We’re in the age of the listening parent. Children and teens don’t repress their desires for lack of money or fear of the parent anymore, and astutely enough, the parent’s methods of regulation and culling the best out of their children have changed correspondingly. Today I can see an educated breed of parent who neither smacks nor whips but ‘has a talk’ with her/his child to make the child aware of behavioral transgressions. This breed grows progressively.

Wonderfully, this trend of liberalism seems to be seeping into marketing. So long has the product been the manufacturer’s dominion, subject only to the general demands of the customer. The question then, was: Will they buy, or not buy? (Of course, there are notable exceptions – the Tatas and some international brands have relied more on building open, perceptive, dependable brand images)

Today, the question is: Do they want to buy or do they not? Today’s audience is the charmingly spoilt child. Cross them, deny them something and they react by scorning your brand. If you plan to use social media platforms to promote your business, you must be reasonable, kind and democratic in your approach. The one-sided, self-selling approach is neither appreciated nor tolerated. However, in this case the child has some great chocolates to give. A good recommendation by a consumer on a social media platform visited by hundreds is worth a hundred advertisements, in my opinion.

On social media, both the producer and the consumer have their say, and most often the consumer is more widely believed. Power of influence. What can the producer do for power? Nothing. In the words of the great Beatles: “Let it be.” And work for consumer-satisfaction.