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How You Make a Customer Smarter in 6 Seconds

Authors: Jay Baer Jay Baer
Posted Under: Content Marketing
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Jay Baer Blog PostI’ve been critical in the past of Vine, and brands’ often clumsy attempts to turn it into the next venue for “clever” real-time marketing.

But with a new series of 10 inherently useful Vines, Lowe’s demonstrates that six seconds is plenty of time to create Youtility.

“We try to provide content that has as much value, relevancy and utility as possible.” – Brad Walters, Lowe’s Director of Social Media and Emerging Platforms

This is precisely on point, and it’s gratifying to see a large retailer like Lowe’s eschewing the use of social media as the world’s shortest product circular, and instead finding ways to connect customers to beneficial information. According to Walters, the entire series of Vines were shot on an iPhone in a single day at agency BBDO’s offices in New York City. The agency worked with fashion photographer and emerging Vine genius Meagan Cignoli to storyboard and create the content. Several of the executions make robust use of the stop motion aspect of Vine, with almost a claymation vibe, including this one (good tip!) on paint tray liners:

The paint tray liner Vine is also noteworthy in that it doesn’t advocate for a purchase, and in fact actually recommends to the viewer an alternative so that they don’t have to buy a product from the company. Now THAT’s taking the long-term view of helpfulness and customer acquisition.

“We provide them with useful content, and they reward us by continuing to be loyal Lowe’s customers.” – Brad Walters, Lowe’s Director of Social Media and Emerging Platforms

While this Vine program is indeed terrific, it’s part of a broader Lowe’s initiative around Youtility. The Vines themselves were an offshoot of a prior, ongoing Facebook effort by the brand called Shareable Solutions, whereby they post helpful tips via a single photograph. Several of the Vines repurposed from the Shareable Solutions program, and according to Walters, the active Lowe’s Facebook community encouraged the company to try the Vine platform.

Lowe's_Facebook

This example, of crafting an ersatz watering can out of a milk jug, generated an astonishing 16,500+ engagements on Facebook, including nearly 3,000 shares.

Be a Digital Dandelion

This notion of repackaging and repurposing your successful content is critical, as companies of all sizes are attempting to create more and more information assets to trigger loyalty through Youtility. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You just need to “reimagine” the wheel, as Ann Handley of MarketingProfs often says. In this case, Lowe’s found something that worked in one place, and tweaked it for a different online venue. Smart.

But, the Lowe’s initiative around helpful content is even broader, as they’ve produced hundreds of how-tos on Youtube, including a new Springtime series of “3 Tips in 30 Seconds” videos that are somewhat like elongated Vines, with voiceover:

Facebook. Vine. YouTube. For Lowe’s, it all works together as parts of a master plan to win hearts and minds by teaching more and promoting less. What other companies are embracing Youtility on Vine, or elsewhere?

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