This was a team project for DRTL 3190, Digital Strategies. The main purpose of this project was to gain working knowledge on challenges companies face, aspects to be considered when creating search marketing strategies, and how companies will manage their digital presence. Our team assumed the role of Marketing Managers with the task of investigating and evaluating the impact that internet and social media platforms were having on Williams Sonoma's reputation and its relationship with customers. Over the course of 15 consecutive days we monitered Williams Sonoma's online activity through Instagram, Facebook, and the Williams Sonoma Blog, Taste. We identified a list of variables to track for each platform, reporting positive and negative observations, and provided suggestions for improvement.
Overview of Findings: Overall we found that Williams Sonoma was consistent in delivering relevant content through all platforms observed. Their images effectively translated the brands aesthetic; the use of mentions, hashtags, inbound, and outbound links provide indexable content for search engines. However, we also noted that Williams Sonoma often missed out on the opportunity to further engage with consumers in comments and would rarerely respond to consumer inquiries and questions. Their blog posts often contained repeated content from previous years with broken links that create roadblocks for search engines.