We are a digital generation.
Our lives are inextricably intertwined to technology.
Wherever you look, there are signs of the digital era.
Think about the last major storm or natural disaster you heard about.
Mobile phones and Twitter were how most people first reported or got wind of them.
That’s powerful.
If you look at your own behavior, you’re checking your email, text messages or social media accounts on your phone.
These activities didn’t exist a decade ago.
There was no Facebook, YouTube or Twitter.
Smart phones were still several years away from being mainstream.
Or affordable.
But today, things have changed.
Smartphones, social media, texting, instant messaging, wifi.
We can’t imagine living without them.
See something interesting? What do you do?
Whip out your phone, take a snap or shoot a video and post.
Can’t remember the name of song on the radio? What do you do?
Dial up the Shazam app on your phone or Google the lyrics.
Need directions? What do you do?
Hit up MapQuest for turn-by-turn directions.
Why am I going into all this?
Because for all the advances that are taking place in technology, I still hear people say “why do I need this or that” and it drives me absolutely bonkers!
I was in Miami for a few days, and I came across (yet another) brand, a hotel, without a mobile website, app or any form of social media.
When I started talking about all the reasons why they should have any one (or all three) of these things, they pashawed me like I was talking gobbledygook.
They went on and on about how their demographic used computers.
Wouldn’t use mobile phones to make reservations.
Weren’t on Twitter or Facebook.
And have no need for an app.
Despite my eloquent arguments to the contrary, they gave no ground.
It was only when I showed them the mobile site of one of their competitors that the lightbulb went off, and they finally understood what I was talking about.
But it shouldn’t be this way!
How is the digital world growing, changing and advancing by leaps and bounds, but folks are missing it wholesale?
Sure, traditional ways of doing things still work.
Want to advertise a sale at your store? You could take an ad out in the paper.
Or place an ad online.
If anyone sees either, they’ll know that you’re having a sale.
The one who sees it in print will have to get in their car, drive to the store and then check out what’s for sale.
The one who sees it online can go right to your site and check out what you’ve got for sale, right then and there.
If they’re on a mobile device they can browse and buy on the go.
The difference between the two are night and day.
Know ye this: I’m on a mission.
To bring analog cave-dwellers to the digital light.
It’s going to be a long road.
But I’m ready for the challenge.
Analog heathen beware!
Stephen Chukumba 