As much as we’d like it, you can’t give credit to the
marketers and communicators for creating the meteoric rise of social media.
Even as a collective, our industry simply doesn’t have the
clout to create such a powerful new toolset.
Nope. Think bigger, and think about your mobile “phone,” and
the people you “call.”
Social media will stay because of the fundamental evolution
in both technology and sociology.
Most of us now carry a portable personal digital assistant
(PDA). We used to call this device
a cell phone or mobile phone.
Today’s device not only provides voice connections virtually anywhere in
world, but many of us have a device that also connects us via texting, email,
our calendar and database, a camera (perhaps even video), speedy internet
access, and a host of productive and fun “apps.”
Virtually none of us had such a mobile device just five
years ago. Back then, we were
happy if we could get our phone to work inside buildings. Imagine what the
“phone” or PDA of 2015 will be able to do!
Now, think about how “trust” has evolved in the last five
years. At an all-time low for many traditional sources, people simply don’t trust corporate
America, elected officials, sports team owners, celebrities, etc
We used to listen to whomever the experts dubbed as a
trustworthy source. Not anymore
The most trusted source today is “people like me.” (While I’d like to think everyone is
actually “like me,” the phrase really creates a reference set for each one of
us).
“We” go to Mommy bloggers (the number one source of
information for new Moms), look up information in Wikipedia (not the official
encyclopedia), and visit YouTube to learn how to do just about anything.
We can connect today with virtually anyone or anything at
anytime. Consider this
connectivity in conjunction with those we trust. When you blend these two trends, you quickly realize why
social media is here to stay.
But which social media tools will stand the test of time?
Two years ago, we’d be discussing MySpace and Second
Life. Today, the conversation
encompasses Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. In a few years, it will be “new and improved” social
networking tools. The tools will
continue to evolve, as they always have. But those cows aren’t going back in
the barn.
People will continue to embrace enhanced PDAs at the same
time we expand our social networking to connect with even more people “like
us.”
Today’s businesses and organizations simply must have an
active presence in social media.
Pretty soon, your absence will be quite noticeable (remember the
businesses who were late to building their initial websites in the late 1990s?
As traditional media crumbles, it’s the social media space
where today’s conversations are happening.
It’s time to adopt this four-step process to move forward
with social media:
Observe.
Participate. Create. Integrate.
Everyone can do it.
And very likely, there’s a part of the social media spectrum that’s right
for you and your organization. Do
your research. Ensure your
presence focuses on achieving a business goal and embrace the change.
Your competitors are there. Your friends are there. Virtually everyone needs to be there.
Social media is here to stay.
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http://www.cool-cellphones.com/mobile-news/mobile-phone-evolution.html