25 Feb Tik Tok, the clock’s ticking
If you don’t get your social media strategy right, right now, you will lose business to your competitors
There are 53 million active social media users in the UK, 77.9% of the population*, yet 60% of businesses still don’t use social media to promote themselves***. Inevitably, most of these are small-to-medium-sized businesses
Of course many business owners and/or senior executives are of a certain age; they are not digital marketers and admit to not knowing how to make best use of social media to market their companies. This is perfectly understandable and they will typically turn to companies like ours to help them.
However, nearly 20 years since Facebook was first created, there are far too many business leaders in denial about social media and digital marketing generally; they aren’t taking it seriously enough. It is impossible for us to help businesses without genuine buy-in from the owner, and we have engaged with a number of companies that have failed to recognise both the potential and competitive threat presented by digital marketing; they have been lost in their competitors’ slipstream.
So if you are a social media non-believer, here are a few stats and some common myths and perceptions to mull over.
1. 77.9% of the UK population are active on social media **.
It isn’t only young people that use social media. Bear in mind that anybody who grew up with Facebook is now in their late thirties or early forties. 10% of Facebook users are over 65.
2. There were 30 million LinkedIn users in the United Kingdom in November 2020, 45.7% of the entire population**.
LinkedIn is important, and growing in importance but 70% of UK users report using LinkedIn less than once a week. Facebook remains by far the biggest social media channel (of the 45 million UK social media users, 43 million use Facebook**), and it refers more website traffic than any other to all Ronin clients’ websites; yet 25% of small-to-medium sized organisations still don’t use it***. Each business and market is different but all channels have something to offer for your social media strategy and each should be considered according to its own features and benefits, from Twitter to Tik Tok and YouTube to Instagram.
3. The average UK user spends 110 minutes (one hour and 42 minutes) on social media per day**.
Think of it as nearly 25% of the working day.
4. 71% of consumers who have had a positive experience with a brand on social media are likely to recommend the brand to their friends and family*.
Everybody likes a recommendation. With social media it is instant and far-reaching.
5. 73% of marketers believe that social media marketing has been “somewhat effective” or “very effective” for their business*.
Can 73% all be wrong?
6. 54% of social browsers use social media to research products*.
If you are not effective on social media you lose half your market to the competition.
7. 98% of all social media users access social channels via mobile devices**.
If your website isn’t mobile friendly, one of the many disadvantages it presents is that you are missing out on connecting with a huge audience. Don’t forget that social media does not operate in isolation, it depends on the quality of content on your website as much as your website depends on the traffic from social media.
***The Independent
If you remain unconvinced, I wish you the best of fortune; but if you would like help to get your campaign underway, I’d be pleased to introduce you to one of our digital communications specialists. In the meantime, you can learn more about our social media service here.
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