Pittsburg State University | Graphics & Imaging Technologies Students

Monday, November 15, 2010

Social Media is getting stronger

At the Four States Regional Technology Conference, Joe Grisby the emerging media director of VML, came and spoke about the impact of emerging media. VML is a full service digital marketing agency in Kansas City and Joe Grisby is in charge of just a part of what this company does. VML is using education and technology to connect to an audience with an intent of making an impact. Technology is the platform for how we make things happen. Grisby said that emerging media is consumer trends that transform how they connect to content, each other, and broader society. Social and Mobile are the two most popular used ways consumers use to connect with one another.

In 2010 66% of all media was digital and it is estimated that 80% of all media with be digital in 2020. Media consumption trends continue to shift to digital and those participating in social media increases with each generation. It seems that from birth children can be involved with social media when their parent post a picture of them on facebook or on their blog. Facebook is such a highly popular product that there are over 500 million users and if facebook was a country is would be the 3rd largest in the world. Social media is a way to influence consumers. Most consumers have more trust in other consumers than in what the company is advertising about its product.

Mobile phones are everywhere. You see people walking on the street and almost everyone has a phone in their hand either texting or on the phone. Grisby was at a conference in New York and wanted some pictures of people using cell phones so he stepped out side and within a few minutes had over ten pictures of people using their phones and most were texting. Texting has surpassed email, phone, and face to face for girls from ages 12-17. Consumers can do everything from their phones today. They can shop online, check their facebook, have a gps, order food, and many more things.

Companies and business need to keep social media in mind when it comes to marketing their products but it has such a large impact on todays consumers.