By now, everyone and their dog has heard about Microsoft’s coup to acquire Skype for $8.5B. Based on what you read, Microsoft is going to have either the best X-Box Live experience, or create an Office web suite that will one up the online meeting space. Or the other news making the rounds, Google’s web based music service. Come on, be honest, which one did you really know about? And that is the whole thing. Two amazing things happened this week, and only one got tons of press, coverage and was talked about more. So who do you like?
And that is what it comes down to for you, or your business – who do you like? Are you following and friending people just so you can beat Ashton Kutchner’s records, or are you trying to build relationships? Social connections should be less of a race to get the most people and more of building a cohesive community. This community should be focused on your business goals mixed with ways for the community to be involved in the project or become part of the direction. Social connections are also more mobile, so that should also be a main focus. Gone are the days of the young geeks huddled in the basement, logging on chat boards while playing Dungeons and Dragons. It is no longer the “geeks” who are connected, it is everyone. They are connecting via the phones, pads, and laptops. Just today, as I pulled in fill up my tank with outrageously expensive gas, the station had 10 cars at the other islands. Seven of those people were out filling up the tanks, texting, chatting, checking emails, etc. They all had their phones out and using them, not to make calls, but connecting to their community.
This is the new direction of the connected world. It is not in front of a computer screen, but out and active. Now that Microsoft has purchased Skype, and Google is starting a web based music service, there will be less and less reasons to focus traditional read/write web applications. Interactions will build relationships, and in turn, build who likes you and bring lasting business relationships.