CDES 219 Blog Post #9

The Future: Predictions

The future of social media holds many promises. And individual can share his or her ideas, news can be updated in a second, companies can crowd source input on a new product, stores can advertise... and all to a target audience for almost no cost. My focus was on the use of social media by companies for advertising and selling products. Although these companies cannot rely entirely on social media sites for their function, as they still need at least a website for consumers to by their product at, social media gives them a powerful form of advertising.

This advertising is not only cheap, but generally efficient, as individuals who are interested in the company's product will receive the updates. These followers, will likely share this information to others they know who would have interest in the products. Companies have feeds like Twitter and Instagram where they invite their customers to share pictures of themselves using their product. The users can tag and link the company in the post with its name or a specific hashtag. This offers a huge advertising resource, because each of those individuals is likely to have followers or friends view their pictures, see the product, and look into it themselves. Not only can these companies share their their product, but can receive feedback on their products and input on future products. Most of the companies that I've been following offer special offers and discounts specifically on their social media feeds.

I believe that companies in general, not just companies that offer a product, will begin to use social media more frequently. In an age where cable TV is slowly declining and shows and movies are watched over the web, social media will be used more as an advertising medium. With it, you no longer have to purchase air time, or a specific slot to run your add. No longer do you have to compete with others for the time or channel with the most exposure. If you think you aren't getting through because someone's news feed is clogged up with other posts? Promote your post and have it at the top of the feed for very little cost.

In an age of wanting things faster and faster with little delay, I foresee companies directly linking purchases through links in social media posts. An example would be an company is having a sale on a certain item, all you have to do is click/tap on the post and it will instantly take you to the company's site, in the check out with the item in your cart. This could possibly be taken even further by linking a credit card to social media sites, so that when you click on an offer it already has your information put in for the order. All you would have to do is click purchase and wait for it to be mailed.

My advice to others, make a profile on a large social media site, and like/follow all the companies that you buy things frequently from. You will get special offers, deals and information on those products, as well as possibly find a community you share an interest with. For me, the fitness and gym-going community generally revolves around the same sorts of sites with people of the same mind set as me.