The Auto Writer

If you haven’t realized it yet, social media is an important platform whereby businesses can connect with customers, both current and potential. When it comes to the world of cars, General Motors and the Ford Motor Company have this sort of thing down pat, investing their time and resources into Facebook, MySpace and Twitter primarily. Other makes also have a presence in the social media world, but in my opinion the Blue Oval and the General are tops.

Buick LaCrosse Web Debut

This past June, GM rolled out its all new Buick LaCrosse online, a highly unusual and until then a unique way to present a new car to members of the media. I followed the release by watching the unveiling online while also exchanging Twitter tweets with other interested parties. Some of GM’s brass also were twittering including Susan Docherty who was Buick’s general manager at the time. Incidentally, Docherty was recently promoted and is now the new US Sales Chief and member of GM’s executive committee.

Ford is very active too, most recently having been behind the Fiesta Movement for many months now in a bid to raise awareness for the upcoming release of its new to North America subcompact. Most recently, the automaker launched “Fusion 41” a campaign to promote the Ford Fusion. The “41” designation comes from the Fusion Hybrid’s city mileage (it gets 36 mpg on the highway).

Your 2010 Ford Fusion

The Fusion 41 campaign is open to current 2010 Fusion owners, both hybrid and gas models. What Ford wants participants to do is to get four of their friends to join with them to form a team. If chosen, that team will compete with seven other teams in what Ford says will be a unique relay race.

To qualify, Ford Fusion owners must take a picture of themselves with their team sitting in the owner’s 2010 Fusion (after all, the Fusion does seat five adults). Then, applicants will need to go to their Facebook page to temporarily make it public and upload the photo to their Facebook page. Next, owners will need to tag everyone in the picture, and add “Fusion 41″ to the caption. All entries must be received before the clock strikes midnight on November 6, 2009.

Bizarro World?!

If all of this sounds complicated or even somewhat bizarre then you may have a point. However, research has shown that social media sites are increasingly one of the best ways to reach out to consumers.

Before the Fusion 41 program was developed, Ford expanded its presence on Facebook with a new application for its “Fusion + Hybrid” profile called “You Speak Green” that enables visitors to share their sustainable lifestyle suggestions.  The result? Since its launch in mid-July, more than 104,000 Facebook users have downloaded the application to their profile pages and 15,000 have posted tips.

So, let’s get with the program – social media is shaping the way that businesses promote their products as millions of people flock to these sites on a daily basis. Contests like Fusion 41 create a heck of a lot of buzz, a new way for spreading the word via the power of the world wide web.

Source: Ford Motor Company