I had a thought the other day as I skimmed yet another headline asking “Is Social Media a Passing Phase?” Besides wishing I had a dollar for every time someone published a blog titled that, I thought, “well maybe, but does it make it less valuable?”
When you think about it, social media is possible because of the web, the web is possible because of computers, and on and on. As anyone who has tried to teach a grandparent the ins and outs of Facebook could tell you, without any working knowledge of computers, or the Internet, social media is nearly impossible.
So what does that have to do with your business? Think of this this way. In 100 years, or maybe in 10, Facebook might not exist. But something will. Some sort of marketing, communications, or social platform will have taken its place. We can only image what that will be, but I firmly believe it will be built off of the ideas and technology we have right now. It might look and function differently, but that might not matter. What will matter is that your business has created a culture of openness to new things; a willingness to explore and learn about where your customers are, and then join in the conversation. As a content marketer at this moment in time, at this place, if I have successfully helped my clients use Facebook, Twitter and blogs, and they have found the courage to be unafraid of moving their business forward, then they have succeeded. Because of what they are doing, and what they are using right now, the future can be far less frightening. They won’t be lost as new technology comes along, they will be ready.
So the next time you feel spooked by one of these articles, consider: if your business is finding success on social media don’t fear that it won’t last forever, because nothing does. Rather, know that your business is on a path of success that will adapt and continue, whatever new technologies come our way.
