2 Important Social Media Lessons I Learned From a Simple Street Sign

As I was walking the dog the other day I noticed a street sign for the first time. Actually, it’s a street sign I probably pass several times every day, and we’ve all probably seen it. But for the first time I REALLY noticed it:

Why did I notice it? Well here are a few simple lessons I learned from this sign:

1. Be relevant and current – Have you noticed the picture of the boy on the sign? Notice what he’s wearing? Appears to be knickers, knee socks, and some kind of shoes with heels. At best he appears to be from the early part of the 20th century. Who decided this was the official picture to go along with “children at play”? And why has that picture never been updated?

In marketing and Social Media we need to stay up to date. Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, as are trends. Sure, the picture on this sign doesn’t really matter, but being current and relevant in our marketing efforts does.

2. Cut Through the Clutter – I have walked by this sign nearly every day for the past year. I also drive by it a lot, and others like it. Why have I never noticed it before? The number thrown around a lot is that the average American consumer is confronted by anywhere from 2 -3,000 ad impressions a day. And yet, how many of them do we remember? We have built in filters that help us go through the day without really paying attention to these ads. Radio, Television, Print, Outdoor. All of them beset with clutter. And now even online, and in Social Media, we are experiencing clutter. In order to be seen and be found, we need to find a way to stand out.

Two simple lessons. And yet, they go together. Being current and relevant will help us stand out from all of the clutter.

How are you doing in these two areas?

Tagged as: Marketing, Social Media