Social Media: A Diary of Our Lives

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I’m amazed by how differently we each use social media. There is no true right or wrong about it; yes, there are certain courtesies involved, however that’s not what this post is about. I wanted to focus in on how we project and share our personal lives.

Did you keep a diary when you were a kid? I didn’t. I did have an autograph book though and a lot of my junior high friends wrote in it. Still have it (see photo).

Whether you like it or not, if you’re sharing on a social network with a personal account, you’re keeping a diary. Facebook even encourages you to keep a “timeline” of your life’s events: Once in awhile I see friends posting past events; “backfilling” if you will. And that’s wonderful (as long as Facebook is still with us!).

Some folks lean towards sharing life’s little celebrations; maybe a photo of themselves enjoying their 21st birthday party or an outing with their kids. 

Others, it’s a place to let off steam about frustrations and annoyances; haven’t we all had those sort of days when we just have to get our thoughts out and release something that’s absurd, ludicrous, perplexing, stupid or baffling to us?

And others may need caring, friendly support from time to time and they reach out to us. Perhaps you have a friend battling an illness that needs your help to stay positive while they fight the battle. 

Are we going to look back at some time and review those memories? That’s something to think about. It’s a legacy of sorts; a documentation of our time spent here both in word and visually.

Hmmm…it’s great information to pull from when that bio is ready to be written! Oh…too bad it’s only for the last couple of years; imagine in the future for kids growing up now! They are going to have their entire lives documented on social media; first by their parents (as they see it) and then they themselves will be telling the story when they’re old enough to do so. And from their parent's memories they’ll immediately learn about all those events they were too young to have remembered.

Wow…pretty mind blowing, huh?

Bread sang their song "Diary" (see below) in the 1970’s long before social media became a major platform of communication for us all. If you’d like to improve communication for your business, visit our website, or stop by on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.    

   

Crafty Food?

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Artisan Bread. Check. Artisan Cheese. Artisan Lettuce. Ok. Excuse me, did you say Artisan LETTUCE?

Yes, now there’s even lettuce boasting how artisan it is in all its glory, unlike the bug eaten leaves in my garden, but lovingly grown by a skilled craftsperson. I can just imagine this him or her, let’s just say it’s a she, with Ferragamo flats, a Vera Wang lab coat, and glasses from Juicy Couture, meandering through rolling green central California fields, occasionally bending down, examining a picturesque leaf close up with a magnifying glass and perhaps selecting a sample or two for further analysis back in the lab.

Am I’m exaggerating here? Perhaps this seasoned, highly knowledgeable artisan is wearing a well-worn, well-loved thread bare lab coat, practical Rockport shoes, and spectacles that are a bit nerdy, much like Buddy Holly’s, but a bit more subdued. And yes, this time the artisan is a man.

And what does the notion of a product being artisan mean to a consumer? As far as that artisan lettuce is concerned, Well, those luscious leaves are certainly going to get some serious scrutiny. Will it taste better? It sure does look downright pretty, so maybe so. Ah, but will it justify the added cost? IF there is an added cost; the artisan lettuce I purchased was NOT from an upscale regional market. Nor was it from Whole Foods. Are you sitting down? Costco, $3.49! Complete with a quantity large enough to feed 50 salad-loving guests, if I choose to do so.

Mixed message, perhaps? Did I EXPECT such exceptionally fancy, quality-encrusted lettuce from Costco? Heck NO. But as a consumer, I feel that I got a great deal. If some of that fine fine artisan lettuce wilts before I can get around to eating it, well, it’s STILL a good deal. Does this raise my opinion of Costco? Absolutely!

Marketing at its finest: Artisan. Artisan. Artisan. Consumers can and will be seduced by this word. Looking forward to seeing "Artisan" brilliantly displayed on a box of cous cous or brown rice, my favorite Trader Joe’s dark chocolate (you guys listening?) and perhaps some of those wonderful soups in tetra paks that I love. And uh, if you choose the right price point and your product is truly on an artisan level, you will, indeed, raise my level of expectations. And that raises the likelihood of me coming back for more. So what’s it going to be?