Email in the age of Social Media
Twitter and Facebook have dominated the social media scene recently. With their ability to have a more ‘real’ conversation then can be had via email, many people are starting to wonder where does email fall into the scheme of social media? Is there a place for email amongst all the newest social media platforms?
The answer? Yes. While we may find in the future that Twitter and Facebook reduce our need to rely on email for quick messaging and replies. There is still a place for email in the land of social media. In addition to remaining the number one way users share online data, email is now evolving becoming part of ‘social sharing.’
‘Social sharing’ allows recipients to share the contents of an email through their social media sites and networks. This combination of targeted email and social media has opened a wealth of opportunity for marketing by extending the reach of the email contents to the entirety of the recipients social media networks. In addition, social sharing has led to an increase of brand awareness.
As the Internet changes and grows and Internet fads flare and die, the oldest form of communication, email, lives on. While it’s purpose may change over time, it seems as though email will have the longevity to live on for awhile longer.
Top Chart: Dispelling the Myth that Social Media is going to Abolish Email
Bottom Chart: Do you Agree or Disagree that Social Sharing…
Thanks to Marketing Sherpa for the stats and graphs!
Do you use social sharing when you send email marketing pieces? Let us know. We can help you develop successful email strategies. Contact Jill Wise at 770-383-3360 x22 for more information.
Comments
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
E-mail is the largest social community by far – everyone (almost) has an account – send to a group, an individual, blind copy, the functionality is endless and pretty simple. It’s just not much fun and you have a little less control as to what winds up in your inbox.
I’ve been having discussion with several different groups – work, family, friends (translate ‘reply all) via email for years, often as a result of forwarded email from an outside source.
If you’re not addressing your Facebook audience, you’re missing a large marketplace – if you’re not addressing your e-mail audience, you’re also missing a different marketplace, which for many is their exclusive social realm.