Changing the Way People and Business Communicate

by Walt Carvalho

People are creating new methods of connection through video and text based content. Birthdays, anniversaries, business meetings, weddings and bridal showers are now being shared throughout the world. People today are connecting with friends, relatives and business partners half way around the world, without even taking a single step away from their desk. Most of us take this capability for granted.

The early email capabilities instantly rivaled and surpassed the common mail service. Days of waiting for mail delivery were instantly converted to immediate response, in the delivery of documents and letters. Memos were transferred throughout office buildings in air tubes before email. It’s amazing to reflect on the early resistance to the advances that the Internet provided. Hotmail grew at a viral rate. So many people however, still remained at a non-use disadvantage because of their fear of letting go. Business owners felt they would lose control in their workplace with the introduction of employee Internet use.

Of course, email use is common today. Fixed workstations have been combined with mobile devices. There is still great potential in this arena. Great possibilities await, as more use of geotagging and other mobile features will enhance user experience. Some may think this convenience is a good thing while others may not. Whichever side you’re on, digital correspondence still remains an on-going reality in which we live.

Just as with the early frontier days of our email startups and the social transition to the Internet, there will be flow as well as resistance. Capitalizing on the opportunities will take more insight than simply starting a company facebook and/or twitter page. It will take more just to keep up. It’ll take sound strategy in an ever-changing digital society, as well as the creative ability to convey your information to a web savvy audience.

Unfortunately, for many using paper based marketing tactics such as mass mailouts, newspaper coupons and flyer inserts, they will be replaced by interactive and instantly responsive point of sale options. It’s simply just a matter of time.

I think it’s safe to say there is a new communication pattern here;

social media, smart phones, iphones, apps, ipads.

Get the picture?

Get Creative. Get Social.

photo: Joel Frijhoff