Posted: 4/6/2012
By: Mark Nolan
Article from Amsterdam Printing
According to a recent Creative Group survey of 500 advertising and marketing executives, 53 percent said they plan to increase their business advertising efforts by investing in Facebook more this year.
However, other social networks were also viewed as viable recipients of company funds. Forty-three percent expect to increase their budget for Twitter usage, 41 percent for Google+, 38 percent for LinkedIn and 36 percent for YouTube.
On the flip side, no more than 5 percent of recipients expected their investment in any of the social media platforms mentioned above to decrease in 2012.
"Companies recognize the powerful role social media can play in brand building, and they are willing to invest in initiatives that can help them increase customer engagement," said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. "As platforms like Facebook continue to evolve, it's especially important for businesses to keep pace."
The Los Angeles Times reports that Facebook is expected to top a $100 billion valuation after its initial public offering becomes complete. The social network made $3.7 million in revenue from online ads last year, and more brands are buying ads on Facebook than ever before, given its massive user base (845 million).
Social media remains a popular advertising option for small businesses that are limited in terms of budget allocation. According to the sixth annual Staples National Small Business Survey, 67 percent of small business owners only plan to spend around $2,000 on advertising and marketing in 2012. This has led a fair amount of respondents - 35 percent - to increase their reliance on social media over the past year.
What's more, traditional marketing and advertising is becoming a thing of the past, as viral marketing is cheaper and can generally reach a wider audience.
"This is a smart strategy if, like the majority of survey respondents, you don't have a big budget," the Huffington Post explains.
Article from Amsterdam Printing