Comments on: Will an economic recovery pummel social media?

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:30:27 +0000

@Steve I agree and this is a good characterization! Thanks for stopping by to comment today.

By: Social Steve

Social Steve — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:43:32 +0000

Social media is somewhat the Wild West now – many are getting in with no objectives and no rationalization that what they do drive some form of business that can be measured.

Your statement that, “The growth of social media will slow as the economy improves,” makes sense in one area – there will be a shake out of “just do it” social media that will result in an overall decline of social media. There WILL be an increase of successful social media endeavors – those that are integrated into an overall business/marketing plan and are based on traditional business and marketing fundamentals (as opposed to shot from the hip).

Good conversation stirrer.

Thanks,
Social Steve

By: Lucy, you got some ’splaining to do!

Lucy, you got some ’splaining to do! — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:32:36 +0000

[...] friend Mark Schaefer posted this Sunday evening. Will an economic recovery pummel social media? It’s a thought provoking post to be sure. It was re-tweeted quite a bit yesterday by people [...]

By: Tom Pick

Tom Pick — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:26:40 +0000

Mark – yet another great post, and I do agree with your fundamental hypothesis about SM growth slowing (when employment finally starts to rebound, that is).

However, the “quality” of social media traffic (from the perspective of those using social media for b2b marketing and PR) will likely increase as the economy improves. That’s because usage of social media in buying cycles should increase as 1) more people get back to work, and 2) companies also pick up spending on products and services.

This is one instance where a decline in growth rate would actually be good news for a lot of people.

By: Acree Graham

Acree Graham — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:38 +0000

As someone very new to the workforce who has been laid off and then gotten job #2 in this recession, I can say that I definitely don’t spend as much time as I did at my last job on my PERSONAL social media accounts. Businesses have grown much more efficient with their use of human resources. I can also say, however, that understanding social media was a huge factor in my getting hired at my current job. And hey — now I’m spending work time posting on a blog! I think as business begins to understand the importance of cultivating an online community they will more and more release the reigns on their employees’ internet surfing.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:23:13 +0000

The theme here is that SM will at least “transform” as heavy-users migrate back to the workplace. Also, I think this is a very good point that usage on smart phones will continue … and be out of reach of employers!

By: Frank Podlaha

Frank Podlaha — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:47 +0000

After I read a recent article about dopamine now labelled as the “search” chemical in our brains, and a very loose connection that Twitterers and Facebookers are essentially addicted to dopamine – I don’t see SM slowing down any time soon. (Create a product people become addicted to. Genius!) LOL

In all seriousness: the fascinating aspect is how SM will evolve as many of it’s users head back to work. Sure, many companies ban SM, but you still see plenty of folks tweeting away on their smart phones. SM could rightly become the communication of choice from workers to the outside world. The more big corporations ban the usage of these sites – the more this alternative form of instant communication will take hold, some way, some how. IMHO

By: Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:36:28 +0000

Mark, speaking from personal experience, I totally agree. As you said, we all have priorities and choices. Twitter and blogging are hobbies for me. And when family crisis struck recently, it was the first to go. I had to take a couple weeks off work and have been busting my butt to catch up. Again, my hobby has taken a back seat to that.

Regardless of unemployment, as companies ramp back up the current employed will become too busy at work to use SM. Companies will require more productivity and become more stringent in limiting SM at work. That being said, most marketing already occurs in the evening (prime time TV) and I see people shifting more and more to online content rather than TV. SM will continue to increase in the evenings. TV advertising is dead. We watch all of our shows on DVR delay. Even if we are watching TV live, we’re on Twitter or Facebook during commercials.

By: autom

autom — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:07:29 +0000

Mark, my sense is that ‘economic recovery’ will be incremental at best. As a result what you predict as a potential decline in social media usage may likely in fact translate to social media practices already starting to be embedded in some culturally advanced work environments or, in the very least, being explored continually and incrementally by others. Also, we may in fact see the notion of great amounts of time being devoted to social media transforming as it becomes part of the regular work-life cycle. The very strong and evident push of smartphone and wireless technologies will allow us to remain ‘in touch’ with the social sphere, and those adept enough will learn to keep a pulse without getting too enmeshed in online social interactions that currently consume much of their time. Good thoughts on this post..just my 2 cents thought ;-)

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Great ideas! I especially like the concept of the SM-savvy unemployed taking their skills and passions back to the workforce. Interesting perspective and certainly another valid implication! Also good point that as purchasing power goes up, reviews, etc. will be even more important. Man you guys are smart. I’m humbled as usual!

Building on Neicole’s point about a shift in usage — specifically it might affect that big time-soak of blogging?