You might also be interested in
Replies (4)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
Low professional use
The headline statistics are high, but the business use statistics are actually quite low. Even LinkedIn, ostensibly a business oriented site, has only 30% commercial usage.
So I don't see where the reports conclusion that social media plays a key role in professional networks is coming from. It seems more like people are using social media for social purposes generally more. Also young people who have grown up with it tend to use social media more. Hardly earth-shattering revelations.
Perhaps the survey itself clarifies this apparent disjoint in more detail. As you have to provide ALL your contact details to download it (and there is no indication of what they will be used for, nor the possibility of opting out of contact) I have not downloaded it.
Linkedin is different
I recall offering WK some feedback when the survey was at an early stage as it limited the options available to respondents and didn't provide an option of 'other' (I think).
My main concern however is with any such survey that treats use of Linkedin as being akin to the use of other social media. Linkedin is very different to twitter, facebook, pinterest, instagram and Google+.
These days when I ask audiences if they have a profile registered on Linked in, invariably 80-100% confirm that they do. They don't all make much use of Linkedin and they don't all have what I would call professional profiles but that's another issue.
Equally I rarely come across accountants who reference facebook as a source of business. It does happen occasionally but it's use is still largely limited to fun, family and friends (among accountants).
In my view it is misguided to lump together all other forms of social media with Linkedin. The resultant stats are skewed by those who use only Linkedin for business and by those who only use facebook for fun etc.
And as Stephen has pointed above, the survey suggests that only 30% of respondents use Linkedin for commercial benefits.
The final quote in the article also only makes sense in the context of Linkedin. It's woefully misleading to suggest that it also applies to other forms of social media.
The report's headline is hardly news. It could equally say that "almost all people,under 40 are registered on facebook".
Mark
Yes, social media platforms are different from each other
Some of the survey findings have necessarily been simplified in Rachael’s summary so if you want to get the complete picture we’d suggest you download the full results from our website at https://www.cch.co.uk/content/wolters-kluwer-social-media-survey-2014. As Mark points out, there are significant differences between the social media platforms and there are therefore separate sections in the survey on the profession’s use of LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc. One of the most interesting results is the way in which the use of social media has evolved over the four years that we’ve run this survey. While LinkedIn is currently in a class of its own among professional users, it’s interesting to see that some firms are now taking Facebook seriously and benefiting from its use.
David
Great point David. We at Kinsella Tax ( https://www.kinsellatax.co.uk/ ) engage with potential customers through multiple social media channels and find it very beneficial. On top of that social media are great for insights about what is currently concerning our current and prospective clients.