Social Media Dos and Don’ts

Posted on July 17, 2017 by bermanevansretail

Are you and/or your firm actively utilizing social media? If yes, do you know what behaviors that consumers feel are “cool” or “annoying”?

As Felix Richter reports for Statista:

“The rise of social media has presented brands [retailers] with a new, more direct way of communicating with customers. Instead of planning ad campaigns months in advance, brands [retailers] can now react to trending topics in real time, weigh in on current events, and just be in touch with the world.” 

“While the tone on social media channels is typically less formal than in more official communication channels and brands [retailers] like to present themselves as humorous and snappy, there are limits to what brands should do on Twitter, Facebook or other social platforms.” 

“According to a recent study from Sprout Social, making fun of customers is the worst offense brands [retailers] can commit on social media. Brands  [retailers] should also refrain from talking politics, using slang, or bashing competitors, as all these things are considered annoying by the majority of their customers.”

 
Check out this infographic to learn more.

Infographic: What Brands Should and Shouldn't Do on Social Media | Statista You will find more statistics at Statista.

 

Posted in Online Retailing, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living in a Connected World: Are You Always “On”? Segment 3

Posted on July 12, 2017 by bermanevansretail

We live in a digitally connected world, where many of us are regularly “on.” However, some firms are still fighting back against this phenomenon. Consider this example (from Jane E. Brody, writing for the NY Times):

“Hurray for the HotBlack Coffee cafe in Toronto for declining to offer Wi-Fi to its customers. It’s HotBlack’s reason for the electronic blackout that is cause for praise. As its president, Jimson Bienenstock, explained, his aim is to get customers to talk with one another instead of being buried in their portable devices. “It’s about creating a social vibe. We’re a vehicle for human interaction, otherwise it’s just a commodity.”

 
Recently, Zarb School of Business Distinguished Professor Joel Evans of Hofstra University did an extended radio interview with Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D. on living in a connected world and the growing phenomenon of always being “on.” Connectivity involves using digital devices to interact with the outside world, including smartphones, smart TVs, wearable devices, GPS, computers, tablets, home security systems, and more. This interview is divided into three segments for YouTube. Click here to see Segment 1 and click here to Segment 2.
 

Segment 3 highlights these topics:

• Connectivity by social media platform
• Demographics of followers by social media platform
• Growth of mobile connectivity
• Many benefits of connectivity
• Many downsides of connectivity
• Recommendations
• Always be smart and protect yourself
• Think before posting
 

 

Posted in Global Retailing, Online Retailing, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing, Video Clips (non-career) | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living in a Connected World: Are You Always “On”? Segment 2

Posted on July 11, 2017 by bermanevansretail

We live in a digitally connected world, where many of us are regularly “on.” According to Annie Kjellstrom:

“Until recently, we connected with one another in person. We planned activities around what we liked to do together, not the best status update. We made photo albums (real ones) as a tribute to good times and we only shared important updates about our lives with people who were a part of them. Being connected meant sharing ourselves with those closest to us — without a need to document, broadcast, or archive relationships.”

“Today, being ‘connected’ is a much more complicated concept. In some cases, digital connections are even required to validate offline relationships — after all, you’re not really dating unless it’s ‘Facebook official.’”

 

Recently, Zarb School of Business Distinguished Professor Joel Evans of Hofstra University did an extended radio interview with Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D. on living in a connected world and the growing phenomenon of always being “on.” Connectivity involves using digital devices to interact with the outside world, including smartphones, smart TVs, wearable devices, GPS, computers, tablets, home security systems, and more. This interview is divided into three segments for YouTube. Click here to see Segment 1.

 

Segment 2 highlights these topics:

• Smartphone’s impact on quality of work – distractions
• Myth of multitasking
• Challenges of teaching in a smartphone-connected world
• Societal acceptance of always being on – no code of conduct and few limits on use
• Explosion of connected devices and how they can be used (“smart” devices)
• 13 billion connected devices for people as of 2020
• Currently, 3.6 connected devices per person
• Growth of social media platforms
• [U.S.] Lifetime, more than 5 full years per person spent on social media – more than time on eating or personal interactions
• Social media by gender

 

 

Posted in Global Retailing, Online Retailing, Part 3: Targeting Customers and Gathering Information, Part 7: Communicating with the Customer, Social Media and Retailing, Video Clips (non-career) | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment