Earlier this week, I came across the 2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Michael Stelzner and Social Media Examiner (download full report here). I won’t lie, I love numbers and research reports so I read them when I come across them. It’s OK you can admit it, you are a numbers junkie too.  Like most reports, the SMMIR offers many useful stats and figures that can help people trying to make heads or tails of social media.

While most of the numbers are pretty good in terms of adoption and growth, there was a pair of stats that stood out to me as odd given that they are married to one another.

The biggest benefit of social media to 85 percent of the near 1,900 respondents was generating exposure for their business. This number isn’t surprising as the conversational nature of social networks allows users to converse freely with one another and build communities. For big brands it is a way to build a closer bond with existing customers and grow their reach with prospects. Small businesses on the other hand, can use the low-cost entry point as a way to build up brand awareness in their community.

This aspect of grassroots brand building is something that excites me. It adds a human touch to business, which is something that is a pleasure to be a part of.

After reading those numbers, it would be fair to hypothesize that the time spent engaging with the community would grow across the board. However, according to the survey, it is not the case.

According to the answers pooled in the survey, a whopping 43 percent of marketers are spending between 1-5 hours a week on social media. So if you are keeping score at home that is 20-60 minutes a day.To me, these numbers just don’t jive. How can you build up exposure exerting limited interaction?

Social media is not supposed to be easy, and takes time and effort to get it right. I wonder if the marketers who responded to the survey were A.) automating their social media efforts, B.) lurking and figuring out how to use the tools or C.) only responding to positive interactions.

Since 63 percent of the responders worked in small businesses, it is fair to say that there is a combination of the answers above. They wear a lot of hats and work hard for their companies and see SM as a route that can help them make a quick buck. To really get the most of a community, social media users need to devote resources to their efforts 20-60 minutes a day just won’t cut it. If you can’t devote the time, consider if you should even dabble in SM.

You’re there to be social, don’t be the guy at the cocktail party who gets too drunk and makes a fool of himself. It’s your business and your reputation, think about it for a minute.

What do you think? How many hours do you spend?

Images from Social Media Examiner

Earlier this week, I came across the 2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Michael Stelzner and Social Media Examiner (download full report here). I won’t lie, I love numbers and research reports so I read them when I come across them. It’s OK you can admit it, you are a numbers junkie too.  Like most reports, the SMMIR offers many useful stats and figures that can help people trying to make heads or tails of social media.

While most of the numbers are pretty good in terms of adoption and growth, there was a pair of stats that stood out to me as odd given that they are married to one another.

The biggest benefit of social media to 85 percent of the near 1,900 respondents was generating exposure for their business. This number isn’t surprising as the conversational nature of social networks allows users to converse freely with one another and build communities. For big brands it is a way to build a closer bond with existing customers and grow their reach with prospects. Small businesses on the other hand, can use the low-cost entry point as a way to build up brand awareness in their community.

This aspect of grassroots brand building is something that excites me. It adds a human touch to business, which is something that is a pleasure to be a part of.

After reading those numbers, it would be fair to hypothesize that the time spent engaging with the community would grow across the board. However, according to the survey, it is not the case.

According to the answers pooled in the survey, a whopping 43 percent of marketers are spending between 1-5 hours a week on social media. So if you are keeping score at home that is 20-60 minutes a day.To me, these numbers just don’t jive. How can you build up exposure exerting limited interaction?

Social media is not supposed to be easy, and takes time and effort to get it right. I wonder if the marketers who responded to the survey were A.) automating their social media efforts, B.) lurking and figuring out how to use the tools or C.) only responding to positive interactions.

Since 63 percent of the responders worked in small businesses, it is fair to say that there is a combination of the answers above. They wear a lot of hats and work hard for their companies and see SM as a route that can help them make a quick buck. To really get the most of a community, social media users need to devote resources to their efforts 20-60 minutes a day just won’t cut it. If you can’t devote the time, consider if you should even dabble in SM.

You’re there to be social, don’t be the guy at the cocktail party who gets too drunk and makes a fool of himself. It’s your business and your reputation, think about it for a minute.

What do you think? How many hours do you spend?

Images from Social Media Examiner

Earlier this week, I came across the 2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Michael Stelzner and Social Media Examiner (download full report here). I won’t lie, I love numbers and research reports so I read them when I come across them. It’s OK you can admit it, you are a numbers junkie too.  Like most reports, the SMMIR offers many useful stats and figures that can help people trying to make heads or tails of social media.

While most of the numbers are pretty good in terms of adoption and growth, there was a pair of stats that stood out to me as odd given that they are married to one another.

The biggest benefit of social media to 85 percent of the near 1,900 respondents was generating exposure for their business. This number isn’t surprising as the conversational nature of social networks allows users to converse freely with one another and build communities. For big brands it is a way to build a closer bond with existing customers and grow their reach with prospects. Small businesses on the other hand, can use the low-cost entry point as a way to build up brand awareness in their community.

This aspect of grassroots brand building is something that excites me. It adds a human touch to business, which is something that is a pleasure to be a part of.

After reading those numbers, it would be fair to hypothesize that the time spent engaging with the community would grow across the board. However, according to the survey, it is not the case.

According to the answers pooled in the survey, a whopping 43 percent of marketers are spending between 1-5 hours a week on social media. So if you are keeping score at home that is 20-60 minutes a day.To me, these numbers just don’t jive. How can you build up exposure exerting limited interaction?

Social media is not supposed to be easy, and takes time and effort to get it right. I wonder if the marketers who responded to the survey were A.) automating their social media efforts, B.) lurking and figuring out how to use the tools or C.) only responding to positive interactions.

Since 63 percent of the responders worked in small businesses, it is fair to say that there is a combination of the answers above. They wear a lot of hats and work hard for their companies and see SM as a route that can help them make a quick buck. To really get the most of a community, social media users need to devote resources to their efforts 20-60 minutes a day just won’t cut it. If you can’t devote the time, consider if you should even dabble in SM.

You’re there to be social, don’t be the guy at the cocktail party who gets too drunk and makes a fool of himself. It’s your business and your reputation, think about it for a minute.

What do you think? How many hours do you spend?

Images from Social Media Examiner

Earlier this week, I came across the 2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Michael Stelzner and Social Media Examiner (download full report here). I won’t lie, I love numbers and research reports so I read them when I come across them. It’s OK you can admit it, you are a numbers junkie too.  Like most reports, the SMMIR offers many useful stats and figures that can help people trying to make heads or tails of social media.

While most of the numbers are pretty good in terms of adoption and growth, there was a pair of stats that stood out to me as odd given that they are married to one another.

The biggest benefit of social media to 85 percent of the near 1,900 respondents was generating exposure for their business. This number isn’t surprising as the conversational nature of social networks allows users to converse freely with one another and build communities. For big brands it is a way to build a closer bond with existing customers and grow their reach with prospects. Small businesses on the other hand, can use the low-cost entry point as a way to build up brand awareness in their community.

This aspect of grassroots brand building is something that excites me. It adds a human touch to business, which is something that is a pleasure to be a part of.

After reading those numbers, it would be fair to hypothesize that the time spent engaging with the community would grow across the board. However, according to the survey, it is not the case.

According to the answers pooled in the survey, a whopping 43 percent of marketers are spending between 1-5 hours a week on social media. So if you are keeping score at home that is 20-60 minutes a day.To me, these numbers just don’t jive. How can you build up exposure exerting limited interaction?

Social media is not supposed to be easy, and takes time and effort to get it right. I wonder if the marketers who responded to the survey were A.) automating their social media efforts, B.) lurking and figuring out how to use the tools or C.) only responding to positive interactions.

Since 63 percent of the responders worked in small businesses, it is fair to say that there is a combination of the answers above. They wear a lot of hats and work hard for their companies and see SM as a route that can help them make a quick buck. To really get the most of a community, social media users need to devote resources to their efforts 20-60 minutes a day just won’t cut it. If you can’t devote the time, consider if you should even dabble in SM.

You’re there to be social, don’t be the guy at the cocktail party who gets too drunk and makes a fool of himself. It’s your business and your reputation, think about it for a minute.

What do you think? How many hours do you spend?

Images from Social Media Examiner