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User-Generated Content Benefits and Client Fears. August 13, 2008. User-Generated Content isn’t New. What is User-Generated Content?. Social Networking. Micro-blogs. Blogs. Consumer Contests. Tuition Tales. Online Auctions. Social Bookmarking. Multi-media. Message Boards.
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User-Generated Content Benefits and Client Fears August 13, 2008
What is User-Generated Content? Social Networking Micro-blogs Blogs Consumer Contests Tuition Tales Online Auctions Social Bookmarking Multi-media Message Boards User Reviews/Comments
Size of Networks Image by Sam Lawrence, CMO at Jive Software
The Influence of User-Generated Content Percentage of consumers who look to and trust their peers when it comes to product advice 68% Word of Mouth Marketing Association
The Influence of User-Generated Content Percentage of consumers who use user-generated content to research a company’s reputation 72% Society for New Communications Research
The Influence of User-Generated Content Percentage of consumers who choose to do business with companies based on the customer care experiences others share online 74% Society for New Communications Research
The Influence of User-Generated Content Percentage of journalists who say they read blogs to help develop story ideas 84% Center for Media Research, 2007
Brands Are Invited to the Water Cooler • Monitor what consumers are saying about your brand, its products and its industry. • Participate in and shape those conversations • Identify influencers and reward loyalists • Keep more customers, win over competitors’ customers • Meet Frank
Focus on the Right Neighborhoods • Those who gather around the water cooler share something in common • Passionate conversations are taking place • Brands can choose networks that connect them with those passionate people who share the same interests • Show up in relevant ways that stick • Be a good neighbor • There also is a real opportunity to convert skeptics to advocates and empower them to share your brand with others
Focus on the Right Neighborhoods • Channeling a shared passion • Converting skeptics into advocates
Humanize Your Brand • People want to do business with people • People want to do business with people they like • As much about WHO you are as it is about WHAT you do • Interacting in social media puts a face on your brand • Goodwill toward employees transfers to the brand • Employees as powerful, personal, individual brands
User-Generated Content is Engaging • Level of engagement exceeds traditional marketing channels • Invites consumers to participate with the brand • Gives consumers some ownership in the brand • Engaging consumers can lead to more positive reviews and stronger advocates • “You cared enough about me and my input to involve me”
User-Generated Content is Engaging 10000cents.com
Extend Your Reach • Create easy ways for advocates to share your news and messages • Take advantage of platforms within social media that allow consumers to share your brand with their connections • Develop content that is worthy of consumers’ passing it along
Client Fears “I don’t want people to say bad things about my brand.” • The conversations are happening with or without you • Celebrate the positives • Don’t become a censor within your own efforts • See negative feedback as opportunities
Client Fears “I don’t want my brand to be associated with some people.” • Some steps can limit negative associations. • Beyond that, you need to be comfortable with the possibility.
Client Fears “I don’t trust consumers to create certain elements for my brand.” • Your brand is defined by: • What you promise to deliver • What you actually deliver • What consumers believe you delivered • The brand is co-owned by you and consumers • My perception of your brand is shaped by what your brand means to my connections • Provide them with the resources they need to share the company’s brand in positive ways.
Client Fears “How will we measure ROI on efforts in this space?” • Some efforts offer concrete, measurable outcomes • Average time the consumer spends with the brand • Click-thru • Video views • # of blog posts/message threads/Facebook fans and friends • Tone of conversations • Some efforts offer less measurable, but equally valuable outcomes • What dollar value do you put on: • Favorable reviews? • Ongoing, direct conversations with your consumers? • Dispelling rumors before they take off? • 2,000 people being reminded your brand “cares” every time you “tweet?”
Let’s Think About This • Should you show up in user-generated content? • Where should you show up? • How do you plan to communicate with the communities? • Participate inthe conversation. Don’t dictate the conversation. • Can you dedicate the resources to actively participate?
User-Generated Content Benefits and Client Fears August 13, 2008