Here are a handful of statistics that I’ve come across recently that I think will be of interest to SMEs – they give an idea of how many businesses are using social media, whether Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn is the platform of choice and the importance of online reviews.
48% of UK SMEs are actively using business social networks to interact with, and inform, their existing customers. [Source: Regus, June 2011]
42% of UK SMEs are successfully using business social networks to find new customers [Source: Regus, June 2011]
65& of UK SMEs believe that marketing must now use social networks, in addition to tradional marketing techniques, to be successful [Source: Regus, June 2011]
26% of UK SMEs are using Facebook to promote their business [Source: YouGov survey, October 2011]
25% of UK SMEs are using LinkedIn to promote their business [Source: YouGov survey, October 2011]
21% of UK SMEs are using Twitter to promote their business [Source: YouGov survey, October 2011]
10% of UK SMEs are using YouTube to promote their business [Source: YouGov survey, October 2011]
Social networks increase traffic sent to online retailers by 13%. [Source: Hitwise, October
2010]
Are any of these a surprise? What are your thoughts on these numbers?