Looking at social media as a whole can be a dangerous thing. It’s a big world of information out there that can be tapped into at a moment’s notice. There are the staples in the “biz” like Facebook & Twitter; the titan that is Snapchat; the flailing swimmer I recall fondly known as Vine; and of course LinkedIn. Now, these are all easy applications that add either insight or entertainment to work and your day-to-day life. That’s undeniable. However, it’s well known that certain age groups are more likely to use a certain platform for different reasons.
Take myself for example. Being right smack in the age group that has seen the rise and fall of MySpace, I frequent all social outlets. My interests tend to vary day-to-day, so being sure an ad specifically made for me hits its mark can be tough. I filter out all sorts of content day-in, day-out. This makes me vulnerable to what I would refer to as “overstimulation” from the marketing world. However, I take pride in being able to put on the blinders and conduct my extensive research into sneezing cats and belly flop videos.
Others in the 25-34 age range can relate in certain ways, perhaps not so much as to what they are searching for, but I digress. Take a look at this graphic that outlines trends for each demographic:
From the chart we can gather that a majority of the social groups used in the world are at a “stage of maturity where they give opportunities to reach all age and gender groups” says Dave Chaffey, CEO of SmartInsights. The exceptions to this are Snapchat, Instagram and Tumblr, which are very popular for those in the 16-24 age group. These channels have yet to plateau and, in that sense, it’s a good thing statistically speaking. A company’s exposure on these channels is open to interpretation but will hands down be seen by many in that age range.
The following charts outline a much more specific outlook on social media users:
*Note: Percentages are based on the number of people online in each category.
Within these infographics is nearly every factor to consider when choosing where you want to be for both a user and a business. You can see where there are more women versus men, income and education differences, as well as age. One stat that isn’t listed from Pew Research Center indicates 50-65+ as the fastest growing demographic for social media. This shouldn’t come as a shock since trends have pointed these people in the direction of social media due to a lack of better sources.
That being said, this is the most profitable group to reach out to. Most users in lower age groups don’t have the capital or the means to really benefit from what each channel has to offer. Users 50 and up are used to more traditional media and are more open to the different ways you can be reached. Articles, native ads, you name it.
Now that I’ve thrown a lot of numbers at you and a great deal of processing has to be done, I encourage you to explore each of these channels (even the ones in the first graphic you may not have heard of). Find what suits you and decide for yourself if you fit. Are you fluent in each of the functions they offer? Do you know if it’s right for you or your business? Do you still need some reassurance or guidance?
If you come away from this with any questions, I encourage you to reach out to Absolute. We can tailor our social media services to serve you in an efficient and effective manner. Feel free to give us a call at 701-478-1111 or visit absolutemg.com/contact. We look forward to hearing from you.