Social Media and PR 3

I have written with scepticism about the social media phenomenon.  I predicted that my attitude would improve.  I am wiser, having spent many hours gathering information, sifting and sorting, and weighing weighty dilemma.  I wanted to know why marketers and PR folks should care about social media and I wanted to know how we should express our concern.

I’ve done the work.  You reap the benefit.  In this post, I address the Why and I use a couple of fresh late-2008 statistics.

• 40% of 18-55 year old connected consumers spend more than 4 hours a week on “social media” sites (Razorfish).
• 77% of 16-18 year old students have a social networking profile (U Minn).

If you are not using social media, you may not be hearing from a good-sized chunk of your market.

If you are not using social media, you are not speaking to that chunk of your market.

And it will get worse.

That chunk is growing fast.

Later,
–B–

~ by brettmcateer on November 17, 2008.