21 replies to this topic

[Alex Symms]

Just interested in knowing how up to date Social Networking distributors are. We hear social networking sites being a powerful tool in keeping clients updated with almost instant happenings with the "going-ons" in the marketing aspect of a company. Providing instant messaging on a new product, or a closeout, or just a quick line to say hello. It's definitely tempting to consider doing this service as a supplier, as seems only appropriate.

But from the distributor standpoint. With e-mail spams, phone calls, SmartBlast Spams, paper catalogs, snail mail... and lord knows whatever else I am missing here....

Would distributors be willing to sign up for Twitter / Facebook for suppliers too?

[Chris Miller]

Alex Symms said:

Just interested in knowing how up to date Social Networking distributors are. We hear social networking sites being a powerful tool in keeping clients updated with almost instant happenings with the "going-ons" in the marketing aspect of a company. Providing instant messaging on a new product, or a closeout, or just a quick line to say hello. It's definitely tempting to consider doing this service as a supplier, as seems only appropriate.

But from the distributor standpoint. With e-mail spams, phone calls, SmartBlast Spams, paper catalogs, snail mail... and lord knows whatever else I am missing here....

Would distributors be willing to sign up for Twitter / Facebook for suppliers too?

We already communicate with some suppliers in this way. The problem with twitter is, you really cannot control who follows you so you would need everything to be end user friendly. I say go for it though! We would follow you!

[pjpromotions]

I'm probably behind everyone else when it comes to Twitter and Facebook...just signed up on Facebook because I received a request to be a "friend" and was curious. I haven't found any conversations or contacts that I'd deem worthwhile - mostly just chatter!

I've also been receiving numerous emails from suppliers with their Twitter/Facebook sites. If I'm looking for information from my suppliers I want to go directly to their site - to me it's more important that they keep their websites up to date.

So far...l really haven't found any benefits associated with online social networking and probably won't take the time to log on. I already have more than enough on my plate.

[neetfeet]

pjpromotions said:

I'm probably behind everyone else when it comes to Twitter and Facebook...just signed up on Facebook because I received a request to be a "friend" and was curious. I haven't found any conversations or contacts that I'd deem worthwhile - mostly just chatter!

I've also been receiving numerous emails from suppliers with their Twitter/Facebook sites. If I'm looking for information from my suppliers I want to go directly to their site - to me it's more important that they keep their websites up to date.

So far...l really haven't found any benefits associated with online social networking and probably won't take the time to log on. I already have more than enough on my plate.

Benefits of being involved with Social Network:

Since you are a distributor:

- you can be aware of your client's marketplace trend then you can make an intelligent choice on what products to offer. having this you gain loyalty and sustainability.
- customer service, phone and email is great but through this you increase your access to solutions (who doesn't want that?) because everyone else can share case studies/opinions that would benefit you
- websites aren't mobile phone friendly - twitter is.
- Facebook's search engine is now rivaling Google's
- it can reveal what competitors do and you can improve your company's performance.



You can check our Twitter page and see how it is applied. http://twitter.com/neetfeet

Edited by neetfeet, 11 August 2009 - 01:07 PM.
added quote

[Julierod]

We've recently dipped into the social media swimming pool by launching a Facebook and Twitter site. We're doing it because we had so many requests to do so from our distributors and we felt that it would be another option for our clients to use to communicate with us.

There were concerns about end users coming upon our sites, but that's the same as our website. We keep everything end-user friendly (meaning no phone numbers published, prices are all retail, etc). To us, it is an extension of our website with a little more personality and some interaction to it!

So far, no end users have directly contacted us but it's hard to say if any are following us on Twitter (aside from the occasional spammer!).

We are enjoying it and hope our distributors are too!

julie

[Renee Caldwell]

I have clients on my facebook and I have a couple of multi-line reps on my twitter (and now Chris as of about 5 mins ago...yay).

I have actually gotten 1 client FROM facebook - a friend of a friend who owns a company.

I'd love to have suppliers on twitter/facebook for things like specials, etc!

[neetfeet]

Renee Caldwell said:

I have clients on my facebook and I have a couple of multi-line reps on my twitter (and now Chris as of about 5 mins ago...yay).

I have actually gotten 1 client FROM facebook - a friend of a friend who owns a company.

I'd love to have suppliers on twitter/facebook for things like specials, etc!

Feel free to follow us on Twitter. We try to keep fresh updates on our stuff plus interesting related online items. Follow us @neetfeet.

[Renee Caldwell]

consider yourself followed. ;)

[MBanning]

Times are changing and news is getting older, faster. I found out about the whole Norwood/Bic situation on Twitter an entire hour earlier than any of the 'Breaking News' newsletters or email were sent out.

[Superemb]

I do not follow twitter but use facebook and add them all the time. Lots of interestingnews and sales etc. I use facebook for my ASI ditributor specials for my contract screenprinting, embroidery, vinyl cutting, digitizing, artwork and direct to garment printing. I have sales and vidoes of how things work and pics etc. It has has brought me some business and also keeps me in contact with my customers on a more personal level.
my facebook is superemb
and the company one is SUper Embroidery and Screenprinting

[lyndap]

We have a company Facebook and Twitter page. Neither has generated any business. Twitter is very useful when Suppliers post sales, new products, or product ideas. I don't follow suppliers on Facebook since it is used on a personal connection rather than business. Both sites allow us to post specials and ideas to our followers. Both are fun to use!

Facebook page is Premier Embroidered Apparel
Twitter is PremierApparel

[neetfeet]

lyndap said:

We have a company Facebook and Twitter page. Neither has generated any business. Twitter is very useful when Suppliers post sales, new products, or product ideas. I don't follow suppliers on Facebook since it is used on a personal connection rather than business. Both sites allow us to post specials and ideas to our followers. Both are fun to use!

Facebook page is Premier Embroidered Apparel
Twitter is PremierApparel

Follow us on Twitter (@neetfeet). We constantly post product ideas, how to sell ideas, for distributors (and also co-marketing with distributors who found it very beneficial).

[margie@kapcoadv.com]

You will figure out that I am not a techie person by this question:
to use Twitter, is it mandatory to have texting on your cell phone?
I have chosen not to text, but am addicted to email.

Just wondering if I could tweet using e-mail...

[Doug - Beacon Promo]

Margie... you do not have to text to tweet. Just go to twitter.com and sign up. You can customize your profile very easily and then you can tweet from there. Then make sure to add Beacon to your following list :D

twitter.com/BeaconPromo

Hope this helps

[BryZ]

Both Twitter and Facebook have been amazing tools for us. We have been able to connect with tons of industry people this way! At both the ASI Orlando Show and the PPAI Expo, people were coming by our booth just to meet their twitter/FB friend!

I think if you are consistent and use these outlets to provide VALUABLE information, both Twitter and Facebook can end up being very worth while.

Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/ZOOMcatalog_Bry
Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook....log/53498892775

[tcbcorp.com]

Doug is right you do not need to tweet off your phone..

You may follow us as well, we post when ever we add to our catalog / update our journal / or have urgent information to get out..

http://www.twitter.com/tcb_corp

[margie@kapcoadv.com]

Beacon said:

Margie... you do not have to text to tweet. Just go to twitter.com and sign up. You can customize your profile very easily and then you can tweet from there. Then make sure to add Beacon to your following list :D

twitter.com/BeaconPromo

Hope this helps

Thank you! You can be sure Beacon would be on my list ;)

[magnetsfast]

We have been using social media for a little over a year to generate business. I was on Facebook in 2004 when it came out because I was in college and it was the new trending thing. That was when the actual college had to sign up for Facebook and you had to have a .edu email account to sign up. Now that Facebook is open to the entire world, it is an amazing tool if utilized properly.
The same is true for Twitter. Some people see Twitter as a bunch of random messages with people saying what they are eating for lunch. People don't realize what a valuable search tool www.search.twitter.com is. You can see what people are saying about your company, what your competitors are talking about, and what is trending. This is also a great way to interact with your customers in "real-time". We love interacting with our customers via Social Media (Facebook & Twitter) and see this not necessarily as a "trend", but how people will be doing business on a daily basis.

If you are new to social media, I would suggest reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk. This is a short, fast read that will explain how social media is changing the way people do business. I would highly recommend it.

[oldsmanw41]

I find this very interesting and timely as we are just implementing some new marketing strategies here. The thing that concerns me as well is trying to actively market new ideas and products, but keeping it end user friendly/safe. That is why I thought I would start back here at DT since we know the group. Regardless, I think I'm seeing more reasons for diving in then not so, look for Executive Line on Facebook and Twitter soon!

-Ray
www.executiveline.com

magnetsfast said:

We have been using social media for a little over a year to generate business. I was on Facebook in 2004 when it came out because I was in college and it was the new trending thing. That was when the actual college had to sign up for Facebook and you had to have a .edu email account to sign up. Now that Facebook is open to the entire world, it is an amazing tool if utilized properly.
The same is true for Twitter. Some people see Twitter as a bunch of random messages with people saying what they are eating for lunch. People don't realize what a valuable search tool www.search.twitter.com is. You can see what people are saying about your company, what your competitors are talking about, and what is trending. This is also a great way to interact with your customers in "real-time". We love interacting with our customers via Social Media (Facebook & Twitter) and see this not necessarily as a "trend", but how people will be doing business on a daily basis.

If you are new to social media, I would suggest reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk. This is a short, fast read that will explain how social media is changing the way people do business. I would highly recommend it.

[Christina]

Hello,

Social Media has proved to be a very effective marketing tool in recent times.

When using this Social Media Marketing in your business, you could use twitter to have a wider target audience. At least in using such websites, you would not have to worry in threatening the people in doing business with you. Asking help from professionals will be able to create a blog that would make the consumers feel that they have to read what you place there. Regularly posting interesting topics about your business without blatantly advertising a product or service makes them want to read more.

Hating Facebook & Twitter is a Huge Mistake in Business.