Many of us take advantage of multiple free social media platforms to market our businesses but, I think we get the concept all wrong. Why do we focus so much on marketing our business, when we should be branding our personality? People like brands with personality. A brand’s attitude, tone and characteristics create a touching point that attracts an audience. Sounds easy but some just don’t get it.
Think about it. How many professionals on your friends lists are providing the same exact product as you? Hundreds, even thousands! But, that’s not the problem. The problem is everyone has the same idea and is speaking the same message in the same boring voice. There’s no style, no swagger, no damn personality.
So, here are some tips on how to use social media to liven up your brand personality instead of hyping your product.
Contests – Bring People Together
Contests are a wonderful way to get your community excited about your brand. They show that your brand personality is fun, engaging and giving.
Dunkin Donuts sets a fine example for creating unique and fan-driven contests on Facebook. Dunkin Donuts is not about pushing annoying marketing messages but using their brand personality to attract over 1 million fans.
Videos – Visually Bring Your Personality to Life
Videos are a magnificent way to promote your brand personality. A five-minute video can bring your personality to life, which beats the standard written content.
Home Depot uses their employees to perform instructional videos of practical and money-saving home improvement tips. Once again, Home Depot’s brand personality shows they value their employees. Can you say transparent and authentic?
Podcasting – Get Your Personality Heard
Producing a podcast can make a huge impact of your brand personality. A podcaster’s voice can illustrate their true personality, show their enthusiasm for their brand and how well they converse with their guests. But, the boring old business podcast are outdated. People want to hear something upbeat, lively and informative.
The podcast “Inside the Magic” is a source for Disney news and theme park fun. Listen via iTunes or download to your portable media player.
Engage! Heaven Sakes it’s A Social Site
One of my pet peeves is when someone hits me up on Facebook chat and posts a link to their website. My rule of thumb is three strikes and you’re out! You hit me up three times, posting links without engaging with me and I will just nicely un-friend you. Seems harsh? Oh well!
Remember it’s not about hit and run link shares. It’s about relationship building. Works the same in the online world as in the real world when we are face to face.
So here’s what you will want to remember when you liven up your brand. It’s just like our corporate motto says, to connect, engage and thrive. Using these tools will help you to make those things happen.
Nan, this is a great post. It is the main thing people need to understand about social media. That is it is, well, social, for goodness sake. I think we (meaning businesses) still invest far too much time worrying about what the people will say. It hardly matters! The point is that you start the conversation and keep talking. And it’s ok to have fun and involve people just as you have pointed out with your great examples.
My favorite companies now using social media to play games and give people something fun to do that actually ends in a prize is Jimmy Choo. They have been running a contest in London called CatchAChoo. You can follow this person who is carrying the Jimmy Choo Trainer and when you catch them you get the shoe. Wow! That’s cool.
You know, I’d like to see more businesses doing something with the Foursquare points and badges. When someone becomes the mayor of your store they should get something good. Now, Starbucks has just started giving their mayors a $1 off a Frappacino (how do you spell that? LOL). Now personnally I think they should sweeten that more but this is a test I’m sure.
So can somebody call my favorite Subway here in Nashville and ask them to give me a free $5 footlong when I become the mayor!
Very good but still we have those that will play the game as being your friend but truly all they want from you is you links or communication..
These day with real time search playing a great deal with optimization I have found to be more careful with whom I share any content.
Let take for instance you asked for Us to be friends on LinkedIn so I checked your websites and made the decision to follow.So I have started a conversation and now I sit back to see if you make your appropriate action.
Thanks for the Trust in me.. Thank You
Norman Flecha
STRAIGHTALK
.-= StRAIGHTALK´s last blog ..Turning the Tables: Why Google Will Win and Facebook Will Lose =-.
So true, Norman! But, I try not to worry too much about “fake” people who just out there to increase their network numbers or to receive some link love. In due time their true colors will shine. But, there’s one thing I have learned, if you’re true about yourself, the good folks who enjoy your content will superseded the fake ones.