Online market research company eMarketer have revealed that Facebook is the most popular site for US retailers to advertise on.
Okay so the statistics are based on US retailers, but nonetheless it definitely gives us some food for thought.
Being big advocates on Social Networking we are not surprised of this fact at all, having a look on Facebook you can see that British retailers are very much on the Social Media bandwagon as well.
Topshop Fashion Fix is an excellent application developed by Topshop for Facebook allowing users to rate clothes and receive up to the minute info on the latest goodies in store. Love it or Hate Marmite has its own Facebook page with a massive 147,000 fans! However, Facebook is not just for the big timers; Universities, Charities, Restaurants, Beauty Products, Sports Clubs, Politicians and Pubs are all in on the act.
Why? It is an excellent channel to your target market! They can help build social interaction with your consumer creating a loyalty not often achieved with advertising and the like.
However, when building a Corporate Facebook page, don’t make a profile up and leave it! Put some thought into it, create a message and create an engaging page that will not only attract your customers but will entice them into interacting with the profile. Are you creating a fan page, a fact page, a customer service page or perhaps an interactive application as Topshop did?? If done correctly your Facebook page can become a valuable part of your marketing strategy.
Following close behind Facebook and music counterpart MySpace is video website YouTube. YouTube is a hotspot for businesses to upload videos and commercials, it is free and if successful can create a buzz around your brand. Similarly, Flickr is a free photo sharing website that can be utilized to upload free product, advertising and company images.
Although these media sharing and social networking websites may not be directly suitable for every industry they are not a force to be reckoned with, and with niche sites, targeting everything from book fans to fashionistas, cropping up every week it will slowly become even easier for companies to connect to their target market.
Tags: facebook, media sharing website, media website, myspace, social network service, social networking, topshop fashion fix
