At Chatterkick, we’ve long touted the movie “Chef” as a must-see for all of our social media clients. Not only is a great film with an all-star cast (Jon Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, Sofía Vergara, and so many others you will no doubt recognize), it’s a life-affirming story featuring food, family, and the do’s and don’ts of social media.
[Note: While this blog will contain movie spoilers, it will do anything but spoil your appetite or your ability to cook up some great social strategies for your own business).
Know Thy Platforms
There are a ton of social media platforms out there beyond Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. If you’re going to be on them for personal or for business use make sure you understand how they work, what they can do, and how to reign them in. We’re all for learning as you go, but tread carefully so as not to make it an expensive lesson. Chef Carl Casper found out the hard way when he sent a message meant only for his food critic, yet was sent to the entire Twitterverse by mistake.
NOTE: We don’t have .gif for this because the message is a little explicit. Which only underlies the fact that if you don’t want your kids to read it, you probably shouldn’t say it, private message or no).
Avoid The Frenzy.
http://giphy.com/gifs/robert-downey-jr-chef-jon-favreau-alWNZxcbCQQX6
Which leads us to the next important point. The saying “It’s not personal, it’s business.” is never more true than in social media. It’s hard not to take negative reviews or comments personally, and even harder not to respond in kind. Don’t. There are plenty of low road exits on the information superhighway, and none of them take your reputation or your business where it needs to go. Use negative reviews as a chance to connect with your fan base, and take the opportunity to educate, as well as learn, in a positive way.
Authenticity/Transparency.
http://giphy.com/gifs/chef-john-leguizamo-movie-PiLu5KXeUjpny
Your business is great for a reason, and social media gives you so many ways to show your true colors through images, stories, videos, stop motion, quotes, and music. People love to get behind-the-scenes glimpses; they want to see the sweat, the dirt, the agony, the passion and the transformation. When they are more engaged in the process, they are more emotionally connected to you and your business, which can only mean good things for your bottom line. Invite them along the journey and into the conversation, and don’t be afraid to be your weird self.
Location. Location. Location.
http://giphy.com/gifs/scarlett-johansson-chef-jon-favreau-Lr9aQ6VLsyva8
While America’s landscape may speak for itself, it’s basically voiceless until it is seen and shared. So share it as you see it. There’s something pretty magical about sharing experiences live and in real time. Chef Carl (or rather, his 10-year-old son) capitalized on the road trip by keeping fans engaged every mile along with way with geo-tagged posts, images, and short updates. It just goes to show that if you want a crowd to follow you wherever you go, make sure to tell them when and where to be.
Food porn.
http://giphy.com/gifs/chef-jon-favreau-chef-movie-11ju74x4a965SU
Repeat after us: Good looking food ALWAYS wins. Always. Even if food is completely unrelated to your business. Share your favorite recipes, whether it’s the meal you are looking forward to after a long day of work or a tradition you can’t wait to share with your followers. We’re a big fan of coffee images because, well, coffee.
People, Places & Things.. But Mostly People.
http://giphy.com/gifs/chef-jon-favreau-i-really-enjoyed-this-movie-B7kaSBAT43acE
Get your audience to see themselves as this police officer, and they will fall over themselves for the next opportunity. You don’t have to go so far as to recreate Lady and the Tramp. People want to feel Seen and Important, and they want to feel the places where they live and the products they buy are noticeable and important, too. Explore the unique ways you can do this with your business (don’t worry, we can help you brainstorm).
Make Time.
http://giphy.com/gifs/chef-jon-favreau-i-really-enjoyed-this-movie-VbNKb3RrmUZ4k
If a 10-year-old with a phone can execute an online strategy, so can you. It may take another set of hands or a whole team of them (ahem). However you tackle it, don’t wait. If your doors are open, your social media platforms should be, too.
Chatterkick Team
The Chatterkick team is made up of envelope-pushers, big thinkers, brainstormers, and conversation starters. We live and breathe social media advertising and all its analytics and data. We love to create engaged, happy social media communities around businesses, and we are dedicated to creating a glowing brand reputation, culture, and voice for our clients. This blog was brought to you in collaboration with multiple Chatterkick team members. Follow me on Twitter