When I was in college, I had a history class that included a section on what happens when a neighborhood or area becomes popular.
At first, a new hot area (Manayunk, in suburban Philadelphia comes to mind) gains more attention through word of mouth and media. Then more and more people come to the area. That chokes the streets with cars, stretches parking and trash collection to the max, and eventually ruins the once-popular locale. The very thing that made it popular becomes the cause of its demise, as well.
I'm wondering if social media has become the hot spot that is now so over-congested that -- to paraphrase (and quote) the great marketing author Harry Beckwith -- getting your message through the clutter is like "whispering into a hurricane."
In the early days of the web, you visited websites that had what you wanted. Today, you create your own content and aggregate a collection of sites and blogs you like to read.
In our efforts to make our own voice heard, it seems like everyone is shouting. I'm waiting for the next big thing to come along, so that we can get our messages through again.
Your thoughts?
It can seem that way but that's when filtering must surely come into play. Imagine the Library of Congress was housed in one great hall (and wouldn't it be enormous!). You are given a set period of time shorter than your own lifetime to choose and read whatever volumes you want. Daunting,no? But who goes into any library without some inkling of what they want? That's very rare and usually there is the filter of one's taste even if the library trip is menat to be distractive.
ReplyDeleteThe internet's blogs (and social media sites) are merely virtual analogues only instead of books one reads the words and views the images of outpourings of egalitarian availability. When the web was young there were far fewer of these so very little thought was given to any sort of filtering. Now, there is so much that every adult must be cognizant of their own filtering. Or, in the case of producers of content, marketing one's content not universally but rather specifically. Already there are moves to explore this possibility, not the least of which are viral micro-marketing small businesses such as Ripple100 based in New Haven CT.
Producers must focus their messages and allow "word of mouth" to broadcast those messages to mostly appropriate receivers.
Patricia C Vener
Visit my updated site http://vener-art.com/
You're echoing my thoughts David - I've been thinking a lot about social media lately as i see more and more mainstream businesses tweeting and facebooking.
ReplyDeleteI've stopped actively social networking for awhile to see if it made any difference in my site traffic levels, and my traffic seems to be steadily climbing regardless...
I don't know how people keep up with all the networking sites along with all the rest of it. My email is always nuts. And social media is like email on crack. Information overload.
Patricia and Christine: I agree with both of you. Even while focusing the message, Patricia, I think I'll be watching the "return on investment." :-)
ReplyDeletehi David, thanks for yr advise! i just recently started my online business ( jewellerybusiness ) too! and trying to get all the tips - guidelines i need!
ReplyDeleteNini - http://mybelovedjewels.blogspot.com/
www.belovedjewels.com