Your Local Walmart

When people say social media they usually think Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.  The first thing that comes to mind are the modern ways that people stay connected to their friends.  What people don't realize right away is that large corporations are leveraging social media to expand their client base.

Some of the biggest users of social media include Ford, Zappos, IBM, Starbucks and Walmart.  Walmart is one of the heaviest users of social media.  They use it for many different things including advertising, promoting products, community involvement and connecting with consumers.  Walmart has been able capitalize on the growing social media trend.

WalMart has a presence on twitter, Facebook and many other social media platforms.  They have been leaders in the way large companies use social media especially in reference to Facebook.  In an effort to create a more personalized experience on Facebook, Walmart is creating what they call local Walmart.

Walmart has found a way to make their millions of Facebook fans have a more personal experience.  They are creating over 3,500 Walmart Facebook pages, one for every store.  This will help increase consumer confidence and make individuals have a more personal connection.  Walmart being one of the largest retailers in the world is doing this to show they are not just this mega company but that they are down to earth.

Walmart has transformed the way they connect with customers.  They can now individualize products to consumers.  Customers can use this new tool to find out about specific stores and talk to local people.  This process of localizing will allow Walmart to make personal connections they never have before.

Walmart is known for being this large corporation, now they are able to directly connect with customers.  This is something larger corporations can have a problem with.  Social media has allowed for many companies to create better relationships with customers.  




By:  Jovie Reeves

Social Media Lends A Helping Hand To Young Entrepreneurs

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and with the economy at what for the young generation is "at its worst", social media is lending a helping hand to young entrepreneurs and soon-to-be college graduates.

Social media has allowed room to create and grow within ourselves and communicate with people all over the world... at absolutely no cost. With jobs being scarce for upcoming graduates and banks not loaning money to young entrepreneurs because they are "high risk," social media allows almost anyone to create an idea and expand on the creation of what could be something great, before taking out loans and putting them in debt up to their shoulders; you just need to put in the time. The best part? You get to test your theories and business plans by taking polls from your viewers and see the possible success rate your budding business or idea could really have, just by taking advantage of the helping hand social media really does give us!

I, myself, am a singer/songwriter who began recording music just because it was what I liked to do. After just one short year of having a YouTube account and a MySpace music page, I had been listed as one of the "ones to look for" by MySpace.com and two weeks later, I was recording with producers who've won Grammys for producing music for Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston! A month after that I was signing a publishing deal with Universal Music Group. If it wasn't for social media, I know I wouldn't have gotten the recognition for my art in what has now become my career, owning my own recording studio in Clearwater, Florida, as well as a management company, Paige Marie Management.

Connections and relationships made through social media are indeed there for the taking, especially for young goal oriented individuals. Take advantage of the helping hand!



By Paige Garrity

Cyber Monday

November 21--As we all know Black Friday is right around the corner. Black Friday is an unofficial shopping holiday, which according to the National Retail

Federation more than 128 million people will participate in this year. Black Friday has been around for decades, however since 2005 Cyber Monday, has been created and being celebrated on the Monday following Black Friday. Cyber Monday is an unofficial shopping holiday just like Black Friday, however it is has been created for online shopping.

Cyber Monday has been created for those who either missed Black Friday or prefer online shopping. Retailers are persuading shoppers to get online and shop. So if you’re not one of the 128 million who is getting out this Friday to shop, you still have Monday. In addition to stores offering the same in-store deals they will on Black Friday, sites offer special hour-to-hour deals and free shipping. Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Walmart.com, Apple.com and the Gap.com, just to name a few sites offering some of the best deals.

According to the Shop.org, 8 out of 10 online retailers will offer promotions on Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday allows you to skip the madness of Black Friday but not miss out on the deals. "Consumers have come to expect the absolute best online holiday deals on Cyber Monday," Pam Goodfellow, BIGresearch Consumer Insights Directo. BIGresearch is a marketing research firm that conducts surveys for the National Retail Federation and provides analysis of consumer behavior.

According to research firm IBISWorld, Cyber Monday sales are expected to hit a record $1.2 billion, which is a 12.4 percent increase from last year.

If shopping this Monday on Cyber Monday, you should go to the sites you plan on shopping on sometime this weekend before Cyber Monday to check out any promotions or deals they may be mentioning before hand. Also Sign up to receive e-mail and text alerts on Monday from these sites. If you don’t have one already, create shopping accounts with the retailers where you know your going to shop to save time and also insure that you will receive alerts from them.

So if you miss Black Friday, your favorite stores are online, or you prefer to do your shopping online, this Monday, Cyber Monday is your holiday.

By Emma Behringer