Why “Being Social” Matters
1 Jul
Social platforms aren’t something new — they’ve just gone digital, that’s all. Throughout history, people have congregated, shared ideas, expressed their opinions, etc. While the venues for these types of activities have evolved, the reason behind them hasn’t. Our desire to interact with others is written directly into our DNA. It’s one of the greatest mechanisms that we have to exponentially evolve and grow mankind.
With the introduction of new technology, most notably computers and the internet, communication has remained at the forefront. Email, forums and chat rooms were once the hot forms of communication, but now online social platforms have become a powerful extension of those.
It’s important to note that social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yelp!, and the countless others, only provide one part of the larger equation. These digital channels provide the venue and tools needed to establish true social engagement between consumers, companies and brands. Although these tools exist, it’s the way you utilize them that really matter.
The growing numbers of social media usage isn’t something that can simply be overlooked any longer. Companies and brands that don’t currently have strategies and plans for communicating their message, and connecting with their consumers online, will find themselves struggling to keep up in the coming years.
Some interesting stats:
- If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 3rd largest
- Eighty percent of companies use social media for recruitment
- The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55 to 65 year-old females
- Purpose-built fan pages have created more than 5.3 billion fans
- Adults spend 15+ hours a week on the internet
Still not convinced? Check out these videos below.
Social Media Revolution 2010
And while we’re at it, here’s another related video worth watching. You may have seen it before, but be sure to take another look as it was recently updated with the latest stats.
Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh)
