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Monday’s Marketing Minute: Tracking Sales to Social Media, Conducting Sweepstakes and Contests

Happy Monday, y’all! Hope you had a fantastic Holiday weekend, and are easing into the workweek slowly. Here’s some useful links to help you start the week smarter:

 

I always chuckle at how companies lament that they are having difficulty tying sales directly to its social media efforts. The reality is, social media as a channel is not the best channel to drive sales directly. First, most companies struggle to correctly attribute revenue to any channels, much less social media. The study in the tweet below found this as well. Social media has certain strengths and weaknesses for businesses. It does a great job at things like building brand awareness, a good job at things like customer service, and not that great at things like direct sales. All channels have strengths and weaknesses. Most companies are also having trouble attributing customer service success to billboards. The point is, focus on the strengths and weaknesses for each channel and don’t waste time and money trying to force a square block into a round hole.

 

One of the most misunderstood areas of social media is how to effectively and legally run sweepstakes and contests via social media. This great share from Mari gives you wonderful pointers on how to run either via social media channels.

 

I constantly talk to companies that want to build a fanbase of passionate customers, who have no idea how to get started. I always tell them to do the same thing; say ‘Thank you’. LA Chipper (and former Alabama Crimson Tide great) JaMycal Green recently left the LA Chippers, and when he did, he posted goodbye and said thank you to Clippers fans on Instagram. Then he went through and thanked every fan that replied. This is how you build a fanbase, by simply showing your current fans that you appreciate them. Look at your company’s Facebook page, or your Twitter replies. How many customers are commenting that they enjoy your products or services? Are you replying and thanking every one?  You should be. Don’t over complicate things, saying ‘Thank you’ still works.

 

I hope you have a great Monday! Speaking of news, I’ll have some news of my own to share here tomorrow. I think you’ll enjoy it!

About Mack Collier

My name is Mack Collier and I am a digital marketing and content strategist located in Alabama. Since 2006 I've helped companies of all sizes from startups to global brands such as Adobe, Dell and Ingersoll-Rand, create customer-centric programs, content and experiences. A long-time internet geek, I've been online since 1988 and began using social networking sites in 1991 when I joined Prodigy. Today, I help companies understand how new technologies like web3, crypto and artificial intelligence can integrate with existing marketing strategies to lead to exceptional customer experiences.