Social Media Timeline

I recently noted the history or a social media timeline. I found it quite interesting that we are now dealing with over a decade of social sharing. Originally music was the driving force and today social sharing includes music but additionally photos, history, education, job searching, video and now advertising.

Here’s a brief history or social media timeline:

• September 1998 – Google
• June 1999 – Napster
• January 2000 – Pandora Radio
• March 2002 – Friendster
• April 2003 – iTunes
• May 2003 – LinkedIn
• August 2003 – MySpace
• February 2004 – Facebook
• February 2005 – YouTube
• July 2006 – Twitter
• February 2007 – Slideshare
• October 2010 – MySpace makeover

Amazing that most of us today in this decade of transition and change into a world of digital technology are using smartphones on daily basis. No one could even imagine the extent to which we have seen this change (naturally excluding Steve Jobs). These devices allow us to communicate like never before in history. Smartphones, iPhones, tablets, and iPads have impacted our daily lives and these social networks have been a driving force.

Traditional businesses that have been impacted and are in a state of change; television, newspaper, magazine publishing, radio and all other areas of traditional marketing are seeing continual declines. At the same time all areas of internet marketing and online advertising are seeing double-digit growth.

To quote Jamie Cullum, “What a difference a day makes, twenty-four little hours. Brought the sun and the flowers where there used to be rain”. Take a minute to review the technological changes and the impact in your everyday life, you will be amazed at the pace and extent of the changes.

If you, your firm, and your brand are waiting to see how things progress you will be in trouble, serious trouble. This decade has brought a digital onslaught and a wholesale change in the way we communicate. No time like the present to begin this journey, for many firms this process is in phase two.

Michael Bickerton, Raven5 Ltd, Toronto, January 2012

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