go back
“‘I can see how social media will work for <fill in the blank … a company not like mine>, but it certainly won’t work for MY type of business!’ I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a business owner express this, hoping that I’ll agree with him or her“, said Social Media Strategist Caroline Melberg. “The fact of the matter is, there are very few businesses that social media won’t work for. When you are marketing your business today, you need to place yourself where your potential customers are spending the most time.”
Today the reality is, your potential customer is spending time on social media.
Consider these social media stats:
- In the US, there are now over 149M active Facebook users. 70% log in once a day. The average Facebook user logs on 3 times each day for 19 minutes each session. – Ogilvy & BuddyMedia
- Social media accounts for 25% of all time spent online - over 35 minutes per hour – Nielsen
According to a recent Universal McCann study:
- 71% of social media participants say they are more likely to purchase from a brand they follow online
- 66% of social media participants note that participation with brands online has made them more loyal to those brands
- 63% of social media participants state that they will recommend these brands to their friends and associates
- Ford’s 2011 Explorer launch on Facebook generated a 200% greater return than a Super Bowl ad.
With facts like these, how can your business afford NOT to be strategically using social media?
Would love to see the research on the Ford stats!
I’ll be honest that comment seems very misleading to me because: 1) not every business is going to have that kind of return, most businesses don’t have that kind of brand recognition. 2) comparing a Facebook giveaway to a lifestyle ad is definitely going to skew the data.
Don’t get me wrong I know that social media is hugely influential and should be a regular part of their media mix.
Thanks for your comment, Cheryl. The Ford statistic can be found in The Big Book of Social Media: Case Studies, Stories, Perspectives by Robert Fine.
Yes, not every brand will experience the exact same results as Ford did, but it’s a great example of social media being used as a strategic business tool. For more fascinating social media statistics like this, we recommend you watch “Social Media Revolution 2011″ video on YouTube!