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September 29, 2008
93% of Americans Expect Companies to Have Social Media Presence
A new study is showing that 93% of Americans expect companies to have a presence in social media. 85% say companies should interact with consumers via social media, according to the data released by Cone, Inc.
Specifically, those surveyed believe:
- Companies should use social networks to solve my problems (43%)
- Companies should solicit feedback on their products and services (41%)
- Companies should develop new ways for consumers to interact with their brand (37%)
- Companies should market to consumers (25%)
Men are twice as likely to interact with companies via social media than women. 33% will interact one or more times a week while only 17% of women will.
Two-thirds of households with 3 people or more and those making $75,000 or more feel a stronger connection to brands they interact with online.
What do you think about this survey? Does it change the way you think about social media as an advertising medium? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Reading:
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Could Social Media Be the Google Killer?
Moms See Search as Task-Oriented; Websites as Entertainment
Social Networking Taking Market Share from Dating, Adult Entertainment Sites
Less is More: What Social Media and Electronics Can Teach the Establishment
Posted by Nathania Johnson on September 29, 2008 9:28 AM
Comments
Ted Murphy September 29, 2008 11:29 AM
There are business models around social media and networks, and some are very successful. Myspace comes to mind.
However, most social media companies have taken a audience development and product focus without any concern to making money hoping that one day, things will be fixed, and money can be turned.
In most of these cases, they are wrong, and will one day scramble around like headless chickens wishing they had thought of a business plan.
Facebook is an example of a successful social-esque company that still doesn't have a solid idea of how to make boat loads of money, but most other business plan-less companies will fare nearly as well.
Gdog September 30, 2008 4:54 AM
This article is great. The part that struck me was the demographic data about men and social media.
Seems to me that the idea of men and social media is one that hasn't been well explored. I did an informal survey of my office and every single person there assumed women would be more active consumers of social media than men. What does it mean?
Daniel O'Neil October 2, 2008 2:11 PM
Social media is already huge, but its just beginning, in my opinion.
The problem is that there is no business model attached to social media. Advertising works only for keyword search and classified. Ecommerce is good, but its tough to create your own high margin e-product. Once we get this fixed, social media is going to take another big leap forward.