social media: time waster or powerful business tool?

Social media: time waster or powerful business tool?

Mari Anne Snow – CEO, SophiaThink Consulting

22 June, 2010

Copyright © 2010 SophiaThink Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.

Agenda

6/8/2010

• What is social media?

• Current landscape: May 2010

• How these tools impact daily life

• Generational differences in networking

• How do we keep the connection?

• How are these tools changing business?

• Unique challenges for highly regulated industries

• Discussion


What is social media?

6/8/2010

• Social media is media designed to be disseminated through social interaction, created using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media

• A category of sites that is based on user participation and user-generated content. They include social networking sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, social bookmarking sites like Del.icio.us, social news sites like Digg or Reddit, and other sites that are centered on user interaction.searchenginewatch.com/define

• Social media are primarily Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. www.creativemediafarm.com/information/glossary


http://www.google.com/url?ei=nT8OTKOwCYvWMN2bvccB&sig2=hUADWSAgJFFqEle7ptJ-kA&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media&sa=X&ved=0CBAQpAMoAA&usg=AFQjCNH86ty-hwESe_6IPg1nbaOvQsTHjA

http://www.google.com/url?ei=nT8OTKOwCYvWMN2bvccB&sig2=1ijAWAmaVGek1qnPegS8bA&q=http://searchenginewatch.com/define&sa=X&ved=0CBIQpAMoAg&usg=AFQjCNEVV6ORVJui2-niH-tyWMpuWcKjyw

http://www.google.com/url?ei=nT8OTKOwCYvWMN2bvccB&sig2=ndz_zhfN_dlWFpYp7TdQzg&q=http://www.creativemediafarm.com/information/glossary&sa=X&ved=0CBMQpAMoAw&usg=AFQjCNH3hoXOQOwTqkJz0s6OIwxeYO6xzg

Current landscape: May 2010

6/8/2010Copyright © 2010 SophiaThink Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.

YouTube

1B+

Facebook

450M+

Twitter

60M+

LinkedIn

70M+

Global overview


Global user statistics

LinkedIn 50% outside US

22% in the EU

Twitter 50% non-English

tweets

1.Australians

2.British

3.Italians

4.Americans

Examining one tool’s growth: LinkedIn


July 2008 25M

August 2009 45M

February 2010 60M

June 2010 70M

How these tools impact daily life


Information sourcing

Information disclosure

Networking Influence Business

How does the world find things in 2010?


What are the current UK trends?


Generational differences in networking


*Source: http://webbiquity.com/social-media-marketing/the-one-effective-use-of-facebook-for-b2b-marketing/

Who uses LinkedIn?

6/8/2010

• 60/40 men to women

• 92% college educated

• 23% 25 – 34

• 33% 35 – 44

• 25% 45 – 54

• 12% 55 – 64

• Fastest growing user group?


Source: http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/2010-social-network-analysis-report/#linkedin

Facilitated discussion groups



Live information about my business network



Global professional presence



Who uses Facebook?


Expanded business visibility


Specialized communities


How do we keep the connection?


Smart phones, netbooks, iPads

Main information conduits in

future

Portable handheld devices

Instant access to worldwide

data and expertise

How are these tools changing business


Unprecedented access to information for professionals about clients

New definitions of “community” Talk to me, talk with me, not at me

New role for clients as “brand advocates” for businesses they trust

Unique challenges for highly regulated industries


• Choose your tools wisely

• Think about your demographic

• Make sure you have a long term support plan

You need a realistic, structured

plan

• You must balance the two to succeed

• You need dedicated, skilled resources

• You need realistic guidelines regarding data sharing

Authenticity often conflicts with

regulation

• There is an inherent business risk, plan for it

• Your response is often as important as what is said

• More about two-way conversation, dialogue

This is not a controlled

environment

Discussion


Thank you, if you have questions:

Mari Anne Snow, CEO - SophiaThink email: [email protected]: http://www.sophiathinkconsulting.comTwitter: @SophiaThinkLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannesnow1


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sophiathinkconsulting.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannesnow1

social media: time waster or powerful business tool?

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