Half of Social Media Users Connect With Brands

Marketers may be adopting social media in droves, but are consumers reciprocating by following or becoming a fan of companies and brands on social media sites? According to recent data, the answer would seem to be a resounding ‘yes’.

A study published today by eMarketer, more than half of social networking users have become a fan or follower of a brand online. Moreover, users are far more likely to say something positive about a brand than something negative.

From the report:

“52% of social network users had become a fan or follower of a company or brand, while 46% had said something good about a brand or company on a social networking Website—double the percentage who had said something negative (23%).”

In other words, there seems to be much more going on beyond businesses simply setting up shop on social media sites and hoping people will show up. Rather, users are actively seeking out their favorite brands online or being connected through other means – like a friend’s suggestion, a link on a website, or offline advertising. All the more reason that spending on the medium is expected to continue to increase over the next five years.

FREEFALL: Newspaper Revenues Crash By 29%

Newspapers may be dying out even faster than we thought possible, as the numbers we’re about to present are not pretty.

Last week, the Newspaper Association of America posted the quarterly financial data of the U.S. newspaper industry. It tracks both print and online revenues for the industry as a whole. But unlike past updates, the NAA did not promote these numbers. When you look at them, it’s easy to see why.

In Q2 2009, newspapers made $6.8 billion in print and online revenues. In the same quarter last year, the newspapers made $9.6 billion, a nearly $3 billion difference in the span of a year, or a full 29% from 2008 to 2009.