The New Word of Mouth

Do you Facebook? Myspace? Or even...Twitter? If so you are privy to the new, futuristic and virtual version of word of mouth. You are familiar with the lingo of “tweets” and “pokes” and probably mourned the tragic downfall of Scrabulous. You know that facebook can be a verb or a noun and that “stalking” no longer carries the negative connotation it used to. You also are probably more connected to the people in your sphere of influence and may even know what they have had for dinner for the past week thanks to the updates they sent out.

If you have never heard of these strange words before and you only know that Webster did not think of them…you may want to pay attention to the following few paragraphs.

In the last 20 years or so, systems of communication have changed dramatically. We have catapulted into an ever tightening web of interconnection and constant contact. I must admit, I sometimes find it suffocating. We stay plugged in 24 hours a day, often only disconnecting for sleep—but even then, being reached is only a vibration or annoying ringtone away.

While I could sit here and argue the pros and cons of the information age-- all in all, it is good. I read a book in one of my classes at Furman on globalization that I would recommend to anyone. It is called The Lexus and the Olive Tree and is by Tom Friedman. Check it out if you ever want to read a good, fleshed out exploration of globalization’s glories and downfalls.

What is a key current in the book and why people remain believers is that communication is the porthole to the future success of a global economy. That being said, I must tell you about a seminar Brock and I attended yesterday. Sponsored by the Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Technology Council (GATC), the seminar focused on the benefits of Word of Mouth marketing. Keynote speaker was Geno Church, “Word of Mouth Guru” of Brains on Fire, a local identity company that puts a fresh and creative spin on traditional marketing techniques.

To be honest, I had not heard of the program Twitter until the past couple of weeks…perhaps it is taking a little bit of time to filter down to the college kids, but Geno talked a lot about it in his presentation. The overall idea is that the old ways of getting people to talk about your products and ideas are out. The new world of marketing exists heavily online through various techniques that utilize programs like Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot, and a multitude of others to get people “talking” with their fingers online.

It is a new way of getting brands out there and in the “blogosphere.” That being said, fellow bloggers, I would like to invite you to join our Greenville Forward team and help us spread the word about who we are and what we are doing. If you are on Facebook, join our Greenville Forward Cause. Tell your friends. Blog about it. Send a tweet.

Thanks in advance for joining in our cyber-adventures but be sure you don't spend too much time glued to your blackberry, get outside a little, too.