Social Networking is more than Facebook, MySpace, Ning, LinkedIn and any others. They are considered tools in helping people connect with each other.
Social Networking was destined for the enterprise and Groundswell just reported how far into the enterprise it goes. Here are some quick facts:
* 91% of these technology decision-makers were Spectators -- the highest number I've ever seen in a Social Technographics Profile. This means you can count on the fact that your buyers are reading blogs, watching user generated video, and participating in other social media. Note that 69% of them said they were using this technology for business purposes.
* Only 5% are non-participants (Inactives).
* 55% of these decision-makers were in social networks (Joiners) -- despite as mature businesspeople and not college students, you'd think they'd be participating a lot less.
* 43% are creating media (blogs, uploading videos or articles, etc.) and 58% are Critics, reacting to content they see in social formats. Again the numbers are very high compared to other groups we've surveyed, and again the level of participation for business purposes is also very high.
Its not only finding its way into the enterprise; its becoming a standard in the overall buying process.
The part I like most about the report is when it says, "If you're a B2B marketer and you're not using social technologies in your marketing, it means you're late". Not "you still have time" but "LATE". The last thing you want is your company & products to be late to the game. Not taking a stance now will only leave you like Microsoft, who pushed out the Zune years after the iPod, only to see it slowly dwindle away.
Morgan Freeman in Shawshank Redemption said it best, "Get busy living or get busy dying" or "Get busy being social or get out of the game".Ben
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