What activities occupy users in social networking sites? The top three are: posting photos, commenting on updates of others, and posting updates themselves. This from Social Site Users Depend on Their Networks, eMarketer’s graphic using Beresford Research data.
Popular User Activities in Social Networks
I guess it’s not a surprise that posting photos is popular. Anyone who is my friend in Facebook has seen a series of sunrises from my livingroom window, recent pics of apples and pumpkins, and me with a backpack at 12,000 feet in the Rockies.
But I would not have expected that more people respond to, rather than initiate, updates. I post more than I respond, but as a marketer, I suppose I am not typical. Or maybe not social enough.
And 38% clicked on a paid link, the same percentage that uploaded a video? Why don’t I believe that paid click stat? Despite my skepticism, Beresford concludes that social networks are becoming trusted sources for member purchases.
Social Network Marketing Take-Away
What does this data mean for those promoting and managing social networking websites?
- You will generate the most activity if you find ways to encourage users to share photos (with contests or themes?) or to comment on the updates of others.
- If the click-through data is correct, the ad model for social networking websites may yet pan out.
- With almost 40% of users posting videos, encourage this to build engagement with your site.
