Digital Balance
So I put this off a little bit but that’s because this MIGHT be my longest blog yet… However here we go…
Recently, I have been seeing a lot of posts talking about the Death of Social Media… okay maybe a little dramatic, but seriously I have been seeing it a lot. So I wanted to talk about it, & put in my little two cents.
Social media may be on a slight decline, because people are tired of false reality, & yearning for a more human connection. However. the statistics still are pretty biased. We are still seeing apps like Instagram, & Facebook, creating new accounts every day, & people still joining. Now I am not some kind of Seer who can predict the future, but this is what I think is going to be the next trend, & where I am gathering my foresight from.
A lot of new trends tend to follow our economy… now I know we are not here for an economy class but hear me out… As a hairstylist, I pay attention to our economic situation because they reflect the current beauty trends. So remember the “Ombre” look, well that was very popular during the recession of 2007 to about 2008. The reason why? People couldn’t afford a full highlight anymore. So the economy shifted areas, like the beauty industry.
Now still stay with me we’re gettin there… during that time we also saw the rise of Yelp which was the most popular during 2009, & what was one of my favorites… Groupon which it’s most popular time was 2008. Why? Because people still wanted to be in with “trendy” & “self care” services like hair care, skin care, even date nights, but simply couldn’t afford it without a little discount, & a shit ton of great reviews about the place to back up their purchase. Especially, during that time when I was a broke college kid still wanting to enjoy having trendy hair.
So now lets fast forward to today’s economy. We are currently suffering with the repercussions of 2020 & the Covid-19 shut downs. We are in a pre-recession, inflation status. However, there is still more money in the world, then there was in 2008-2009. This is why we are seeing prices raise, why we are seeing trends like low maintenance hair becoming popular, & people using more then one resource to gather info about how & where they spend their money. We have realized it is easier to research on online first. Instead, going out & getting in the car & seeing for ourselves in person… I mean who wants to use their car with the way gas prices are today?
So the trends I am seeing goes with the theme, “don't bet everything on one hand.” Meaning, just utilizing Instagram isn’t strategic. Just using Facebook, still not strategic. So now, with seeing more accounts being activated on Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok, people are utilizing more then one platform to gather more information.
Which also, helps enhance the probabilities of creating a deeper human connection, because consumers are gathering a well rounded research of where & how they are using their money. For example, if I am about to try out a new restaurant I now search Google, Instagram, & their website… see what I did there? Who else doesn’t do this?
So is Social Media dying?? No. Some type of Social Media will always exist. However, as Entrepreneurs, consumers, businesses, & whatever else we all can’t just use one platform to exist on & rely on, we can’t just bet everything on that one platform to sustain us.
We need a well balanced approach that supports the current economical situation. Meaning, have a Instagram, & Facebook, post on it regularly. Then make it easy for people to learn more about you, what you’re all about with a Website. Word of Mouth is still extremely powerful, especially in today’s economy with people wanting to know where to invest their time, & money. So have cute business cards, & a referral program & make your friends brag about you. Utilizing all these methods, with a well balanced approach will help guide you through the next wave of the economy shifts, & technological advances. And lastly, gets back to my main value remaining sustainable.
