March 23, 2008

STARBUCKS SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE

My Starbucks Idea: A new social networking site that allows consumers to post ideas online. Similarly the Seatte based company will be able to inform consumers via their Ideas in Action blog. It is nice to see my favorite coffee company taking steps to improve their dismal performance through web 2.0, regardless how boring this whole plan of their sounds. I personally do not see why I would want to read the Starbucks blog, nor can I think of anything to post on the social networking site other than: 1) Lower your prices 2) Give me free internet 3) Pad your chairs. Maybe if I enter these comments a few hundred times it will hit home.

Recently Starbucks has been making some international changes. I have noticed in Shanghai that they are upgrading their coffee machines to one that will deliver a more uniformed taste. Of course, until this change is completed and the Baristas are trained, I am forced to keep bringing back my watered down latte for an extra shot of espresso (free of charge). I have also just read that Starbucks will go back to grinding coffee in their stores as it improves the aroma.

Well, being proactive is certainly better than sitting around and watching your share price drop.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting and strangely so simple. One would think for a company such as Starbucks, they would come up with a more innovative idea as their first step towards social media. Wait, this is their first step right? Anyway, with the following of Starbucks, I'm sure the site will be frequented a lot as it seems almost too easy to navigate through. You've got to give it to them though - very smart of them to have their customers (1) brainstorm for them how they can better their service and (2) already get an idea of how the idea will click with the public.

Should they want this site to remain consistently interactive, I do feel they will need to step it up at one point. Seriously, how many viable ideas could you possibly come up before the ideas really start getting crazy? As it is, the most popular choices are things already being done at other cafe establishments.

And what's with the url? My starbucks idea?! Chalk another one up for witty originality...

The Jolly Jetsetter said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Jolly Jetsetter said...

Regardless of what the eventual effect this blog/networking site will have, I do think it shows commitment from corporate america to integrate online campaigns with their customers. Online to most people mean "website." There is so much more to it.

Anonymous said...

I actually like this concept, although it is a bit unimaginative. In fairness to Starbucks they have tried to do marketing research via internet. If your one of the luck few, and i've been lucky 3x!, you can get randomly selected to participate in one of their on-line marketing survey. You get a free drink when you complete their on-line questionaire but then again the problem with this type of tool is all of the questions were Yes or No answers which limits the customers options to voice out their opinions and suggestions. Try Starbuks Salcedo or Rockwel and you might get picked randomly to try out the system.