Social media is all the rage, yet I keep reading information and statistics that show people are jumping off the band wagon. So what’s the answer? Should you jump on or off the social media wagon?
Here’s the bitter truth…
First social media is one tactic within the larger Web 2.0 (evolving to 3.0) strategy.
Research by Nielsen shows that global consumer usage of social media sites rose by 82% this past year, while in the US average time per person spent on Facebook and Twitter in December 2009 rose by 143% year over year.
BUT
USA Today recently reported some consumers are giving up social media even as overall usage expands.
Dust me off, but I’m old enough to remember computer green screens, no cell phones and certainly no Internet. Each time a new media is released, early adopters jump on the band wagon often discovering for themselves if the tool is right for them or not. If it’s the latter… off they go.
Perhaps the stats above are simply showing the plateau as new media is developed, released, used and discarded by some. Bottom line, we cannot ignore the social media revolution. As I listen to pundits and read the latest research on usage, the truth is it’s going to continue to evolve and change. Keep up!
Ask how Web sites, SEO, Social Media (Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn), blogging and more fit into your business strategy and marketing/communications campaign. Ask yourself if you have the capacity—time—for the tools. Could they meet a business goal? Learn and use.
The truth is, I have clients who’ve resisted. Then when they’ve tried the tools that could work for them, they do! The truth is no one will know if you’re doing it right or wrong because they’re trying to figure it out, too.
I’d love to hear about tools you’re using and how they impact you business—positively.