Why social media? « Social Media for Dealers

September 8, 2010 • 10:07 am 3

A cupcake case study.

We love social media success stories and sharing case studies in which businesses have triumphed using social media as a key marketing tool. If that business also happens to sell cupcakes? Even better.

Now we know that the world of RVing and the world of cupcake bakeries differ in more ways that can be counted on one hand, but bear with us. There are very few businesses that base their entire marketing strategy on social media, and this case study highlights one of them (make sure to read it!).

While we understand that you can’t go about selling RV’s like you go about selling cupcakes, but there are great takeaways from Foiled Cupcakes focused social media strategy that can guide and inspire you. Here are key tips we’ve pulled out of this delicious cupcake case study:

1. Connect with the right people
You can find tons of followers the wrong way, but the only way to succeed is to find people that think your story and message is interesting. This means don’t use a robot to build followers and do your legwork to find your customers online.

2. Reply
Make sure you’re interacting, replying and conversing with every single comment or message that comes your way. Be genuine, be helpful, and give (not sell) as much as you can.

3. Have goals
Set goals or figure out what you hope to accomplish with social media. With a clear plan in mind you’ll stay focused and start connecting with the right people in the right way. Are you trying to build a local following? Are you trying to educate consumers on RVs? Are you trying to generate website traffic? Think about what you want your social media efforts to do for your dealership.

4. Don’t waste time
Your tweets, updates and blog posts are suppose to be genuine and honest. If it takes you hours to make something up, it’s a waste of time. If you’re passionate about what you post and what you write about, time will fly and your passion will be apparent. Establish an angle for your writing, one that fits your dealership.

Look how much we learned from cupcakes today — don’t you want one right now?!

*Photo Credit: megpi

Filed under: Small Business, Why social media?, article, case study, cupcakes, dealer marketing, Foiled Cupcakes, how to, marketing, Small Business, social media tips

July 7, 2010 • 3:53 pm 1

Nobody wants to be sold to.

Without a doubt, social media is a powerful marketing tool for your RV dealership. BUT, with that said, social media should not be used to push an advertising message.

The bottom line:

Nobody is checking their Facebook or visiting Twitter to be sold to, they’re not there to listen to “Sale!” “Buy!” “Visit today!” or “Shop now!”. People in social media do not want to be inundated with sales messages. People are on social media to connect and engage in conversation.

So, you might ask, “Without an advertising angle, how is social media a helpful marketing tool?”

Our answer:

Marketing, in it’s most basic form, is about finding out what a customer’s needs are and explaining your unique solution for meeting those needs. Marketing in social media is no different. Use social media to listen to your customers and prospects. Find out what they’re talking about, what they need, and then offer solutions/help/recommendations/advice. Use social media to become a resource for your customers, to establish a relationship, build trust, and help them with their RVing needs (whether it be camping advice, parts recommendations, service tips, or product knowledge)!

Social media allows you to differentiate your dealership on something other than price. It allows you to capitalize on your dealership’s strengths, know-how, customer service, and products. In social media, you’re can actually communicate with customers and prospects, not just hit them with a sales message.

Social media is not meant for shouting sales messages.

Photo credit: Tim Parkinson

Filed under: Strategy, The Basics, Why social media?, Consumers, customer service, customers, dealer marketing, dealership, Listening, marketing, marketing basics, push message, rv dealership, RV sales, sales message, shouting, social media, social media marketing

July 6, 2010 • 10:07 am 0

Should my dealership use social media?

Should you be integrating social media into your RV dealership’s marketing efforts? Here’s a quick questionnaire to answer to find out (from an older, but terrific Jeff Bullas post):

In the last few months have you either professionally or personally.

1.Responded or answered to a direct mail letter or brochure? (Current research shows only 3% have responded)

2. Did you follow up on a mainstream media advertisement such as TV, Radio, Magazine or Newspaper? (22%)

3. Did you go to the Yellow Pages to look up a company to buy a product? (3%)

4. Did you Google and search online when looking to purchase a product or service? (97%)

5. Used Your Peer to Peer Network via Facebook, Instant Messenger, Twitter, LinkedIn or other Social Media to get a URL to a website for a product that you were looking to buy? (80%)

And here is the clincher…..

6. So why are you still using marketing for your company that you yourself have minimal response to?

Think of yourself as the consumer, as the RV buyer. As a consumer, do you go to Google or to the Yellow Pages when you need info? So as a marketer, should you spend money on Google (SEO, search engine marketing, social rankings) or on the phone book?

*Photo credit: konradfoerstner

Filed under: Small Business, Statistics, Why social media?, consumer, Google, Jeff Bullas, phone book, rv buyers, rv dealership, RV sales, social media, social media marketing, social media stats, Yellow Pages

June 22, 2010 • 3:25 pm 0

Jayco dealer homecoming presentation: social media.

Thanks to all of the dealers who attended our social media breakout session at Jayco Dealer Homecoming in Schaumburg. We hope that our presentation provided you with new information and gave you tools that you can integrate into your RV dealership’s social media strategy. Below is are the slides from the presentation. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, we always welcome your feedback!

Filed under: Jayco, Strategy, The Basics, Why social media?, Blogging, Facebook, how to, Jayco, Jayco dealer, presentation, rv dealership, RV sales, search engine optimization, slide share, social media, social media how-to, social media monitoring, social media stats, social media strategy, social media tools, Twitter, YouTube

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Social Media for Dealers

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A cupcake case study.

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Nobody wants to be sold to.

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Should my dealership use social media?

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