While it’s a great thing that more and more businesses are jumping aboard the social media bandwagon, many still aren’t really grasping the point of doing so. There’s a very finite distinction between social media marketing, and merely marketing via social media.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii, which has 11 great properties in Hawaii, just held a Tweetup. But rather than host it at one of their properties or even on the islands, it was in Los Angeles.
With every checkin at Walgreens on Foursquare or Facebook, a flu shot is donated to someone in need.
Twitter is an engaging place, one that, when surrounded by various commentary on universal happenings, becomes a tempting place to chime in. That said, when you’re representing your business on these channels, the rules are a little bit different.
Big Train is a leading manufacturer of premium coffees and teas. They offer the ability to subscribe, read reviews and purchase products easily from their Facebook page. To launch their new Fit Frappe, they provided a Klout perk allowing online influencers a chance to test the product and share with friends.
Yahoo! News recently ran a Forbes article entitled, “Why Facebook is a Threat to Lifestyle Brands.” It argues that the ways we express ourselves via social networks have replaced the expression stimulated by utilizing products of specific brands. Rather, I’d argue it’s enhanced it.
Earlier in the year, PopChips ran an extremely successful social media campaign seeking out a “VP of Pop Culture.” With one of the most social-media savvy celebrities, Ashton Kutcher, on board, PopChips was able to not only award a winner, but create huge buzz, visibility and excitement about their brand.
Embassy Suites Hotels is currently running an “awkward family photo” contest. Promotions like these are great because they encourage “audience” participation, and people are going to share the link around simply based on the fact it’s entertaining.
HootSuite is an efficient social media management tool that is very straightforward and offers a diverse array of functionality. It’s great for multiple-account management, brand monitoring, scheduling content and more.
© 2025 Social Hospitality, LLC. All rights reserved.