Consumer Social Media

So, it’s that time of year where people reflect on the past 12 months and reminisce about the good times. Of course we’ve had the highs of Kerry Katona’s GMTV interview (still makes me cringe / laugh) and getting my new job here at Wolfstar then the lows including the tragic death of Heath Ledger and the worst economic climate for decades, but I’d rather focus on 2009.

On a personal level, I will no longer have the house to myself in the New Year. My lovely other half is packing his belongings as we speak and will be a fully fledged housemate as of 2009! Cue lots of arguing about the toilet seat being left up, socks being on the bedroom floor and the football constantly being on (that’s ANY football from the Premiership to the Chinese under 7’s annual tournament).

Plus, I think 2009 is going to be the year of the geek! Apparently, I’m now officially a geek because in three short months at Wolfstar I have started my own blog, tweet once a day, am on Linked In and now use Facebook for more than just checking out the embarrassing photos from my friend’s birthday night out…

I’m not sure if this makes me a geek, I just find these things make my job a bit easier. I’m still learning but I take a lot of these new tools with a pinch of salt. I think Twitter is great for making contacts and networking, but sometimes the inane comments (most of the time from me included) do get on my nerves!

I agree that having my own blog gives me a voice and a chance to express my opinion, but it can’t be a fad. If I stop blogging or just lose interest, it says more about me in a negative way than any post would.

On a work level, I wonder where 2009 and will take us in terms of social media? As I’m quickly learning, social media is ever changing and we can never be experts in the field. So how do you stay on top and in the loop, especially in the current challenging climate?

Did anyone in a 2005 year end review predict that a micro-blogging service where users could issue updates in 140 characters or less would take off and become the next big thing? (Enter Twitty banter, or Twanter, here if so!)

I suppose we need to go back to basics and remember that the skills and techniques are always the same - relationship building and communication - it is merely the tools that change.

As budgets dwindle and confidence drops in the business world, where will this leave PRO’s in 2009? Typically PR, advertising and marketing budgets are the first to be cut - so to succeed and retain clients, PRO’s need to raise their game and prove their worth.

I think 2009 will be a tough year for businesses and consumers alike. It might sounds like a very naïve view, but I think we need to stick together and work hard to make things run as smoothly as possible. Only then will people regain the confidence we so desperately need to get things back on track.