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| image via BundlePost |
It is undeniable that Starbucks is one of the most
successful corporate companies across the world. Its focus on serving quality content and superior
customer service has surpassed many of its competitors and continues to be a
growing success. Starbucks has also
embraced the world of social media, which has made a valuable impact on its
business and its customers. Believe or
not, we can really learn from the company we all know and love about the
advantages of social media. Here are five
ways how:
1. Starbucks Cross Promotes
When Starbucks creates content or captures a photograph, it
is integrated across all of its social media platforms, including Facebook,
LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and even Pinterest. The exposure Starbucks receives is powerful
and it establishes committed customers as well as interested leads. Cross promoting is so important for small
businesses because it distributes your content among more networks, thus
leading to more visibility and traffic to your brand.
2. Posts are Timely and Thought-Out
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| image via Starbucks Instagram |
As spontaneous as Starbucks inspiring posts and creative
photos may seem – they’re actually completely thought out and timed for
publishing. Just the other day, I
recently “liked” a photo off their Instagram that displayed the famous
Starbucks coffee cup wrapped in a colorful, knitted koozie with fall leaves
floating in the background. The photo
received over 50,000 likes and the best part: it was timed perfectly for fall
around the corner and it sparked excitement for the seasonal comeback of the
“Pumpkin Spice Latte.” Timed publishing
allows a business to focus in on their marketing strategy and utilize what
content will gain the most viewers and shares.
3. Community Support is Consistent
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| Starbucks "All You Need is Love" CD supporting (RED) |
Starbucks also bases their content around social trends,
topics and even certain causes that are in need of charity. Relating to charity, Starbucks strongly
supports an array of causes and organizations.
Furthermore, their support is consistent and the company constantly
gives customers a reason their purchase will benefit the community. A small business that is consistent with its
values and ties them into a beneficial gain for customers will earn greater
trust and sales.
4. Social Media Presence Reflects Service
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| image via Starbucks Twitter |
It is one aspect to have a trendy and thoughtful social
media presence, but if that presence does not reflect how treat your
customers--it is irrelevant. Starbucks
is founded upon superior customer service: from cheerful employees that greet
you in the early morning to remaking a drink of yours for free to providing an
atmosphere of complete comfort, the list goes on. Thus, the reason Starbucks is able to
maintain such a strong social media presence is because customers know the way
the company portrays themselves online is the real deal. Consider your own company’s social media
presence and make sure it reflects your customer service.
5. It is All About the Customer
At the end of the day, Starbucks main priority is its
customers. Specifically, instead of
focusing on solely gaining new customers, Starbucks continues to cultivate
relationships with its current customers.
Their marketing strategy includes customer engagement, customer rewards
and their unique “My Starbucks Idea” website.
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| image via Starbucks Instagram |
The company recently engaged customers through a mobile
campaign utilizing SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging
Service). The SMS portion helped
identify the technological device customers are using in order to deliver the
best promotions. The MMS portion
encouraged customers to share their Starbucks experiences via hashtag with the
chance of being featured on the company’s Instagram or Twitter. Customer engagement is so important because
it drives traffic to your company and creates a personalized experience that
leaves customers coming back for more.
Additionally, Starbucks rewards its customers for their
returns. With “My Starbucks Rewards,”
customers can earn free refills, drinks and even a special birthday gift. Customers can easily register for a card at
the store or online. The program is
also available on mobile through the free Starbucks app, which has taken over
social media due to its convenience.
Furthermore on social media, Starbucks rewards customers for “Liking”
and “Sharing” certain posts published on Facebook. Rewards are both an incentive for customers
and a way for a company to show their true appreciation, which in turn grows
success.
Most unique, Starbucks continues to brew its success through
the “My Starbucks Idea” website.
Overall, the site acts as a crowd-sourcing tool, gathering information
and brainstorming ideas from customers and even employees. Additionally, it encourages customers to submit
ideas including: a free drink on your birthday, a request for vegan
alternatives or new ingredients for more signature coffee drinks. Ideas can be publicly viewed, discussed and
even include a status update if Starbucks has reviewed or launched the
concept. The active interaction creates
a complete online community that engages customers to be apart of optimizing
the brand. The social media platform is
convenient, accessible and allows Starbucks to be the best coffee experience
out there.
Starbucks continues to live up to its mission “to inspire
and nurture the human spirit--one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a
time.” The company includes a social
media strategy that values its customers, which is something every small
business can learn from. To begin
brewing your own success, contact Social Fox Media for more information!
For more information on how to take your social media marketing to the next level,
contact Social Fox Media today.
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