At the extremes with social media in the UK

I agree with Stephen Waddington: if you’re in PR in the UK, Econsultancy’s Social Media and Online PR Report is essential reading.

I’ve not yet read the detailed report, published earlier this week, just scanned through the extract freely available on Econsultancy’s website. Plus I’ve absorbed some of the commentary posted by PR influencers such as Wadds and others like Danny Whatmough.

One of the metrics especially caught my eye as it accurately reflects what I see as a paradox – that of extreme positions:

socialmediaactivity

What this shows is that two-thirds of the 1,100 communicators at companies and agencies who took part in the survey aren’t doing much with social media, while just over a quarter are doing a lot.

From one extreme to the other with no middle ground being occupied. The good news is that those doing nothing at all are in a distinct minority. And Econsultancy summarizes the overall picture nicely:

Many companies are enthusiastic about social media but are struggling to get real value, according to Econsultancy research published this week.

The good news for companies is that investment in time and resources can pay dividends … provided that the strategies and tactics employed are closely aligned with business objectives.

There’s a key message: consider social media on the same footing as as you would with the traditional elements of your communication plans.

Looking forward to studying the detail.

Neville Hobson

Social Strategist, Communicator, Writer, and Podcaster with a curiosity for tech and how people use it. Believer in an Internet for everyone. Early adopter (and leaver) and experimenter with social media. Occasional test pilot of shiny new objects. Avid tea drinker.

    • neville

      What strikes me mostly, Danny, is the huge opportunity this suggests for education and training: so many people need asome guidance in really understanding the value proposition presented by social media.

      A big challenge is understanding that those who need most guidance often don’t think they do.

      Exciting times.

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