Social media is where blender manufacturer BlendTec connects with consumers. The company’s YouTube channel has more than 440,000 subscribers and its videos have been viewed more than 181 million times. In addition, more than 85,000 shoppers Like the retailer’s Facebook page, and at least 7,300 consumers read Blendtec’s tips and recipes on Twitter.
That kind of attention is nice, but it doesn’t pay the rent. So BlendTec.com, No. 716 in Internet Retailer’s Second 500 Guide, looks more deeply to determine whether social media buzz is translating into sales—one of the main marketing challenges faced by online retailers when they use social media to drum up sales.