5.19.2010: Social Networking Magic

By Jill Dudley

I just helped make magic happen today. Crazily enough, it involved marketing and social networking. My best friend is head over heels in love with a nice boy from England. They met during her 2007 summer internship in London. This past March, after not seeing each other for almost three years, he flew across the Atlantic Ocean to visit her in Florida. He rolled out the red carpet with their accommodations, dining, and gifts. Since then, they talk on Skype and Facebook chat every day and he will often keep talking until he falls asleep. Don't you have warm fuzzies?

BUT WAIT! What about that ocean, you ask?! Well, it is a problem, not to mention the ridiculous cost of plane tickets. That's where I come in (with my hero cape flying in the wind)! They are planning a trip for him to come visit her family in Missouri. My friend is enrolled in the fantastic Southwest Airlines Rewards program that earns you credits for each flight or offer purchased. While chatting on Facebook, she mentioned that she needed a certain amount of credits to get free flights for her trip. If I enrolled, she would have enough. She also told me how incredible the program is and why I should want to join anyway. So, now not only have I saved the day and helped her with getting her flights free, but I am enrolled in a great rewards program set up by the brilliant marketing department at Southwest Airlines. I would have never joined without the recommendation of my friend.

As I'm sure you hear all the time social networking tools can do wonders for a company's brand image, customer relationship building, and in some cases increase sales directly from Facebook interaction depending on the type of business and marketing strategy. The beautiful part of social networking is that often your passionate customers will do some of the heavy lifting for you by telling their friends and encouraging others to get engaged with your brand and/or make a purchase. Keeping your customers and fans satisfied and entertained is essential to having your brand spread like wildfire in social networking arenas. New, different, money saving, or helpful information is what most often catches fans eyes. So, get out there and generate some excitement for your brand. Maybe you can make some magic happen for yourself!