Posted in on June 2, 2014

Mature Marketing Links of the Week: Internet-Depression Connections and Aging Realities

Happy Monday! This week’s mature marketing articles of interest recap is double the pleasure, as we missed last week as our staff took time out to commemorate Memorial Day.

maya-angelouBut first, we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the passing of Maya Angelou. So much has already been said to honor her memory and spirit, so we just simply say thank you. Thank you for your inspiration. You will be missed.

MOST CLICKED: As we age it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of loneliness or isolation, which can lead to depression. A recent study examined the role of internet usage and it’s impact on seniors battling depression, and found reductions of up to 30 percent by those who use the internet regularly.

“That’s a very strong effect,” said Shelia Cotten, a Michigan State University professor of telecommunication, information studies and media who led the project. “And it all has to do with older persons being able to communicate, to stay in contact with their social networks, and just not feel lonely.”

While the internet is not a cure for depression, it does foster engagement with family and friends who may not be readily accessible, leading to a positive impact on an individual’s emotional wellness (especially among those seniors who live alone).

Read the full story here.

MOST SHARED: “Americans over 50 have a completely irrational view of their own aging,” at least that’s the position of a recent MediaPost commentary. The post, referencing recent findings from the Pew Research Foundation, compared Boomer’s attitudes towards aging and for many what can be very a different reality.

The eternal optimism of the Boomer generation consistently trumps the reality that they experience everyday. Boomers believe that they will be healthy and vigorous until the end of their lives at which point they will simply cease to exist. No debilitating disease, chronic condition or slow deterioration of mental faculties for the boomers…they’ll be fine…until they’re not.

These insights mean that as marketers we should examine how we position our services and messaging to address both the realities of the situation and the belief that life is swell and all is well. How do you strike this balance in your marketing? Please share in the comment section below.

Click here for the full article.

WORTH MENTIONING: PRNews recently shared tips for how to avoid the dreaded Twitter muting feature. As marketers it’s a delicate balance in providing relevant content and overwhelming our audience. The article outlines ways to avoid having followers tune you out:

*What is your biggest marketing goal? Be sure you aren’t sabotaging that with your channel plan.

*Create a calendar to help the process seem less daunting. Watch times of day and days of the week that work best for your audience.

*Listening is as important as sharing. Instead of pushing out content, why not ask a question to preface that content? Give people a reason to engage.

Click here to read more.

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