Social Media...Fad or Revolution?

Many people I speak with think social media is a fad or something their kids do. I'm kind of having a deja vu moment right now. Remember in 1997, when I first talked to some of you about marketing your business on the web and getting your 1st website? Many thought the internet was a fad. I guess social media could be a fad, or it could be the single greatest shift since the industrial revolution. Consider these 20 facts, then draw your own conclusions.

DID YOU KNOW?

1.  This year Generation Y will pass Baby Boomers in total numbers?
2.  96% of this group has joined a social network
3. Social media has passed porn as THE #1 ACTIVITY on the internet
4.  In 2009, 1 of every 8 U.S. couples who married, met using social media
5.  The Internet reach 50 Million users in 4 years
6.  Facebook added over 100 million users in less than 9 months
7.  ipod downloads hit over 1 Billion in 9 months
8. Facebook would be right behind the U.S., as the 4th largest country, "if it were a country."
9. 1 in 6 collegiate students take online courses.
10. 80% of major company HR Departments use Linked In as their main tool to find new employees
11. 80% of  Twitter use is on smart phones & mobile devices (people are conversing anywhere anytime)
12. Gen Y doesn't really email...they post, IM & text
13. Major Social Institutions understand. Boston College no longer gives email lists to new freshman.
14. You Tube is the 2nd biggest search engine in existence, hosting over 100,000,000 videos
15.  Wikipedia has over 13 million articles published from all over the world
16. There are over 200 million blogs & over 50% of the bloggers add content or tweet every day.
17. 34% of bloggers post opinions on products or brands. 
18. 78% of consumers trust friends recommendations, while only 14% trust advertisements
19. 24 of the Nations top 25 newspapers have reported record declines in circulation
20. More than 1.5 million pieces of content get shared on Facebook every day

What do think? Is social media a fad? No Way! It's a major, fundamental shift in they way people communicate. We no longer need to search for the news at our front door, in the bushes, or at the end of the driveway. News finds us online & on our mobile devices; with tweets and posts from friends and those we follow. Very soon we won't be searching for products and services either. They'll find us using social media.

The smartest independent business professionals and companies will stop talking at people through traditional advertisements and start acting like party planners & industry experts by publishing unique, relevant & compelling content that people want to follow. It's the conversation that will create and maintain "top mind awareness," of you and your brand for potential clients.

What are people saying about you and your brand now? 

ARE YOU READY?

Contact me directly to discuss this article or your specific Multi Media Marketing needs. 

Rick Headley "Your Hero on The Web"

Meet Rick

 Questions?...Email Rick 

 (920) 475 - 1549