Can social media connect suppliers with consumers?

Last month packaging and brush supplier Qosmedix launched its official Twitter account and is now utilizing it to connect with consumers by encouraging interaction and highlighting newly launched products.

The latest arrivals to the Qosmedix range are latex-free oblong blending sponges, and two new clear polystyrene sifter jars with a twist/lock feature that helps prevent contents from spilling or collecting in the cap.

As well as the usual means of publicizing the launch, the New York-based firm has turned to its latest addition, the social networking tweet tool, to send the message to consumers.

“It’s critical to be on top of social media marketing, for all industries,” Sari Sternschein, marketing director, told CosmeticsDesign.com USA. “I come from an online marketing background (in the cosmetics industry), which evolves and changes every day.”

Nowadays social media is ubiquitous

In the past there were only a handful of TV channels or newspapers that companies could use to advertise, however nowadays, the US population has access to hundreds of TV channels and media outlets, and with technology such as TiVo, they can even choose to avoid the adverts.

So companies need to find a new way to reach consumers, and do so on their level. Social media websites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are becoming more ubiquitous in the daily lives of consumers, with over 100 million active users in America alone, each connected to over 100 friends; a massive networking opportunity.

Whilst the savvy consumer is switched on and is more likely to doubt the claims of advertisers and marketers, they are more likely to trust friends and family. Thus, if companies can utilize these platforms effectively they can spread positive word of mouth and build more brand loyalty.

These platforms can also help bring smaller brands to the forefront and Qosmedix says it has turned to social media as it believes it has great potential to inform a worldwide audience about a company and its products.

It all starts somewhere

The Qosmedix Twitter page is still relatively young and small in size, but there is already interaction and many links to its YouTube account which was set up last year when the company begun its social media strategy.

At the time, Sternschein explained that Qosmedix was very meticulous in planning its social media strategy in order to ensure the audience remained engaged.

“We wanted to start with YouTube because we have interesting and relevant content for our viewers. In addition the instant feedback you receive is amazing,” she said.

Developing the strategy and making it work was key to Qosmedix as it developed its social networking presence as creating a social media strategy is not just about creating a Facebook page or various site accounts.