Why use social media?
An overwhelming majority (88%) of marketers in a recent survey say they are now using some form of social media to market their business, though 72% of those using it say they have only been at it a few months or less, according to a social media study by Michael Stelzner, sponsored by the upcoming Social Media Success Summit 2009.
The study, which set out to understand how and why marketers are using social media to grow and promote their businesses, found that by a wide margin Twitter, blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook - in that order - are the top four social media tools used by marketers, with Twitter in first place.
Key survey findings about specific application use:
* Small-business owners are more likely to use LinkedIn than employees working for a corporation.
* Men are significantly more likely to use YouTube or other video marketing than women (52.4% of all men compared with 31.7% of women).
* For those just getting under way with social media marketing, LinkedIn is ranked as their number-two choice, pushing blogging down one notch.
* Among those who have been using social media for a few months, Facebook is in second place. This group also has more Twitter use.
* Twitter is used by 94% of marketers who have been using social media for years, followed closely by blogs. This group also endorses online video significantly moreso than the other groups.
According to the survey, respondents report that the #1 benefit of social media marketing is gaining attention for the business,Improving traffic and growing marketing lists is the second major benefit, according to the study, followed by building new partnerships.
Love life, not just the weekends. You only have one life, Live It! @ www.NicciAndLee.com
Tags: social media