Social Media Has Marketing Value, But Do It with Caution, Biz Coach Terry Corbell

Aug. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- There’s increasing amounts of data to illustrate why social media should be part of your marketing and human-resources recruiting mix, says Seattle Biz Coach Terry Corbell – with a caveat.

“Pew reports 50 percent of all U.S. adults are social networking,” writes The Biz Coach, http://www.bizcoachinfo.com.  

“So are 65 percent of adult Internet users – an increase of more than 100 percent since 2008,” writes Mr. Corbell. “Daily, 43 percent of adults using the Internet are also on social networking sites.”

He cites Pew data from the month of May:

Eighty-three percent of the 18-29 age-demographic are social networking. That compares to 70 percent for the 30-49 demo, and 51 percent among 50-64 year-old users. Thirty-three percent of seniors, 65+, are social networking.

Out of 330 social mediums, the three salient social networks are Google+, Facebook and Twitter. LinkedIn is, of course, favored by professionals.

“Social media has value,” says Mr. Corbell. “However, look before you leap into a full-scale dependence on social network marketing. Social networking doesn’t necessarily lead to sales for your business, according to another Pew study.”

Why?

“Surprisingly, heavy users don’t necessarily consume products,” warns Mr. Corbell. “Statistically, Pew reports they’re not as likely to buy products and services on the Internet. Plus, they spend less when they do.”

So, he says you need to find the right use of social-mediums for your business, and start interacting.

Mr. Corbell lists eight social-media benefits:

1. Manage your online image and reputation
2. Branding ffor repeat customers
3. Respond to customer complaints
4. Complement your press releases with blogs
5. Crisis management
6. Stage contests to attract Web traffic
7. Publish thought-leadership commentaries
8. Attract and recruit employees

To read his Biz Coach column: http://www.bizcoachinfo.com/archives/7978

His business portal, The Biz Coach, provides countless business-coaching strategies: Planning, Operations, Marketing/Sales, Finance, Tech, Public Policy, HR, and Wall Street.

Plus, it has informative news videos: World, U.S. Business, Economy, Markets, Health and Sports.

All columns and videos are free.

Mr. Corbell's specialties: http://www.bizcoachinfo.com/managemen-services

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Seattle Biz Coach Terry Corbell is a business-performance consultant and profit professional. As a columnist, he authors performance-enhancing strategies at The Biz Coach: http://www.bizcoachinfo.com, Proven Solutions for Maximum Profits.