I'm developing a report on how two different organizations use social media.
The first organization is IGN. IGN is a news site dedicated primarily to video games, but they also cover movies, TV, comic books, and everything in-between.
IGN uses both Facebook and twitter religiously to update its followers on what is going on in the industry. I want to get video game news as fast as it breaks. Following IGN on twitter is the best way for me to get that information. They use both Facebook and Twitter to announce and link new articles as they're published to their site. They're targeting anyone who has interests in anything they cover on their website.
IGN will often tweet and post to it's followers when they ask questions. They also have a lot of giveaways on social media as well. So it's beneficial for you to get the information you want and get free stuff. Who doesn't love that? There main source of income is advertisement revenue through article visits and site hits. Their social media often directs you to their site. Which in return gets them money through ad revenue.
The second organization is Gamestop. Gamestop is a video game retail store. They sell video games online and in their 6,000 plus stores.
Gamestop uses both Twitter and Facebook. Unfortunately what they post on their Facebook feed and Twitter feed are identical. Not to say the information is bad, it's just all the same.
Gamestop's primary use of social media is to advertise upcoming releases of video games and video game consoles. So that you can pre-order what you want through their company. They also plug game discounts, and sales on used video games they sell. They are using this service as another way to advertise to their targeted audience of gamers. Gamestop seems to only use the platform for advertising purposes. There is hardly any interaction with their followers.
In comparison I think IGN uses social media better. But they don't have to try and sell anything for their business to succeed. It's a tough comparison in that regard, but the way they operate makes it easier to get value from their social media.
Great comparison between a company that wants to inform followers and a company that wants to sell products.
ReplyDeleteCompanies that have the same audience but different objectives just another way to show how social media can be tailored to fit a companies specific needs.
ReplyDeleteSounds like IGN really knows how to gain followers and use its social media to make money even though it doesn't sell anything.
ReplyDeleteMaybe GameStop would get more followers through interaction with people on social media, as more followers = more customers = more revenue.
It's interesting to see how 2 companies in a similar industry have different approaches to social media.
ReplyDeletei love ign. and know and hate GameStops sales-tatics. but overall nice post and agree with all of it. but i think you may have missed the SM strategies.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a gamer and it sounds like Facebook or Twitter would not provide much feedback as to which games are dudes or which are not. It seems as if it's more advertising.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame to think that both companies have identical posts on both their social media accounts. You would think that they would at least have the time (let alone the money) to have a reason for you to follow both accounts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great comments everyone! The feedback is much appreciated. I'd like to do video game writing someday so this is a start.
ReplyDeleteDig it. You are a God amongst men when it comes to video games, so naturally, you will fit right in when you land a job in the gaming industry. Great article!
ReplyDeleteThanks dude!
DeleteI checked out IGN's twitter. They do a pretty good job of covering a broad range of games. Also that is a sweet utility belt they are giving away.
ReplyDelete