Organization name: FedEx
Industry: Air Courier Services, Shipping
Web references: FedEx on Instagram, Five B2B Intragram Feeds to Emulate
Description of how social media is used for business performance
In early December 2014, Instagram announced they now have more than 300 million monthly users, readily topping the 288 million active Twitter users, as reported earlier this month.
Early adopters of Instagram were teenagers posting selfies, but these days, the site is taking off as a B2B social media tool, allowing well-known brands and companies to engage their customers in unique ways.
One example of this is the FedEx Instagram feed. With 12,600 followers, the FedEx feed is all about “connecting people and possibilities around the world.”
The images are visually stunning:
And cute:
And display FedEx’s history and global reach:
And just in case anyone thinks FedEx might not be up to the task of delivering their complicated shipment, they proudly display a broad range of competence:
In a more B2C/customer engagement play, the feed also invites followers to post their “happiest unboxing photos.” More puppies.
Customer’s are encouraged to participate in the fun, and they do:
Not surprisingly, FedEx planes and trucks feature prominently, as does evidence of corporate sponsorship and employee involvement.
All of this is in line with Instagram’s forward focus, which, as stated by their CEO Kevin Systrom in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, is as a platform for brand advertising:
“…Our real value in the long run is going to be in the advertising space. We’re doing advertising in a fairly unique way. It’s brand advertising. We’re seeing a lot of resonance with advertisers because of that.
Lessons for Others
In their feed, FedEx successfully, but relatively simply, sells itself as global, visually compelling, competent, and cute. They use the feed to express their whimsical side and show-off the many facets of the organization. They have successfully taken a fairly dry business and made it appear more attractive and exciting.
Submitted by: Debra L. Beck
To contact the author of this entry please email at: debrabeck@decamedicalwriting.com
If you have concerns as to the accuracy of anything posted on this site please send your concerns to Peter Carr, Programme Director, Social Media for Business Performance.