At this time last year I wrote with some surprise about how many birthday wishes I received online, rather than on birthday cards.  I wrote this with surprise yes, and I will admit, some disdain.  Can people no longer be bothered to make an effort to buy, write and post birthday wishes?

Another year on, I’m realising that it’s no reflection on my popularity.  People do care, it’s just that social media has made it very easy for people to communicate quickly and effortlessly.  Looking back, I got more birthday messages than I usually do, from people I haven’t ‘spoken’ to in a long time; the messages were just in a different format.

Today is my birthday (next year is the big one, so no meltdown predicted yet!)  I am expecting even more messages online, and less shelf space needed for cards.  I will however this year not feel saddened by this.  Social media has given me contact with old friends I’ve missed.

With every new client we take on, I can almost guarantee that social media will form part of the marketing plan we formulate for them.  It is here to stay, and as a marketing tool is vitally important – the ability to access people and information across the world in an instant is a marketers dream.  So as I have a glass or 2 of something to celebrate,  I’ll sit with my iPad and ‘open’ my cards from wherever I may be when the messages arrive!

Here’s some amazing social media facts that I enjoyed, however much it makes me feel old!