Every time I look through the results of The Social Habit, I find some new, fascinating tidbit that makes me think (or rethink) assumptions about social, consumers, and media consumption.
I want to show you the full Monty (data-wise) but the The Social Habit research is subscribers-only. (you can get it all, and first, by subscribing. Packages start at just $347, and you get exclusive access to our grand unveiling Webinar this Thursday, October 11).
Meanwhile, I’ll give you some appetizers, like this one:
53% of Americans 12+ who follow brands in social media are more loyal to those brands.
Measuring social media continues to be a challenge. Even though divining social media ROI is 100% possible, it does require some effort to calculate. The truth is that many companies don’t have the resources, inclination, or expertise to calculate true ROI. Nor do they calculate the precise ROI of newspaper ads, golf balls with their logo on them, or trade show attendance.
So the day-to-day reality is that many companies believe in their bones that social media works, but aren’t sure precisely how, or where, or in what fashion. Simultaneously, many marketers are under the impression that social media (Facebook, in particular) is a top of the funnel tactic. A survey of corporate marketers by Wildfire (now owned by Google) this year found that 44% of respondents viewed Facebook as a good place to acquire new customers.
Social Media is for Retention, not Acquisition
I believe the opposite to be true, that social media (and Facebook, in particular) is mostly a retention and churn reduction tactic – the thing your company uses to keep customers coming back for more and telling their friends (not unlike email, incidentally).
This new finding from The Social Habit ratifies the potential effectiveness of this “focus on your existing customers” approach, and gives companies a path to understanding the actual financial impact of social.
But as with all things in social media, your results may vary.
Loyalty in Social Media Declines with Age
It’s fascinating to me that our findings show that increased loyalty to companies followed in social tapers with age, once adulthood is reached.
- 66% of 18-24 year-old Americans who have followed a company in social are more loyal to those companies.
- It’s 60% among 25-34 year olds
- 53% among 35-44 year olds
- 45% among 45-54 year olds
- and just 39% among the 55 and older set
As we age, does the siren song of social interaction begin to fall on deaf ears? Is resistance to the charms of companies in social part of the aging process? Or as we age are we just exposed to so many more companies that our decisions about loyalty are made on a more practical, prosaic level than anything ephemerally nifty that’s served up in social?
I’m not certain. But, this data does make a case that brands targeting a younger customer may see a greater revenue/profit impact from social over time, given the much higher loyalty effect in play.
Beer Pong + Social Media = Awesome.
Metamucil + Social Media = Maybe Less So.
