Social | Orange SMS (Social Media Strategies)

By Beth J. Bates, New Media Special Correspondent

It can be challenging to find great examples businesses using social media to further their marketing and brand initiatives. It’s tough to know what’s out there. So I took some time to do a little research and bring you a short list of social media practitioners so you can see how large and small corporations are successfully using social media.

* Cisco hosts a variety of blogs called “The Platform” inviting customers to join in the conversation.
* Dell hosts its own virtual island in Second Life to help better connect with customers globally.
* Ford not only has a social media marketing guru in Scott Monty, they also use a variety of social media tools including social media press releases, photos in Flickr and total accessibility through Twitter.
* With tax day right around the corner, H&R Block has aggregated its social media properties into a Facebook Fan Page. To date, they have over 1700 fans.
* Intuit created the TaxAlmanac wiki enabling anyone to share information on taxes.
* Jeep encourages Jeep owners to share information through a variety of services including Flickr, Facebook and MySpace. They have over 97,000 fans on Facebook.
* McDonald’s features a blog that showcases their contributions to social responsibility.
* Southwest employees connect directly with customers through their “Nuts About Southwest” blog.
* Zappos.com, in my opinion, has the best feel for how to use Twitter to strengthen your brand.

Need more inspiration? Peter Kim. has compiled an exhaustive list of social media examples. This fantastic list includes everything — from AT&T to British Airways to Bigelow Tea.

If you are blogging or thinking about blogging, here is a great wiki dedicated to tracking Fortune 500 corporate blogs.

Geoff Livingston also has a great list of successful social media marketing case studies at the Now Is Gone blog.

I hope these examples and resources will inspire you and your company to expand your social media horizons.

Beth J. Bates consults with Hinge on social media tool selection and strategy and helps its clients find effective ways to leverage these new mediums to meet business goals.

Two Comments:
1 Mike D. Merrill on May 6, 2009 said:

Great List. I recently worked with the OU IT store to launch branding campaigns on to Facebook and Twitter and their sales trippled. There target audience is obviously students, faculty and staff. Many buyers told use they heard about via social media.

@mikedmerrill

2 Social Networking San Diego on May 27, 2009 said:

great list! i will definitely share with my potential clients to help sell them on why they need a social media strategy for their business. cheers
Justin

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house you’re on Petville and Zoo World using your mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care and hoping your latest YouTube video soon would be shared
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, flirting on MySpace and texting instead
And mama in her ‘kerchief’ and I in my cap when both of us heard a laugh and a snap
Our children ran laughing exclaiming with pride will share this on Flickr and they ran away to hide
When then on my laptop there arose such a Twitter I sprang from my bed to ReTweet the matter
Away to my blog I flew like a flash to write down my thoughts before they had passed
The light from my laptop gave the room a slight glow I belonged to so many groups I didn’t know where to go
When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a Holiday Card from Plaxo this year
The card stated clearly with marketing bliss may you be profitable this year, please pick from the list
We’ll show you the way but make sure to pick us
We are social marketing experts go ahead you can trust us
The confusion I felt in this technical world made me almost fall down while my head just swirled
I remembered the time when email was it and out for the Holidays was all we needed to fit
So in spite of the beeping another text had arrived and all I could do was just sit down and sigh
More rapid than eagles the messages came, there were tweets and comments and all were the same
My dog is too tired, join my cause, a fan page is waiting, do you need a job
What happened to Christmas where did it go
I’m writing this down and still I don’t know
The world it is changing we have to agree on the night that we call our Christmas Eve
So don’t fret or shudder the next time you hear the sound of a text on your iPhone so clear
For all of the native’s, digital true we want you to join the community that fits you
This Social Networking is not going away its changing the power with each passing day
So this Christmas remember no matter what you perceive we are coming together as a world, yes believe
And all of your gifts electronic or real remember the change has happened regardless of how you feel
We are here to guide you relax it’s not the end
All we really want is just to be friends
So although we did not mention, all of the Sites
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Les Adkins
Social Media Solutions
follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mysylbert

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