Mobitel: First Sri Lankan brand on Facebook to top 500,000 ‘Likes’
Thursday, 25 July 2013 01:14
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The internet and Facebook were not heard of when Mobitel first ventured into the market in 1993, but the support from their customers has been strong from the very beginning. That tradition of support has carried stronger than ever into the information age and made Mobitel a leader in Sri Lanka’s social media industry.
Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, the national mobile service provider, reached half a million Facebook ‘Likes’ last week, making it the first brand to cross the 500,000 ‘Likes’ milestone in Sri Lanka. Mobitel’s Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/mobitel) is an integral part of its marketing campaign which functions as one of the main digital channels to communicate new product updates and customer support to its wide range of pre-paid, post-paid and broadband services to their customers.
“This is certainly a milestone to be celebrated. We are indeed proud to be the number one Facebook brand in Sri Lanka and earning the top spot by also creating social media history for the country is certainly an honour. Our greatest appreciation of course goes to every single one of our Facebook fans, for their unwavering support shown to us to help us achieve this target,” said Nalin Perera, Senior General Manager – Marketing, Mobitel.
The Facebook platform is a key component in Mobitel’s digital cross-media portfolio, which also includes Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, Foursquare and LinkedIn. Facebook, being the principal social media network used by Sri Lankans, has around 1.5million users which grow at around 30 new users per hour. The largest age group is currently 18-24 (42%), followed by users in the age group of 25-34 (33%). There are 68% male users and 32% female users in Sri Lanka.
As a marketing communications channel, Mobitel has always looked into extending their reach and providing information through their Facebook channel which acts as the foremost place to exchange ideas with their fans. Mobitel debuted on Facebook in December2009 and has been a pioneer in the social media space ever since. Mobitel was also the first brand to achieve 200,000 fans in October 2012 and has rapidly increased its popularity by achieving the magical figure of 500,000 fans within a short span of nine months.
According to social media statistics, Mobitel also has one of the most engaging pages in Sri Lanka. This has largely aided Mobitel in reaching the pedestal as one of the most admired brands on the internet. Mobitel fans receive regular exclusive promotions and offers with outstanding opportunities to explore their network. This in turn allows Mobitel to increase engagement with its esteemed customers and to thank them for their continued loyalty.
Mobitel plans to continue growing its strong presence on Facebook, and also on Twitter (@MobitelSriLanka). Social media is an integral part of Mobitel’s customer experience and the corporate is constantly seeking new ways to engage directly with loyal consumers. Mobitel will continue to surpass expectations of its Facebook fans who eagerly await new content and will continue to deliver steady growth and innovative approaches as it reaches out to its fans to address their every requirement.