This video shows 10 chapters on how Coca Cola has used this concept as part of its innovative process. It shows us how storytelling is now the forefront in consumer engagement and how conversations generated has help created ideas for future product development.

Part Two:

This is a great video blog on how 1-800-Flowers effectively use and embrace social media in their business. By understanding the underlying concept of social media which is to engage and create relationship with their customers, the business allow the customers to have input and become part of the conversation.

1. Give away something
2. Run a contest
3. Run a sweepstakes

What’s the difference and the best way to get it done?

Social Media Examiner’s Mari Smith wrote a piece sometime ago which is what I use as a guideline for doing this (not unless you want to deal with the legalese that Facebook provides us).

So, anytime you run a campaign on Facebook where you wish to select a winner, that would fall into the terms of Facebook’s Promotions Guidelines.

A promotion where you select winners is not to be confused with you simply promoting and marketing your business—that’s exactly the reason Facebook (fan) pages were designed!

Here’s more on the article that Mari wrote: FaceBook Promotions.

Neil sums it up to 5 points:

• The length of your post – 80 characters or less works best
• Use of keywords – ‘winning’ or ‘event’ keyword on promos have better engagement
• Use full length urls for linking
• Post outside of normal hours have a higher engagement
• Thursdays and Fridays have higher engagement

To read the article in full: 5 Must Know Metrics For Effective Facebook Wall Post