I wrote a post back in February that highlighted social media marketing problems.
Now, eMarketer have just published an interesting article (UK Advertisers Shy From Social Networks) that takes data from a recent study conducted by SPA Research and Synovate.
The article refers to a number of major UK companies that have tried the social networks only to move away. No great surprises there as clearly this platform is not going to be appropriate for all-comers.
As with anything new online, there’s going to be a lot of hype surrounding the ‘next big thing’. When it comes to marketing, the same ‘old’ rules apply: Understand your market, your goals and test.
Social media offers a great opportunity to develop your online presence; however there are still a number of question marks surrounding its ability to convert conversations into meaningful business. Companies that have the resources to expand online operations and really put their full weight behind social networking are still likely to see the greatest benefits.
Over time, as more businesses adopt a targeted strategy and the social networking sites develop, it could become a far more profitable market for advertisers to use. However, current trends tend to suggest that this might not be the time to start experimenting with social media marketing.
What do you think?