I just updated Twitter. I added our weekly schedule to the website. Copied the schedule to both Facebook accounts (friend and fan page). Checking and replying to emails, text messages twitter replies. Made a quick stop at Yelp! to look for new reviews. Did a Google search for any new blog posts about the truck, found one and added it to our press page on the website. Checked out our new mayor at foursquare and am just now getting ready to take the truck out for the day…

The social media connection that most food trucks enjoy can be traced back to Kogi BBQ. Many innovators, Kogi being no different, are in the right place, with the right idea at the right time. Two years ago many people would never have made a connection with food trucks and a 140 character conversation on a website called twitter. Flash forward and in Los Angeles today we have more than 60 “gourmet” food trucks rolling on the streets every day, most of which use twitter and Facebook to support their business.

My business, The Sweets Truck enjoys the many benefits that social media and new online / smart phone technologies have offered. In real time we are able to communicate with our friends and fans and have conversations about the direction of our business.

With all of the benefits that social media can offer, it should go without saying that a business should not rely on any form of social media for business. Rather, social media should be a compliment to your daily routine. We have learned from the past (Friendster, MySpace) that the public’s love for any one website is fleeting and giving that much power to one source for any business is a very risky business model.

Social media is not just followers and fans: Unfortunately, some people are looking for an opportunity to negatively impact your business. It’s the double edge sword of real time communication and something that every business owner should be aware of. I know from experience and from speaking with other business owners that there’s nothing more shocking that seeing your first negative review or tweet and knowing that its something that many, many people will read.

Yes, there are many benefits as a consumer and business owners to a vast social network. Yet, we must always be aware that communicating through social media is a raw and unfiltered art form and one that carries powerful influence and with that, there must also come — responsibility.

Simply put, a tweet may bring a curious follower to your business, yet it’s the customer experience that will create the connections from which you can build the foundations for your long-term relationships …

Molly Taylor – Top Cookie
www.TheSweetsTruck.com

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