Punch

Social Networks Evolve Into Key Marketing Channels

A recent report to have come out of the US inOctober 2009, detailing the latest demographic figures of social media usage,shows an evolutionary change as social networks mature to become a primarychannel for marketers according to Punch Communications, a specialist in Digital PublicRelations.

The report, which is based on the findings of Pew Internet &American Life's daily tracking survey into internet usage in the United States reveals the year on year demographic fluctuations of users ofleading social networks, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Whilst a number of the leading sites showed very little change yearon year in the median age of their users, the dramatic change in the figuresfrom Facebook show that the social network has been embraced by marketers as akey marketing channel.

Between May 2008 and May 2009, the leading social networks recordedthe following demographic changes (US Figures):

Median age of user:

In addition to the figures above, whilst the report also showed that19% of internet users now say that they use social media to share updates aboutthemselves, representing an increase from the 11% recorded in December 2008 andApril 2009, the significant increase alone cannot justify the marked increasein the median age of Facebook users, supported by the stagnation over otherleading sites.

The increase in the median age of Facebook users is likely to be theresult of other factors as Philip Keightley, Account Director of Punch Communications commented: "Thestriking increase in the median age of users is certainly significant and a factorwe have been anticipating for some time. Whilst the other social networks, arecontinuing to grow, particularly Twitter, the increase in the demographic ageof Facebook users suggests it has developed into a primary marketing channel,driven by the maturation of site content. Whereas previously, the youngerdemographic demanded a degree of more lightweight content, it seems that thecontent has matured on Facebook with a considerably more practical slant,appealing to a broader, less niche audience"

Ambitious andenthusiastic PR and Communications specialists with experience in Digital &TechnologyPR,Search Engine Optimisation or Social Networking should contact the leading PR Agency in the Midlands, PunchCommunications on +44 (0) 1858 411600, or alternatively visit punchcomms.com.