timeline | Matthew Hurst

As social media becomes increasingly intertwined with daily lives, it seems inevitable that romantic relationships make greater use of social media. It wasn’t long after online networks were created that web users found the Internet to be a ideal medium not just for academics communicating over long distances but for developing friendships and romantic relationships as well. Perhaps the first social networks formed around dating sites during the web’s early years, and once these social networks began to take part in our online routines, the relationship status became a key part of profiles. Today many consider updating your relationship status from single to “in a relationship” a legitimate means to acknowledge their entry into a committed relationship, and sharing the news of an engagement is only a mouse click away for Facebook users.

Couples use social media to tell their story and about preparations for the wedding, and to exchange photos and share memories with wedding guests (and maybe those who couldn’t make it) after the big day. One popular trend for newly engaged couples is to make a wedding website on which couples can share the story behind their relationship and to share wedding day plans in advance with guests, not to mention making it a breeze to link to their wedding gift registry. Some even use social media to propose to their spouse, creating a unique proposal but also making it easy to share their special story. Here’s a few of the unique ways couples are using social media to share their proposals and weddings:

A Google Maps engineer created a scavenger hunt for their would-be fiancé, navigating around NYC using the Maps app on their smartphone
Dozens have proposed by updating their status on Twitter
During the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton the couple broadcast their wedding via a live stream on YouTube. News and chat about their wedding set a new record for tweets per second.
Continue reading Relationship status: How social media is changing weddings →

Today I celebrate my 25th birthday and the first anniversary of this website, which neatly coincides with the 25th anniversary of dot-com domains. In the year since I started writing this blog, so much in my life has changed:

Graduated from American University with a Master’s degree in Public Communication.
Created social media strategy for a non-profit, and raised funds my favorite cause through tactics on Facebook.
Managed Twitter accounts and Facebook pages for entrepreneurs, local bloggers, and established brands.
Found an internship through Twitter, learned about research and professional writing, and was called a “social media power-user” by my colleagues.
Television transitioned from analog to digital, but I still watch most of my video online.
Online retailers of music, video and applications became the biggest, and opinion leaders curated our online content.
Moved from DC to NYC, and started to build my professional network.
Blogged about my passion for tasty beers.
Started working with a leading web design, SEO, and online marketing company.
Met many more Matt Hursts on the internet, built my personal brand, and became a professional.

If I haven’t been keeping up with the blog as much lately, it’s because I’m finally applying the insights I’ve written about here through my new work. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish working as a social media and online marketing pro, so expect to hear more about those experiences soon. Until then, thank you for sharing this journey from student to professional along with me.

Content Marketing, Communications, and Social Media Strategy