President-elect Donald Trump was quoted, in November, on 60 Minutes, as crediting social media for helping him win him the presidential campaign, and he’s probably right.
Related: Breaking Down the Tactics and Tools the Presidential Candidates Are Using
“It’s a great form of communication,” Trump told correspondent Lesley Stahl. “Now, do I say I’ll give it up entirely and throw [it] out [post-election]? That’s a tremendous form: I pick up — I’m picking up now; I think I picked up, yesterday — 100,000 people. I’m not saying I love it, but it does get the word out.”
In fact, Trump effectively used social media as a way to bypass the media and “tell the people how it really is” (in his view). And that impulse of his to “tell it like it is” did seem to play a big role in his victory.
So, what can entrepreneurs and new brands on the market learn from Trump’s social media strategy and perspective, and what are the takeaways?
1. Brands can stick up for themselves.
Just as Trump sticks up for himself to the general public, your brand can do the same (within reason!). If you receive negative press or have a bad customer experience, you can and should try to rectify the situation and handle damage control in a transparent manner. Brands have the chance to show their true colors on social media. Just make sure the attitude you portray reflects who you are as a brand.
2. Save money.
Trump spent significantly less money than the Clinton campaign and suggested that this was because of the lift he got from his social platforms. Brands can have the same impact if they consistently engage with their audience on social platforms in a timely and informative manner.
JetBlue is a company known to respond online to customer inquiries and complaints in a friendly, fun way, all within in a timely manner. That strategy has been integral in word-of-mouth advertising and in saving the company marketing dollars.
3. Pay attention to social media indicators.
Social media activity indicated that Trump was likely to win; and the same platforms can show you how your brand is performing, too. Specifically, Trump…