The selfie craze offers unusually strong marketing power for getting your property’s identity to spread and multiply instantly, as if it was displayed in a series of funhouse mirrors.
The director of “Saturday Night Fever” came up with a great way for one of the dolts who hung out with John Travolta to keep showing just how truly aimless he was: He kept having the character flick open his lighter and stare at the flame.
If that ‘70s classic was being remade today, I’m sure that character would instead be told to whip out his phone and take “selfies.” Yes, you can count me among those sour grouches who think smartphones are really dumbphones in the hands of far too many of those who have them, and that there’s nothing at all “social” (or productive) about how most people use (or fail to use) all of the amazing forms of communications media now at our disposal.
And apparently I’m not alone in my dyspepsia over all the self-indulgence and mindless time-wasting that can be seen just about any time you look over at who’s sitting next to you on a plane or driving next to your vehicle (whether it’s moving or not, I must alarmingly add).
In a survey of parents, the Physical Activities Council reports, 35% expressed concern over how much time their children spend playing video games, 30% were concerned over their time using social media, and 29% expressed concern over their deteriorating, or complete lack of, social skills.
The same study found that 27% of the surveyed parents expressed concern over their kids’ lack of exercise, and 23% said they have concerns about the potential for injury in the sports that they do play.
The National Golf Foundation jumped all over this last finding to suggest that it could open the door for clubs and courses to promote golf to parents, as a safer and less worrisome activity than soccer, football or other sports.
While there may be something to that idea, there could be even greater potential for tapping into the trends reflected by the higher percentages, too—which I don’t think are limited only to children.
Writing in Hotel News Resource, Doug Kennedy, a hospitality training expert, noted “it is no longer just the Millenials who are taking and posting selfies; it is travelers and tourists of all ages.” Kennedy suggested that hotels and resorts create and promote “selfie stations” on their properties, positioned near signs, logos or unique backdrops that they can offer.
This could certainly work for both public and private courses and clubs, too, as a new member or guest amenity, or something to roll out for functions and events. As Kennedy notes, the selfie craze is ingrained in a “look at me” desire, which in turn fuels a mad rush to share the photo as quickly and widely as possible. So it offers unusually strong marketing power for getting your property’s identity to spread and multiply instantly, as if it was displayed in a series of funhouse mirrors.
And even a sour grouch like me must admit that I went to a wedding recently where they had a photo booth (which is to selfies what typewriters are to computers), and I was glad my wife and I stepped into it to take some pictures together and mark the occasion. They even handed us some silly glasses and hats to add to the fun. Too bad they didn’t have a lighter; that would have really made for a great shot.
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