Being my first post, I wanted to set the record straight. If there is one ingredient that should be a part of your formula for success, it has to be laughter. Don’t get me wrong – your brand and your business are not a joke. Nor is your livelihood and success a laughing matter. It is serious stuff which no one can take lightly. But, you do have to laugh and the sooner you learn how, the sooner you will reap the benefits of connecting “socially” with your customers.
Let’s take as an example a case study of “Blendtec”. In 2006, they took the foundation of the old “blender jokes” and started their social media campaign of “Will It Blend?” Capitalizing on the natural human curiosity of imagination and “what if”, they put their machines to the test, video taping and blogging away on the results. Keeping in mind that their least expensive machine sells for around $400 each they have increased sales 700% (yes, seven hundred percent) in the past 4 years. They used humor to create a raving fan base and educate their customers about the added value that buying their product provides.
OK, so there are no frogs in the blender videos to watch. But, they have capitalized on content, using the same format and feedback from their growing fan base to put their blender to the test. They use new products on the market (the one everyone is talking about), have competitions (which football conference is toughest), and even put their machine up against icons (everyone knows Chuck Norris is bad to the bone). What is the point? They are having fun and creating a raving fan base. Even those that have not purchased their products check back in for the latest “Will it blend” episodes. And if you friend them on Facebook, you’ll find they post questions and run recipes to engage their 56,686 fans. And yes, periodically there is a discount offer or coupon, but no “Will it Blend” videos (which is an intentional and smart strategy). For those of you looking you have to visit YouTube.
Why not put it all in one place? Simply put, it gets a distinct message into different media outlets in order to reach a broader base of customers. Sounds like a lot of work, which it can be, unless you plan your work and work your plan. And that is where a coach and/or consultant comes in to help you identify your goals and plan, define the process, and assist in the execution and achieving the results based on your own tools, abilities and time.
Decision Point: Do you think about it, or is it time to have your own slurpee summit or beer summit? Is it time to be proactive and reach out for some assistance while you continue to manage your business? Making blender videos may not be the best fit for your business, but with a little creativity, a little fun, and some continuity in execution, you can stay on track for greater results.