Technology & Information Overload

As I finished reading Real-Time Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott, the main theme I took away was reacting in real-time is extremely important.  People are always giving glimpses into their lives through the Internet and what they search.  The use of technology allows companies to react fast based on what website that consumer has recently visited.  For instance, businesses are able to see if someone is looking into a specific product or service.  They can see that they asked for more information and are possibly thinking about purchasing the product.  By utilizing the information gathered, businesses can act in real-time and contact these specific individuals.  Through this, a relationship can begin to form allowing the customer to get the information they desire.  In today’s society, relationships are not always valued.  We lose that personal connection because we are focused on technology and what it offers us.  However, I think by creating these relationships, people may begin to trust a company and buy into its specific product.

When contacting an individual in real-time, it is important to not overload them with information.   People want short and simple answers.  They want to be able to comprehend the information without becoming overwhelmed in the process.  I think this idea can be utilized whenever an explanation is necessary.  For instance, if I have a question about a specific topic from a college lecture, I may go to see the professor in office hours.  Sometimes I get way more information than I wanted, causing me to get confused and slightly overwhelmed.  I’m not saying this information is irrelevant, but sometimes I just need the basics answered so I can continue exploring the topic on a deeper level.  Comprehension of basic topics will allow an individual to make connections to things happening in their daily lives. 

Overall, I think that it is important to use technology and social media throughout your life.  Technology is great, but we must realize that human interaction is also necessary.  People make up the world, and we must communicate in order to enjoy and live life.  In addition, sometimes less is more with information.  Many times a simpler explanation is better than a long, possibly confusing thought.  We want to understand the topic without spending the extra time processing the explanation.  Time is a valuable asset to life.  By reacting in real-time, we can take advantage of situations and be successful in the process.  

Companies and Social Media

As I continue to read Real-Time Marketing & PR by David Meerman Scott, the use of social media with employees has been brought to attention.  Some companies are not permitting employees to engage in social media and often block these type of sites.  Companies are worried that employees will harm the reputation of the company or spend their time on the Internet instead of doing their job.  These are definitely valid concerns for a company.  Once something is posted, other people will be able to read and respond to the comment.  If an employee is expressing hatred toward a company, the company doesn’t want to have to respond and deal with the media involved with it.

I don’t think companies should prohibit social media for its employees.  I think it should be quite the opposite.  With proper guidance, I think employees should have the option to blog, use Twitter, or another social media site.  Companies should set guidelines on what is appropriate, and utilize this real-time communication to its advantage.  One guideline expressed throughout the reading was writing in singular first-person.  This way the viewer can understand that what you post online is your personal viewpoint, not that of the entire company.  Consumers are looking to social media for new innovations and information about a company.  Not allowing employees to participate in the process limits what a consumer can see, possibly discouraging their future business.

Overall, companies need to use social media to its advantage in this technological age.  Without it, businesses may lose their competitive edge in the market.  By setting guidelines and creating an official to handle social media affairs, companies can utilize social media effectively.  This way employees know what is expected of them if they do chose to participate in these channels.  Social media is growing rapidly, and everyone must be aware of what they post and how it can affect them individually.  However, using it properly can benefit companies in the end.