CONNECTING THE DOTS: WHO IS USING SOCIAL MEDIA & WHY

Leonard & Finco Public Relations, Inc.© May 2009

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NATIONAL, ONLINE HARRIS POLL

51% of Americans do not use Twitter, have a MySpace or Facebook account

Only 5% of the population uses Twitter

Younger

Better educated

Not mainstream yet Those who use SM

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LEONARD & FINCO SURVEY

68% area journalists use social media for business

56% use social media; most in a limited way

44% do not use social media at all

Media Business & Community

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NE WISCONSIN MEDIA USAGE

To find contacts and interviewsGenerate story ideasConduct research

FacebookYouTubeBlogsLinkedInTwitter

What they use SM for: Top SM aps / programs:

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NEW BUSINESS / COMMUNITY LEADERS

Connect & communicate with others in industry or the communityGather information and research

LinkedIn FacebookBlogsYouTube

What they use SM for: Top SM aps / programs:

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NEW BUSINESS / COMMUNITY LEADERS

51% aren’t sure if SM is having a positive impact on their business

Of the 38% who said it does have a positive impact, the main reason was networking capabilities (79%)

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GB AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & MARKETINGSAVANT SURVEY

52% respondents somewhat familiar with SM

37% said they are very or extremely familiar with SM

Text messagingFacebookBlogsYouTube

SM Familiarity: Most named aps / programs

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69% USE SM IN THEIR BUSINESS

37% say it’s important

Nearly 31% say it’s important but not critical

Usage is scattered with most stating they sometimes use SM for marketing, external or internal communications or for collaboration

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ARE COMPANIES CHANGING THEIR WAYS?

48% say no…but More than a third say yes – it has or is changing the way they communicate or market

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FUTURE SM USE

Nearly 90% say SM will be part of their future strategic marketing plans

46% plan on using it within the next year

87% believe SM will impact the way organizations do business

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FUTURE SM USE

100% believe that social media has a place in the business world (inc. non-profits, education, etc.)

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN?Media has embraced SM

Younger, better educated have embraced SM

Traditional business, over 40 crowd are in a “wait and see” mode- They know it’s the next big thing- Some are trying it out - Others are waiting to see how it evolves

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WHAT YOU CAN DOEncourage your organization or business to learn all it can about social media – it’s an educational process

SM still developing; and it’s developing rapidly

It’s clear from case studies that it is having an impact; but you don’t want to jump in without having a plan

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WHAT YOU CAN DOLike any communications tactic…..know who you want to reach, why you want to reach them and what you want them to know, think, feel or do

Remember who’s using SM right now; and how that demographic will change in coming years

Discuss pros / cons of SM aps

Do you need a social media policy?15

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEYS

www. LFpublicrelations.com

Leonard & Finco Survey Chamber / Marketing Savant Survey

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Online The Harris Poll

www.mediapost.com/publications

www.whatthetweet.org/gbsurveys