhere so that people remember you and get small ideas planted in their head so that when they wonder what they want for lunch they will think of you first because they just saw your name/advertisement.
Maybe a slightly harsh depiction of McDonald's strategy. To be fair, our local Culver's does the same thing, heck, even the popcorn shop in our small town does that. It's a strategy that is time-tested, and who's to say we wouldn't do the same thing if it worked?
DeleteIMO, both of these companies aren't really using a social media strategy. Both of these companies have been huge players even before the advent of social media. I don't mean to say that they aren't utilizing Twitter and Facebook effectively, I'm just making a point about how popular these corporations were before these tools. It seems as if they are using the hefty slice of the market they have to bolster their social media presence. I doubt that their revenue or popularity would suffer were they to avois social media altogether. But it's very possible that I'm mistaken.
ReplyDeleteJulien- They ABSOLUTELY are using a social media strategy. Guess what I had for dinner last night? Wait for it....wait for it..... Fillet o'Fish value meal. You see, they nonchalantly put their product in your head by sending out a measly Tweet. Subliminally, Ive got McDonalds in my head all day. You don't even realize that they have a strategy and thats the beauty of it. But I assure you, they spend big bucks outsourcing ad wizards and social media experts to run their social media campaigns. I see your point that they are McDonalds and Starbucks and they dont need to use social media but youre wrong. All big companies are using FB and Twitter now so they have to keep up with the times and with the competition.
DeleteThink about it this way... If they stopped using social media altogether you would wonder what was wrong with them. I agree with Dino they are absolutely using a strategy and using it well. I would say that Starbucks is doing a better job of it with all the other content they have added to their page and pages. McDonalds is McDonalds and they do very well with the television ads placed at just the right times of hunger. Also if you have kids it is the only place they ever want to go to eat and the very first restaurant they know the name of. Fans pages are just a small part of what they do and still keep up with the times. Starbucks has going out of the way to show what a great asset they are to their communities as well as interacting with their fans.
DeleteI think it is really cool to see Starbucks doing so much with Social Media.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the most professional sounding title for a blog I've seen so far. You might have a future in this! I'm a big fan of companies directly corresponding with customers. Try as I might, I still haven't gotten anyone to respond to me yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Zach!
Delete