Blog Topic

An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Posted by: Steve Kirsh
May 05, 2008

As technology rolls forward it brings new ways of doing things and one of those new ways is the profile video. A profile video isn't required to adopt. You won't find it in law books. But savvy couples still consider this a serious option because they know it rejuvenates their adoption potential by setting themselves apart in the eyes of the generation they're trying to reach; The Millennials a.k.a Generation Y.

What is known about this generation?

• They're born between 1977 and 1994.
• They've grown up with the Internet, comfortable with technology
• They're adaptable
• They grasp new concepts
• Image driven
• Impatient: instant gratification
• They opt for a mobile phone over landlines
• 56% of them own DVD players

• Information must flow more instantly.

An article entitled 'Managers Must Set Example for Gen Y Kidployees" by Robin Allen has this to say about Gen Y:

Unlike past generations, the technological advances in the past decade have put a multitude of choices at the fingertips of Generation Y. The wealth of information available in seconds from the Internet, hundreds of television stations to choose from and a different shopping center every ten miles has given Gen Y members the notion that if they do not get what they want from one source, they can immediately go to another.

(*Source: Managers Must Set Example for Gen Y Kidployees; employee Recruitment and Molding; Robin Allen, 2005)

If Millennials are your audience what would you do with your profile? Post nine written paragraphs on a nursing home's cafeteria wall, or post a profile video on your attorney's web-site? My example is extreme, but my point is emphasized.

So what should this 7 to 10 minute glimpse into your personality include? Along with seeing how you move, interact, sound, and so forth, birthparents are also looking for "answers". Imagine yourself placing a child for adoption. What qualities would you look for in prospective adoptive parents? What kind of education do they expect to give the child. Is religion important to you? How would they discipline? You get the picture.

The technology behind profile videos offers amazing flexibility. A profile video on the internet can be linked or seen in a number of ways. i.e your attorney's web-site, your personal web-site, email your profile link, write your link into classified ads, or on the bottom of written profiles. Technology can place your profile video onto DVD's to be physically mailed and watched on DVD players, on a birthparent's computer, or a counselor's laptop. The sky's the limit.

Is your current profile earning the loyalty and respect of birthparents you are trying to reach? It should be. If it isn't you're adding needless months to your search.

Your attorney isn't trying to adopt. You hired an attorney because you're trying to adopt and you recognize the absolute necessity and leverage a professional adoption attorney can bring to your search. But also recognize the leverage tool a profile video can be in the hands of your hired professional and to your adoption search when reaching out to Millennials.

Michael Heiny

AdoptProfiles.com

Permalink