Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, contends that the key to success is to remember that “your culture is your brand.” In the age of social media, traditional marketing is lost. A brand can no longer squeeze advertising copy into 140 characters and expect a positive response from its community. Social media has created a two-way stream in which fans and followers strive for a more authentic relationship with brands. Drawing on our own company experience and those experiences of some of the most famous brands in social media, we hope this post offers 3 simple steps to communicating your brand’s culture to your community.
Humanize Your Brand
Believe it or not, social media has offered brands the opportunity of a lifetime. A few decades ago, companies such as American Airlines or Pepsi were largely viewed as corporate monoliths because consumers didn’t relate to the brand beyond the experience of flying cross-country or drinking a soda. However, social media now offers brands the opportunity to actively create and engage a community beyond the consumer experience.