Capers in 140 Characters or less:
“Decorating, entertaining and gift ideas tailored towards people in Northwest, urban homes.”
Capers has taken many forms over the years, from coffee to cushions, and their social media approach is no exception. You can find this West Seattle business presence on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger.
Lisa Myers, the woman behind the business, sees social media as simply another platform to spread a message to the community. Although she calls herself “not technically savvy”, she has relied on numerous sources to guide her experience, including a marketing degree, reading books on social media, attending Social Media Breakfasts in Seattle, simple trial and error, and when in doubt, turning to a fifteen-year-old friend for advice. One of the messages she took to heart is the goal to showcase, not sell your product.
Lisa decided to focus her attention on one subject, a “Cute Chair of the Day” or “C2otD”. She wanted one thing that was visually interesting, maintained consistency, and something that she could talk about on a regular basis. This concept exists on their Twitter, Facebook and blog sites, along with regular updates about sales and in-store events, and has generated reader comments, feedback, and even sales. She also recognizes her strengths and limitations. Lisa maintains the Facebook and Twitter sites, but shares blogging responsibility with a coworker with a talent for writing.
Capers has had mixed reactions to their experiments on social media. They have had immediate responses to Twitter posts, to the point where cashiers were unaware that a message had even been distributed, counterbalanced with zero response to an announcement of discounted sales. Lisa recognizes the value of followers, but struggles with the inequity there seems to be between pages that have a lot of activity (like hers) and others that lack an active presence yet have acquired a large critical mass of fans. This is a conundrum that is being addressed more and more in social media; that the number of fans/followers does not equate to more effectiveness, rather, it is the quality that goes the distance.
Amidst these challenges, Capers stays committed to the real goal of social media- connecting the community. West Seattle on Social Media, Capers and a few others are partnering for a “Tweet-up” or a gathering of local businesses and consumers at Capers on Wednesday, February 17th at 6:30pm. All are welcome, from businesses to community members looking to mingle and get to know their neighbors. We hope to see you there!
Capers
4525 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
206-932-0371
http://caperscapers.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Capers
Twitter: @CAPERS_home
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