Surfing the web must seem like a passing fad these days to some 80 year olds who are now Facebooking and Tweeting with 62+ Seniors being 30% active on some form of social media. How are we doing it? How can a small firm manage a business with such focus on Social Media? Almost all of the groups we are working with today are anxiously working toward getting on-board or capitalizing on the best use of social-media-energy. And rightfully so.
"The average person today consumes almost three times as much information as what the typical person consumed in 1960. The average computer user checks 40 websites a day and can switch programs 36 times an hour" www.npr.org | Digital Overload: Your Brain on Gadgets
In this environment, we could all use our very own Emily...not to hang up our coats or "serve" us as Oprah would say; but, to take care of our Facebook updates, Tweet every important movement throughout our day, and ensure we stay in the conversation. Or maybe we do need help hanging up our coats, and picking up meals - after all, we're pretty busy socializing. A quick Google search will provide approximately 16,800,000 ideas on "best social media practices" ranging from "the dos and don'ts" to "how to maximize your ROI".
While it can provide an emotional rushs, it also feels a bit complicated and overwhelming at times - statistics have shown increased levels of oxytocin when engaging in social media. Oxytocin is a hormone known as the "social-glue" that adheres families, communities, and societies acting as an "economic-stimulant" that enables us to engage in all sorts of transactions. Is the evolution of the secretary going from administrative assistant to social-media-guru? Are their small business owners that really have a spreadsheet that outlines their posts ideas or tweets on a monthly calendar? Does it work best to designate Social-Media days/times?
And, what about businesses offending people. It's one of the things I worry about most, which could potentially prevent people from engaging in something they are passionate about. Or, do we live in a world where people are more forgiving about typos and offensive comments - something we've learned to simply ignore...or, not follow? It seems as though it's working for Charlie Sheen - he's winning.
