Okay, so we’re looking for specific examples from the social media expert crowd — again I use the term loosely, but not insultingly or sarcastically — for turning old industries into more creative, faster industries, using social media and creative marketing. Here are the first four on the docket for transformation, below.

Now, some of these have started dipping their toes in, with Twitter accounts, for example. But the question is this, what can companies in these industries do, particularly the local and regionals who go up against the nationwide behemoths, to leverage social media in a smart way? How can they differentiate themselves in old industries not typically given to creative marketing?

When I say “a smart way,” I don’t mean simply to be cute or clever. I mean effective, results-oriented, that sort of thing.

1. Office Supplies
Yes, there are the Office Depots and Staples of the world. We all know them. And for all intents and purposes, they’re the same store. And yes, you can scoot on over to Twitter for all the best Depot Deals. But what if you’re High Plains Office Supply in Goodland, Kansas, going up against Topside Office Products? Do you startup your own office-products-only version of Woot?

2. Waste Disposal
Republic Services and Waste Management are the biggies nationwide. What should they do? And what if you’re trying to differentiate from them, as a local provider, like Burrtec Waste in California or Deffenbaugh in the Kansas City area? Do you needsocial media?

3. Promotional Products
Some still call it “trinkets and trash,” as small businesses and individuals push pens, notepads, calculators, mousepads, apparel, and everything else with your company logo on it. May seem low-key to you, but this is a fierce, old industry built off people making a high number of cold calls and closing deals ruthlessly. The story linked in the previous sentence is legendary. But what do you do here? How do you add value? Beyond simple, face-to-face deal-making, how do you stand out leveraging social media?

4. Merchant Credit Card Processing
What can be said about this industry? It’s a door-to-door, floor-to-floor proposition. “Do you want to process credit cards as a business? Our rates are $X and Y% of every transaction plus a monthly equipment lease rate of $Z.” Social media experts: work your magic with these folks. What can they do, beyond placing stock photos on their websites? If you own one of these businesses could you care less that Twitter exists? Or FriendFeed? Or blogs? Or…

Alright, the challenge is out there. What would you do with these industries, if you were called in to consult?

Loading mentions Retweet