Back a few years ago, your neighborhood pizzeria probably didn’t have a Twitter or a Facebook. Let alone a Pinterest. But! The times are a’changing and the corporate landscape is being infiltrated by social media. In fact – there’s a handful of companies that have taken traditional media and social media, mixed the two, and made a consumer’s dream.
For the Science Lover:
SpaceX, an aerospace and defense company that manufactures, designs, and launches rockets and spacecrafts, has social media that has really taken off. Your friends’ ‘Life Events’ might include babies and new houses – but SpaceX lists all their launches and even streams them live via Facebook and Twitter. Bringing a new outlook to #ThrowbackThursday, SpaceX is doing social media right.
Source: @SpaceX
For the Caffeine Addict:
While many of us carry the iconic green mermaid in our hand daily, Starbucks has found a way to keep you thinking about your next caffeine fix – all day long. Overpriced coffee doesn’t get you millions of Twitter followers… but free gift cards do. Starbucks unleashed their ‘Tweet-a-Coffee’ campaign that let users mention a friend and ‘@tweetacoffee’ to get a free $5 gift card.
Starbucks has infiltrated every platform out there. In July of 2012, Starbucks teamed up with (RED) to raise money and awareness for AIDS in an unconventional way: FourSquare. For every check-in at one of their stores, Starbucks donated $1, making it the largest non-profit campaign on FourSquare.
For the Traveler:
Last Friday, the social media community erupted with snark for Lebron James, bringing #LeBroning to everyone’s Newsfeed. JetBlue’s Instagram account took the cake on this though, releasing a clever play on the situation:
For the Foodie:
What can a grocery store do with social media? Post pictures of their new produce? Respond to disgruntled customers? Wrong! Whole Foods has taken to Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram – leaving no social stone unturned. Their social reach is tailored to communities with over 525+ local accounts monitored by each store’s team.
IZEA’s closest Whole Foods runs multiple social networks, offering events, recipes and local opportunities like this one!
The company rolled out the campaign “Your Right to Know” surrounding GMO controversy and received an overwhelming social response, cultivating relationships rather than pushing a product. Whole Foods currently boasts 4.2+ million followers on Twitter, sharing tips from ‘how to grill watermelon’ to choosing healthier canned veggie options. Follow along here.
The Moral of the Story?
Companies are using social media to grow relationships, not farm followers. Regardless of size, companies can benefit from using social media in their day to day lives. Get the word out and engage your users with unique content & conversation. Treat your followers as friends instead of customers and watch your follower base grow!
About the Author: Kate Mullen is an intern at IZEA & professional Netflix-er. Keep up with her on Twitter.
