Yesterday as I was browsing my Twitter followers, I came across a retweet from someone I know in Cleveland who linked to a local fitness company who made a video about their training programs. So I clicked on the Twitter link, went to the blog, and watched the YouTube video.
Then I picked up the phone to call them to find out how I could join.
SALE!!! DING!!! SOCIAL MEDIA JUST SOLD SOMETHING OFFLINE!!!
So let’s review again. Twitter is where I found the link. The blog had a post that included a YouTube video, which I watched. Then I called the company and asked about joining.
See what happened here?
Three very nice social media tools worked together to drive an ROI for an offline business.
This can be done… Don’t believe you can’t do it, because you can.
Here’s the video that I watched, that is very well done in my opinion.
9 Comments...Have your say!
Dave Rigotti on February 26th 2009 at 01:40 AM
Great post. I’m always surprised when a client tells me they don’t track phone/offline conversions from online. Ugh!
andrew wee on February 26th 2009 at 04:26 AM
Great example. The vid is an excellent example of strong pre-sales content – shows you the “product”, lots of testimonials from actual users, gets you motivated, and the documentary style shows you just the facts, without any overt marketing BS.
-
The training reminds me of the cross training we did in the military. that will get you fighting fit in no time.
-
Can you shoot some vid footage if you start doing handstands and pullups?
That would be quite awesome.
-
PS: shawn has started his affiliate fatblogging again and i’m joining in, as soon as i get my blog set up.
do join in too.
andrew wees last blog post..Is PPC Classroom 2.0 Really Free? What’s The Catch?
Greg Friese on February 26th 2009 at 08:45 AM
Part of what makes this work well is they have all types of people – you and old, big and small – in the video. Make crossfit look applicable to anyone.
Jim, we need updates. Joining is the easy part.
Jay on February 26th 2009 at 09:20 AM
Great video and great post to make the point, Jim.
The only problem I saw with that video was that the “more info” area does not have their contact information and the phone number flashes quickly at the end with no address or website. The phone number and website should persist at the tail of the video for at least 10-20 seconds.
I think it’s MUCH less effective than it could have been for that reason.
Josh on February 26th 2009 at 11:15 AM
Nice to know someone who actually made money with social media. I'm not saying it doesn't work, just that I haven't heard many people giving proof it's working for them. To me, good old SEO and PPC are still the best ways to make money online.
Nicholas Chase on February 26th 2009 at 03:52 PM
Jim,
Great example of social media and offline marketing! Thanks!
I am so out of shape since the holiday binging and Affiliate Summit West 2009! I ballooned up to 209.5 pounds from a prior 202 pounds in November.
My exercise of choice is the exercycle, sitting on my patio outside my office in plain view, as I blog and perform web 2.0 PPC-marketing tasks.
I tore a tiny bit of hamstring last year, by improperly lifting a 25.5-inch monitor in my office, so have been walking instead of cycling. No surgery required as it was just a thread.
I was up to fifteen-miles-per-day, five days per week, prior to the injury.
This kind of workout can be beneficial, just use moderation! Some of those people in the video are in pretty good shape.
Looking forward to meeting you again, perhaps at ASE09 in NYC?
That’s if I can make a living ‘on-line’!
Respectfully,
Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
Nicholas Chases last blog post..Guy Kawasaki’s New Book – ‘Reality Check’
Jim Kukral on February 26th 2009 at 05:46 PM
Now I gotta get in shape, thanks for all the comments.
tantowi on March 1st 2009 at 02:35 PM
One thing that internet users hate is being solicited for business. This does not mean that you cannot use social networking to your advantage; it just means that you need to be careful with how you do it.
Tuesday on March 4th 2009 at 10:40 AM
Hi Jim! I think Twitter is really emerging as the new way to do things now. But I agree with tantawi that we have to be careful with bringing spam to tweets. I still think permission marketing works best for conversions.