While I normally don’t like using nouns as verbs (perhaps I am linguistically conservative?), I quite like the word “mainstreaming”. It implies that social media is in a state of transition where widespread acceptance and uptake is occurring with the general public.
Paul Chaney suggests that the rising popularity of social media, while strong, will still take some time to become fully integrated into marketing practices. Interestingly, the social technographics profiling from Forrester shows that consumer adoption levels are high, especially in the “spectator” category – but this reinforces the sense that innovation is being driven not by business but by consumers in their quest for creative interactivity and engagement.
In Australia, Forrester’s Steven Noble’s recent analysis indicates that only 24% of Australians DON’T use social media in some way.
Peter Kim has a great post over at MarketingProfs providing some excellent insight into what these figures mean for bloggers and/or social media consultants:
On the upside, it’s more likely now than before that:
- You, your customers, your prospects, and your competitors are reading and writing blogs
- Better tools to interact with the medium exist for reading, filtering, authoring, and tracking
- You can say the word "blog" in conversation without feeling silly
On the downside, it’s more likely now than before that:
For marketers still finalising their budgets for 2009, I would recommend setting aside a small experimental budget for social media. Hive off 5% or 10% of your MEDIA budget and contact EXPERIENCED agencies and consultants (email me if you need recommendations).
With pressure to perform in tough economic times, it’s time all marketers stop ignoring the spaces in which consumers are ALREADY playing. In this Age of Conversation, it’s time for brands to stop shouting and start participating. Welcome to the mainstream.
And if we’re talking about top 50 advertisers, even 1-2% of an annual marketing budget would enable a proper crack at experimentation. Making this kind of commitment also solves the problem of which budget line a social media budget actually comes from.
One thing that may hurry things along a little in 2009 is the growing trend for major companies to appoint a ‘new media’ or digital media specialists internally, to work alongside the traditional group media manager – the person generally in charge of communications planning and media buying. I know of at least two companies that are appointing specialists early in the new year.
I love that profile tool – am doing a small presentation at work tomorrow at our company day and will see if I can build this in.
I like your final paragraph – it sums up what companies not operating in this space should do.
Thanks for the link love Gavin. Considering the economic climate, for small business social media may definitely be a saving grace. It’s cost-effective and the tools are amenable to even the most non-technically astute.
Fantastic summary mate, love the stats and direct advice. Lets just hope some marketers listen and make some changes 🙂
Social media going mainstream
Really interesting piece on the ‘mainstreaming’ of social media over at Servant of Chaos. The conclusions in brief (click through for the fuller picture and some useful links to research, data, and insights)… Most people in countries like Australia a…
Paul … agree – small business have some great tools at their disposal. Now, business owners just need a few more hours in the day 😉
Simon … it is just a matter of time. The audiences that sustain our brands have already shifted. It’s time to recognise that.