With the holidays fast approaching, retailers are on the web in full force using social media to promote new products, drive sales, and alert customers to the hottest deals. The Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping spree brought with it some aggressive social media tactics. Which retailers took an original approach? Were the big brands all doing the same thing—and could they have done anything better?

Here’s a look at the approach a few retailers are taking this holiday season:

Toys”R”Us

Toys”R”Us, the world’s biggest toy and baby products retailer, used social media to great effect during the 2009 holiday shopping season. The toy giant was especially active on Facebook, where it tempted over 420,000 fans with persistent Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers:

• Cyber Monday Sneak Peek
• More Cyber Monday Savings
• Extended Black Friday Deals
• Recap of Black Friday Doorbusters

Fans were also asked to vote for their favorite Black Friday deal. Elsewhere on its Facebook page, Toys”R”Us is giving away Deal of the Day coupons, encouraging fans to make Wish Lists, and taking votes for Hottest Toy of the Year. This season Toys”R”Us has also partnered with celebrity Shaquille O’Neal to collect money for the “Shaq Give Back” charity drive. For every new Facebook fan, Toys”R”Us will donate $1 worth of toys to Toys For Tots. It’s a great way for Toys”R”Us to incentivize participation in its social media efforts while driving sales. Toys”R”Us has also been busy on Twitter (@toysrus) where it tweets daily about deals, special offers, and more.

Mall of America

Mall of America, the largest mall in the United States, is using social media to keep shoppers engaged and informed about many things this season. They’re finding innovative ways to use Twitter, including tips on where to park on busy shopping days, using the #moaparking hashtag:

Mall of America’s also kept its Twitter (@mallofamerica) updated with plenty of Black Friday deals, special giveaways and promotions, and charity event reminders.

Elsewhere in social media, Mall of America used its YouTube channel to broadcast Santa’s arrival at the mall, and other special Black Friday events.

K’NEX

K’NEX, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, is engaging kids and parent shoppers this season with a social media campaign that leverages Facebook and YouTube. K’NEX encourages youngsters to “imagine, build, and play” with its integrated building system and is very active in social media this season. On its Facebook page, K’NEX is aggregating deals, third-party product reviews/mentions, and showcasing customer creations. K’NEX is also promoting its Sesame Street line of building sets, coinciding with Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary. To tie in with its Sesame Street social media efforts this holiday, K’NEX is giving away 2 tickets to Sesame Place as well as Sesame Street toys, which is being promoted around the blogosphere.

Have you noticed retailers using social media much more this holiday season? Tell us what you’ve seen that you like, whether or not it’s been helpful to you, or how retailers can do it better next year.

Comments(1)

1 Comment »

1. very good article. Thanks

     Comment by bodrum otelleri — January 16, 2010 @ 3:37 pm

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