Buzz Worthy
Posts tagged social media
PPAI Expo: How to be Socially Savvy
0503 days
As those within the promotional items industry know, the PPAI Expo takes place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Attendees have reported back on new, unique products, a keynote by Captain Mark Kelly and Jeffery Zaslow, and much more. Another big take-home point came from Jason Sadler of iwearyourshirt.com. Sadler spoke to distributors about using social media to grow their businesses.
According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), Sadler and his coworkers spend their days “spreading the company’s message through a variety of social media outlets, including viral videos, Facebook, Twitter and an online TV show.” But what might come as a surprise is what Sadler says not to do: “Too many people use outlets like Twitter for sales or marketing messages,” he says. “That doesn’t work.”
So then, what does work in social media? According to Sadler, companies should focus on highlighting their personal side. He offered the following tips:
1. When it comes to making connections, focus on quality rather than quantity.
“If you have 20 followers on Twitter, you’re kicking ass,” Sadler said. “Those are 20 real people you can establish relationships with.”
2. Create interesting content
On Facebook, for example, users love seeing photos. But rather than showing a boring stock photo of a product, post an image of your product in use.
3. Derive inspiration from other sites
Social networking is difficult to master, so it’s smart to browse the Web for inspiration. The more you search around, the more inspired you’ll be. Plus, staying on top of social media trends will help you remain ahead of the curve.
Today is the final day of the PPAI Expo. What have you learned while attending the huge trade show event?
Influencing Sales with Giveaways for On-line Reviewers
01205 days
by Jenn
in Promotional Items
As trends in technology continue to move ultimately everything “on-line,” shopping as we know it is being transformed. The internet now serves as a virtual shopping mall and allows visitors to by-pass the pestering sales people while staying off of their feet. This no-fuss, on-line shopping spree is increasingly popular due to its absolute convenience. In fact, three of every four computer users has made a purchase of either a product or service on-line. This growing web-market puts a new spin on, “Window Shopping,” and places a great deal of advertising up to shoppers themselves.
A web shot of a typical epinions review page.
Websites like Epinions.com have transformed the typical consumer report into a living a breathing product review that is personal to each writer. From iPods to the latest Twighlight movie, reviews are made and ratings are given. Sites like these aid on-line shoppers and in-store shoppers with their ultimate decisions. On-line shopping markets realized the strong influence that reviews on Epinions.com had on product selections and therefore, shopping.com bought the site in 2003. Only two years later, major on-line shopping and bidding site, Ebay.com acquired Epinions.com and owns it currently.
Similarly, the more user-catered GetGlue.com recommends products based on individuals likes and dislikes. Run similarly to the sensational Pandora music site, users can thumbs up or thumbs down particular items displayed to them. The program then analyzes the latest data and continues to suggest items accordingly.
A Get Glue Guru member page.
With the rise of and trendiness of web-sites like Epinions.com and GetGlue.com, shoppers (especially web-shopaholics) are very likely to make purchases based on reviews. To help garner the best reviews from users, GetGlue will be launching a giveaway program. Well rated users that review and comment often in particular categories are donned “gurus.” These particular gurus will now be catered to with promotional giveaways to encourage positive feedback and reputable reviews.
Media companies including, Universal, Random House, Hachette, Harcourt, Farrar, Wiley, and Harper Collins are participating in the promotion that will reward Glue Gurus for their allegiance and entice them to write future reviews. The companies will be giving gurus their products like free movie passes to see their films or free books. The user benefits because they get free products and the companies benefit because they get great exposure. Try your reviewing skills out at one of the sites and look into GetGlue’s giveaway promotion. In GetGlue.com’s FAQ page they wrote, “The Guru Giveaways let you earn free new releases related to things that you’re passionate about. Not bad, huh? And it’s only one of the special powers GetGlue offers Gurus. Groups who are promoting new releases can use GetGlue.com to help launch their book, movie, or album. By running a Guru Giveaway they reward Guru’s of related items with a free copy of – or tickets to – the new release that they’re launching.”
In an on-line universe of brand marketing it’s extremely important to target known influencers for a rise in sales both on-line and in stores.