Advantage Of Social Media
Sony Mobile IndiaThe 2 major learnings from this case study of Sony Mobile are as follow:
Identifying the target group and its passion is the backbone of the success of social media marketing.
The quality of success depends on how effectively a company or brand can leverage its unique competitive attributes through contents, campaigns, contests, and interactions on social media platforms..
Sony Mobile India Over Achieved 2 Million Fans Through Social Media
Sony India Pvt Ltd. is a 100% subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan. As an integral part of its Asia pacific ventures and business expansion strategies, Sony Corporation established the Indian subsidiary on November 17, 1994. The Indian subsidiary offers a wide variety of consumer (digital) products in the segments of Home Video and Audio; Home Theater
System; Television and Projectors; Digital camera; Personal Audio; Play Stations; In-car Entertainment; Video Camera; Computer and Peripherals; Tablets; Smartphone and Storage Media and Batteries. Sony Mobile India is an official page of the company on Facebook to transform its ‘Xperia’ smart phones as the most popular choice of youth
in India.
Business Objectives of Sony Mobile India
In the smartphone segment and under the strategic wing of Sony Mobile India, the company had the following objectives to achieve:
- To grow the fan base and their engagement in the social media space.
- To make the customers and the target audience aware of the transformation of the brand from Sony Ericsson to Sony Mobile.
- To drive sales by leveraging its active presence in social media and through effective audience engagement.
Strategy Adopted By Sony Mobile India
Before adopting a strategy or an approach, the company did research to develop its insights about the emerging highly competitive, technology-driven smartphone market in India. The company formulated the following strategies to transform the brand popularity and drive its sales after observing its research:
- The company had selected Facebook and YouTube platforms to mark its presence on social media and hired the services from ‘2020 Social Media’ for building and nurturing its audiences.
- It focused on integrating its programs on social media, TVC and product launches for effective engagement of the audience through vibrant and youthful activities and contents.
- Tried to gain maximum strategic advantage and competitiveness with its two major attributes – Sound quality and stylish looks.
- Generated widespread awareness and social media engagement through a series of contests, quizzes, and crowdsourced content.
- Collaborated with Shiamak Davar, one of the best know choreographer and youth icon in India for organizing and leading the dance contests on the integrated platforms, including its extensions to college-level ground activities. Rewarded the winners of the different contests with Bravia TVs, sound accessories and Spiderman merchandise.
- Adopted the most effective content strategy by the engaging audience and through sharing of photo and video contests through a Facebook app and by running online campaigns, such as ‘LookBook’, ‘Go Thump! Live with Walkman’ and ‘Get Shorty’.
Results Achieved By Sony Mobile India
The following are the major results achieved by the company in its Xperia smartphone segment.
- The marketing team fulfilled the sales target of ‘Xperia S’ within three days of its launch.
- Sony Mobile’s fan base was dramatically increased from 500000 to over 2 million within 12 months of its presence on Facebook.
- The brand was recognized as the 10th most favorite youth brand in India by NM Incite.
- Sony Mobile reached 35 million users’ base before the completion of its first year of the managed Facebook campaign.
- On average the brand added more than 2000 fans every day on its Facebook page.
- The viral effect of its YouTube videos brought more than 1300 fans daily to its Facebook page.
Learnings
The 2 major learnings from this case study of Sony Mobile are as follow:
- Identifying the target group and its passion is the backbone of the success of social media marketing.
- The quality of success depends on how effectively a company or brand can leverage its unique competitive attributes through contents, campaigns, contests, and interactions on social media platforms.