Social Media and the Prom

It's prom season and all over the country teenagers are getting ready for a major right of passage: THE PROM!

I personally just bought the big dress for my 16 year old daughter for her Junior Prom, so I know the drill only too well. Much of the same emotions are there from when we were going through it. With one big difference: SOCIAL MEDIA!

Yikes ... can't even begin to tell you the dynamic that it adds to the teenage psyche. If you have teenagers, then you know what I am talking about. But let's not go there, we are here to talk about marketing.

Social media is huge with this year's Prom Season. Retailers are luring the teenage buyer with special deals and services on dresses, tuxes, limos, flowers ... the whole package. Facebook, YouTube, and even Twitter are loaded with posts/conversations going back and forth. The brands are engaging consumers and the consumers are engaging each other. It's an online fest.

Sears, Macy's, David's Bridal, Men's Wearhouse, 1-800-Flowers ... they are all there. Men's Wearhouse is even offering the guys a "prom rep" to help choose and then size the tux rental!

I noticed the impact of social media at retail this past Black Friday for the holiday season and it has been expanding ever since as more and more brands jump on the bandwagon. This Prom season is continuing the movement.

Brand Week did a great article on it ... and it fact I was quoted:http://tinyurl.com/yhnaso4

Hope the kids have fun and stay out of trouble, just like we did :)

What's your experience? Jim