Cars Etc Inc

Here is the post recently written by Carly Harrington with knoxnews.com.

Every day more and more businesses jump on the social media bandwagon touting their services and products.

They've taken the leap, joining Facebook or Twitter, all in the name of brand building.

Some use it as a friendly reminder that they exist - "Be sure and check us out."

Others promote daily specials or discounts.

Then there are those who give stuff away.

From free lunches to event and venue tickets, some businesses are going all out to win over fans and followers.

"It's real impressive. We've had a great response," said David Hensley of Cars Etc...Inc,  an independent used-car dealer in the Halls community that just gave away a pair of race tickets to the Bristol Motor Speedway.

On Aug. 30, the family-owned business will be giving away two sets of tickets to the University of Tennessee's home opener against Western Kentucky.

It plans to give away tickets to every home game of the season.

To enter, you just have to become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/carsetcfans).

You can get additional entries into the drawing by answering a question of the day. To date, Cars Etc. has more than 1,200 fans and growing.

For Cars Etc., social media has been a successful way for it to connect with its customers, Hensley said.

"In the long term, I think it will be beneficial," he said. "We're not doing it for instant gratification. We know we have to grind at it, stay with it and hope the reward is coming."

Jason's Deli (Twitter.com/JasonsDeliKnox) has been trying to give something away every week, whether it's a free sandwich or a coffee mug.

"It makes a lot of sense. I think people who follow us already have a familiarity with us," said Gary Bogosian, district catering manager for the eatery off Cedar Bluff.

The Twitter giveaways, he added, have a multiplier effect.

When a follower retweets they're a winner, then all of their followers see it too, he said.

Bogosian started twittering for Knoxville's Jason's Deli at the encouragement of family and friends and has since been convinced it works.

"I've gotten sucked in really hard," he said.

Two to three times a week, Buddy's Bar-b-q (Twitter.com/BuddysBBQ) tweets a two-part trivia question. Participants can win Buddy's gift certificates or tickets to such venues as a Smokies baseball game, the Ripley's Aquarium or Regal Entertainment Group movie theater.

"People have gone nuts over it," said Jay Davis, Buddy's sales and marketing coordinator. "All I've got to do is put Buddy's Twitter Trivia and I've got people listening. Our Web site lights up."

Davis, whose background is in radio, started the giveaways about three months ago as a way to grab people's attention.

The response, from mothers and businesspeople to high school and college students, has been overwhelming, he said.

"I am absolutely sold on social media," Davis said.

Business writer and The Bottom Line columnist Carly Harrington may be reached at 865-342-6317 or harrington@knoxvillebiz.com. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/knoxgirl75.