Google Glass

[Tipex]

I use social media as an almost exclusive marketing tool for the business. I'd say 90%+ of lead generations come from Facebook. It's a phenomenal tool when you know how to manipulate it, and having easy access to it is appealing. I'd have google glass if it wasn't for the fact that you look silly. But I'm sure that will change soon enough.

I'm not denying the power of social media as a business tool, but i'd be massively worried personally, if 90% of my leads came from it, as it would mean i'm neglecting an even bigger proportion of society, as more people dont use Facebook or Twitter than do.

As part of a managed package of marketing, including traditional methods, then absolutely it isn't something to be ignored, but that's not really what this thread is about.

When you're sitting at your desk at work, then yes, I can understand the value in having Facebook or Twitter open, but when you are walking along the street? No thanks.

That's not to say I don't think there's a market for it, you see enough people walking along staring at their phones.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Tipex

[Tipex]

I'm massively curious about the technology, and its overall potential.

I can quite understand that, I am too, it's just not something I can see myself ever buying.

It's potential as a tool for the visually impared is something I think could be very interesting, although I have no idea if it's an avenue being explored, I suspect it is though.

[NewNiceMrMe]

I'm not denying the power of social media as a business tool, but i'd be massively worried personally, if 90% of my leads came from it, as it would mean i'm neglecting an even bigger proportion of society, as more people dont use Facebook or Twitter than do.

 

Guess what?

 

54% use both, one or the other.

 

42% of the entire population alone use Facebook DAILY.  26 million people.

 

Again, just because it isn't what one person does, it doesn't mean many others don't.

 

p.s. and 78% of all UK Facebook access is via a mobile phone.

 

I'm sure you'll tell me you don't believe it, and I don't need you to.  It is entirely true though.

Edited June 27, 2014 by NewNiceMrMe

[NewNiceMrMe]

I use social media as an almost exclusive marketing tool for the business. I'd say 90%+ of lead generations come from Facebook. It's a phenomenal tool when you know how to manipulate it, and having easy access to it is appealing. I'd have google glass if it wasn't for the fact that you look silly. But I'm sure that will change soon enough.

 

90%?  I am presuming you are using paid-for advertising on Facebook to achieve that (and even then it is a quite incredible figure but depends on what your other inbound sources are in many respects).  Because if not, how are you reaching your target audience?  I'm intrigued.

 

Unless a Facebook user already knows your brand exists, it is by far the weakest of all organic social media advertising platforms - because the search functionality is deliberately restrictive.

Edited June 27, 2014 by NewNiceMrMe

[Tipex]

So you are saying that more than half the population use social media?

Can't see it personally, but then you knew i'd say that.

Perhaps if you were to say that 54% of all 14-60 year olds use it I could believe it, but not 54% of the entire population.

[patently]

I'd kind of believe it if we were in a pub chatting to someone who was sceptical of the reach claimed for social media in the modern world.

 

But we're, errr, on an Internet forum??

[NewNiceMrMe]

So you are saying that more than half the population use social media?

Can't see it personally, but then you knew i'd say that.

Perhaps if you were to say that 54% of all 14-60 year olds use it I could believe it, but not 54% of the entire population.

 

As I said, it is often difficult to convince people of the true statistics if they don't see it themselves.

 

But the simple that is that every stat I gave you above is entirely correct (and I've quoted you it as of 31st March 2013 and the numbers go up every single month).

 

As you mentioned an age group that stopped at 60, you might also find it interesting that UK use of social media in the over 60's is now at....48%.  They have long since been, and remain, the fastest growing age group in the increase of social media accounts.

 

Believing it is an individual choice, but I have no reason to lie to you.  It is entirely factual.

Edited June 27, 2014 by NewNiceMrMe

[Tipex]

Fair enough, I find it hard to believe, but if that's what it is then that's what it is.

Still don't know why people feel the need to be constantly connected to it, rather than just check it a couple of times a day, in fact, I find it a bit sad really.

[PeterS]

As I said, it is often difficult to convince people of the true statistics if they don't see it themselves.

 

But the simple that is that every stat I gave you above is entirely correct (and I've quoted you it as of 31st March 2013 and the numbers go up every single month).

 

As you mentioned an age group that stopped at 60, you might also find it interesting that UK use of social media in the over 60's is now at....48%.  They have long since been, and remain, the fastest growing age group in the increase of social media accounts.

 

Believing it is an individual choice, but I have no reason to lie to you.  It is entirely factual.

I'm interested in what the definition of 'use' is, purely because I often have Nielsen or Kantar data presented to me about shopper behaviour and the devil is always in the detail :-)

A favourite of marketeers is the "x million shoppers buy y product", which turns out to mean have bought in the last 12 months.

Maybe only once In the world of much of FMCG that's a pretty useless stat. Repeat purchase is where it's at, but the numbers drop alarmingly when you look at 1/4/12 week periods.

So as I say, genuinely interested. Does the 48% of over 60s that use social media refer to a daily/weekly/4 week / 12 week or even longer period? Or it just the % that have accounts, no matter how infrequently they are used . I don't have enough data points to have a robust view, but it intrigues me

[NewNiceMrMe]

I get a lot of Nielsen data. I don't get much from Kantar Retail or their other arms as it doesn't really apply to me (and if I'm honest I think some of their headlines are downright misleading).

Most of my data comes directly from the platforms via access to reporting tools they give me.

In the case of the 48% of UK over 60's - it is based on using a social network at least 3 times a week.

I think it is important to stress that if you were to construct a global league table, take population count out of it and work on percentage of population count, that the UK statistics will always lead to people being surprised. The reason is that we remain at the top of that table and by quite a distance (Sweden is close) for our use of the platforms.

I hadn't realised you worked in an area connected to shopper marketing, Peter. I imagine the words category and channel management are staple to your diet in the FMCG world.

[drpellypo]

90%? I am presuming you are using paid-for advertising on Facebook to achieve that (and even then it is a quite incredible figure but depends on what your other inbound sources are in many respects). Because if not, how are you reaching your target audience? I'm intrigued.

Unless a Facebook user already knows your brand exists, it is by far the weakest of all organic social media advertising platforms - because the search functionality is deliberately restrictive.

Nope. Not spending a penny. Purely viral. Target audience is mums who play candy crush. You know the type! Posting the products to targeted FB groups, it getting shared, then shared again, and so forth.

[Tipex]

What constitutes 'using' social media?

Genuine question, as i'm sure my personal stats would suggest I use it a lot more than I actually do, that's because my phone is always connected to Facebook, and certain apps post on my behalf without my interaction, so while my phone is sending and receiving data to/from Facebook, i'm not actually using it.

I probably check it twice a day at the most, some days not at all.

[NewNiceMrMe]

Nope. Not spending a penny. Purely viral. Target audience is mums who play candy crush. You know the type! Posting the products to targeted FB groups, it getting shared, then shared again, and so forth.

 

You say 'targeted FB groups'. 

 

How do you find them to target them.  The search facility of Facebook means you have to know the name of a group in order to find it.

 

Plus, it has to be an open group.

 

Then, do you not find yourself being asked not to post direct marketing posts or others objecting to you using their group for the promotion of your products?

 

What I'm trying to say is that the nature of Facebook search necessitates you knowing the name of an individual, brand, group or page in order for you to find them in the first place.  There is no function to allow you to simply search for, say, all mums who play Candy Crush - not organically anyway.

 

Have you got a link to one of your posts?  I'm intrigued.  PM it if you'd prefer to keep it off here, I'm genuinely trying to understand how 90% of business (although I appreciate I don't know what the 90% is 90% of - i.e. I don't know what 100% is to you) can be generated organically without you already knowing the audience (and therefore if you already know the audience, then Facebook isn't responsible for the generation for the lead).

[NewNiceMrMe]

What constitutes 'using' social media?

Genuine question, as i'm sure my personal stats would suggest I use it a lot more than I actually do, that's because my phone is always connected to Facebook, and certain apps post on my behalf without my interaction, so while my phone is sending and receiving data to/from Facebook, i'm not actually using it.

I probably check it twice a day at the most, some days not at all.

 

Screen movement - scrolling down it.  That registers a push of data.  That registers use.

 

Notifications do not count, nor does the push of a notification to the Facebook App (or other App) unless you are interacting with it.  There are very simple ways of distinguishing what is user interaction and what is automated.

[chasdrury]

So, I'm in the minority now, it seems not having an FB account! I, too, am surprised by the figures as I still hear a lot of people who say they've cancelled their accounts for one reason or another.

I'm not saying I dis believe them, just surprised!

[NewNiceMrMe]

So, I'm in the minority now, it seems not having an FB account! I, too, am surprised by the figures as I still hear a lot of people who say they've cancelled their accounts for one reason or another.

I'm not saying I dis believe them, just surprised!

 

I hear this occasionally, but again I think it is an example of where friends of people often behave in the same way as those people themselves - it is common interests and similar behave amongst friends.

 

Take another one - there are 34 million registered UK Twitter accounts.  34 million.

 

Yet only 10.8 million use the platform daily - but that's still 10.8 million people....

[chasdrury]

I've got a twitter account! Mainly to keep upto date with certain companies who tweet a fair bit!

[Scotty]

I'm not saying I disbelieve the figures quoted. Of the working population the percentage seems very high in my experience.

 

 

How about some conspiracy theory thoughts :

 

All the stats need to show the constant growth otherwise it could be perceived as over. Perception is much more important than the truth.

 

Therefore the stats could be being manipulated to show false figures?

[NewNiceMrMe]

No manipulation whatsoever.  I assure you. 

 

Not all are taken straight from the platforms without further analysis from a host of bodies and organisations.

 

The platforms are also remarkably transparent in what they say, because they know there will be much more damage to their brand if they're found to be doing the opposite.

 

I have no need to promote them or exaggerate the figures.  People don't use my service to do that - they use it to get the reality rather than perception.  That doesn't always mean I show social media in a positive light.  In fact you might be surprised how often I need to advise people not to take certain things to certain channels...

[PeterS]

I get a lot of Nielsen data. I don't get much from Kantar Retail or their other arms as it doesn't really apply to me (and if I'm honest I think some of their headlines are downright misleading).

Most of my data comes directly from the platforms via access to reporting tools they give me.

In the case of the 48% of UK over 60's - it is based on using a social network at least 3 times a week....

...I hadn't realised you worked in an area connected to shopper marketing, Peter. I imagine the words category and channel management are staple to your diet in the FMCG world.

Thanks NMMM . A few of our businesses supply UK / EU retail , primarily the big guys, and so, yes, category and channel management are key. I was FD of one such business for a few years... We've just acquired another business that is, how shall I put it, less developed in these ares, and since M&A, and the subsequent integration activity, sits with my team I expect to be back in the midst of it again :-)

I don't profess to be an expert, but I know enough to ask the right questions, if that makes sense

[NewNiceMrMe]

I don't profess to be an expert, but I know enough to ask the right questions, if that makes sense

 

Yup, makes complete sense.

 

I have a couple of large FMCG clients and another that deals with some of the biggest in the world.  So that's the only reason I know about channel and category management, because it is a part of the conversation when looking at content generation for social media.

[Tipex]

Well it seems Google Glass is dead in the water, Google has moved the development team on to other projects and has put Glass firmly on the back burner, withdrawn from sale before it even went commercial and failed to hit internal targets.

[Waylander]

Heard of this a few weeks back.

Do pre-order peeps get their money back?

[patently]

Probably. Chances are they don't need to tell Google their bank details for the refund, either.

[billy2shots]

I hear this occasionally, but again I think it is an example of where friends of people often behave in the same way as those people themselves - it is common interests and similar behave amongst friends.

 

Take another one - there are 34 million registered UK Twitter accounts.  34 million.

 

Yet only 10.8 million use the platform daily - but that's still 10.8 million people....

 

 

Take it another way. Some sad tw4ts have multiple Twitter accounts, facebook accounts and any other social network accounts.

That's what stops statistics being 100% fact.

 

Earlier you said you get the figures direct from the platform. What does that mean? Is Facebook giving you statistics about Facebook? If it is I'm sure you can guess my next argument.