I am sure by now you have seen the recent announcement that Facebook has reached 500 million users worldwide, 150 million stateside. According to Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, the mission of this social media powerhouse is to help make the world more open and connected. They are certainly on their way.
We pulled together a few more gems that will impress you:
- Those 18 – 34 spend 4.3 times more time on social media vs. TV, radio, newspapers, magazines & books COMBINED.
- 34% of women 18 – 34 check Facebook FIRST THING in the a.m.
The Neilsen Company found that Americans are spending nearly a quarter of their time online on social networking sites – this is a 43% increase from just a year ago. To put this in perspective, the closest competitor was online games at 10.2%. E-mail trailed behind at only 8.3% and it is losing steam. Obviously the social networking trend is continuing upward.
So how do you use this for your business? We have a couple thoughts:
#1 – get engaged with Facebook.
Create a profile page for your company and update it at least 3 times a week. Add a link to Facebook on your e-mail signature and politely suggest that your clients, friends and family all “like” your page. Your posts can be commentary on topics such as industry trends, shout outs to employees who do a great job, and customer success stories.
Learn a little more about Facebook advertising. It is an effective, affordable tool to target very specific audiences. It is amazing how much you can drill down. Plus, you can monitor and track the success of your campaign on a daily basis. You really have nothing to lose.
#2 – join LinkedIn.
There are professional groups that you can join in addition to starting your own network of connections. Not only can you learn more about social media, you can learn more about your industry while sharing your own expertise.
#3 – do a little investigating.
Benchmarking is a great way to judge the landscape. What is your competition doing online? Do they have a Facebook or Twitter account? Also, talk to those in the know – twenty-somethings – and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Reverse mentoring is a great thing when it comes to the latest in technology.
#4 – okay, you knew this one was coming. Contact Catalyst!
We are here to help clients build their knowledge and their business through social media. Whether you are looking for baby steps or a full-fledged digital campaign, we would love to be a resource for you.