What kind of image do you have when you hear about attracting customers through social media?
- There are many visually appealing photos posted.
- It seems difficult to create new posts every day.
- Even if I've heard about it, I don't know where to start when it comes to actually utilizing it.
An event that provides hints to solve such concerns was held on November 8, 2024.
“From Kurashiki to the Nation: Zero Advertising Cost SNS Strategy for Community-Based Stores - A One-Day Complete! Customer Attraction Techniques Without Needing Followers Seminar”.
The organizer of the seminar is Shota Oura, who works for a travel agency within LOGIN Kurashiki located in the Bikan Historical Area.
The main lecturer is Manager Sera, who is active in managing X (formerly Twitter).
As a guest, Shibatami, who is in charge of public relations at a temple in Niimi City, was invited to learn about how to utilize social media.
I wanted to know how the two of them have been operating their social media to expand their influence, so I attended the lecture.
Lecturer Profiles
Here are the profiles of Manager Sera and Shibatami.
Manager Sera (CEO of Omoitsuki Co., Ltd.)
Manager Sera is active as a social media operation advisor for companies and business owners, and is also an influencer with 70,000 followers on X.
He specializes in social media branding that people ask him to do, supports the SNS strategies of small and medium-sized enterprises, and has created many successful case studies.
Additionally, he has a strong ability to plan events using social media, having established a Guinness World Record with 513 participants. The plan at that time involved posting a photo holding a paper with a dream written on it on X during a specified time period, including the phrase “#DreamFestivalGuinnessWorldRecord” in the post.
- https://x.com/sera_sera_sera8
Shibatami
Shibatami, as the public relations officer at the family temple, Saido-ji in Niimi City, used the power of social media to make Hakuryumon the number one spot in the Okayama tourism web access ranking. Now, Saido-ji is very popular as a photogenic spot.
With just one press release, he received coverage from NHK Okayama Broadcasting Station and all private broadcasters in Okayama, and was featured in a double-page spread in the national edition of Asahi Shimbun, demonstrating a strategic use of media to connect to customer attraction and sales.
The Trigger for the Seminar
This seminar began when the organizer, Oura, reached out to Shibatami, with whom he had originally connected on X.
Oura wanted to attract more people to LOGIN Kurashiki.
While consulting with Shibatami, they discussed utilizing the power of social media, which led to the introduction of Manager Sera, resulting in the realization of this seminar.
Venue Selection and the Day's Atmosphere
Once the seminar was decided, Oura thought about enhancing the communication power of not just themselves but also Kurashiki and Okayama Prefecture. He wanted to hold it in a place that reflects Kurashiki, so he chose Keikendo in Shinkei-en Garden as the venue.
On the day of the event, nearly 100 participants gathered at the venue, all listening intently.
The age range was broad, with business owners, company employees, and even local government staff participating.
There were also participants from outside the prefecture, indicating a high level of interest in utilizing social media.
Manager Sera's Lecture
The seminar began with the possibilities of the Kurashiki region.
The Theme is Local Tourism PR and SNS Customer Attraction
Manager Sera came from Tokyo on the day of the seminar.
On the way from JR Kurashiki Station to the venue, he felt there were many materials to share about the streets of the Bikan Historical Area and the shops he visited.
On the other hand, when he searched for Kurashiki and the Bikan Historical Area on X and Instagram, he found that there was little information being shared.
“There is still so much to convey about Kurashiki; it is a treasure trove of topics,” he said.
“I want to support everyone so that they can convey their charm. I want people to know that by sharing, their lives can change significantly through a small screen,”
Manager Sera powerfully addressed the participants.
Reasons and Background for Engaging in SNS
Next, he spoke about the reasons for engaging in social media. Manager Sera stated that “it has become an era where if you do not provide information according to the flow of how people buy things, you will not be chosen.”
He pointed out the following two backgrounds:
- Diversification of means by which people receive information
- Changes in how people search for information about desired goods and services
In the past, there were limited means to receive information, such as television and newspapers, but in recent years, people can receive information through various means like social media and the internet.
Additionally, when people purchase goods or services, the flow used to be a step-by-step process of learning about the service, comparing options, and then purchasing. Recently, however, it has become irregular, where people may learn about a service but then step away from the information and purchase it at an unexpected moment.
About Recognition and Communication
He discussed that recognition activities are essential for SNS customer attraction. The purpose of gaining recognition is to have customers think, “When I think of XX, I think of your store.” To achieve this, it is necessary to let them know what you can do and what kind of thoughts you have about your business. After discussing the types of recognition, he described the actions needed to gain recognition and specific actions to deepen recognition.
Finally, regarding communication, Manager Sera said, “I want you to think about what kind of information people looking at social media want.”
He emphasized the importance of communicating what you consider to be normal and concluded his lecture.
Shibatami's Lecture
The theme of the lecture was about utilizing social media and press releases.
“Is there anyone who, when stepping outside their front door, sees no houses or shops?”
The lecture began with this question. In a venue with nearly 100 participants, only 1 or 2 hands were raised.
Saido-ji, where Shibatami serves as the public relations officer, is a 23-minute drive to the nearest shop.
“Everyone has neighbors nearby, so you can attract customers more easily than at Saido-ji,” he encouraged the participants.
Target Setting
When it comes to social media communication, accurately setting the target of who you want as customers is the key to success.
He also mentioned that if you are operating social media within an organization, it is important to share with the members who you are targeting.
Content Creation
As points for creating content, it is good to consider when the target will take action and what the customers are seeking. Additionally, he mentioned that it is important to think about elements that media would want to cover while creating content.
About Press Releases
Regarding press releases, he spoke about effective methods while keeping costs down, based on his own experiences.
The key point is to actively encourage media and customers to spread information. Once one media outlet covers you, the chances of other media taking notice increase significantly.
“Each of your efforts will ultimately help grow Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, and Japan,” he concluded his lecture.
Participating in the Seminar
After listening to Manager Sera and Shibatami, I realized that utilizing social media does not require special skills.
It is about taking action yourself. Being aware that there are people on the other side of the screen watching your communication.
I believe the influence of both of them has spread this far because they have accumulated steady actions.
Moreover, I felt the power of social media even in the lead-up to the seminar. When the organizer, Oura, shared information about the seminar, many people who saw it cooperated in spreading the word.
Through communication, it is possible to attract people and create a circle of support. It was a seminar where I strongly felt the potential of social media.
Data on the Seminar “From Kurashiki to the Nation: Zero Advertising Cost SNS Strategy for Community-Based Stores - A One-Day Complete! Customer Attraction Techniques Without Needing Followers”
| Name | From Kurashiki to the Nation: Zero Advertising Cost SNS Strategy for Community-Based Stores - A One-Day Complete! Customer Attraction Techniques Without Needing Followers Seminar |
|---|---|
| Date | November 8 (Friday) from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM |
| Location | 1-1-20 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | 3,000 yen |
| Homepage | Peatix | Announcement Page |
