Social Media Marketing Trends for 2010

A recent study conducted by International Data Corporation showed some interesting trends for social media marketing this year!

The study took a look at such things as Web 2.0, social media and more, as regards ecommerce use and “the intersection of Web 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 and collaboration.”

"Of the more than 4,700 U.S. workers we surveyed, 57% currently leverage social media for business purposes at least once a week," said Caroline Dangson, IDC research analyst, Enterprise Collaboration and Social Solutions program. "This survey illustrates that social media is becoming mainstream in the business world just as it has in the consumer world."

In fact, one thing that most internet research analysts all agree on is that social media will become progressively more mobile in 2010.

Blackberry, iPhone, smartphones, all of these are currently in use for social media, and it is expected for that usage to steadily increase. This mat be due, in part, to the fact that at present approximately 70% of organizations are banning social networks for employees.

Thus, instead of taking a smoke break, we will probably be seeing more and more workers taking a social media break to tweet or retweet, respond to a comment on their Facebook wall, or something similar.

Another predicted trend is that sharing on the internet no longer refers to forwarding an email.

Instead, we will see more people sharing with networks what they used to share with people in their email address book. Since it is now possible, and even encouraged, to share an article, funny story or comment across a whole network such as Facebook or Twitter, more internet users will use this method of sharing as opposed to via email.

Analysts are also predicting more hard-and-fast company rules about social media policy---everything from how to conduct yourself as an employee to what is considered competition.

Yet another prediction for 2010 is that more companies will look to give better customer service at a cheaper cost through social media. Best Buy’s Twelpforce is a good example of this.

There is no doubt that social media marketing for ecommerce will see expanded growth during 2010!