Thinking of Using Social Media in your Business?
As I speak around the country I am finding divided camps. People are either embracing Social Media, or they sit in my audience with their hands folded across their chest, so I guess, they haven’t been convinced that it is a good use of time. So let me put my first comment in writing, nice and big . . .
If you don’t have a strong business plan or model now Social Media will not help you
You need systems or an assistant. This post is not to tell you how to do that. (soon though). This post is to give you some new stats on who is using these tools and why you need to figure out how it fits in.
Facebook experienced the largest growth. People are enjoying catching up with friends, family and clients. Their increase was the largest. Check out some of the sites you may have never even heard of on the list. Last year, this list was entirely different.
This is why we need to engage on Social Media
Older users continue showing up on Facebook and social networking sites. Facebook saw an increase in visitors who are 55 and older, a whopping 108 percent in September 2009 compared with September 2008. Overall U.S. visits to social networking Web sites from users who are 55 and older have increased 77 percent year over year. Visits from users 18 to 24 to social networking sites have decreased 33 percent year over year.
If we don’t keep up with the trends in Social Media now, will we be ready for what tools the first time buyers of tomorrow are using?
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7 comments
Sam Schneiderman on October 11, 2009 at 11:16 am
Amy, you said: “Visits from users 18 to 24 to social networking sites have DECREASED 33 percent year over year. If we don’t keep up with the trends in Social Media now, will we be ready for what tools the first time buyers of tomorrow are using?”
Maybe I missed something, but if visit from 18 to 24 year olds have DECREASED by 1/3 over the past year and these are the first time buyers that will be moving into the market in a few years, where have they gone?
The growth in social media has been with older users, as I understand it. If the trend is a decrease in the younger users who were the first to embrace it, doesn’t that show us that social networking has a novelty factor or burn-out factor (or both) that might cause people to abandon it after a while?
Where did LinkedIn come in on the survey and is it really a social networking site?
Amy Chorew on October 11, 2009 at 2:03 pm
This 18-24 age group will never lose contact with anyone in their life because they have been connected . . . their whole lives. Email is passe – Boston College stopped giving out email addresses to the 2009 freshman year, because they just go to websites to interact. Even though their use has decreased on the ones noted, doesn’t mean that they will abandon it. Social Media is here to stay. Watch this video it will help with perspective. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8
we just need to be ready by engaging.
Eric Bouler on October 14, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Facebook will be the winner as it has something for everyone of all ages. Photos downloads, and ease of use make this a winner. As you get older you just have more to share. Great for our business if we know how to use it. Starting a photo blog which is another angle to the market. Lets see where it goes. Take a look http://www.frenchquartercondotrends.com. I am changing the URL this week as my reach has expanded.
Marlin Cone on October 28, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Amy, you know that you’re pretty awesome, don’t you? I’ve viewed the video you referenced above (and the trailer as well) and you are RIGHT ON!! Those who either do not embrace this, who continue to fear it and who do not focus on it for their business will be missing out when the train leaves. From what I’m being told, the younger ones are leaving Facebook because so many “older” types have become engaged on Facebook. They have gone to Twitter and who knows where else!!
Will you be at the NAR Convention? Let me know how we can connect if so. I have some people I would like to introduce to you.
Amy Chorew on October 28, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Marlin,
Thanks for checking in on my blog. I will be at NAR, lets connect!!!! Email me so we can connect on times, etc.
amy at amychorew dot com
Julie Manion on November 16, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Great hearing you at NAR. Too bad the computer died. I searched your site regarding handouts for Outlook and did not come across any. Thanks for the tips.
juliemanion@gmail.com
Julie Manion on November 16, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Great tips at NAR. I did not find the handout you spoke of regarding Outlook. Thanks for your help.