Social Media Statistics

• Facebook claims that 50% of active users log into the site each day. This would mean at least 175m users every 24 hours… A considerable increase from the previous 120m.
  
• Twitter now has 75m user accounts, but only around 15m are active users on a regular basis. It's still a fair increase from the estimated 6-10m global users from a few months ago.
  
• LinkedIn has over
  50m members worldwide. This means an increase of around 1m members month-on-month since July/August last year.
  
• Facebook currently has in excess of 350 million active users on global basis. Six months ago, this was 250m… meaning around a 40% increase of users in less than half a year.
  
• Flickr now hosts more than 4bn images. A massive jump from the previous 3.6bn I wrote about.
  
• More than 35m Facebook users update their status each day. This is 5m more than towards the end of July, 2009.
  
• Wikipedia currently has in excess of 14m articles, meaning that it's 85,000 contributors have written nearly a million new posts in six months.
  
• Photo uploads to Facebook have increased by more than 100%. Currently, there are around 2.5bn uploads to the site each month – this was around a billion last time I covered this.
  
• There are more than 70 translations available on Facebook. Last time around, this was only 50.
  
• Back in 2009, the average user had 120 friends within Facebook. This is now around 130.
  
• Mobile is even bigger than before for Facebook, with more than 65m users accessing the site through mobile-based devices. In six months, this is over 100% increase. (Previously 30m). As before, it's no secret that users who access Facebook through mobile devices are almost 50% more active than those who don't.
  

Okay, so now some new stuff that's worth considering when looking at social media marketing that I've not included in previous posts:

• There are more than 3.5bn pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, etc.) shared each week on Facebook.
  
• There are now 11m LinkedIn users across Europe.
  
• Towards the end of last year, the average number of tweets per day was over 27.3 million.
  
• The average number of tweets per hour was around 1.3m.
  
• More than 700,000 local businesses have active Pages on Facebook.
  
• Purpose-built Facebook pages have created more than 5.3bn fans.
  
• 15% of bloggers spend 10 or more hours each week blogging, according to Technorati's new State of the Blogosphere.
  
• At the current rate, Twitter will process almost 10bn tweets in a single year.
  
• About 70% of Facebook users are outside the USA.
  
• India is currently the fastest-growing country to use LinkedIn, with around 3m total users.
  
• More than 250 Facebook applications have over a million combined users each month.
  
• 70% of bloggers are organically talking about brands on their blog.
  
• 38% of bloggers post brand or product reviews.
  
• More than 80,000 websites have implemented Facebook Connect since December 2008 and more than 60m Facebook users engage with it across these external sites each month.
  

Impressive stuff, but as always, take these stats with a pinch of salt. As before, no single piece of information can be used to base an online strategy upon, or be used as a forecast as to the direction a specific social media channel may take in the future - you need to fully understand your marketing and business objectives before launching off into this apparently vast space. 

10 ways social media transforms events

1. Attendees will not wait for microphones to ask questions. They will text or tweet those questions as they think of them. Attendees will not wait until the end of a session to ask questions that came up in the first five minutes of the presentation. This does not mean that the speaker has to stop his presentation to answer the questions. Rather, there should be a mechanism to send questions to the speaker in real time.

2. Attendees will answer questions for the speaker - while he/she is talking. If the questions for the speaker are streamed through the backchannel, these questions will be available to all attendees. E-learning research tells us that it is very likely that attendees will start answering each other's questions, while the speaker is still talking.

3. Attendees will tell you that the speaker is poor, the ice sculpture is melting and the croissants are stale—in real time. With Social Media, the feedback can be instant and shared with everyone. You should be prepared to adapt your onsite operations to this new reality.

4. Attendees will expect to connect with other delegates before, during and after the event. Time is precious. Rather than nametag surf through the crowd, attendees will setup meetings with like-minded delegates before the event. After the event they will want to keep the conversation going. It will be important that events help them stay connected and translate their face-to-face contacts back into the digital world.

5. Virtual attendees will start using social media to engage with your content and the onsite face-to-face attendees. Social Media and other digital technologies will help virtual attendees join the onsite discussion. They will do this from 3,000 miles away. It will be important to make the experience inclusive and collaborative for all attendees.

6. Attendees will want a voice in the discussion, learning and decision making process. The gap between the experts that are speaking on stage and the amateurs in the audience has never been smaller. Attendees are well educated, informed and have information at their fingertips. As this gap continues to shrink, attendees will expect to be part of the discussion, learning and decision making processes. No more speakers talking and attendees listening!

7. New events will emerge from online communities. It is easier than ever to create an online group, build an audience and start discussions. However, there is still a strong desire for members to meet face-to-face. In 2009, we saw many new events created around Twitter. In the coming years, we will see many more events emerge out of online communities. Equally important, events that do not embrace online communities will be adversely affected and maybe even close.

8. Attendees will register for your event if their contacts are attending. In the future, knowing if friends or business associates are attending an event will become part of the attendee's decision process. Social media tools that check to see if my Linkedin connections, Twitter followers or Facebook friends are attending an event already exist. Over time, I think that we will see more of these tools implemented in events.

9. Events will become communities that last for weeks and months rather than a few short days. Event specific social networks, create a social hub where we can start conversations before events and continue them long after the event finished. Creating a social space where attendees can network and discuss trends, hot topics, industry (or business) challenges and best practices will be extend the life of your event.

10. Shared content will be the way that your event is discovered by new attendees. Your webcasts, webinars, blog posts and whitepapers will need to be interesting, relevant and easy to share. Then, your participants and raving fans will start forwarding, tweeting and facebooking this content to their like minded friends. This will introduce new people to your event and the type of education and thought leadership that you provide. Also, this will make it easier to search and find your event.

Bottom Line: Event professionals need to be prepared for this transformation in behavior and participation

Online Event Management Software

Online Event Management Software

Event Organisers state Workload as the number one issue impacting their job and industry

In Meeting Planners International Future Watch survey, event organisers positioned Workload as the number one issue impacting their job and industry

According to industry expert Corbin Ball, 80% of event organisers are being disadvantaged by managing their registrations using paper, spreadsheets and home-grown systems.

Event organisers are reducing their workload by 50% using online registration making online registration the fastest growing solution in event organising today

In a recent survey, 342 event organisers estimated their workload was reduced by 55% on average after switching to an online event registration system. A good online registration system eliminates a lot of work by automating tasks that event organisers used to do manually, like data entry, reporting, mailing and payment processing work.

Below are seven ways a good online registration system can reduce an event organisers workload in half:

Reduce data entry work

Reduce accounting work

Reduce mailing work

Reduce reporting work

Reduce credit card & payment processing work

Reduce delegate changes

Reduce allocation management time

An online event management system will not only save you time but will greatly reduce the errors and stress involved in organising a successful event
http://event-master.com/

Is Social Media a Trend?

20 Things To Make Your Conference Experience More Successful

Regardless of your conference mindset, here's a quick checklist to help you plan and prepare for a successful event.

1. Setup your eCommunity conference profile and connect with others before you arrive.
Many major conferences provide a social networking eCommunity for attendees. Take advantage of this tool and complete your profile. Then you can get a jump start on the event before you arrive.

2. Upload any conference badges to your Facebook profile and blog.
Today, many conferences provide custom badges for those attending a conference. Upload it to your Facebook profile and blog. Provide a link to the conference website or fan page and instructions on how other attendees can add it to their profile too.

3. RSVP to any conference related Facebook and LinkedIn Events. Don't forget to accept any Twtvites too.
This will show up in your social media streams and let people know of your plans.

4. Learn the conference Twitter hashtag and use it.
If you don't have a Twitter account, you're going to miss some of the great social media discussions. Sign up now, download Tweetdeck (it's free) and setup a column to follow that hashtag.

5. Plan ahead and setup your itinerary.
Use the conference's Itinerary Planner to set your schedule, sort which sessions you want to attend, identify those you want to meet in the hallways, schedule any vendor or exhibitor meeting and by all means, schedule to attend any Tweetups.

6. Bring your digital camera and make sure you have a Flickr and YouTube account.
Engagement is the conference word for 2010. Make sure you have your digital or flip camera with you to document your view of the event. Take lots of pictures and post them on your Flickr, Facebook and YouTube pages.

7. Bring extra batteries or power supplies for your digital camera, flip, mobile device and laptop.

8. Scour your LinkedIn contacts for those attending the conference or in the host city.
Send emails to those contacts letting them know you'll be in town and offer to meet with them.

9. Backup your laptop before traveling and bring it with you.
Plan on being one of the event's tweeps tweeting, micro blogging and blogging about your conference adventures.

10. Practice your elevator speech.
People are going to ask you what you do. Don't respond with, "I'm just a …" Be crisp, clear and memorable.

11. Bring a "can-do" attitude with you.
One that is inviting, welcoming, and ready to learn and network at every opportunity.

12. Give your family and significant other some extra lovin' before you leave.
Show them how to follow you on Twitter, Foursquare or Gowalla to keep up with your daily endeavors. Text them a couple times a day to show them how much you care (and that you're a hip geek too). Of course call them at least once a day or better yet, use Skype or Ovoo for a video conference call.

13. Pack clothes for the layered look!
Then it's easier to adjust to the temperature of the conference facility's rooms. Typically, most event venues keep rooms cool to control humidity. Don't complain to the event organizers. Instead, learn to take off or add layers depending upon whether you're cold or warm.

14. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Most event and tradeshow organizers know that it's important to invest in a good pair of quality, comfortable, sensible and nice-looking shoes. Some favorite brands are Eccos, Cole Haan with Nike Air, Merrill, Mephisto and Rockport.

15. Check out the Exhibitors and Sponsors before the event.
Visit their websites and identify who is attending from each company. Remember those names and faces so you can thank them personally when you see them onsite.

16. Research any event award winners.
Check their conference and social media profiles. Find out why they are receiving awards. Congratulate them when you see them onsite. These are some of the industry's influencers you should follow.

17. Order some fresh business cards.
Consider some unique cards specific to that event and any offerings you're making. There are plenty of 24 hour online printing companies that can handle smaller orders

18. Sign up for Foursquare, Gowalla and Yelp on your mobile device.
You'll discover that many social media savvy locals have left a wonderful electronic footprint of the most happening venues, restaurants and events in the host city.

19. Thank the conference organizers before, during and after the event.
Then thank them again. It's such a thankless job. Let them know you appreciate their hard work.

20. Finally, have fun, learn, network and enjoy it.

7 Ways to Promote Your Offline Event Using Social Media

1. Blog About It

Before, during and after your event, blog about it. Blogging beforehand can alert others about your event and encourage them to learn more or register to attend. Live blogging during your event can create buzz and excitement for those who were unable to attend (and provide them a snippet of what they missed, which will encourage them to look for your next event). Blogging after can provide a recap, as well as info on upcoming events.

SXSW attendee Allen Stern liveblogged several sessions at the 2009 event. His blog posts are little more than notes from the presentation, but they do a good job of relaying the highlights to readers quickly.

2. Post Photos on Flickr

Everyone loves seeing photos of themselves (as long as they're flattering). By posting photos of your event on Flickr() and tagging them with people's names, you can generate interest in your event from the people who attended and those who follow them on various social media channels.

BlogHer posts photos from its conferences and events both in the header on its website and in its Flickr stream. It invites participants to upload their own photos from the events into the Flickr stream, which encourages interaction.

3. Put it on Facebook

You can also post the photos and tag them on Facebook(). The added benefit of doing so on Facebook is that when you tag someone, it appears on their wall. Anyone who is a friend of someone you tagged can see the photo. The idea is that it will lead them to want to learn more about the event (because hey, they want their photo put on Facebook from a cool local event too). Note that you'll only be able to tag people that you're connected to.

If your event or company has a Facebook Page, you can include highlights from the event, like quotes from keynotes, activities, awards or even faux pas from speakers.

For even more interaction, visit the profiles of those that attended and leave custom comments: "Hope you got that wine stain out of your blouse. Sorry about that!" "Great comment you made at the keynote presentation!" Etc.

The Wine Conference, an annual event held in Houston, posts updates on the conference to its Facebook Page. Here the event posts logos for its sponsors, photos from events, and blog links about the conference.

4. Post Photos to Twitpic

Twitpic ()is a great tool that allows you to take a photo with your phone or camera and upload it directly (via a shortened URL) to Twitter(). Anyone following you on Twitter will see your tweet and the link to the photo, and can click to view it.

During your event, what better way to show those not in attendance what they're missing than by taking photos and sending them in real time? Save your hi-resolution photos to be processed later, but upload snapshots from your phone instantly to create a sense of visual livestreaming as the event is underway.

5. Tweet the Event

Don't overlook the best real-time tool in social media for your event. Sending tweets out to your followers is a great way to keep everyone updated on what's happening. Whether it's an awards show where you can share the winners before journalists write about them, or a conference where you can tweet soundbites, Twitter is a great tool for connecting people online and offline to your event.

Make sure your organization or business doesn't have legal objections to you tweeting from the event. If the event covers trade secrets or other sensitive stuff, you may be entangled in more legal issues than you can shake a stick at if you're not careful. The NFL banned tweeting from football events this season, for example, and is imposing fines for those that violate the ban.

6. Use Hashtags

The easiest way to track tweets and other mentions of your events on social media platforms is to ask all participants to use a # with a designated keyword or phrase when discussing it.

For example, in 2009, BlogWorld New Media Expo used the hashtag #bwe09 on Twitter to track all mentions of it. Many presentations used this hashtag or one relating to a particular topic as a way to field questions and comments during the presentations. For those unable to attend, following the hashtag was a great way to stay updated on soundbites from the conference.

7. Livestream Your Event

If your event is a conference or educational platform, consider livestreaming it via web video. Using services like Justin.tv or Ustream.tv, you can broadcast your event live over the Internet. This helps expand your audience and interact with them, even if they are not present in person at your event.

Wrapping it Up

Remember that you can get the most out of online promotion if you start long before the event. Map out a strategy that includes what you will do prior to the event, during, and after. Ask employees and attendees to assist you by posting their own take on the event through their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr accounts. Make it as easy as possible for anyone to share their content and photos of your event online.

What is Social Media and why important

What is Social Media and why important

Social media is an umbrella term which defines the activities that integrate technology, social interaction and the construction of words, pictures, videos, and audio (Wikipedia)

More simply it just describes the millions of conversations people are having with each other on-line across the world 24/7     

REASON 1
- Social media is now the number one online activity beating porn and personal email to the top spot. (Nielsen Wire)

REASON 2
- 2/3 of the global internet population visit social networks (Nielsen, Global Faces & Networked Places)

REASON 3
- Time spent on social networks is growing at 3x the overall internet rate, accounting for 10% of all internet time. (Nielsen, Global Faces & Networked Places)

REASON 4
- Online including social media has become the most influential source in helping consumers make purchasing decisions. (Weber Shandwick Inline Research)

REASON 5
- Millions of people are creating their own content for the social web. Your competitors are already there. Your customers have been there for a long time. If your business isn't putting itself out there, it ought to be. (Business Week)

REASON 6
- The next 3 billion consumers will access the internet from a mobile device. People will update anytime, anywhere. Imagine what that means for bad customer experiences! (Wired Magazine UK) This is called the super-fresh web. The 'super-fresh' web will force brands to engage with its customers

REASON 7
- Facebook is now the operating system of the social web. It has won the social networking war. If Facebook were a country it would be bigger than the USA and 3rd largest in the World. Facebook added 200 million users in less than a year. Facebook adds half a million users every day. On target for half billion users by December 2010 5 billion: The number of minutes spent on Facebook each day 1 billion: The amount of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photos, etc.) shared each week on Facebook. Additional note: 350+ million Facebook users as of January 2010 out of which 50% log on everyday. (Facebook)

REASON 8
- Twitter believes it will have 1 billion users by 2012. If this happens it will become the pulse of the planet (Twitter)

REASON 9
- One way marketing has had its day! Not "campaigns". Start thinking "conversations". Listening first, selling second

REASON 10
- In almost all cases social media is free. All it will cost you is time.