Is your small business using social media as part of your online marketing plan? If you're like most entrepreneurs, you find social media a valuable way to promote your business, attract new customers and raise your profile online. (Plus, it can be a lot of fun.)
With so many changes going on in the world of social media every day, it's important to keep current on how your customers and prospects are using social media. A new report from the Pew Research Center has some useful updates about the latest social media trends. Here's what you need to know.
The survey asked Internet users about their use of Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn and WhatsApp. Compared to past Pew surveys, consumers’ use of each social media network in the survey has grown steadily, although not necessarily dramatically. The most dramatic growth surge was Instagram: 35 percent of respondents overall now use it, compared to 28 percent two years ago.
Overall, Facebook is still the most popular traditional social media platform among all the respondents. Some 60% of all US adults are on Facebook, and it's even popular among "the Olds": 78% of 30-to-49-year-olds, 65% of 50-to-64-year-olds and 41% of those 65 and up use it.
Notice I said Facebook is the most popular “traditional" social media site. You may not think of it as a social media network, but YouTube is actually the most-used of all the platforms in the survey. Nearly three-fourths (75%) of all respondents use it (including 40% of the 65-and-up generation).
All in all, the average adult uses three out of the eight social media sites in the survey — and uses them frequently. Some 74% of Facebook users check it every day (and 51% check it several times a day). Daily use of social media is also a habit for 63% of Snapchat users, 60% of Instagram users, 46% of Twitter users and 45% of YouTube users.
Want more trend talk? Read my post on the latest lead generation trends. Then find out whether this new social network should be part of your marketing plan, and how to get traffic to your business website.
Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash