Using social media to help businesses
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NEW ULM-- An online following has developed around Gag Sheet Metal's Facebook livestreams, made to promote local businesses.
The livestreams, hosted by GSM's marketing director Dan Backer, see him go to a different local business every Friday at 1 p.m. After he asks questions about the business, the business will ask a question of the audience. The name of every audience member who comments an answer is put in a hat, and two winners of $25 gift cards to the business are drawn Mondays at 1 p.m.
Backer has been to 19 different businesses since the livestreams have started, and anywhere from 1-3 thousand people now turn in. The idea came from Steve Gag, who wanted to springboard from Backer's previous livestreams done at GSM.
"We thought 'let’s go man in the street where we're actually going into the business,'" he said. "It started taking off [and has] gotten to where people are asking us 'can you come to our place?' It's been a fun way that's worked really well."
Livestreaming may sound like a complex task, but Backer said it is a fairly easy thing to do.
"I use a tripod set up and try to get a background that’s showing we’re at the place, he said. "It's just a matter of going into our Facebook account and hitting live and we’re off and running. The fun thing is it's live. I like the spontaneity of winging it."
How has Backer gotten the word out about the livestreams? He said with the nature of social media, the word goes out by itself.
"The big thing is the shareability of it," he said. "When we do it, wherever we’re at, they usually have more followers than us. So if they share it, there’s that many more people. [On our most recent livestream] there’s been 11 shares. We’re up to 3000 views now because of the way social media works with the shareability."
As GSM is one of New Ulm's oldest businesses, Backer appreciates the support the livestreams have been getting and how it has put local businesses into focus.
"It’s showing we truly care about local businesses," he said. "We’ve been here since 1904, we're one of the original businesses in New Ulm."
Backer said GSM is looking to continue the program throughout the summer. The next livestream will be Friday July 14 at 1 p.m. in Mowan's Bar. The giveaway will happen Monday July 17 at 1 p.m. To tune in, go to GSM's Facebook page.