The Power of Facebook, Eblasts, Youtube & Twitter

Posted by Pam on Apr 23, 2012 in Blogging | 0 comments

Are you a believer?

Social Media is more than just fun and games. 

Yeah, we all love to email a joke, forward a video and tag funny photos, even retweet a cool quote.

Some folks think it’s a waste of time. Really, who cares what you ate for lunch or “what’s on your mind” at the moment.

Social media can be a TIME SUCK or a real way to make some things happen!

Social Media can be used as a tool to:

1. Create an online brand

2. Get new clients

3.  Find old friends, meet new

4.  Create customer loyalty

5. Help you with market research

6. Provide social proof for the media

7. Help you get elected to PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES…

8. And if you’re a high school student, help you get recognized as “ATHLETE OF THE SEASON”

 

That’s what happened to my “nephew Grant.”  He is now officially the “Patch Athlete of the Season” from the Birmingham [Michigan] area.

 

Now, Grant Henderson is a great basketball player.  No doubt. But the power of the social media catapulted him to STARDOM! 

His mother and father both work in traditional media. Felecia Henderson works as the assistant managing director of the Detroit News. And Angelo Henderson is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and radio talk show host on Detroit station WCHB.

But when they saw the power of the social media move the needle of votes from about 800 to over 2,000 votes in less than four hours,  they became believers…FOR REAL.

Grant was nervous Friday morning when the contest situation became a little “serious.” One of the contestants from the main rival high school began gaining ground – fast! They were getting about 100 votes every 15 minutes!

 

I was with Angelo in the studio on Friday because I do a regular radio segment with him on Fridays about social media.   Felecia and son were concerned, so after the show we put the Social Media Swag magic to work. We took “Facebook Friday” to a whole new level.

Besides, I could not have Nephew Grant not “take it to the hole.”

I wanted him to Slam DUNK this thing!

After a few email “blasts” and a few social media clicks, Grant Henderson’s social media army went to war.

“It’s working! Although it’s close, he’s still leading and votes are increasing — yay!!” said Felicia Henderson.

The voting officially was over at 9 p.m. but by 1:30 we were dusting the competition.

And good reason, Grant is NO JOKE.  Though his parents are media mavens, it was the social media army and digital PR that pushed him to rack in 70% of the votes!

Check him out in action and see for yourself:

Lessons learned:

1. Always provide your social media friends with value, and they will help you.

2. Know that people genuinely want to help – you just have to make it easy for them.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – if you have helped others in the past. Expect to reap what you sow.

4. Be grateful. Be thankful. And keep everyone in the loop. People like to be part of the process that produces a WINNER.

 

Final words from Nephew Grant: THANKS SOOO MUCH to all MY FB Cuz’ns – says GRANT!

“I didn’t realize how much FAM I have. I could NOT have done THIS GOOD without you! You MADE MY BASKETBALL SEASON EVEN MORE SPECIAL than I DREAMED!”

That’s the beauty of social media.

It’s fast, furious and can even make some folks famous!

 

How have you seen social media used that totally surprised you?

 

Pam Perry is a PR Coach & Social Media strategist. She is co-founder of Perry + Williamson. You can follow her on twitter at pamperry.