Here at andydesoto.com, I often like to discuss how social media can be integrated with the “real world;” that is, how a body of content and discussion online can be brought into more day-to-day tasks that are accessible to those outside of the self-referential social media circles. People are quick to write off even the basics of social media– photos, videos, audio, and more– despite the fact that carefully-implemented social media, when utilized properly, can really spice up interactivity and dicussion offline, too.
Videos are worth a thousand pictures
Thanks to the advent of digital cameras with video modes, affordable, easy-to-use video cameras, and services that can transmogrify stills into video footage, video is more accessible than it ever has been. Still, it goes underutilized. Out of the many individuals I know, there’s only a mere handful that I’d call video content creators. Video’s impact can be so incredibly meaningful, however. Just the other day, I took a few minutes to record a great performance by a student-organized jazz group on campus.
I’m looking forward to sharing this footage with the musicians because I know they might enjoy watching this ten or fifteen years down the road.
Social media jazzes up e-mails
Although I’ve always been a proponent of keeping electronic communication short and to the point, it never hurts to provide your e-mail recipients with more content or entertainment, should they choose to accept it. One of my personal favorite techniques is linking to addicting Flash games, funny photos that have bubbled to the top in FriendFeed, or even just Wikipedia articles shedding more light onto the topic in question. This way, folks strapped for time can still peruse a distilled gist of your message, while those looking to get into greater depth can do so.
Possibilities are endless
These are just a few ways to integrate social media into day-to-day activity. What do you do to tie in the online world with the one that’s more immediately meaningful?
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