Entries Tagged 'Web marketing' ↓

I wanted to find out how West Hawaii compares to the mainland U.S. when it comes to using social media for business marketing. More than 100 West Hawaii residents responded to my West Hawaii Social Media Survey in April. The results are presented below in a 19-page report with 10 charts and interpretive analysis.

This is the first look at how West Hawaii uses the Internet and social media tools for marketing businesses.

Previously, this data did not exist. In this report you’ll learn:

• The percentage of West Hawaii marketers using social media to promote their businesses
• How much time West Hawaii marketers spend on social media
• The benefits most associated with social media
• The relationship between time invested and results
• The most popular tools, and which tools are best for what purpose

If you’re a marketer in West Hawaii and sometimes wonder if your efforts will pay off, these results will guide you!

If you’re already investing in social media, this report will let you compare what you’re doing to those that have the most success.

Download the West Hawaii social media report here and feel free to share the report with others!

Remember, the nature of social media is to share, so if you find value in this report, please share it with your social network.

Most importantly, I need to know what questions YOU have. Tell me what the most useful information was for YOU in this survey, and what you would like to see in the next West Hawaii Social Media Survey. Use the comments section below!

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The results are in!

103 respondents took the West Hawaii Social Media Survey to report how they are (or are not) using social media to promote their business.

The winner of the $50 Costco cash card drawing is from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. If I get permission, I will let you know more about them.

I will now be preparing the results for release on Hawaii247.org.

Stay tuned!

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I’m conducting the first West Hawaii Social Media Survey. People who take the survey will be entered to win a drawing for a $50 Costco Cash card. Please take the survey by clicking on the image below, or by going to: http://survey.laura-kinoshita.com.

The purpose of the survey is to find out–once and for all–who is using social media in West Hawaii! I will also be comparing local and national trends to see how much Hawaii lags behind mainland U.S. Every response counts, and I especially need folks from West Hawaii to participate. So please help me get the word out. You can help me promote this on Twitter with something like:

Or use the green ”ShareThis” button below. Please contact me for a copy of the results, which will be ready in about 3-4 weeks.

Thank you for your support!

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I often get asked about how to keep online communities “engaged.” So, today, I found this fascinating quote:

TripAdvisor needs to keep reviewers reviewing, and an email message they sent to me suggests one way to do so. They don’t merely ask for more reviews but instead appeal to some of the motivations that Mass Influencers have for their social media activities.  The TripAdvisor message takes away doubt about readership of reviews and implies that those who post reviews have an audience eager for more content.  Here is what I received: Augie Ray, How Do You Keep Mass Influencers Engaged? An Example from TripAdvisor, Mar 2010

This article explains what works best–and what doesn’t–in getting people to talk about and share information about your product or service. It also goes into the mentality of your Web users, and why certain tactics work better than others. It’s a must-read for anyone struggling to keep customers engaged … and how to turn those customers into referrals! Take a look, and let me what you think!

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North Hawaii News - Feb. 18, 2010

Twitter is a fast-growing tool for listening and responding to the thoughts of consumers.

Been trying to get in with the VP of Marketing at a large, national company? Try following her on Twitter.

Want to know what your customers think of your new menu? Try doing a Twitter search for your restaurant and see what they say.

Nobody saying anything? Well, that says something, doesn’t it?

North Hawaii News asked attendees of a January “Tweet-Up” at Anna’s Ranch in Waimea why they think social media is good for the Big Island. Here’s what they said:

1. “You can reach a broad spectrum of all ages with different interests”

– Annie Howes, Waimea

Not everybody is on Twitter. But those who are tend to have more influence over public opinion. 80% of active Twitter users publish a blog, according to one eMarketer survey. And, while teenagers still make up the biggest share of Twitter users overall, the number of users between 35 and 55 is growing–fast. But remember, an estimated 14% of households “opt out” of technology on Hawaii Island by choice. And their opinions are equally valid. So when you turn to Twitter to reach a broad spectrum of interests, remember also the interests of people who are not there.

2. “We are starting to ‘brand’ or identify the Big Island.”

–Cynthia Hoskins, Hilo

As people living and working in Hawaii we offer a perspective not found in the marketing materials of the tourism industry. Hawaiian Tweets offer an honest and unfiltered view of life in the Pacific. For those who depend on the taxes and revenue from beyond our shores, remember that every Tweet helps shape the image of our islands. Tweets are now archived and indexed by Google in real time.

3. “We are bringing people together to create 1950′s communities with 21st Century technology.”

— Larry Czerwonka, Hilo

In the traditional “one-to-many” model of Old Media, travel guides and magazines would point readers to various visitor attractions and restaurants. But often, facts change and guides go out of date–sometimes before they’re even off the press! Travel writers seldom have the time to visit every attraction or restaurant in an area, so reviews can quickly become stale, and newer places fail to get the visibility they deserve. On Twitter, you can ask in real time where the best place is to eat in Kawaihae, and within minutes get a suggestion to try the grass-raised beef hamburgers at Kohala Diner. The back-and-forth conversation is easy and casual. And strangely, the people you regularly follow become as familiar as your next door neighbor. Sometimes, even more so…

4.”It lets us share all the good things that make us different from Oahu.”

– Laura Kinoshita, South Kohala

Let’s face it. The Big Island is not Waikiki, it’s not the North Shore, it’s not Maui, and it’s not Kauai. So what is it? Adventure. Open Spaces. Higher Learning. An active volcano. World-class astronomy. Marine Biology. Sport Fishing. Rodeos! The freedom to drive 100 miles in any direction … The island for quiet family getaways and romantic walks on the beach. The powder-white beaches of Hapuna, Mauna Kea and Makaiwa to the black sand beaches of Pololu Valley and South Point.

5. “It helps connect people who would normally not be connected.”

–Susan Chouinard, Waimea.

Whether you’re looking for entertainment or new skills for your job, chances are … Twitter will point you to it. Humor and inspirational messages are the most popular forms of Tweets, but you can also find new ideas, look for jobs and offer services, products or promotions people might not otherwise know about.

Consider following these West Hawaii brands to see how they are using Twitter to engage with (and learn from) their customers:

@KTASuperstores
@buyinglocal
@MtAppleBrand
@KonaSeaSalt
@BJPenn
@BodyGloveHawaii
@KeauhouSheraton
@GoodwillHawaii
@ToyotaHawaii
@KonaBrewingCo
@HCFHawaii (Hawaii Community Foundation)
@KFCHawaii (Kentucky Fried Chicken Hawaii)
@HawaiiPaperProducts
@FarmersHawaii
@keck2laser

UPDATE 2/19/2010: This version better characterizes where quotes came from.

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