Sex doesn't sell anymore
It may come as a surprise to realize that there is one subject that lends itself poorly to sharing on social networks: sex. In the world of the anonymous Google searcher, sex or controversy was a constant crowd-puller. In the social world of Facebook, that is not the case. The number of people willing to share erotic material on Facebook (with mothers, colleagues, and future employers watching) is minimal.
mobile intranetAnother important development is that social networks are increasingly used via smartphones and tablets. Social and mobile are rapidly integrating and now about half of all traffic on Facebook comes via mobile. Do you want your content to be shared? Then it is essential that your content is suitable for sharing on social networks via mobile.
See the differences!
differences facebook googleAfter looking at the search picture for quite some time, my son suddenly points out a list to data detail that I had overlooked. Now I see it too! From now on, it is impossible to not see the differences between the two images.
It’s the same with the difference between the search world of Google and the social world of Facebook. Once you’ve seen the differences, you’ll never stop seeing them. You’ll understand why searching for information anonymously is fundamentally different from sharing emotions between friends. You’ll understand why cute kittens get shared and your sharp piece doesn’t.
In the coming decade, success on the internet will no longer consist solely of search engine optimization and rock-solid content. Going viral, appealing to emotions, and understanding networks of friends will become at least as important. Is your organization ready for this future? Do you see the differences that ensure online success?
This article was inspired by BuzzFeed's Jonah Peretti's presentation on 'The big power shift in media' at SXSW 2013 in Austin, Texas.