Posts Tagged ‘Women’

Forrester Research publishers of one of my favorite business books, Groundswell, released research that quantifies a new category of those active in social media. Dubbed conversationalists, these users are active and influential.

According to Forrester, Conversationalists are,

56% female, more than any other group in the ladder. While they’re among the youngest of the groups, 70% are still 30 and up.”

Recently I was a presenter with Shauna Heathman of Makenzie Image Consulting at the Columbia, SC National Association of Women Business Owners discussing personal branding whenone of the attendees asked others at the meeting, “Do you read blogs?” Her question stimulated discussion about of who reads and publishes blogs. Only a few did not regularly read and comment on blogs. However only 2 attendees maintain and write a blog. Earlier in the presentation the majority of the women recounted using their Facebook profiles to support their businesses’ marketing.  Forrester’s more scientific research confirms my “woman on the street” first-hand knowledge.

If you want to reach the customers (and I mean women) who make 85% of brand purchasing decisions, you need to be active in social media. Eight-six percent US women now have a profile on at least 1 social networking site a 48% increase. (Up from 58% in 2008.)

Women are conversationalists. Our brains are wired that way and data show how we have leveraged our innate ability into a powerful force.

“The number of US women over age 55 using Facebook grew by 175.3% since September 2008, making mature females one of the fastest growing demographic groups on the social network, according to usage statistics released by independent blog Inside Facebook.”
It’s interesting to note that teens, formerly the largest component on facebook are now the smallest component.

How does one use facebook as a marketing tool? Many small business owners are successfully creating fan pages and friends groups and posting exclusive offers for members of the group. Facebook is one way to market socially at very low cost. Some have created applications to drive interactivity with items linked to their products or services. Creating applications has a higher cost than the old fashioned friend / fan page.

Best facebook marketing tips:

1. Post exclusive events to your fan page
2. Make sure your friends invite their friends to your group
3. Post a flickr stream to your facebook page and be sure photos from your recent events are there for tagging
4. Interact with the memeber of your fan group, noting their changes and updates and commenting on them to create a tighter sense of community.

When it comes to reaching women, it’s time to face facts; it’s facebook!