Then meets now: social media incarnations - Martin Waxman Communications

I just returned from Counselors Academy’s annual conference for PR agency leaders (I’ll be writing a post about it soon). One of the many highlights was a keynote by Jay Baer, based on his new book, The Now Revolution. He mentioned that some businesses use Twitter like a news release and their Facebook page as a glorified Yellow Pages ad.

That got me thinking about what things used to be and their current social media incarnations.

So here’s the beginning of a primer you could use for a modern day @ripvanwinkle who was just roused from a 40 year sleep:

45s = iTunes singles
Transistor radio = iPod
Phone book = search
Yellow pages ad = SEO
Check into a motel = check into Fourquare
Write a postcard = post a Facebook update
Board game = App
Instruction manual = YouTube
Busy signal = fail whale
Fuller brush salesman = spam

What would you add? Let me know…

About Martin Waxman

Martin Waxman, MCM, is a digital communications strategist. He conducts AI research, leads digital and social media training workshops and speaks at events across North America. He's co-founder of two PR agencies, president of a consultancy and has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. Martin is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, teaches digital strategy and social media at McMaster University, the Schulich School of Business, University of Toronto SCS and Seneca College. He's a member of the Institute for Public Relations Digital Media Research Center and a past-chair of PRSA Counselors Academy. He has a Master of Communications Management (MCM) from McMaster-Syracuse Universities.

4 Comments

Sonja Dowbiggin on May 21, 2011 at 11:14 am

My additions go back a mere10 years and longer. They would be:

Kitchen coffee klatch=tweetup.
Chatting at end of driveway with neighbours=tweet chat.

Just as today, a lot of great ideas and fundraising originated with the ladies coffee klatch in someone’s kitchen. Community has been around a very long time and it has always been nurtured by women. Our communities are larger today, that’s all.
Cheers.

Martin Waxman on May 23, 2011 at 9:27 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, Sonja! You make a good point about how communities have grown.
Reply

Jay Baer on May 18, 2011 at 7:19 pm

Thanks Martin! Terrific to see you and all my friends at Counselors Academy!

Martin Waxman on May 19, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Great seeing you too. And thanks for the state of social media presentation. Next year, it’s social media midnight madness :).
Reply

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Sonja Dowbiggin on May 21, 2011 at 11:14 am

My additions go back a mere10 years and longer. They would be:

Kitchen coffee klatch=tweetup.
Chatting at end of driveway with neighbours=tweet chat.

Just as today, a lot of great ideas and fundraising originated with the ladies coffee klatch in someone’s kitchen. Community has been around a very long time and it has always been nurtured by women. Our communities are larger today, that’s all.
Cheers.
- Martin Waxman on May 23, 2011 at 9:27 pm
  
  Thanks for the suggestions, Sonja! You make a good point about how communities have grown.
Jay Baer on May 18, 2011 at 7:19 pm

Thanks Martin! Terrific to see you and all my friends at Counselors Academy!
- Martin Waxman on May 19, 2011 at 3:50 pm
  
  Great seeing you too. And thanks for the state of social media presentation. Next year, it’s social media midnight madness :).

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