Plain and simple, Ford gets social media. Golf marketers can learn a lot from Ford.
Through its social media hub The Ford Story, the brand combines brand-generated and customer-generated content into a vibrant, compelling and interactive platform.
The brand also uses Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr to humanize, connect to all its constituents (retirees, buyers, dealer, suppliers, etc.).
Here's why I like Ford's efforts:
1. There's a strategy to integrate its brand messages and consumer needs and interests.
2. It's a central source for the brand's comprehensive social media efforts from Twitter to Facebook to YouTube.
3. The hub is an open, transparent platform for all important constituencies.
4. It's interactive, soliciting opinions, stories and inviting entries in contests like this Fusion41 relay race contests.
5. The Ford Story is really engaging and fun. I could see many of its fans spending time and having fun doing so.
Numbers demonstrate fans' interest and engagement as the site had 72.5K unique visitors last month with almost 131K visiting in April.
I know Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade and other prominent golf marketers could attract many fans with a similar social media hub.
