Hunger Pains?

I’ve been on the road visiting and training television stations these last few weeks and observed a pattern. HUNGER! I’ve been in the media business for a very long time but have never seen it like this before. People at all levels are STARVING for an explanation of what is going on and how to adjust to survive.

It’s not just the economy – they know that. It’s not just fear – they know that. Behaviors have changed, needs have changed, wishes have changed, family structures have changed, our personal connections have changed, and how we communicate has changed. Is technology a part of all of this? You bet! But it’s a complete change in our society which is turning all of our worlds upside down.

Some of our best connections are now occurring within Facebook and Twitter. Wouldn’t you rather hear the opinions of a person about an upcoming cruise you’re considering than from the cruise line itself? Of course Royal Caribbean will tell you they’re the best! So will NCL, Celebrity, Holland America, etc. I want to hear from a real person who has experienced these brands.

Amazing – today we have more trust in a stranger on Twitter than on brands that have been around for years. We have always valued our neighbor’s opinions and spoke with them over our backyard fences. Now the virtual backyard fence is Twitter and we have thousands of neighbors to talk to! No need to talk with the brands until we have made our decisions to purchase.

What does this mean to you and your brands? Have you adjusted? Have you made any real changes? Do you need to reevaluate how you communicate with your customers (and your employees)? Remember, our needs, wishes, family structures, connections, communication and technology have changed dramatically over the past few years. How have you and the way you do business responded? Maybe the better question is, “what have you done to understand and eliminate the hunger pains?”