The Cultural Divide In The Social Media Evolution

Cross-Cultural Social Media

I recently wrote about how our cultural differences effect how we use social media platforms from other countries and cultures.

There is a video by Erik Qualman that is popular online right now – it gives 30 different stats about the growth of social media.
[display_podcast]

• Read the original article: Statistics Show Social Media Is Bigger Than You Think
• Read my comments on this video when it first came out: “Cross-Cultural Competence & International Skills” Posterous page
• Read the stats that Mashable highlighted.

Erik did a great job on this video and I will certainly be reading his new book “Socialnomics“. But I was not the only one with an international profile that found these statistics thought-provoking with regards to cross-cultural differences and how these will impact the evolution of social media.

Cultural Differences In Buying

Here is a quote from this video that really stood out to me:

In the near future, we will no longer search for products and services… they will find us via social media

The trouble here is that the US has a culture of consumerism.  Different cultures have different approaches to buying things. The examples of consumer differences in the US are numerous.

• The pull to keep up with the Jone’s or to buy everything shiny has a unique strength in the US.
• Many Americans think nothing of living on credit.

Cultural Differences In Selling

Here is another quote from this video:

Successful companies in social media act more like Dale Carnegie and less like David Ogylvy. Listening first, selling second

Again, there is no question that businesses need to adapt their sales methods to the new consumer profile created by the web.  But there are too many fundamental cultural differences for one sales method to work well across cultures.

Cultural Complexities In Social Evolution

And then these statistics and the questions they raise remind me of the book “Megatrends Europe” by Adjiedj Bakas.  These new social media insights are only part of the picture. Other factors will also come into play. One obvious factor is:

• The change in demographics that many countries are going through will have a big impact on social media.

Erik Qualman’s Social Media Revolution video raises questions with regards to international social media and how different countries will use social media in the future.  As the social web brings us closer to each other, will there be a bigger cultural divide on social media in the future?  I would love to hear your thoughts, questions and remarks.

• How do you think the current trends in social media will effect international social media?
• Which cultures will listen to social media when making buying decisions?
• Will the social media trend of listening first and selling second impact different cultures in the same way?

More on Cross-Cultural Social Media

• How to Connect Globally With Social Media
• Choice Of Social Media For International Markets
• Cultural Differences In Social Media Marketing
• How Cultural Differences Impact International Social Media
• 7 Cross-Cultural Skills For Businesses To Master Social Media
• Cross-Cultural Blunder On Latest Facebook Change
• Social Media Marketing Across Cultures
• Guerrilla Marketing With Social Media To Enter New International Markets
• Understanding Social Media For Stronger International Web Marketing
• Ethnic Origins On Social Media

Tagged as: business, cross cultural differences, global, global marketing, international, International Social Media, International Web Marketing, Internet Marketing, social media, soical media, web marketing