I remember sitting with Dad in a local market town whilst mum was shopping - I have always shared Dad's aversion to shopping, except for bookstores and gadget places!
I was only small but I asked him what he was thinking...he looked at me and said.."Market research"
" The best way to learn about how people buy is to watch them whilst they are shopping.....look at the behaviours...look at who makes the decision....look at what creates impact to them"
I was reminded of that through social media...because over 30 years later social media gives us the chance to know EVERYTHING about our potential customers. Where they go...which friends they trust...what they like.....what they want to buy...what they want to know....
You see it just proves again...for all things change, nothing really ever changes. The only difference between Dad on that day, is that I don't have to leave my desk to do it....though I think that has a good and bad side
Good - convenience and detailed data
Bad - you lose the emotions and how they shop and you can forget that data is a real person. People are not clicks...they are balls of emotion!
That is why with any new technology...always remember....it is never about offline or online...it is about both.
It is not about social marketing or 'traditional' marketing...it is about a combination....
