Okay, so I’m probably getting in to the game late, but recently I’ve taken up a new hobby. Couponing! Basically you cut out these archaic (paper! what’s that?) squares from the newspaper (yes the print one not Social Reader) and the grocery store, drugstore and even Wal-Mart award you that amount off of your purchase. You buy mostly in bulk and can get things significantly cheaper…or even FREE.
It’s not basic, it actually takes a lot of math and planning and strategy. But what you might have watched your mother do (if you grew up stuck in the suburbs somewhere like I did) has now exploded in the already growing world of social media.
Shows like TLC’s ”Extreme Couponing,” mixed with everyone hysteria over high gas prices and a regressed economy have led to people taking more care with how they spend their money. These people are couponers. These people are also developing a growing community over social media, particularly through Twitter and blogs. Sites like Coupons.com offer printable coupons and update via Twitter. But Coupons.com is not the only site like this. Manufacturers as well as stores offer coupons on merchandise and coupon websites abound. Keeping track off all the offers is easier done through a Twitter feed. Coupons have officially moved to the world of Social!
The mommy blogger genre has reached out to the frugal ubermommies and superbroke and created the world of the Housekeeping Strategist. I truly do see this becoming someone’s actual job description someday.
Social helps couponing get into the 21st century online community by giving a usually individualistic community the chace to trade, converse and distribute their newsprint money easily through RSS and Twitter feeds as well as Facebook communities nationwide.
As social business becomes the norm, couponing is the new wave of business. It might just be a passing fad, but it could be the new face of social.
If anyone has any coupons…or to respond to this blog please contact @kellynner. She is currently recovering from severe paper cuts…
