Facebook & Twitter for SMBs?
….. you’re joking right?
James (Jim) Buckingham, MA ODE (Open U, UK)
[email protected] Education Technology Specialist
Zayed University
presented28 March 2010Tamakkan Abu Dhabi, UAE
Intro duction - who am I to be doing this?
Education
explore use of IT in Education
look to business / non profit sectors for ideas
i.e. professional networking via use of Twitter / LinkedIn
Education Technologist / Educator
Intro duction - who am I to be doing this?
Business
recognize importance of innovation
be lean … mean .. & innovative
Education Technologist / Educator
Business survival now ?
Biz
Current Business trends involving tech?
Manyika, J., Roberts, R., & Sprague, K. (2007, December), McKinsey Quarterly - Business Technology - Infrastructure..
8 business technology trends to watch
use consumers as innovators
converse with your customer
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19% use Twitter as a service channel
26% post tweets about areas of expertise
39% keep a blog
54% monitor feedback about their business
57% use sites like LinkedIn to build network
69% post status updates & articles of interest
75% have company page on Facebook / LinkedIN
DIYSEO. (2010, March 11). INFOGRAPHIC: Ice Cream Social. DIYSEO. Retrieved March 29, 2010, from http://blog.diyseo.com/2010/03/infographic-ice-cream-social
What’s the attraction? Statistics
• + 400,000,000 users (source? Facebook - Press Room statistics, 2010)
• + 800,000 users in the UAE (source? Emirates Business 24/7, Social Media, Sept 2009)
What’s the attraction? From a consumer’s perspective
• easy to use / connect / share w/ others• 24/7 connection w/ others worldwide• user control = user centered• it's FREE
What’s the attraction? From a business’ perspective
• ease to use• ease to access a target market • helps build credibility / brand quickly• ubiquitous (i.e. via smartphone)• all of that a low or no cost
What’s the attraction? Statistics
+ 40% growth rate • dramatic increase in the use of Twitter in the UAE (Emirates Business, Social Media, Sept 2009)
What’s the attraction? From a consumer’s perspective
• easy to use / connect / share w/ others• 24/7 connection w/ others worldwide• user control = user centered• growing list of applications / uses • it's FREE
What’s the attraction? From a business’ perspective
• ease to use• ease to converse with customers
• listening / engaging / tweeting • ubiquitous (i.e. via smartphone)• all of that a low or no cost
Examples
• Golden Nights Pizza • (Orlando, Florida, USA)
• CoolHaus (Los Angeles, California, USA)
• Threadless (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
• Wild Peeta (Dubai, UAE)
Golden Nights Coolhaus Wild Peeta
Examples
website
Coolhaus Wild Peeta
Examples
Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
noteables?• uses everything
• coupons• special offers• video doc
• order online from Facebook
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
noteables?• 8,059 followers
• inform followers of their truck's current location with Twitter• invite local musicians to perform at their truck locations
• franchising • just opened in Brazil & Italy
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
Examples
Coolhaus Wild Peeta Golden Nights
noteables?• have invited customers to present new ideas for reinventing the shawarma
(via Twitter)
Follow up
Contact
Resources
Possible Course
References
Follow up
Resources
Tamakkan page• Facebook
• why bother?
• Twitter• how to get started with Twitter in your business• http://tamakkan.ning.com/video
• set of videos on how to use twitter in business
Follow up
Possible Course • pros / cons of using social media• strategies used• practical “how to” methods for realizing social media for your business (Facebook & Twitter)
• listen• dialogue• market
Follow up
References• to be posted on my blog
http://jamesbuckingham.net
Follow up
Follow me
• tweet me – @buckinsand• comment on my blog – http://jamesbuckingham.net