Consumers today have their “voice” everywhere – with profiles on multiple social networks, lists upon lists of “friends and followers” and an abundance of ways to connect with them. But how do they pick and choose where to spend their time with those connections? Sure, integration of “share” and “like” buttons make it easier to spread content, but what about their overall voice? Where are consumers talking these days? Some folks don’t even use a phone anymore – and although mobile is popular, some cultures shun the sharing of actual phone numbers (considering it too private). So how do consumers today choose where to say what they want to say, who to share it with and how to share it (text, chat, voice, etc.)?
Communication is supposed to be easier today than ever, but the reality is that consumers’ time, attention and voice are often fragmented as they try to keep up with the influx of new technologies and devices. Finding your friends, building your lists and inviting your community at point A to follow you to point B can get frustrating. Consumers are curious, yet short on patience and very impulsive – slowing them down in any way runs the risk of losing them immediately. The solution isn’t to continue to create yet another new platform or social community, but rather to “get back to easy” – make the need for multiple applications, logins, and devices vanish, and thus, lower communication obstacles.
Provide the ability for consumers to actually talk to each other verbally as easily as they can share content with each other on social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. The easier it is to communicate, the more valuable communication becomes. And that should include voice communications. Despite the multitude of different devices and choices we have, connecting shouldn’t be difficult. I’m on a PC, you’re on a phone – not only can we share content, but we can just as easily talk verbally. Or, for example, a Bobsled user can call a Facebook friend while playing Combat Arms from within the game – so it’s not just cross-platform, it’s also cross-experience. Consumers shouldn’t be limited to communicating only with those in their social network while they are active in that network, or in that game, or on a specific device.
I’m eager to see how voice – that is, any way and anywhere that someone communicates – evolves in 2012 and helps consumers to get back to easy communication anywhere, anytime. Voice makes social, mobile and community even more exciting and valuable. At Vivox, we’re helping consumers find their voice, and use it again – we take your existing friends and connect you on any platform, any device. What could be easier?
What are your predictions for voice in 2012 and how it will continue to evolve for consumers?