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Increased Social Media Usage Comes as Users Age

ginny — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:30:26 +0000

With nearly one-half, 47%, of US adults using at least one social media site, there has been a change in the demographic makeup of the typical user. While the number of people engaging in social media sites has nearly doubled over the past two years, those new to the scene come from older age groups and bring a unique set of psychographic characteristics to the mix.

According to Pew Research, in 2008 just 26% of US adults said they used at least one social networking site. Just two years later that number has jumped to 47%. Among online adults, the number has jumped from 34% using social media to 59%.

Social media is not a child’s game either. The average age of adults using social media is also climbing. In 2008, the average age was 33, as of November 2010 that number had climbed to 38 years of age. Women also make up the majority of social networking users.

Interestingly, each of the four major social networking sites – Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter – has a unique audience profile. Specific demographic facts relating to each network include:

Facebook: 50% of users are 36+; 52% of users engage daily
MySpace: Youngest overall profile among the four major platforms.
LinkedIn: 63% male vs. 37% female; 56% of users are 36+; 65% have at least one university degree
Twitter: 41% of users are 36+; 33% of users engage daily

With 92% of social networking usage coming from Facebook, it is valuable to look at what those users are doing on a typical day. The most common activity among Facebook users is to “Like” another user’s content. The second and third most popular activities are commenting on another’s post or status and commenting on another user’s photos, respectively.

While updating status falls third on the list, it is valuable to examine how frequently status updates occur. This chart provides an in depth look at Facebook status updates.

Additionally, Pew Research shows that Internet users tend to be more trusting than non-users with 46% of Internet users saying that “most people can be trusted” compared to 27% of non-users.

Pew Research also shows that Facebook and LinkedIn users are the most likely to be politically engaged and likely to vote. 79% of LinkedIn users responded that they did or intended to vote and active Facebook users are 43% more likely to have said they would vote. Comparatively MySpace users are the least politically active.

How Social Media Sites can Help Boost Search Results

jennyg — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:48:30 +0000

The rise of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have given business of all sizes another avenue to increase their search engine results. Many businesses are using social media sites to stay in touch with customers and to update them on new sales and promotions, but their ability to get SEO results should not be overlooked.

Building the number of inbound links and increasing link popularity is one of the most important ways to get top search engine rankings. Most businesses serious about their SEO strategies are already using conventional routes such as press releases, directory and article submissions to garner links. Adding social media sites to this mix will deliver highly valued inbound links and boost placement on search engines.

Here are some basic points to consider as you integrate social media into your SEO strategy.

It helps to integrate your social networking profiles. Use an RSS feed to share a post on your corporate blog with your Facebook profile, your Twitter page, your LinkedIn account and any other number of social networking sites. One simple step can generate multiple relevant inbound links for your site.
Inbound links are only valued by search engines if they come from websites that are considered of high quality and relevant. Social sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, meet these criteria. Website Magazine recently did an informal study to see how Google valued sites such as Twitter and Facebook. When searching on a publication name, such as Chicago Tribune, they found that the company website came up first, as expected. What was unexpected was that the Twitter site came up in the first five results as well. These results were consistent among multiple publications tested, showing that Google is clearing valuing the links posted on social networking sites.
Just adding any old link to your site is not enough. You must establish a brand and visibility for your business. This is why social media sites can be so valuable. When you post a link to a social media site, your followers or fans have the ability to determine if the link is valuable to them and worth passing on. By posting relevant quality links, you are creating a following among bloggers, customers and other people who view your social media pages. As you gain credibility and they pass along your links, you are gaining strength in search engine results.

Social media has quickly become entrenched in our society. It only makes sense to use it to promote your business and speak to your customers. Using social media sites to create high-quality inbound links improves visibility with search engines and gets your business top rankings. You just can’t beat that!

Incorporate Social Networking in Your Marketing Mix

jennyg — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:00:50 +0000

If you could get more than 80% of your potential clients to buy your product or service would you? Of course you would. When such a large percentage of any market endorses one thing, it must be made note of. In a recent study*, 86% of consumers responded that social networking should be a part of any business’ marketing mix. By overlooking the marketing power of social networking sites you are missing the chance to reach customers via their preferred medium. So what are social networking sites and how do you use them?

The big 3 in social networking sites are LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. These sites are designed for people to connect and share information. From personal to business, these sites bring people of all backgrounds together. Social networking sites provide an excellent way for you to deliver your message to current and potential customers. They are easy to use and keep you top of mind.

LinkedIn is a popular business networking tool. Used by many to keep in touch with current and former co-workers, LinkedIn has developed into a tool that both individuals and companies use when looking for jobs or to fill positions. LinkedIn recently developed a beta site that allows members to not only have pages detailing their professional expertise, but also their business’ profile. Members of LinkedIn make “connections” with friends and colleagues. They are then able to see the connections of their connections. When you use LinkedIn to connect with clients and friends, your business information will spread throughout the network giving you greater exposure. Visit LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com.

Facebook is a great starting point for social marketing. On Facebook, you can have a personal and/or business page. People connect with each other and become “Friends” when they have a personal page on Facebook. Businesses connect with members and gather “Fans”. Getting your business started with a fan page is relatively easy. Fill in as much information as you can including name, address, store hours, logos and/or photos. Spread the word to friends, employees and clients to have them join your fan page. Visit Facebook at www.facebook.com.

Twitter is the rising star in the social networking world. The unique twist with Twitter is that all posts must be no longer than 140 characters. Not words, characters. Short concise postings go out to your “followers”. This provides a great way to spread the news about a new product or sale. But be wary of overloading your followers with too many sales pitches. Don’t forget to focus on customer service points. Bring value to the table with your “tweets”. Visit Twitter at www.twitter.com.

No matter which of these social networking sites you use, and we see value in using all of them, you need to be committed to the process. Spending at least a few minutes every day on these sites is a must. Adding posts, responding to questions, promoting sales are all great ways to communicate with your customer base through social networking sites. The best part of using social networking sites is that you can start small and expand your efforts as you get more comfortable with them. The key is to just get started.

* Study conducted by Prodo.