12 Small Businesses who found success on Social Media A Hootsuite Look Book We love talking to our customers about social media. And we love sharing. We talked to 12 small businesses across several industries about their social media goals and how they found success. Here are their stories: Retail is Social 78% of consumers say that the posts made by companies on social media influence their purchases. Forbes Meet DAVIDsTEA. This young and entrepreneurial Canadian retailer celebrates loose leaf tea and knows how to please their customers. Their social media goals were to: •Increase brand exposure •Increase customer engagement •Grow their social business DAVIDsTEA finds incredible success by “thinking outside of the box,” sharing fun content generated by customers and staff, and keeping up with conversations. Hootsuite features used: Streams Lists Analytics for better listening, engagement, and reporting. “We speak the language of our customer and aren’t afraid to take risks with our responses or tweets.” Youri Hollier, Social Media Manager, DAVIDsTEA Food is Social 49% of surveyed consumers find out about food through social media. Column Five Media Meet Bob’s Red Mill. Bob’s Red Mill is a stone milling manufacturer of whole grain and gluten free flours, cereals, and baking mixes. Their social media goals were to: •Build brand awareness •Engage with customers •Showcase customer stories Bob’s Red Mill now delivers faster customer service responses, has increased brand awareness, and produces more compelling marketing campaigns. Hootsuite features used: Keyword Searches Lists Analytics Streams for improved listening, better customer service, and reporting on success. “We use Hootsuite for so many reasons... it allows incredible visibility, has powerful scheduling, and lets team members contribute to social profiles.” Cassidy Stockton, Social Media Manager, Bob’s Red Mill Meet The Grilled Cheese Truck. Catering to on-the-go foodies looking for a quick and tasty meal, America’s beloved The Grilled Cheese Truck kicks social up a notch. Their social media goals were to: •Build loyal, local followings across America •Update customers on their location •Get people hungry “I used to do all of the social ‘à la minute,’ or live, making it hard to run my business.” – Dave Danhi, CEO, Founder, and Chef, The Grilled Cheese Truck Hootsuite features used: Keyword Searches Lists Geo-targeting Streams to zoom-in on customer conversations, update locations in a flash, and schedule social beforehand. “We’ve since expanded and Hootsuite helps us manage multiple cities and social profiles.” Dave Danhi, CEO, Founder, and Chef, The Grilled Cheese Truck Travel is Social 85% of leisure travelers use their smartphone abroad. The Impact of Social Media within the Hospitality Industry Meet Contiki. Contiki Tours is the worldwide leader in tours for 18-to-35year-old travelers. Their traveling customers are very social, from sharing images to using hashtags abroad. Their social media goals were to: •Increase brand advocacy •Be the first travel company to host a YouTube contest •Build an engaged community They successfully launched the #NOREGRETS YouTube contest and monitored engagement on thousands of entries right from their dashboard. Hootsuite features used: Hashtag search Streams Scheduler YouTube app integration to foster an engaged community around video and social. “Our demographic—young travellers—aren’t interested in hearing from known travel industry experts, but from the storytellers themselves. We recognize the value of being present and active in the digital space—it is fundamental to our business.” Lauren Howard, Marketing Manager, Contiki Canada Tech is Social 90% of technology companies focus on strengthening relationships with customers by increasing engagement online. PwC US Survey Meet Hubba. This tech startup helps brands and retailers manage their product data to ensure shoppers make informed buying decisions. Their social media goals were to: •Create thought leadership channels •Build a community around tech and retail •Report on industry trends Hubba’s social channels are a key source of retail and tech related content and industry news. Hootsuite features used: Streams Lists Klout score to source great content, stay on top of conversations, and find influencers. “We share curated content on retail and consumer trends, emerging technology, entrepreneurial advice and development articles to help build a social community around tech startups in retail.” Emma Nemtin, Marketing Director, Hubba Nonprofits are Social A recent Facebook experiment encouraged organ donations via Facebook by adding a donation status to one’s timeline. Registrations increased by 2000%. Mediapost.com Meet Pacific Wild. This nonprofit organization aims to protect one of the world’s last and largest remaining intact temperate rainforests: The Great Bear Rainforest. Their social media goals were to: •Educate the world •Raise awareness of their cause •Share rich media Pacific Wild has found huge success by sharing real-time media through Hootsuite, such as live-streamed videos and awesome photographs. Hootsuite features used: Shared Streams Scheduler Analytics Hootsuite Social Media Coaches to understand best practices and gain control of their social. “Hootsuite allows us to be organized and collaborate together to spread awareness. It takes a lot of effort to build a following from the ground up, and we can clearly see our progress with analytics.” Sarah Stoner, Director of Strategy and Development, Pacific Wild Meet Free The Children. This international charity believes in a world where all children are agents of change. Their successful initiative We Day is one of the largest charitable Facebook causes in the world. Their social media goals were to: •Strategize prior to We Day •Manage a high volume of content and conversations in real-time •Monitor campaign performance and show results Managing digital communications for a global campaign of this magnitude is no small feat. Hootsuite features used: Scheduler Custom URLs & Analytics Geo-targeting Archived responses Keyword & hashtag search Streams to streamline efforts, engage their audience, and execute a successful event. “We Day is such an incredible event and everything moves so quickly that having a solid social relationship platform is absolutely essential.” Michael Rajzman, Associate Director of Digital Media, Free The Children Meet International Bird Rescue. This nonprofit cares for over 5,000 birds every year and leads oiled-wildlife rescue efforts around the globe. Their social media goals were to: •Promote their cause •Spread awareness and share success stories •Keep their online communities well informed International Bird Rescue speaks to a niche audience that is invested in the well-being of birds around the world. Hootsuite features used: Geo-targeting Keyword Searches Search Streams & Tabs to share content, listen, and engage with their community across multiple social networks. “People have to feel something before they act to preserve it; to do this, we show them what we do.” Andrew Harmon, Vice Chairman, International Bird Rescue Arts & Culture is Social 82% of arts organizations use social media to engage with their audience. Digital Technology’s Impact on the Arts; Pew Survey Meet TEDxSydney. The TEDxSydney event aims to make Asia Pacific a leading platform for the creation of great ideas, storytelling, and actionable innovation, while fostering a deep sense of community. Their social media goals were to: •Generate widespread buzz around TEDxSydney •Increase live audience engagement •Amplify rich media content #TEDxSydney had almost one million impressions on the day of the event. Hootsuite features used: Bulk Scheduler Lists Analytics Hashtag search Streams RTs live audience tweets to streamline event and community management before, during, and after TEDxSydney. “By monitoring these hashtags and keywords on Hootsuite, we effectively listened and contributed to conversations around us in real time.” Amber Dermoudy, Head of Digital, Launch Management Group (TEDxSydney Agency) Meet The Roald Dahl Museum. Honoring the late children’s author, The Roald Dahl Museum supports storytelling and creativity using interactive activities and archive materials. Their social media goals were to: •Manage social media output •Answer fan inquiries and comments •Build a global community online The Roald Dahl museum has successfully built an international audience online with a social media team of just one person. Hootsuite features used: Scheduler Mobile App Keyword and geo-targeted search streams to find customers talking about the brand and maintain social networks anytime and anywhere. “With such a small team, Hootsuite has some great features that help us manage our social media output.” Kim Osborne, PR & Marketing Assistant, The Roald Dahl Museum Meet The San Francisco Ballet. San Francisco Ballet is America’s oldest professional ballet company and one of the three largest in the United States. Their social media goals were to: •Engage with and nurture existing fans •Expand into new audience bases •Offer exclusive behind-the-scenes content San Francisco Ballet has attracted a global audience with whom they’re constantly engaging with—both on and offstage. Hootsuite features used: Scheduler Lists Streams Custom URL parameters & analytics to find customers talking about the brand and maintain social networks to keep up with all brand conversations. “Hootsuite lets us be a good listener—to track and monitor conversations around us and dance in general.” Carly Severn, former Digital Engagement Associate, San Francisco Ballet Meet Booooooom. One of the largest blogs on the internet, Booooooom.com fosters an community of art enthusiasts with well over three million page views a month by loyal followers worldwide. Their social media goals were to: •Spread daily inspiration •Increase brand awareness •Connect and make relationships online By sharing engaging content, Jeff has grown a massive online following. In just a few months, he single-handedly grew a Google+ community from 300 to over 150,000. Hootsuite features used: Scheduler Streams & Tabs Keyword Searches to monitor multiple social networks, jump into conversations easily, and find new artists. “I used to actively try to grow my following with best practices, but now I have enough momentum to gain followers without actively seeking them. Now I focus on creating great content, often.” Jeff Hamada, Founder, Booooooom Manage social media like a Pro with Hootsuite. Start your free trial today Sources “Are Brands Wielding More Influence In Social Media Than We Thought?” – Forbes @hootsuite Dine and Dish: Are Social Media and Food the Perfect Pairing? - Column Five Media [Infographic] /hootsuite The Impact of Social Media within the Hospitality Industry /company/hootsuite /+hootsuite The New Digital Ecosystem Reality: Nine trends rewriting the rules of business – PxC US Survey Social Media Boosted Organ Donor Registrations 2000% - The Social Graf Digital Technology’s Impact on the Arts; New Pew Survey - artstomarket
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