Learning Social Networking Success from the Ice Bucket Challenge

Get the Timing Right

Getting Recognized is Half the Battle

People taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge had the option between dousing themselves or donating to the cause. Though those doing the challenge, per the rules, did not have to donate, their participation guaranteed huge attention that led to many donations. This works for business owners on social media marketing as well. Any interaction, whether it be liking, sharing, commenting, or retweeting, improves the number of people who see your marketing – even if they don’t make a purchase.

The right time is Almost everything

The Ice Bucket Challenge became viral during the summer months of 2014, and this was an excellent time. People had been overwhelmed with unpleasant news ranging from the shooting in Ferguson to Middle East violence, and raising awareness for a good cause was a welcomed distraction. In addition, longer daytime meant people had time in the evening to have fun with the challenge. Timing is also critical for small business advertising. For example, traffic on Facebook spikes midweek between 1pm and 3pm. Posting during these hours is great timing to get your marketing message seen.

Get Big-Name Faces Needed

The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral in part due to celebrities. Everyone from Bill Gates to WWE superstars participated. While these names may be hard for you to pull, it is a beneficial rule to get industry thought leaders engaged. Interact with trusted sources in your marketplace and share great content with them. If it justifies a retweet or share, the interest you will get from this celebrity shout out can be crucial.

Quite a few viral social networking lessons can be taken from the Ice Bucket Challenge. Don’t make the blunder of believing a viral campaign is out of a small business’s reach.