Facebook and Social Startups Meme.

I was just looking forward to who else is using the platform and out comes Southwest Airlines. The Airlines appears to be very actively using Facebook and its Fanpage to win consumers by offering giveaways to its fans on Facebook. The offer is called Fans Fly Free and Southwest Airlines is offering 100 roundtrips for those who become its fans. It happens that the airline is trying to capitalize on the massive population of Facebook with its own fan page and promoting themselves while making all important announcements there. Those announcements include special deals, linking back to the Airline’s homepage as well as letting them know what flights have the facility of wireless connectivity. Now all this engages users, I mean it it keeps them on their favorite platform while having them stay updated on various services they use.

So is that it? Is becoming a fan the only thing you need to do to grab the offer? Na, it isn’t that simple, there is so much more you are giving in return, which might be just the usual action you need to take in order to be a part of any group; Share profile information. That is what the whole hue and cry is about: the bulk of user information out there, which for many might be just words, but it helps such services learn a lot more about you. Social Marketing at its best, something that makes you ask how come you always get ads that appeal more to you?

That is the game. Once it has all access to the information on your profile, Southwest is able to direct more specific ads at you, giving them a bulk of free consumer data for their surveys. Once you become a fan, you are to enter your personal information, email, state where you reside, etc. There you have it, it is asking for all information that almost all brands ask for when doing there surveys and in turn they are used to bring what the consumers actually want. In Southwest’s case it is helpful in helping them provide offers that consumers can easily relate to.

I talk to folks and more often than not I am seen telling them about the importance of the Social Networks. We use them to have our voice heard across the confines of our country all the way round the globe. They are all about connectivity, in a much much easier and convenient way. And almost every other day my talks evolve much like the usability of these networks do. Facebook is one example, the platform has grown exponentially and despite the issues with its privacy changes people continue to use and so do firms. In fact Facebook and Twitter combined effect 28% of buying decisions online. That’s just one example, add to another one reported today; NBC using Facebook to promote Return of Chuck. 

Oh that brings us to our little attempt at utilizing Facebook: Catch Startup Meme  on Facebook on its Fan Page!