The Perks of Informal Communication

As part of a generation that has become obsessed with social media combined with a short attention span, all kinds of writers have had to infiltrate their genres with humor and informal language that would not have been approved in another time. These days, it seems like sites will do just about anything to entice Generation Y into reading a couple blurbs. What they have realized is the importance of an online presence, as I know that all of my friends (myself included) get their information and news online, as well as the common online shopping browsing that is constantly seen on computer screens in lecture.

My point is, as a communications major (s/o to Kate), it is becoming more and more obvious that professional communication and information sharing should no longer always be completely formal. I receive daily marketing emails from companies such as Chubbies (not sure why) that are so obviously marketed to my generation that it is almost off-putting. The most recent one included Instagrams of Chubbies consumers wearing their product while doing activities such as lying in a pile of beer cans, posing with a giant rabbit mascot, and one very “sober” lucky guy hanging with a bunch of touchy girls. Next to these pictures are witty captions made by some lucky Chubbies marketing guy (or gal) that clearly wouldn’t be appreciated or understood by an older generation. The informal style makes me feel like my best bud sent me the email knowing that it would be in my best interest to go out there and buy a pair of Chubbies for myself.

News sources have also taken to this informal style to reach their readers. Although I have been known to disparage Buzzfeed and the stupidity of some of its articles, I have to admit I learn a lot about pop culture and my generations’ current interests, woes, and hopes by reading through humorous and self-deprecating articles. There are also the few Buzzfeed writers who cover real news stories. Although I wouldn’t recommend Buzzfeed as your singular news source, their informal style does allow for readers to gain political and international knowledge that otherwise might have gone unnoticed by them. Side note; check out The Skimm as well if you like learning about news in a very informal manner.

While there is always a time and place for the formal communication skills we are learning about in this class, I have been noticing that certain fields have been making a name for themselves by doing exactly the opposite when communicating with their consumers/readers and immensely succeeding because of it. By doing so, they are making themselves more approachable and giving a personality to a brand name that otherwise can appear cold and distant. I’m a fan of this marketing strategy and give credit to the people who first realized that incorporating humor in areas of business could never be a bad idea.

Basically, the different ways people communicate and attempt to make connections with each other fascinates me. Chubbies just gets it. And that's about it.