On my day off, I was not outside enjoying the weather or sleeping in, but instead I chose to watch a video of Ramon DeLeon’s presentation at the Social Media Summit. I encourage you to watch it as well!
This being my second business conference, I expected very similar insights to the Alterian Engaging Times Summit. However, the Social Media Masters’ Summit instead focused more on the variety of case studies while interviewing the speakers and their thoughts on social media. Hope Bertram, the founder and creator of the Windy City Social, was very organized and timed the event well. A perfect mediator, she allowed me the time to write in my notebook, take yummy snack breaks, and introduce myself to speakers and neighboring guests.
There’s no question that several different speakers enhanced my understanding of social media and increased my appreciation of the art form that it is, yet, as any attendee can vouch, part of these new feelings and understandings were due to the relationship between owners and customers that Ramon painted through his use of pizza. I can only hope to one day to be one of those lucky patrons like my boss, interactiveAmy. Believe it or not, Amy was a first-hand witness to his concept of #RamonWOW. I recently discovered this story; Amy complained about bad Domino’s Pizza service, only for Ramon to respond via YouTube and Twitter. Not only did this situation evolve into a perfect case study and teaching opportunity, but also became a hit on YouTube. If you have time, please check out this video apology from Ramon DeLeon and you will see why his 6 Chicago Domino’s stores are so successful.
Ramon has WOWed over 125,000 people with his Videoapology!
Ramon saved interactiveAmy as a customer and gained a friend!
The most I took away from this summit were the tips that each speaker provided in their presentations. One that stuck out in my mind was the tip from Christopher Barger, Director of Global Social Media at General Motors who stated, “Think long-term. The greatest value of social is the relationship, not the initial interaction.” If you have a strong long-term relationship with a client, chances are that they will recommend other clients and speak highly of your consistent efforts and results. This also refers to Liz Strauss’s belief that mutation is good. If a professional has a long-term partnership with a client, a symbiotic relationship evolves; the client and professional grow from the experience as the client benefits from the professional. Thus, both parties continuously improve.
Overall, I can say that I have delved much deeper into social media and its benefits to companies. Hope’s Windy City Social Masters’ Summit presented a great take-away that helped me gain a better perspective on social media as a whole: social media is not just a business tool. In fact, the Windy City Social emphasizes the duality of social media; while social media is a unique and growing method to advance a business’s promotions and campaigns, it echoes a sense of responsibility and understanding of the customer’s daily life. In its own way, it personalizes relationships not only between management and customers, but from one person to another person. Without the Windy City Social, I’m not sure when I would have learned this important life lesson.
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