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To all of of you fantastic #High5 people who read this:
- ONLINE – Sharing comments, retweets, pushing a like button, asking a question etc in channels such as  Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and other places, we feel connected with you even if you are far, far away.
- FANS – who encourage and send virtual and real hugs when needed the most and spread the #High5:s
- CLIENTS – who trust us and engage with us on a continual basis.
- PEOPLE – we meet in real life at events, meetings and networks. You rock our world and make it happen.
- FOLLOWERS – we look forward to more interaction with you in 2012.

2012 will be a honest, straight forward year with many #High5 projects to manage and enable. We look forward to it.

For all the joy we have experienced this past year, I (+every co-worker that have been apart of the Awoque-team in Göteborg) want to say thank you and lots of big hugs.

Have a fabulous end of 2011. We will take a pause here on the blog and see you again on January 9 2012!

MERRY CHRISTMAS  & A HAPPY NEW YEAR !

We often find that companies focus on the big four channels: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and LinkedIn – Social Media, right?  Social media is a powerful medium for two-way communication.  But when companies take a different perspective and focus on the “Social” side, it allows their organization to think outside the box.

Focus on the social side

My issue with the term “social media”is that for the uninitiated it is biased toward digital marketing. This is why I often refrain from using the term when meeting clients. I want to avoid any perceived borders or limitations when looking at ways being social can positively impact an organization’s business, process, sales, development, inspiration, etc.

Companies need to stop trying to shoe horn social media into their business and instead start looking at the bigger picture of  becoming a social organization.

The past few years Facebook (and other channels) for businesses, have more or less been the domain of marketing departments. However, customer support managers and their teams are also getting involved.

For companies looking to harness social media, channels such as Facebook and Twitter can serve as an alternate customer support channel, providing customers with access to customer cervices (Live Chat, Click to Call, etc), frequently asked questions,product reviews, customer groups, store locations, etc.

Today a number of companies around the world are using, or switching to social channels to provide better customer and after sales support/experiences. As we are based in Sweden, we’d like to acknowledge a few companies we think are doing a good job.

SEB
SEB is a Swedish based bank that uses Facebook to extend their customer support and they do it very well. They have a team of dedicated staff monitoring and answering customer queries. It is fast becoming the support channel of choice for their socially savvy customers.

SEB Facebook Support

Binero

Binero, is a web hotel company based in Kista that has extended their customer support to Twitter. Binero answer any question, no matter what it is. They are quick at responding, will call you back if you leave your number and the service is available 7 days week (open times are posted on their Twitter account). You can also see the people who answer your questions in the Tweetologer.

Binero Twitter Support

SJ
SJ is Sweden’s state run train company, which is using Facebook to imprrove their customer service.

O.k, if you live in Sweden you are probably shocked to see SJ in this list. True the company has had serious issues. However, I have placed them in the list as an example of a company facing their issues head on. Most companies are afraid of negative comments but SJ are using social media to answer customer complaints. Hopefully, SJ not only respond to complaints but act on them too.

SJ Facebook Support

On another note, it is also very important for companies to consider how social media support services integrates into their existing customer support processes, in order to avoid inefficiencies and increased costs.

If you want to understand how social media can be used to enhance your customer support services give us a call.

Time to sum up another “High Five-week” at Awoque. Each day, we learn new things and evolve with them. That is what an entrepreneurial company does. We try though, to stay focused on great people, gathering positive energy, to deliver fantastic results . Then we shorten the link between our client’s and their fans through appropriate communication channels, social media tools and technical devices. But sometimes, just sometimes, funny things happen.

If you use a smartphone, you will know what I mean, especially if you have auto correct on. Sometimes the function helps a lot but sometimes (or even most times) it creates fuzz and misunderstandings. I have been frustrated many times since I recieived my Iphone on this point. However, I finally got the hang of it – simply tripple check everything you write

Here are some stories that show my point, enjoy and happy weekend ; )!

Did you set goals for 2011 all ready? Did you decide to drive your brand passionately in the various social media channels? Here is some inspiration and this year´s first videoblog on YouTube.

Starting a blog or have one all ready? Did you choose the most efficient ones that your customers use when they look for your services online? Selecting the right keywords is the foundation to all Search Engine Optimization. Here are a few guidelines, want to get more in depth information , get in touch!

1. Start by checking your selection of words with Google’s keyword tool – Google Adwords. Find out what other words people usually combine them with. Make sure to add those words to your list to spice up your marketing efforts online.

2. When writing blog posts try to use as many of your top ten keywords in every blog post.I keep a list of our keywords close by when I start writing as a “note to self”.

3. Create matching link categories that you check depending on the content of your blog post. A link category guides the reader to “chapters” on the similar themes, based on keywords.

4. Finally remember to add tags, a listing of the keywords you used in the post, increases the chance that your words will be found by your target audience.

5. Over time go back and update your list of keywords. They are great to use in all your social media channels.

No matter how low you get, never give up. This man had a sign and continued holding it up – for food, for money, to survive. Ted had a gift, a golden voice that finally gave him the attention he deserved.

A great story and talk about viral spin on YouTube and many other channels? Millions and millions of views all ready. I wish Ted all the best.

If you want suggestions on a good cause to support -social media for social good – or have ideas that can change lives, gives us a call or post a comment below.

In the midst of the seasonal rush hour, we want to wish all our clients, fans, friends, co-workers and future acquaintances around the world a Merry Christmas, GOD JUL (in Swedish).

We all deserve a break, a time to pause and reflect. These past few months, since we started awoque in August, have been amazing. What a crazy fun last few months meeting all of you in various forums, feeds, meetings online and IRL (in real life). We, Paul and I,  set out to build a company based on our passion for social media with a focus on great people and fun projects. So far, I am thankful for the result and feel even more confident that when you follow your heart, your dreams can come true. I look forward to follow the ring action we started in various channels. I know that the passion we just began to tap into, will keep the rings spreading. If you want to know more, keep and eye here on the blog or get in touch!

This year (and next), we choose to sponsor a fantastic event, the World Transplant Games 2011 in Göteborg. Please follow us  next year, when we promise to “Make Life Happen”. If you live in Sweden, make your choice, enable life at Donationsregistret>>

From both of us to all of you – Merry Christmas! Lots of love!