Sometimes all it takes to stay awake is a little stimulation.

With a beta launch of their Ballers Network on Facebook underway and plans for future expansion into other products, it is possible that Nike could be the first major corporation to truly enhance their bottom line through social networking.

The keys to launching a strong corporate social networking site are:

  • User Focus - Make it useful, fun, and informative for your customers and potential customers.  People do not want to participate in networks that simply advertise new products or offer specials.
  • Niche Building - Having a social network is nice, but creating one that is THE place to go for participants passionate in a particular niche is extremely important when it comes to making a network stand out.
  • Product Tie-Ins - In the end, a social network should make a splash on the bottom line.  People have shown that they are willing to spend money on a product if the benefits work both ways: the product must enhance the use of the network and the network must enhance the use of the product.
  • Event Tie-Ins - The Internet is loaded with ways to learn about and register for events.  By using the social network to improve the efficiency and communication of events, especially ones that are locally focused but involve multiple venues, the overall value of the network will be enhanced.
  • Set Community Goals - Nike+ is getting close to logging 100 Million Miles amongst their users.  To promote this, they ask a very simple question:

After all is said and done, don’t forget.  A social network is made for socializing.  There should be ways for users to communicate with each other as well as management within the corporation.  If all of these things are done, a strong social network can be built that will succeed where most others have failed. Here’s a video advertisement about the Nike product.

* * *

Click Social Networking Inquiries to request more information or help with building a corporate social network.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Be Social and Get the Word Out:
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Mixx
  • Propeller
  • NewsVine
  • Slashdot
  • del.icio.us
  • Sphinn
  • TwitThis
  • Facebook
  • Blogosphere News
  • Blue Dot
  • Technorati

14 Responses to “Nike Corporate Social Networks”

  1. Nike+, Runners Set Roadmap for Corporate Social Networks | DiggoMania Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 9:23 am

    [...] read more | digg story [...]

  2. Nike+ Shows the Path for Big Companies Using Social Networks « Tony Chopp Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 9:27 am

    [...] article from Media Caffine here. Posted in Uncategorized [...]

  3. Trigeia Twinz Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 10:06 am

    This is a great Tool for all of us that Nike interest.

    Trigeia Twinz

    http://www.TrigeiaBlog.com

    What’s Your Passion ?

    Trigeia Twinzs last blog post..We posted this in August. History was made.

  4. Just do it… like Nike « Hoehn’s Musings Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    [...] Here’s a pretty good article about how Nike has leveraged their social network. [...]

  5. Matt Foley Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    I would say that the first two - “user focus” and “niche building” are the most generally applicable tips for corporations using social networks. It’s those two more than anything else that are going to drive people to actually want to engage with these networks. Community goals are nice and drive sustained participation, but it’s having that singular focus on providing something of value that helps the most.

    Just my humble opinion :)

    Matt
    PluggedIN Co.
    http://www.pluggedinco.com/blog

  6. CheyenneJack Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    This is just a splash in the bucket for vertical virtual community markets.

    There is probably an infinite number of vertical markets out there, especially considering global presence where people have not interacted yet
    now some of those communities could be profitable, some could be active and others may not move, but they exist and are only now being touched.

    In the next 7-8 years we won’t even know the world as it is today. Avatars will be doing our shopping, Intelligent Computer Friends will act as Dieticians, Trainers and more. There is even a use case for doctors on a beach vacation to utilize his mobile phone as a virtual tool in performing a rare emergency surgery.

    I’m running a vertical network based upon the mohawk hairstyle, http://www.MohawksRock.com and its fascinating to watch the growth and Key Opinion Leaders blossom in what would seemingly be a non-existant community until the lense of a world picture was applied to find a rich community of extreme hair enthusiasts.

    CheyenneJacks last blog post..Regator of Decatur

  7. Matt Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    Interactivity or connectivity did nothing for Nike+ as a “social network.” The site would have thrived regardless of whether you could connect with users. the transparency provided by the Nike+ chip and innovative, and could have easily launched independently of a social network.

    The “purpose” you mentioned is probably what really drove the site’s success. Building a community around running was something new to the market. Nike connected people through the public events. This created a great experience–something entirely different than owning a piece of leather and plastic.

  8. Nike+, Runners Set Roadmap for Corporate Social Networks « JeffBennett.Org Says:
    November 13th, 2008 at 4:03 am

    [...] read more | digg story [...]

  9. jammer Says:
    May 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am

    Nike sucks!

  10. Nate Holland Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I think this is a great site for Nike enthusiasts. 1, I guess, it’s mainly because you get to keep track of how far you’ve run and how you’re doing. 2, is that it sounds like a great place to get to meet people who share the same interests as you do. Not only are you updated in all things related to the product, but you can get to converse with other people on the site. It’s a great way to connect, maybe even have a friendly competition every now and then. I sure will be checking this out.

  11. daniel Says:
    October 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 am

    What did they do that Coke, General Motors, and several other large corporations did not do?

  12. slit Says:
    October 13th, 2009 at 12:18 am

    Nice Article and good tool. Thanks in advance, best regards slit

  13. max shoes Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    While sales of related products have hit $56 million, it is a drop in the bucket for a company that posted $18.63 billion in sales in fiscal 2008.

  14. Marie Leonard Says:
    February 5th, 2010 at 10:58 am

    It does look like Nike knows the meaning of social networking done the right way. They are paying attention to trends and have smart online marketers handling their account in a way other biggies like, Coke and General Motors have not.

    Let’s just say, they sprang ahead of the crowd and put their best foot forward!

Leave a Reply