1. 96% of 18-35 year-olds are members of at least 1 social network.
Can you think of another medium that touches 96% of any demographic? Think you can reach 96% of these people advertising on TV? Newspaper? The Yellow Pages? Good luck. People are turning away from traditional sources of entertainment, interaction and information, instead getting these things from the web and social networks in particular.
2. Facebook usage climbed 40% from 2009 to 2010.
Facebook hit 300 million users several years ago, yet continues to experience 40% year-over-year growth. Compare that to the population of the United States, estimated at 309 million in 2010. Yet, our population has only grown by 9.9% in the past 10 years! If you want to find your customers, their friends, children, parents and grandparents, start by looking on Facebook.
3. 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations – only 14% trust advertising.
Maybe it’s time to start thinking about shifting some of your advertising budget toward web presence management. Start engaging with your customers on social networks. Ask questions. Answer questions. Angry customers will badmouth you to their friends. Satisfied customers probably won’t say anything. Raving fans will tell EVERYONE what an awesome experience they had with your business.
Facebook - Social Proof
4. The average Facebook user has 120 friends.
Did you know that with Facebook, you can display ads only to friends of your current fans? Finally, advertising that utilizes social proof. As a consumer, if I see an ad for a product, then see that three of my friends like this product, I’m vastly more likely to click the ad and give the company a serious chance. If you have just 100 fans, you could reach 12,000 friends of your fans with a single ad.
5. Your competitors are getting social, whether you do it or not.
Imagine your run a business in a small town with one other direct competitor.
Your competitor posts tips and relevant information via Facebook and Twitter regularly. They engage with potential customers, answering questions publicly so that everyone can see. They post deals and coupons for their Facebook fans, and satisfied customers post glowing testimonials to their website.
You, on the other hand, have a dated web page with little more than your address and phone number. You advertise in the Yellow Pages and on the radio, but don’t engage in the conversation via Facebook, Twitter or a blog. You’re losing that 18-34 year-old demographic to your competitor! The last time I used a phone book was when I needed kindling to start a camp fire. When I hear about a business on the radio, I look them up online before I decide to do business with them. The old way simply isn’t enough anymore – proper web presence management is essential.
In closing, check out this infographic for more information on the social revolution:
Image Credit: en.gauge media
If you have questions about social media, website design, or web presence management, leave a comment or contact us directly and let us know! Getting started is the hardest part!
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