Getting Together

by Walt Carvalho

People seem to enjoy spending time with each other. For some, their enjoyment comes from mainly one other person. They spend most of their time with each other, sharing their lives with each other. For others, their immediate family is the focus of their life. They enjoy the opportunity of experiencing their spouse’s and children’s lives and activities. For others, they may also include their extended families in social activities, looking forward to fun and conversation when they get together. Many people enjoy the company of not only their families, but also many friends and even their friend’s families as well.

We are very social. Sure, there are exceptions such as people who enjoy isolation, but generally, humans enjoy the company of others. Sharing thoughts, experiences and stories happen when we have the ability to communicate with each other.

Distance has always been an issue. Communication has taken many forms for joining people who were not in close proximity of each other. We’ve had the megaphone, telegraph, postal service, telephone, radio and television to name a few. People have been searching for a means for reaching friends, family members and business acquaintances without them already being a contact.

As the membership grows, sites like facebook become more viable as a platform for connecting, since the odds of finding a friend, family member or business increases. Although many of the social media sites have been online for some time, the recent increases in membership have changed the face of communication. We are now beginning to see a glimpse of the full potential of each of these sites. The combination of multiple social media sites, when used in strategic ways in fitting specific needs, has become a very powerful tool.

Lady Gaga is an example of the power of social media. Unheard of just eighteen months ago, Lady Gaga has gone mega. She is now a household name. Using a strategic approach, using facebook, twitter and youtube, Lady Gaga has reached a position in her industry of stratospheric proportions. She uses two words to explain her rise at such a fast and monumental rate. The two words she uses are: Social Media!

Elections have been decided, businesses have grown, information has been exchanged and stars have been born because of the power of social media.

The reason is simple: Social media sites are where people are getting together. The wise have already figured that out.

Get Creative. Get Social.

photo: Guilherme Zamarioli