If you’ve ever known the bittersweet pain of purchasing an iPhone only to hear the newer, better version will be released in upcoming days, then you already know the cold, hard fact of life: social media, like technology, is a fickle jerk.

Sometimes, the hashtag usage on Twitter (and Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Pinterest and just everywhere) feels like an Oprah giveaway, “A hashtag for you! And a hashtag for you! Here’s a hashtag, there’s a hashtag, everywhere a hashtag!”

Whether or not you’re a Tom Cruise fan is probably something not oft brought up in social media-themed blog posts, but we’re here to break molds.

If you remember a certain 2002 summer blockbuster, Minority Report, then our concept of the “pre-customer” might seem less sci-fi and lend itself more to an of-the-moment believability. 

In the ever-evolving world of technology and marketing, there’s a looming, unconquerable riddle:  how can we create that perfectly crafted message, posted at the most ideal moment that’ll attract the precise audiences and relevant interests at the exact moment they’re looking (even though they aren’t looking specifically for you or your business)?

Conversation is dead! Millennials have murdered the precious art that is social discussion. They hide behind their cell phones and computer screens. Those hooligan GenYers don’t know how to talk to one another. Society as we know it has crumbled.

Let’s face it. Social media has bred a language of its own. From LOL to NSFW (which is an important one to know, see below), communication on Twitter, and online in general, has become an overwhelming monster, especially for those who just don’t understand.

Creating powerful social media content requires more time and effort than most people realize. Before you cook up your content, it’s important to see what ingredients and tools you have to work with.