By Jay Baer
Expert Author
Article Date: 2011-02-24
Social media is about people, not logos. I saw a presentation at the MarketingProfs Digital Marketing Forum in Austin a few ago from Eric Granof, CMO of ExpertBail, which seeks to become the country's first branded network of bail bonds companies. Like video stores before Blockbuster, and ice cream parlors before Dairy Queen, Expert Bail wants to add consistency and efficiency to an industry besot by Mom & Pop players that often run the gamut from unprofessional to downright unsavory.
What's particularly awesome about ExpertBail is their unyielding efforts to humanize an industry that has historically been something less than a people first business.
They have a truly fantastic print and outdoor campaign that manages to acknowledge the public perception of the bail bonds industry and paint a stark and humorous contrast between the people of ExpertBail, and "the other guys" known collectively as "amateur bail". The bar coasters are an especially nice touch. Talk about location-based marketing!
The humanization of ExpertBail continues in full force on their website, where they methodically demystify the ins and outs of the world of bail bonds with helpful, concise videos featuring a squeaky clean cast of girls next door. The only tiny complaint I have is that viewers/readers can't ask follow up questions on the Web page, or easily share the videos in social outlets.
Not coincidentally, the videos are also fully optimized, and rank well in Google and YouTube results for key search terms.
They also have an excellent blog "The Bail Bond Jail Blog" that includes regular interview of actual bail bondsmen in the ExpertBail network, including this feature on Timothy Darren Brown of Greensboro, North Carolina. (the family photos are an especially warm touch)
They have presences across every major and minor social outpost, including a pretty decent Facebook page that has more than 3,000 fans. Quite an accomplishment, considering most people would try to avoid having "I like ExpertBail" show up in their stream!
Nice job ExpertBail. If the tequila thing ever gets me in trouble, I'll be calling.
Every company is comprised of great people. Social media lets you prove it. ExpertBail is doing it. So can you. What do you think?
Comments About the Author:
Jay Baer is a tequila-loving, hype-free social media strategy consultant and coach. An online marketing pro since 1994, he's worked with more than 700 companies, and 25 of the Fortune 1000. He's one of the world's most popular social media bloggers, creator of the 8-step Social Media Strategic Planning Process, and the Twitter 20 series of live Twitter interviews. He spreads his "think tools last, not first" message around the country like a digital dandelion, speaking to conferences, small groups, or passers-by. Check out his blog at Convince&Convert.
By Jay Baer
