In today’s day and age it is impossible to not spend time on your phone. I mean with one simple click you can place a grocery pick-up. (Which is magical btw). Or you can instantly connect with your friends just by the opening of an app. Social media has provided a platform that has changed the way we live, think, act, react, and create.
But do you remember the times in which we didn’t have VSCO to be editing our photos, Instagram never existed, and Mark Zuckerberg without Facebook? If your answer is no, me either. There is not a time I cannot remember some type of social media. Back in my day of circa 2010 I watched my friends older brother upload YouTube videos, and revision his Myspace wall.
Social media is great. It provides a platform where social meets business and you are “friends” with the people behind your favorite brands. So today if you will, please join me for a stroll down memory lane as we look at three methods that existed before social media.
1. Word of Mouth.
This method is as old as time itself. Word of mouth is such a vital part of any Digital PR campaign. This is so important to remember because if people like your product, they will talk and tell other people. If people don’t like your product they will talk and tell other people. No matter who you are you will always have an option on something its just a matter of finding an audience who will listen to it. A good example of this would be Nike announcing partnership with Colin Kaepernick. Nike simply just said, “hey this is what we are doing.” Everyone in there dog however had something to say about it. I had more conversation with others about there opinions on Nike, social justice, and the NFL then I had had in my entire life. regardless if the conversations were good or bad people were talking and they were talking about Nike.
2. Hosting Special Events.
When you are able to host big scale events you are able to connect your clients name to something they can specially cater to. This also helps when you are trying to reach a target audience. A good example of this is American Cancer Society Discovery Ball. This entire event is centered around the awareness and fundraising efforts of the work of the American Caner Society. This event also proves to be a success for the audience it is able to connect to. You may not have cancer but you might know of someone who does. When that proves to be the case your audience is more willing to invest into your client.
3. Sponsorship Opportunities.
As you can see from this example from Waynes World. Sponsorships can play a big part into brand awareness and furthering your PR campaign. However depending on who you have sponsoring your products they can prove to be more detrimental then positive. A good example of this is Ryan Lochte. He had a very positive image within the public eye. He was an up and coming Olympian had just won a gold medal. He was sponsored and was a representative for Speedo and Ralph Lauren. Two major brands who benefited from having him team up with them. However after some mishaps at the Rio Olympics Lochte lost these two major sponsorships and proved to be semi-detrimental to these brands.
As fun and effective social media can be, let us not forget these important and strategic methods that help us formulate a bases of digital PR.
Life According To Alex 