Flying High: Dominican Republic’s Heightened Social Media

Let’s talk about love. Not just you and me but about social media love. As I’ve been touring the world bringing the news of social media marketing to the masses, I’ve noticed something unique in the Dominican Republic, or Republica of Dominica if you’re a native –  the introduction of the smartphone has made everyone go ga-ga over social media! If you haven’t keyed in, check out Guatemala’s social media devotion, the first in the series.

As I write this I’m sitting on the beach on the north coast of the Dominican Republic in a little city where the winds blow strong all year round. The winds are so consistent that Cabarete has been dubbed the Kite surfing capital of the world. Another consistency I’ve noticed on this trip? The use of the smart phone by not only tourists, but Dominicans.

So, I thought….to kick  (ha!) off our International month of SM in honor of the 2014 World Cup, let’s talk about the blue water, the white beaches, and the Dominican Republic’s awesome love for social media

The Capital City

I promise this isn’t a history lesson. I begin with Santo Domingo because the capital city blows statistics out of the water. While general English Facebook pages for the Dominican Republic sit at 50,000 to 300,000 fans, Santo Domingo claims 525,000 fans (as of July 2014).

Image from socialbakers.com

A city beats the country? Not quite. The official Spanish Facebook page Republica Dominicana claims a hefty 588,000 fans.

I’ll be the first to admit, though, Santo Domingo is pretty cool. AND a city provides more sources for social media lovers to hop on a computer or grab an internet connection. Fans will share the love there.

An Upswing of Events

While some social pages tout small amounts of growth, this Caribbean country packs it heavy with every top page showing steady growth. I came knowing this and will leave sure of it.

Facebook shows a surge in weekly, monthly, and semi-annual growth that could teach the rest of us a thing or two about social devotion.

The Smart in the Phone

You gotta hand it to them. Smart phones are changing the world. I, for one, believe it brings us closer (but you should still watch where you’re going on a crowded street!!!) Or on the beach in this case. You could easily get hit by a kiteboarder here in the Dominican.

Check this photo out!

The fact remains. In the Dominican Republic, and every country I’ve visited, the smart phone has made social media more accessible and it seems as though cost isn’t a barrier. In areas that haven’t been advanced with technology, I’ve noticed even more devices in the hands of locals. Yes, even in second world and third world countries. This really allows for the growth we see in social media marketing (SMM) around the world.

I’ve seen more news on the World Cup 2014 than ever before. Why? Because it’s integrated into Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr and Instagram. Take it International. Check out what other countries are into these days… and learn a little about social media analytics while you’re at it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE PRIMARY AVENUE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD!

Tell me, what trends have you seen worldwide? Has the internet and Facebook brought us together as one large country? If Facebook were a country it would be the third largest country in the entire world! Are you a citizen of Facebook too?