Social Media Marketing: Time Trap or Opportunity Magnet? New Study Reveals the Answers

The following article is by guest author Michael A. Stelzner, founder of WhitePaperSource

Social Media Marketing: Time Trap or Opportunity Magnet?  New Study Reveals the Answers
Report exposes best tools and benefits of social media marketing

A surprising 64 percent of marketers are spending five or more hours weekly using social media sites like Twitter, found the just-released Social Media Marketing Industry Report: How Marketers Are Using Social Media to Grow Their Businesses.

Social media marketing is an engagement with online communities to generate exposure, opportunity and sales and the real shocker is that experienced folks are investing more than 20 hours each week with social media."

Businesses of all sizes are leaping into the social media pool--and many are well-known brands.  Computer giant Dell recently reported a million dollars in sales by issuing coupons on Twitter.  Even Ford is using social media to interact directly with its customers.

"Social media has helped Ford quickly achieve its goal of being a top social brand and has broken down the more conservative communications processes that were in place," said Scott Monty, head of social media for Ford.

However, for most marketing pros, social media marketing is a fresh new phenomenon--and it's not just for the young professional.  Among the 880 marketers surveyed, 72 percent have been at it for only a few months, and the median age was 40 to 49.  This is a story nobody else is telling. Most marketers know the future is social media, but they aren't sure how their competitors are playing the game.

The big questions marketers most want answered about social media are also revealed in the comprehensive report.  Knowing where to start and if there is real money to be made were among the top questions pros want answered.

The leading benefits experienced by social media marketers included:

#1: Generated exposure for the business (81%)
#2: Increased traffic and subscribers (61%)
#3: Established new business partnerships (56%)

The report also takes a close look at the social media tools used by marketers.  It's intriguing to see which sites the pros focus on compared to the newbies.  Twitter is the big winner among all marketers, with 86 percent regularly tweeting.

Packed with 30 color charts and diagrams, the report is sure to be a quick digest for any newcomer or time-starved executive.

Download a free copy of the report.

Comments

[Robert A. Kearse]

It easier to do business with and form joint ventures with people WHO THINK LIKE YOU DO.

Social networking sites greatly facilitate this process on a world-wide basis.

The need to sell and close is greatly alleviated when you simple find people who think like you do and have common interests.

The social media phenomenon is just gaining steam.

Get on board.

Robert

[BlogMoneyMania]

Social Media will likely change the way business works in the future.

How else can you get so much exposure in so little time.
It should be taught in business schools.

[diabetic]

yes......I always use social media for create networking and create free traffic

[Internet Marketing Business Opportunity]

I think it’s a great reminder that the basics work and that knowing is more than half the battle … but taking action and testing your results … learning and improving … is the key.