The countdown has begun for people to finally get their hands—more specifically wrists—on the Apple Watch. Thousands of people have already pre-ordered the new device and many more will line up outside of Apple Stores across the world. It is estimated that by the end of 2015, 10,000 people will own an Apple Watch.
While that is only an estimate, one thing is for sure: the Apple Watch will change the world. OK, that might be a little dramatic, but it will definitely change how we market, specifically, how we will market on social media.
We are on social media almost constantly, whether we’re on our phones, laptops, or other devices. Think of how much more we will engage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. if our device is physically on us. There is no doubt that having a link to social media on our wrists will spark a lot more socializing.
So what does that mean for marketers? For starters, marketers will have to start tailoring their content to the limited screen size. This also means less text, shorter messages, and more pictures and videos. Luckily we won’t have to reinvent the wheel, but we may have to readjust our template sizes.
On the plus side, having social media on your consumers’ wrists will most likely drive up likes, favorites and retweets. On the down side, comments on posts and general replies will decrease due to the device’s usability. This will be something to consider when you are revising your social media strategy.
Another benefit for marketers will be geofencing. Marketers will be able to set up geofences that will sense when an Apple Watch user is close in proximity. This will be extremely useful for retail stores and restaurants. When users are nearby, you can set up a push notification to virtually “tap” them and remind them about your business.
In this same sense, knowing where your customers are certainly has its benefits. This will be even more defined than it is with cell phones, because, well… it’s physically on them!
What do you think are going to be some of the benefits and challenges for marketers when it comes to the Apple Watch?
