The internet has revolutionize today's modern life in a more than several ways. The people who adapted to it remember the times and ways how communication has changed throughout its lifetime. The most recent generation will grow in a world where internet connected smartphones and social media are merged into their daily activities.
As the digital world grows and matures, the elements of technologies, internet and social media will become one of the key of marketing for years to come.
When it comes to businesses, the internet where people are eager for information is a potential place for them to deliver their messages.
Closer but Further
People likes watch others sing and dance. The voyeuristic nature has made its way through technology and social media. With the abundance of social media services on the internet, the world today is becoming a stage where all people are becoming the player of a reality show of life. As three of the most dominant social media network, Facebook, Twitter and Google+, has given all their users the role to share and be seen.
Observing events and then commenting about them on social media has become a trend. People "Likes", "Tweets", "+1" things they like, and anxiously wait for the next thing that catches their attention. These has become an altar of social media platform for opinions, jokes to occasional insightful thoughts.
When the the past and current generation would recount on an historic event occurred, the next younger generation will live in a world that history will instead be recalled by tweets and posts. Under the umbrella term for a generation of consumers that are connected through social media and mobile devices, transparent communication and advocacy of brands and ideals has also rapidly grown online.
With the internet reaching global, more and more people are connected with each other with ease. Any updates are pushed and information are delivered almost instantly, creating a different world where people are busy on their own. Even when the traditional mean of face to face communication decreases as social media grows, efficiency in the marketing industry has just got a lot bigger.
Activism and Nature of Observing
The idea of advocacy through social media has changed the idea of social activism. Although through the eye of business, this tendency is a great opportunity for social media marketers who know how to communicate with the online ego of the internet generations, the people who engaged in them are developing a slow but steady slacktivism.
Slacktivist activities include signing to internet petitions, joining a community forums and organizations without contributing to their efforts, copying and pasting in social network statuses or messages or altering one's personal data or avatar on social network services. As the connection between the concept and modern activism/advocacy is further researched, people are increasingly using social media to facilitate civic engagement and collective action.
The action of watching and observing has become our nature. And with the increase of social media usage, both slacktivism and the power for a company to deliver its message are also increasing.
The Power of Sharing
The reason critics are unimpressed by today’s brand of activism is due to its simple nature of a click of a button and a status update. However, this habit is what delivers the world together. Once a business is able to cultivate a relationship with customers, many are more likely to share the company's message and become advocates, powerful word of mouth social users.
While you may be appalled by the amount of personal information that is shared on social media, the power of marketing inside them cannot be underestimated. Social media and technology are creating a new wide open space where users are eager to information. And with the ability to attract attention, a company can also provide easy customer data for future campaigns.
Conclusion
The internet has changed almost every aspect of modern life. Those who have embraced the social aspects of the digital world comprise a unique segment of the population that is comfortable sharing their location and data with their friends and followers. Cultivating positive relationships with these powerful users can result not only in repeater customers, but in new business when done effectively.