Social Media Revolution – Fact or Fad?
August 20, 2009 by Lennie Appelquist
Filed under Social Media
Does Social Media represent a total shift in the way we communicate?
Does Social Media fundamentally change the way we do business?
Is Social Media the Biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution?
Personally, I think YES. If Starbucks can get almost 600,000 people to register for their Free Pastry Tuesday “Event” on Facebook and account for 1% of all Twitter traffic on the morning of the giveaway – don’t you think that fundamentally changes the playing field?
Consider these facts:
- By 2010 Gen Y will outnumber the Baby Boomers – and 96% of Gen Y has joined a social network.
- More people use the Web for Social Media than for Porn (The traditional #1).
- With it’s 250+ Million users, if Facebook were a country, it would be the 4th largest.
- More than 120 million users log on to Facebook at least once each day
- 80% of companies are using LinkedIn as their primary hiring tool.
- There are 200 Million blogs – 54% of Bloggers post content or Tweet daily!
- 25% of search results for the 20 largest brands are links to user generated content.
- 80% of Twitter usage is on mobile devices.
We have come full circle. Baby Boomers grew up with the notion of a “corner store” – they knew and/ or were friends with the Grocer, the folks at the hardware store, etc. Then came the big cold media conglomerate era – who sold to us and talked at us.
Now we are experiencing the personal touch again – businesses listen to us and invite us to experience what they have to offer. They respond to complaints since those complaints often become trending topics on Twitter. They even avert PR disaster by preempting backlash by getting their apologies and fixed broadcast on social media before the critics can.
Social Media has allowed Small Business owners to play on a more leveled playing field – they we have never had as much reach as they we do now.
- With this opportunity – how are you using it?
- How would you like to use it?
- What are some things you don’t understand about social media?
- What is your favorite Social Media site and why?
I would love to hear your answers to that question in the comments below.
After you do that – take a look at this very cool movie about the Social Media Revolution by Author Erik Qualman – All about the Social Media Revolution.
This information is all very enlightening to me. Thank you!
The whole boon of the social media “craze” to me is quite phenomenal. I use it to connect with friends, but to also post links to my site and posts I have written. My favorite site by far is HootSuite as it helps me to organize and create my status updates (it is connected to other sites I use such as Twitter, Facebook, Ping.fm, LinkedIn and Plaxo) saving me LOTS of time!
Great video too, BTW…
Hey Lennie, great post! Thanks!
I’m blogging, tweeting, and facebooking (and FB group, and networkedblogs thing.)
I’d like to use it to get my message out there, and use it to connect with others.
Things I don’t understand? a lot! There’s so much to do, and often very overwhelming. Often feel like spend way too much on these. (Esp. twitter, I still don’t know why I’m doing it except that it goes thru FB.) I would love to know what to focus, the highest ROI, efficiency and productivity, especially for me, right now. (that’s my thing, whether in kitchen or on computer.)
My favorite SM site is Facebook. It helped me reconnect w friends I lost in touch with — from 25 yrs ago! and really nice to be able to see their photos so that I feel like I’m actually talking to them.
Lennie,
as you know.. Facebook for me is very effective(Company Fan Page).
I like your use of percentages on your blog. I like the use of numbers & bottom lines. I hope this experiement works to your advantage.
See you soon.
Art
It’s about time we have outdone the online porn industry with something! Being that it is social media makes me very happy. I am using social media to restructure my future. You Lennie have built my blog, which I love. I am able to send people to my free e-book and newsletter there, post valuable content and connect with people around the world. I am now writing a book and use many social media sites to share my information.
My favorite 2 are Facebook and Twitter. One thing I love about Facebook is the interaction can be more detailed than Twitter, which requires compact info. I also have a fan page on Facebook for Living in Courage. This way I am able to talk about the subject of Courage and have a built in audience for my book. Twitter has condensed content with many links to valuable info as well. I find the people great to interact with. We share information, joint ventures and life experiences.
Great video and post as usual Lennie,
Debra
Hi Lennie,
Wow, really great blog, chock-full of information … I had heard somewhere that fact about “if Facebook were a country, it would be the 4th largest,” but I didn’t know if it was true! And all of the other facts were news to me!
Right now, I’m on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Friendster – my personal favorite is Facebook, followed by Twitter. Myspace and Friendster . . . they were the first I signed up for, but now I hardly use them. Twitter is great, but sometimes it can get a little too overwhelming for me – so many people and so many posts and I just get lost in the wave, so to speak. My favorite though, without question, is Facebook – not only have I met some “strangers” who have become wonderful friends (such as yourself!), but it has also done wonderful things to help me market my business. Although I can’t say it’s necessarily brought me “more” clients, what it has done is get my “name” / brand out there, and to me, that’s just as important for now!
Thanks for the info and the interesting reading, Lennie – informative as always!
~ J
Social media has become sooo much a part of our everyday lives now! People use it to connect with their friends and businesses are using it to stay connected to their customers and to spread their branding.
There is so much to keep up with as there are so many different applications. I like the way that people connect with those they may not normally connect with, but I also am aware that face to face or phone contact is losing hold on communication.
As time goes on, it should find a natural balance.
I like the video with all of the statistics. Pretty mind-blowing!
You guys rock thanks!
I have to agree with Debra, in that FINALLY, something of substance has surpassed porn! I think that the GREAT BIG world out there is getting smaller by the second and it’s about time WE the PEOPLE are able to TELL IT LIKE IT REALLY IS and not have to consume all the lies and distorted truth about what’s going on in the world. IT has brought about much needed change in how we communicate.
I’m not a huge fan of twitter although that may change, who knows. It seems a bit too high maintenance to me at the moment. It’s all I can do t keep up with facebook. I prefer the wider range of communication with FB, it’s easier to actually get to know someone. If you are using it for business purposes I’m inclined to think it would be a better tool as you have so many options and a better ability to interact with your customer.
Since social media has taken off, it seems to be a blessing and a possible curse. By this I mean that it becomes too easy for us to hide behind a computer and not interact face to face. Especially with twitter. Your whole day could be consumed by looking into less than half of what people post. Of corse the same can be said about FB but at least there is potential for more substance and personal interaction. I think we still need to GET OUT and connect face to face and actually participate in LIFE.
That being said, I do use FB as a tool for my business and plan to kick it up a notch as soon as my new work is complete. I’ve been using it to connect with like minded people for many reasons like raising awareness, getting inspired, learning new things, the list goes on…All in all I think it’s an amazing thing as long as we use it constructively and for the greater good. I think it’s a great tool to finally call BIG BROTHER OUT!!
Lyoness
Hey Lennie, sorry for the late comment add(I don’t check this email very often). The fast paced evolution of social media is making our world seem more accessible and a great way to meet new people form all over the world, and find many faces from the past.