Grand Rapids Chalk Flood 2009
by RichardDemingPhotography

The Detroit News has an interesting feature on how Michigan companies are learning to use Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and other social media sites. Social media advertising is projected to climb 68% to $7.5 billion this year and jump to $38 billion by 2015, so it's definitely something that savvy business owners need to incorporate into their strategies. David Murray, president of the Social Media Club in Detroit, says:

"Honestly, companies need to stop looking at their customers as numbers, and they need to start looking at them as people," said . "You want to make sure you're not on Facebook just to be on Facebook."

They discuss Nestle's failure in the realm successes and talk about successes by companies like Ford and although they miss Michigan's Twitter leader, Biggby Coffee CEO Bob Fish who uses his biggbybob Twitter to drive traffic as he drives around Michigan, they do feature one of my favorite Michigan companies, Moosejaw*:

Moosejaw has used Twitter numerous times to help customers replace stolen products.

After learning a customer's coat was stolen, Moosejaw asked its Twitter followers to vote on a replacement. Two hundred votes later, the Madison Heights retailer shipped the winning jacket to the customer.

Social media provide an "opportunity to surprise customers and delight them with something unique," Moosejaw spokesman Gary Wohlfeill said.

You can connect with Absolute Michigan on Facebook, join the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr (there's a great photo contest) and follow me on Twitter! Do you have a story about how YOUR business or organization is using social media?   Share it in the comments!!

* seriously - sign up for their email - you will laugh your head off!

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