In China, shopping webcasts - short videos featuring social media personalities that both inform about products and facilitate instant purchases, have taken off.
In the U.S. people watch an informational video on YouTube and then go to Amazon to buy the product.
But, that may all be about to change as social media channels have begun to focus on selling stuff. Soon you will be able to watch that makeup tutorial video on YouTube and then buy eyeliner directly from the site. (Ovide, 2021)
Hmm. That sounds like QVC to me.
Same idea, different medium.
Last month, Dotdash bought Meredith Publications. Prior to the purchase, DotDash had 14 online publications including Serious Eats, TripSavvy, Investopedia, Verywell Health and Lifewire.
Now they have added print powerhouses including People, Better Homes & Gardens and Food & Wine, to their portfolio. People and BH&G both reach over three million paid subscribers and Dotdash projects the addition of them and the other Meredith publications to their portfolio will increase their reach to 180 million readers a month. (Tracy, 2021)
They intend to let the print versions of the magazines die out gracefully while they migrate content and audiences online.
Which brings us to Tik Tok. The job hunting advice on Tik Tok is no different from that carried in traditional channels - magazines, newspapers, blogs, etc. What is different is the person providing the information and the medium it is presented in. (Dill, 2021)
The question is are consumers driving these changes or are the companies?
Do you buy products or services on mobile. Which ones and why? Does instant purchasing appeal to you? Why or why not? How do you think others feel? Have you ever heard of QVC?
Have you read any of Dotdash's online publications? How about any of Meredith's magazines? Will you read People online or off?
Finally, do you go on Tik Tok for advice - job hunting or otherwise? If not, where do you go?
Ovide, S. (2021, November 15) Why the Internet Is Turning Into QVC. nytimes.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/technology/social-media-youtube-shopping-destinations.html
Tracy, M. (2021, November 15) People Magazine Heads to New Ownership Again. nytimes.com. retrieved November 16, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/business/media/people-magazine-dotdash-meredith.html
Dill, K. (2021, May 20) Gen Z Gets Career Advice, One Tik Tok at a Time. wsj.com. Retrieved November 16, 2021 , from https://www.wsj.com/articles/gen-z-gets-career-advice-one-tiktok-at-a-time-11621526403
