by Isis Darios, Copywriting Intern
I’ve always been a bit of a technophobe. I still listen to CDs, call DVDs videos, and I refuse to let go of my “dumbphone.” Techologically speaking, I’ve been living in the 90’s. English physicist and science fiction writer Author C. Clark said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” I wonder if he ever imagined social media networks when he mentioned that. At first, I was also opposed to this form of technological advancement. Why would I want to share my personal information with so many friends, obscure family members, and worse, vague acquaintances? But eventually I gave in to Zuckerberg’s creation, and little did I know, that would only be the beginning.
As a new copywriting intern at iSource Digital, I’ve become aware of how important social media has become to the marketing and business world. Even your neighborhood mom-and-pop bakery shop might have a Twitter account to advertise when a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies has come out of the oven. And if they don’t have a Twitter yet, they would certainly benefit from having one. It didn’t take long to realize that I was like dial-up connection living in a digital world; it was time for an upgrade.
I spent my first week at iSource getting up to speed on the past decade and a half of internet cyberspace advancement. In the beginning, I was resistant and felt a bit overwhelmed, but soon I became familiar with all of the social media venues worth knowing: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, Gowalla, Groupon, Flickr, Living Social, Reddit, and the list goes on. Now I know how to use HootSuite, and I can figure out your Klout score. Who would have thought that the girl who still rollerblades with a walkman would actually get excited to read the daily Mashable report and scope Design TAXI for creative endeavors? I can genuinely say that I’m happy with the upgrade. I’m excited to see what the future holds for social media marketing, but I’ll always get a little nostalgic when I remember the screeching sound of a dial up connection.
With over 500 million users publicly declaring their marital status on Facebook and 1-in-8 couples meeting on the internet, social media has changed dating and relationship standards. Adding “in a relationship” to your profile is a crucial step in the modern dating world. Last year, the staple Valentine’s Day candy, Sweethearts, added “Text Me” and “Tweet Me” to their romantic message repertoire. People everywhere are taking to the internet to advertise their relationship hook-ups and break-ups, giving businesses and startups the opportunity to promote their services. Here are some ways the social media market is keeping up with today’s courting habits:
Get gift ideas from your mobile app
Gift cards won’t cut it on Valentine’s Day, so what to buy for your girlfriend? Have no fear, Thoughtful is here. The new site and mobile app, Thoughtful, is joining forces with Facebook to help guys with gift ideas for their special someone. Using Facebook as a social media springboard, Thoughtful works by sourcing information from your loved one’s profile to get clues about their personal taste. Gift options start at $25, and retailers are working with the startup to offer special products and services. Thoughtful will even send you reminders so you can prepare for an upcoming special occasion.
Ladies are also encouraged to take advantage of social media. According to Bella Relationships, a social network where people can go to discuss relationship issues, women should use social media venues like Facebook and Twitter to find Mr. Right. The site suggests that social media sites can give you insight on a person’s character, but Bella advises to spend time chatting with someone before meeting them in person.
If that isn’t enough to show that Valentine’s Day is going online, BizReport proclaims that online shoppers will spend about two-thirds more on their Valentine’s gift than offline shoppers this year. Pretty soon people might be asking their significant other, “Will you be my online Valentine?”
For more info on social media marketing opportunities please contact me: isis@isourcedigital.com