This is a fascinating video about one way social media was used to help out even the smallest of businesses become successful. This makes me think of all the possibilities for tiny projects that could be turned profitable by the use of Twitter!
Too bad the idea of Mexican food being sold from trucks in LA is already taken, and too bad I don't like Mexican food. I'll have find a different multi-million dollar making money idea.
oooooooohhhhh,
My friend knits scarves and hats all the time, and after viewing this video she could definitely use Twitter to expand her clientele.
We'll see.
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ReplyDeleteFirst of all...how do you not like mexican food. Second, I think that food he made looked delicious.
ReplyDeleteFinally I think it is great that even small businesses are benefiting from Twitter. It makes sense, but I do not like the companies that simply use it as an advertisement. While that may help for some the companies I think the ones that are truly successful use the social media like a real person. Zappos for example Tweets about his life/travels/company and once in awhile offers discounts. To me that is the best way to leverage social media relationships.
For the record, I dont like Mexican food either. But it is great to see that small businesses are being effected by Twitter, and personally I feel like they are the ones who benefit the most. Big companies already have their following and don't really need to use social media sites such as Twitter to get their name out there. It is risky however because with businesses with a less well-known name, if one person doesn't like it and decide to Tweet about it, thousands may be turned off just by the name and try to avoid the eperience.
ReplyDeleteI am poorly paraphrasing the video narrator's comment, but it went something along the lines of, "If you can cross that bridge and put yourself out there to the people it'll help your business. Though I do agree that some business can greatly benefit from Twitter, especially something like a traveling taco truck that can use Twitter to update followers as to its day-to-day whereabouts, I don't think all businesses would find it as valuable.
ReplyDeleteIllise Benun of Marketing-Mentor.com made a case against Twitter in an online BusinessWeek article, and I can't say that I don't agree with her to an extent. She thinks, "Twitter is the ultimate in self-centeredness. To imagine that anyone would want a running commentary of every moment of your life puts you—as a businessperson—at the center of your world when in fact that’s where your customer should be. It feeds the isolated narcissist who wants “followers,” rather than live contact with actual customers."
The full article can be found at: http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2008/09/twitter_distrac.html
As someone in the field of sales and looking to enter the field full-time upon graduation, I agree with Illise that there is no substitute for face-to-face communication with one's customers. If an in-person meet is not an option, I think the phone is the next best way to communicate. I think Twitter could be a supplemental form of communication with one's client base, but for no reason should it substitute for richer communication either face-to-face or over the phone.
O my gosh, that video made me want Chipotle!! I think this is such a cool idea, and really shows the versatility of social media. When it comes to the taco truck that moves around, Twitter is a perfect way to keep their fans constantly updated about where they are. Also with the specials that are changing, it keeps their customers interested with their products. Keeping customers interest is such an important thing when it comes to maintaining a business. This company really has potential!
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