Is social media fading in importance?

Is social media still a critical cog in your online marketing machine? In these uncertain times, it can be a difficult thing to assess. Small business owners need every advantage possible to stay competitive and ahead of rivals. One means of doing that is to secure the data you need that will allow you to effectively plan future strategies that will give the edge you need. In some recently published research, Hootsuite has gone out and gathered the most up to date data you will need to assess where you are and where you may need to be. The following is taken directly from that research:

  • Social platforms gained 1.3 million users every day, or 15.5 new users every second in 2020
  • 4.2 billion people use social media around the world (i.e., 53.6% of the planet’s total population)

use of social media for brand research

  • 90% of people with access to the internet use social media
  • US social media ad spending is expected to increase 21.3% to 49 billion USD in 2021

impacts on social media users' decisions to engage with ads

  • 70% of social media users agree that they don’t trust brands who place profits before people during the pandemic

user overlaps on social media platforms

  • 2 out of 3 of social media users expect brands to advertise in safe, positive spaces

social media platforms privacy and data protection

-Written by Kevin Sawyer