Breweries using social media as the primary source for info. Thoughts?

$20 a month hosting? Hardly an issue. It doesn't need to be crazy, it just needs to be kept updated with fresh info.

 

Voted no. I don't mind if they do both simultaneously, but I would rather see a cool site, where I can look for an update from a specific brewery instead of scrolling through a list of breweries, family, and friends.

 

Great point that I was hesitant to make because of the demographics here in recent years. Given that FB is so interactive, that means that it is often involving the shenanigans of the younger crowd... and many of us really don't care to endure that crap when on a brewer's FB page.

 

Some just don't know how to design a page though and would be better off to hire someone to do it.

Ugh...

Just awesome

Dafuq?

 

Hahaha, my site isn't much better than those. But, yeah, I get your point.

 

I don't have anything personal on any social media site. I made a fake FB page to get brewery/restaurant/whatever updates. Not difficult to do and I'd rather spend 30 seconds checking a Facebook feed than going through a bunch of e-mails from breweries.

How is catering to the present and future of your market (especially when those people have a large influence on potential customers partially because of social media) a bad business model?

 

Oh yeah, that's what a friend suggested I do to keep up with bands. Maybe I'll do that for beer, bands, and miscellaneous events.

 

i don't want to friend you, i don't want to follow you on twitter.

ARE YOU A REAL BREWERY OPEN FOR BUSINESS?

put up a website that tells me:

1. who you are, where you are, what are the taproom hours if you have one.

2. what kind of beer do you make and where can i buy it.

3. get in the phonebook. i went to a new beer pub in a west coast city a couple years ago, and i asked why they "have an add in the paper that does not include the phone number or address." the barkeep told me it was on purpose and that people would just find them on line. i am like, "but you paid for an add in a newspaper.... it's not an online add.... it's in a flippin newspaper. i am not online, i saw your add in the NEWSPAPER!"

people/businesses that are ONLY gonna use facebook --- why would you limit yourself -- get real.

make a facebook page, make a twitter account, put up a sign, get a phone number, let people know the address.

basic life skills people. (do as i say.... )

 

I despise, loathe, detest, hate facebook. If your brewery only posts info, or only posts *up to date* info on facebook, I won't see it.

 

Updated with fresh info sometimes may require web designers. Its not just a hosting fee..
Facebook, Social media is simple to use. Everyone is using a GUI or Graphic User Interface..
When you get into coding you have to pay people to do what you want..
Some breweries may be able to pay, but maybe not bars... it all depends.. what ever the situation is ..

I don't believe its just applying to a younger generation, its simply connivence, which can be spread to all..

just my two cents..

 

There have been plenty of trivial WYSIWYG web tools that work incredibly well that require almost zero training. Probably less training than teaching a newbie how to use Facebook effectively.

Also, I pretty much dismiss any business which can't at least host an About Us page on one of the ubiquitous and inexpensive hosting sites these days. And it's not that much harder to have a page with current offerings.

 

I don't mind if the breweries put more effort in maintaining their social media pages, but they should also have their own websites with their history, beers, contact information, events, calendar and whatnot. Also, many people don't use Facebook, Twitter, etc. I use Facebook, but I keep my brewery/brewpub friends and likes to a bare minimum.

 

I agree that using tools like that can be used to display information, and your right with not much training.
I was just simply saying, keeping it 'nice and neat' with more than just plain text.

Its interesting that you start seeing more instant, constant updates on social media as opposed to online.
Maybe how SM has been incorporated into many lives, whether you use it or not, has become a place to post information. I know I don't constantly use mine to post every little second of my life, like some people might, but I use to collaborate with other members of a team that I am working on a project with. It just so happens, bars + breweries also have profiles which I can follow...

 

But your current market isn't your future market. Some are just fickle and will move on, but many will transition into a phase of life that involves less experimentation and increased levels of responsibilities and obligations, as well as much less time with social media (already the 20 somethings are being ignored by Tweens who are leaving Facebook behind and are likely to reject their other interests as well) and will have much less money to devote to personal gratification. To suppliment or to replace them you want to develop stable new markets or underdeveloped markets, which will become stable, regular, and include folks with the money and the time to invest in better quality things of life. Many of those target demographics are not addicted to/reliant on social media for instant gratification or helping them decide what they want.

 

I saw an Instagram post too late that a bottle shop right down the street had Citra. It just made me angry.

 

I voted yes, I sure as shit am not going to check every brewery I likes website for updates constantly or even once a week. Retyping my age every time etc. Beer sites for this purpose even relate beer news weeks late. On any social media site with one follow, you'll see any update they have, without having to even go to their site. Couldn't be easier.

 

I'm not saying that using social networking as the primary (or only) method of communication is ideal; but some brewers seem to be too lazy and/or apathetic to do anything more. (In fact: Some seem to struggle just to spend thirty freakin' seconds on a status update. I know brewing good beer is a lot of work--but come on). I'd rather stay updated through Facebook than not at all. Again, not my preference--but I can live with it.

 

Primary, yes. Only? Nope.

A brewery/brewpub/restaurant should basically have the same info on a website as they do social media with the exception of the beer menu. I don't expect you to update your website the second a keg kicks, but posting it on twitter/fb along with what's on next is very simple and quick. The lack of a website (even a basic one) shows a lack of professionalism IMO.

I also choked on some cider when I saw a reference to a "phone book". Those things are still around?

 

You mean they'll become...these people:

Those meddling kids fucking up your lawn today are going to be 30-year olds with careers tomorrow. I doubt all of these breweries expanding across the country think limiting their marketing to older people with money would be a good long term business decision. They pay attention to young drinkers for the same reason corporations that hawk sugar pay billions of dollars worth of attention to 6-year olds.

 

Should not be a "primary" source but rather an additional way to get information to their customers.