WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderClinkenbeard turns to social media at Paris Air Show

Clinkenbeard turns to social media at Paris Air Show

By Marissa Alter

ROCKFORD (WREX) - One Rockford company heads online in its attempt to go global. Clinkenbeard just returned from one of the biggest gatherings in the aerospace industry, the Paris Air Show. But while there, the company didn't just rely on face to face meetings.

It appears just physically going international isn't enough anymore. Clinkenbeard had a presence at the Paris Air Show, but it also launched a social media effort.

This wasn't Ron Gustafson's first trip to the Paris Air Show, but it was his first time as a blogger and Twitter user. With the help of social media specialist David Griffith, Clinkenbeard launched two pages just before the show's start.

"We got a lot of activity both from media at the show and media who weren't at the show," says Gustafson, Clinkenbeard's Project Manager. "We had some good comments on the blog from local people, and the Twitter site was real busy."

Instead of reaching tens of people, Gustafson says they were able to make touch with thousands.

"We were connecting with people we may not have known were there otherwise because they weren't regular exhibitors, but we were able to connect with them because they had twitter presences," explains David Griffith of DD Griffith Consulting.

The company talked about venturing into social media before. Griffith saw the Paris Air Show as the perfect opportunity to go for it.

He says,"The most trusted relationships were, and to some degree still are face-to-face meetings. But because of the speed of the world and because its a global economy, people need to be ready to move at a moments notice."

Now back home in Rockford, Clinkenbeard will continue to blog and tweet. Just while we were there, they sent this out on Twitter:"13wrex is here with us now doing interview regarding #parisairshow."

"Social media will definitely be part of our media mix from now on," states Gustafson.

As far as new business opportunities from the Paris Air Show, Gustafson says he did exchange business cards, but it's too early to tell.