I have spent a pleasurable Thanksgiving season in New York City. And as usual there is an overwhelming amount to do – almost to the point of confusion. What shall we do – where will we go, what is the best place to eat, shop, visit…
Social media to the rescue.
My friends and I had been planning this trip for months – so we set up a PBWiki to collaborate and choose our priorities. When it came to making restaurant bookings, we had our short list based on the reviews of others that we found online. With many Broadway shows dark due to the strike, we explored new entertainment options – all of which we discovered from local online reviews. We found the right Tribes for the time we were NYC and connected through the online world.
For getting around, the blogosphere found the ready-to-use subway maps from a local iPhone devotee. A quick import and, together with Google Maps we had the whole city at our finger tips.
It was by narrowing the focus of our personal and group interests that we could find the right thing and our best options for fun, entertainment and more. Just like a focused Google search, so to do the local social media sites provide great exploration and insight.
The lesson for marketers? Tell your focused story in engaging detail. Someone is looking for you — so you need to be specific to help them find you and to capture their interest when they do.