New Consumption Methods: Reading, Watching, Listening

Times they are a-changin’. You need to keep up with your customers’ consumption methods—how users read, watch and listen on the web is evolving, so you’d better keep up.

Previously, we talked about the future of social media and the way the social web was heading. But it’s more than just that—the way we interact with the web is also changing. Our consumption methods are evolving right along with the web, which means that if you want to keep up with your customers, your web presence is going to have to change as well.

When we talk about consumption methods, we’re referring to the way people get the information they need. This is done through reading, watching and listening—this is how we stay up to date, keep entertained and plugged in to what is important to us. Let’s delve in the future of how we consume information on the web, so you know what to expect in the months to come.

Reading

When it comes to computing, it’s all about touch. The touchscreen is slowly replacing the need for the keyboard and mouse—it won’t be long before where only place you can find them is at a museum. With the popularity of tablets, apps have never been hotter. News aggregation and magazine apps let users customize the way they gather and read information, and makes it accessible with just a touch—whether it be social media updates, channels, publications or blogs (just to name a few). And with so many publications being moved over to the web, expect changes in how customers subscribe to these different news sources. As well, you can share what you’re reading with your friends on your social networks—Facebook, in particular, lets you update your friend as to what you are reading on the web.

Watching

Not only are tablets changing the way we read, they are also influencing the way we watch TV and movies. Take the Kindle, for example. The Kindle is linked directly to Amazon, so you can order what you want to watch right from your tablet (just like the Apple iStore). And now it’s even better with Kindle Cloud Reader, where you can read ebooks instantly in your browser, no device needed. In regards to online streaming and sites such as Netflix, Prime Video, Crave, you can watch TV wherever you go, whenever you want. Not only that, but you can watch it anywhere—your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. With some services (YouTube, Disney+, CNN), users have subscriptions that let them stream to their phones, tablets, and TV with Apple TV and Chromecast.

Listening

Thanks to sites like Spotify and Apple Music, not only can you download your favourite songs, but you can also share with your friends what you’re listening to (because everyone needs to know what awesome musical taste you have). Users can download an app right to their smartphone and download or stream music wherever they are without downloading, but instead, access music on-demand with a monthly subscription fee.

What are you doing to keep up with the demands of how your customers stay informed? What consumption methods do you find most important to your audience? Let us know by leaving a comment on Twitter or Instagram!