You’re most likely familiar with the concept of ‘wellness’ in its many strands – physical, mental, financial, the list goes on. We’re becoming obsessed with wellness culture and as far as trends go, it’s a really positive one. So, it’s not a surprise that ‘digital wellness’ has become a rising topic of conversation, considering the pervasiveness of technology in our daily routines.
People are becoming more aware of their technology use, particularly on social media. We all know that, in a logical sense, social media is the highlight reel of people’s lives, but it is hard to be totally objective and avoid comparison. According to HubSpot’s ‘Social Media Trends for 2020’, there were 78,000 conversations surrounding social media wellness at the time of research.
Ways to promote digital wellness in your own life
If you’re interested in nurturing your own digital wellness, there are a few tips and tricks you can try:
- Set ‘phone free’ periods that work for you – maybe during dinner time or two hours before you go to bed.
- Try using ‘do not disturb’ mode when you’re feeling overwhelmed or want to concentrate – you can set it so that you only receive calls from certain contacts or that all notifications are silenced until you’re ready to return.
- Use the inbuilt screen time feature on your phone to see where you’re using your time, and if you want to change your habits, set time limits on certain apps.
What does it mean for us as marketers?
So, what does the digital wellness movement mean for marketers? Don’t worry, it’s not bad news. It means that audiences want to engage with technology and social media more mindfully and in a way that benefits them. This is your chance to deliver an engagement strategy that allows them to do so with your brand. Ask yourself: ‘How can we connect with our audience and give them something valuable during their time online?’ It could be an informative article, a free planning tool or guided meditation. Choose something that is true to your brand and reflects the value that your product or service provides.
Social media platforms are following suit on this trend as well, changing features to become a little more user-friendly and a little less approval-focused. By adjusting our practices to meet the new importance placed on more meaningful metrics such as comments and shares, we can also encourage a more community focused platform. Try asking a question in your posts to promote dialogue or invite your audience to share with friends.
As we move forward and technology increasingly becomes even more ingrained in our lives, users will always be searching for a way to enhance their lives, not drain their time and energy. It’s up to us to make sure that the brands we represent are out there helping their audiences achieve this or they will get left behind.