A lot can happen in 10 years.
We interviewed social media professionals (and those who use social media regularly in their jobs) about how social media has changed over the past decade. We gathered our intel from people who have been attending the Houston Social Media Breakfast for all or a part of the past 10 years. In May of 2009, SMBHOU was officially launched by the founder of Zoetica Media, Kami Huyse, and Jennifer Texada, who now lives in California.
Over the past decade, we have seen huge changes in the way that people and companies use social media, and how it is leveraged for business. We have also seen a lot of changes in social media platforms.
Percent of Adults Who Use Social Media
In May of 2009, 21% of adults used at least one social media site. Today, 72% of adults some type of social media.
2009 – 200 Million active users
2019 – 2.38 Billion active users
Source
Social Media Networks Launched
Pinterest (2009)
Instagram (2010)
Path (2010)
Quora (2010)
Snapchat (2010)
Google+ (2011)
Keek (2011)
Twitch.tv (2011)
Tinder (2012)
Vine by Twitter (2013)
Periscope by Twitter (2015)
Beme (2015)
Discord (2015)
Meerkat (2015)
Top Social Networking Sites
2009
2019
How has social media fundamentally changed your job over the past 10 years?
Social media has really brought marketing to a new level. The marketplace started thousands of years ago with two people and a table, and has since opened to a mass market format. Social media brings it back down to a personal, one-on-one, human-to-human level again.”
Eric Tung
Content Strategist
I tell stories for a living. People have been telling stories since the dawn of time, but it's never been as exciting as it is right now with so many different ways to engage and connect with people directly. Ten years ago, Instagram and Snapchat didn't exist. Twitter was a baby. There were no stories apps or live video. Today, we use all of these things to create immersive experiences and tell stories in ways that have never before been possible.”
Kristy Gillentine
Vice President, Drive West Communications
The legal landscape, demographics of users, influencer marketing, sponsored content.”
Mel Ragsdale Darragh
Media Relations| Harris County Precinct 1 Constable
It has been my number one source of connecting and collaborating with a diverse group of professionals.”
Tiffany Taylor-Hicks
CEO, Velvet Rope Experience
Social media has made it easy to connect with my clients 24/7. In the moment, they can message me privately with last minute questions. I can post examples and case studies that are inspired by their questions and challenges to support them over the long-term. Even though I have a lower number of followers and “likes,” I am surprised by all the questions and conversations that come by private messages. For my business, that's where the magic happens!”
Sarah Shah
Image Expert, Author, Speaker
Previously, social media marketing solely-focused careers weren't an option. Now, it is a serious career that demands analytically thinking and strategic creativity – It is an entirely new ballgame.”
AJ Cole
Marketer by Trade – Founder of Houston Lately and the Works with the Safe2Save App
Replaced radio for me.”
Dayna Steele
Managing Director, JFA INC
It has opened countless doors and opportunities for me that simply were nonexistent before.”
Juan Alanis
Owner and Co-Founder, Big Oak Tree Media
There are more ways to connect with my audience directly. I don't have to rely on media outlets to tell my story, I can do that myself.”
Sandra Fernandez
Director of Communications, Big Oak Tree Media
I manage media relations for a Fortune 20 company, and I’ve been amazed how social media has transformed the journalism landscape over the past 10 years, both positively and negatively. Because of social media, the world and information, accurate or not, now moves faster than ever before. We as consumers have unprecedented media choices and voices.”
Kristal Howard
Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, The Kroger Co.
What do you think is the future for social media (challenges, opportunities, etc.)?
Social media will continue to greatly influence how we think and behave. From a business perspective, I believe companies will get sharper and smarter on how they use social media to personalize and create experiences and products for customers. The data and insights produced by our social media consumption is invaluable.”
Kristal Howard
Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, The Kroger Co.
I stopped guessing what the future holds for social media, but I can say what I hope it holds. I hope the future is safer. I hope there's less sexual harassment and bullying. I hope our data is better protected. I hope we can better stop the spread of misinformation. And I hope more good brands – especially nonprofits and small businesses – embrace storytelling on social media to tell the world what they do. “
Kristy Gillentine
Vice President, Drive West Communications
Challenge: competing for attention
Opportunities: more collaboration for sponsoring content between public and private sectors.”
Mel Ragsdale Darragh
Media Relations| Harris County Precinct 1 Constable
The challenge will continue to be to adjust to the changes — new technology, trends in usage.”
Sandra Fernandez
Director of Communications, Big Oak Tree Media
Challenges: Making sure people understand that social media is not a substitute for building REAL relationships. Continuing relationships offline is imperative.
Opportunities: Growing integration of technology (AR & VR – Augmented and Virtual Reality technology) with social media. Exponential growth in live streaming events for the purposes of marketing reach expansion.”
Tiffany Taylor-Hicks
CEO, Velvet Rope Experience
I think there's going to be a Facebook crash. Younger people aren't using it anymore. It's what their parents and grandparents do. I think social media will migrate to a more interactive, personalized, potentially AI-enabled, messenger or voice based tech.”
Eric Tung
Content Strategist
In the future, the challenges is to keep interactions authentic and meaningful. Spammers and bots mimicking “real” conversations in an effort to “engage” with people is such a turn off and creates skepticism and contempt instead of connection, support and service.”
Sarah Shah
Image Expert, Author, Speaker
Regulation and censorship will eventually hit the US and as we see everyday across platforms, but most rampantly on Facebook, something needs to be done. The new regulations will require further thought in how we reach people.”
AJ Cole
Marketer by AJ Cole
Marketer by Trade – Founder of Houston Lately and the Works with the Safe2Save App
Challenges are keeping people honest as the last election has shown.
Dayna Steele
Opportunities present themselves in the form of entrepreneurial enterprises, marketing, and knowledge.”
Managing Director, JFA INC
Social media is about human interaction at its core and it will continue to evolve as we continue to evolve our behavior and attitudes towards this phenomenon that has revolutionized the way we communicate with one another and the world. I am so excited to see how future generations impact our relationship with social media and the internet.”
Juan Alanis
Owner and Co-Founder, Big Oak Tree Media
What are one or two tools (apps, social networks, management tools) that you use for social media that you couldn’t live without and why?
Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn create balance in my life! Twitter remains my primary social channel for news and world events. Instagram is my more personal channel. It’s how I remain inspired and connected with family and friends. LinkedIn is king professionally. Most people don’t leverage all the capabilities LinkedIn offers.”
Kristal Howard
Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, The Kroger Co.
I can't live without Sprout Social for community management, because it lets me track my history with my audience members. In addition, Canva to create graphics to share with messages.”
Sandra Fernandez
Director of Communications, Big Oak Tree Media
Tweetdeck is open on my laptop 24/7, and I have at least a dozen columns running at any given time. It allows me to keep a finger on the pulse of the conversations that are important to our clients.”
Kristy Gillentine
Vice President, Drive West Communications
1) The private messaging functions in instagram, facebook and what's app, – that's where many of my client conversations begin/occur.
Sarah Shah
2) Photo Grid – I create all my social media content with PhotoGrid because I can add text, draw, crop, collage and include video all in one place. I might die without it!”
Image Expert, Author, Speaker
I love Canva for easy and pretty instagram frames.”
A AJ Cole
Marketer by Trade – Founder of Houston Lately and the Works with the Safe2Save App
Buffer to schedule timely posts and Facebook to interact with my network.”
Dayna Steele
Managing Director, JFA INC
I'm a native user honestly, but I do like a lot of the apps that make creating content for specific social channels much easier.”
Juan Alanis
Owner and Co-Founder, Big Oak Tree Media
What are one or two tips about social media that you would give to yourself if you could go back 10 years and talk to your younger self?
Don’t feel compelled to post everything. Be mindful and fully present in real life. Ask yourself “Am I adding value to my followers by posting this? Am I just venting/ranting? Does the world really need more pictures of food?”
Mel Ragsdale Darragh
Media Relations| Harris County Precinct 1 Constable
Post better quality photos! Lol. Visuals are king in developing a personal brand.”
Kristal Howard
Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, The Kroger Co.
If I could go back in time, I'd tell myself to worry less about algorithms and focus instead on community building. Algorithms change constantly, but strong communities are resilient to those changes and will keep growing as long as they're properly nurtured.”
Kristy Gillentine
Vice President, Drive West Communications
‘Adopt early.' Don't wait too long before trying new networks to learn how to use them to communicate with your community.”
Sandra Fernandez
Director of Communications, Big Oak Tree Media
Maintain relationships! Be social, have fun, speak and share.”
Eric Tung
Content Strategist
1 – Don't be afraid to shift as technology grows. FB Live is not nearly as scary as it seems.
2 – Be okay with adapting and adjusting to social media trends. You can make it your own and still be authentic with your delivery of information.
3 – Finally, it is okay to be transparent because your story has the ability to help someone overcome their current challenges.”
Tiffany Taylor-Hicks
CEO, Velvet Rope Experience
1 – Don't worry about the numbers, just pay attention to the real people online and in real life.
2 – Signup using my name in every platform as soon as it's invented.”
Sarah Shah
Image Expert, Author, Speaker
You do not have to go into sales and traditional marketing, social media marketing is a career!”
AJ Cole
Marketer by Trade – Founder of Houston Lately and the Works with the Safe2Save App
It's not about you, it's about the reader. Just like it was about the listener in radio. What's in it for them – information, funny, important, etc.”
Dayna Steele
Managing Director, JFA INC
Keep that passion for creating content and don't worry about the rest. It really is only noise. And, be confident; take chances; have fun with it.”
Juan Alanis
Owner and Co-Founder, Big Oak Tree Media
Any memories you would like to share about the SMBHOU?
Through SMBHOU, Kami has created a beautiful tribe of intellectual, curious people who are willing to share knowledge and work together. It’s always been a welcoming environment. There have been many opportunities have resulted from my involvement in SMBHOU.”
Kristal Howard
Head of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, The Kroger Co.
Amiko Kauderer’s first time speaking changed my life and career goals.”
Mel Ragsdale Darragh
Media Relations| Harris County Precinct 1 Constable
I'm grateful for Houston Social Media Breakfast. I'm grateful for all the things I've learned (it's been an incredible resource through various stages in my career); I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak (sharing my knowledge and experience with the SMBHOU community was an honor); and I'm grateful for the friends I've made through SMBHOU (some of my best friends were made over quiche and coffee at Canopy)!”
Kristy Gillentine
Vice President, Drive West Communications
Meeting Mayor Parker, cultivating a group of friends, and seeing so many of the friends grow and become pillars of the social community.”
Eric Tung
Content Strategist
I feel like SMBHOU is that place where all of us who live and work in social media actually come to see each other in real life. It's always a kick to see everyone and in true Houston style, everyone is always so friendly and welcoming.”
Juan Alanis
Owner and Co-Founder, Big Oak Tree Media
I remember coming to SMBHOU back at Coffeegrounds when it first began as 20 people around a table. Now, look what it's become!! I come for my own enrichment, because I always leave with something new that I can use.”
Sarah Shah
Image Expert, Author, Speaker
The SMBHOU in March (re: Intellectual property) changed my entire life and gave me the necessary push I needed to better protect my content.”
Tiffany Taylor-Hicks
CEO, Velvet Rope Experience
