Storm Malik and Storm Corey blasted into many of our lives this weekend causing havoc.  Power lines down, internet and phones out, mobile signals gone…

I'm currently writing this from my Sister in law's house as we couldn't cope with yet another day of disconnection.

Being cut off brings a feeling of complete isolation. There is an awkwardness and difficulty in doing the most basic things that we take for granted.

For a business that relies on connectivity this is difficult but, it also hit hard on the domestic front.  Heating control, TV, water.... and just simple connectivity for all the devices we’ve becomes so accustomed.

There are 7.91 billion of us on this planet right now and 4.95 billion of us use the internet.

We rely on connectivity domestically and commercially.

Today, an incomprehensible amount of digital activity is occurring at any given moment and Social Media is a main feature.

Look at how far we’ve come in such a short time, you only have to think back to the 80's…

To message someone in another country you would have to send a letter through the Postal Service, to make a phone call you would have to use a landline as mobile technology wasn’t fully developed.

So much has changed in the last 40 years, but how will the world be different in years to come?

It’s a safe bet that the most forward looking and revolutionary change will take place in the digital sector.

• Artificial Intelligence becoming visible part of daily life....?
• New forms of digital communication?
• Advances in digital health care?
• The rise of cryptocurrency
• The evolution of Social Media...?

Off the 4.95 billion internet users mentioned above, 4.62 billion are active Social Media users. 41% of people who have the internet use Social Media as a essential element of work.

That's worth a moment of thought...

Take out the young and the elderly using Social Media for leisure and what is left...?

• Clients looking at suppliers,
• Suppliers looking at prospects,
• Partners looking for partners,
• People looking for jobs
• Investors looking for investment opportunity

We are all checking each other out on Social and the numbers are growing month on month...

Thanks to Simon Kemp at Kepios for the information.

In 2022, its pretty much a certainty that before a company spend money with a new company, someone checks somebody out on LinkedIn.

These numbers will rise and they way we are using Social Media at work will develop and evolve. Getting a frim grip on this and laying the foundation is important.

Gartner tell us:

"Over the next five years, an exponential rise in digital interactions between buyers and suppliers will break traditional sales models, 80% of B2B sales interactions between suppliers and buyers will occur in digital channels. This is because 33% of all buyers desire a seller-free sales experience – a preference that climbs to 44% for millennials".  

This isn't written purely for large blue chip organisations - this is relevant to your business today.

Many leaders have taken this seriously and looked to redefine how their organisation exists in a digital world...

....have you done this for your organisation?

What happens in an internet minute today is staggering but can be overwhelming to some and other find it difficult to see who and where they fit in. Putting a strategy in place and a framework of how to operate, makes sense of this and shows a clear path.

Being forced into digital darkness because a storm takes out your internet and power is one thing, opting for digital darkness by not implementing Strategic Social Media for your business, is another story...

So, are you opting in or opting out..?

Getting ahead the 2025 curve is essential - if 80% of your sales interaction will occur in digital channles....do your team know who wot work in digital channels..?

The answer is not tinkering about with poor advice on LinkedIn, the answer is giving your people the digital skillset to network, prospect and close business online.

Live Social '22

Eric Doyle

Crux / DLA Ignite