For companies who move unique cargo or travel to meet partners or host others from far away, pictures or videos shared online are a tremendous way to create a closer, personal connection with customers and prospects. If your company does any of those things, you should seriously investigate a corporate account on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Vine or a similar service.
Let’s face it, sometimes moving big things requires really big conveyances.
Copyright Dockwise.
Considering that more than ninety percent of the world’s cargo moves by ocean, it’s easy to grow bored with containers. But when you unveil a ship that can carry more than 19,000 containers, the world takes an interest.
Moving animals around the world, especially ones as rare as pandas, generate tremendous publicity opportunities that can be recycled and repurposed for months and years to come. Who doesn’t find most animals cute? And wouldn’t your customers think that if you can handle something as precious as a panda without incident that their cargo would be relatively easier in comparison?
If your company has photo or video worthy content from your facilities or traveling employees, why not share them online? Here are a few suggestions.
- Instagram: A photo and video sharing platform, people can follow other people or brands. They most recently introduced sponsored posts (I’ve seen several for Lexus appear in my feeds) that are meant to look like a typical Instagram picture. Users can search for images by hashtag (#instalogistics, #dreamlifter, #aircargo). Why not promote your company with a hashtag for your name or slogan?
- Vine: Owned by Twitter, Vine allows users to create six second videos and share them, also with hashtags. Good for a quick walk around a warehouse, port, rail yard, giant piece of cargo or something else to capture two or three moving images and make a quick introduction.
- YouTube: The granddaddy of video sites, there are one hundred hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute. Pick global brand logistics companies and chances are you’ll find their channels with either commercials, promotional videos, or footage of their people speaking about topics.
- Facebook: As a family member pointed out, when you walk through an office, more people are scrolling through Facebook on their phones than LinkedIn (which has legitimate uses, but it’s sure not for that personal “keeping in touch” sensation). Using Facebook to reach the younger employees at your customers is a great way for them to stay in touch with your brand if they’re not paying attention to other streams.
As with all social media, do not underestimate the force multiplier of having your employees or followers put this content into their streams, which starts to reach second and third tiers and unrelated parties, and maybe a potential customer or two along the way.