In Focus

Build Your Brand Through Social Networking

Build buzz with user-generated content

Allowing customers to create their own messages around products or services provides a trusted voice to market the brand. Chevrolet recently created a tool enabling users to build their own commercial, resulting in a highly successful viral marketing campaign.

However, there are risks-- as brand managers no longer control the content, the brand is out in the wild. During the recent Chevy campaign, for example, environmental activists created negative ads. Nonetheless, even this had its own reward. According to Ed Peper, the Chevrolet GM, "It sure got people talking about the Tahoe, which was the whole idea, after all."


An example of a commercial created by a Chevrolet customer.

Next: Encourage brand loyalty

 

Comments

Rosie Bell
Rosie Bell September 3, 2008 at 11:07 AM

I agree Steve, consumers are increasingly expecting to be able to communicate with a brand via comments, forums, blogs etc. It is now vital that brands leverage the power social media has to create an engaging environment for their consumers.
Here at Viewmy.tv we understand the brands need to build social networks in order to engage and communicate with their audience, taking advantage of Web 2.0 tools. We have created brandstation- a social networking solution that comes with ready-made core functionality and a fully customizable interface. Brandstation provides an engaging user experience, prompts effective communication and provides Web 2.0 social networking tools, with access to personalised and targeted content.
By offering different solutions, brandstation is easily adaptable to meet individual business requirements. Our on-demand solution gives businesses the control of choosing the features they want with a simple, rapid set-up and integration that can take as little as 10 minutes. It gives clients the opportunity to start small and scale up their network.
http://www.brandstation.tv/