The document summarizes the results of a survey of 307 economic development council (IEDC) members about their use of social media. Some key findings: - 57% of organizations currently use social media, while 43% do not. Those not using it cite lack of staff/resources, time, and expertise most often. - Of those using social media, most (77%) have a full-time staff member managing it alongside other responsibilities. - Facebook and LinkedIn are the most used and valuable social media platforms for communicating both within and outside an organization's region.

1. SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
A Snapshot of the ED Profession’s
Growing Embrace of Social Media

2. Methodology
• IEDC and DCI partnered to conduct a thirteen
question email survey of IEDC members
regarding their use of social media.
• 307 IEDC members completed the survey.
• Social media defined as “online tools that
allow groups of people to interact with one
another by exchanging content, opinions and
insight.”

3. Does your organization currently
use social media within your
communication efforts?
YES 57%
NO 43%

4. If you are not currently using
social media, please explain why.
N=122
26% Looking into it, learning about it, plan to begin using a
social media tactic soon
25% Doubt the effectiveness of social media in meeting
goals; believe there is no need to use social media
15% Lack staff/ resources
13% Lack the time to implement a social media strategy
12% Lack expertise, don’t know enough about it
7% Social media sites are prohibited by organization’s
policy
6% Have not considered using social media

5. How long has your organization
been using social media to
promote your community?
63%
30%
3% 4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
less than 1
year
1-2 years 2-3 years more than 3
years
NOTE: The
following questions
were asked only to
those who indicate
they are using
social media.

6. How does your organization
manage social media efforts?
Full time staff member(s) who manage social
media but have other responsibilities as well.
Part-time staff member/interns manage social
media.
We outsource our social media efforts.
Full time staff member(s) solely devoted to social
media
77%
17%
4%
2%

7. On a scale of 1 (never) to 5 (very frequently),
how often you use social media to
communicate with each group below:
% to Answer “4” or “5”
• Within your organization 27%
• Regionally 41%
• Nationally/Internationally 30%

8. On a scale of 1 (never) and 5 (very frequently),
please rate how much time and effort your
organization spends on:
% to Answer “4” or “5”
• Facebook 36%
• LinkedIn 31%
• Microblogging/Twitter 29%
• Web videos 18%
• Your blog 17%
• Other 8%
• Third party blog sites 6%
• Podcasts 5%

9. Which social medium do you find most
valuable in communicating with
individuals within your region?
33% 30%
14%
11%
6% 4%
2% 1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
A B C D E F G H
A LinkedIn
B Facebook
C Microblogging/Twitter
D Your blog
E Other
F Web videos
G Third party blog sites
H Podcasts

10. Which social medium do you find most
valuable in communicating with
individuals outside of your region?
40%
23%
15%
9%
5%
7%
1% 0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
A B C D E F G H
A LinkedIn
B Facebook
C Microblogging/Twitter
D Your blog
E Other
F Web videos
G Third party blog sites
H Podcasts

11. When communicating with individuals within
your region, what type of information do you
share most on social media?
• Organization News 28%
• Project wins/Expansions/Retention 21%
• Support for local businesses 19%
• Local events 18%
• Other 14%

12. When communicating with individuals outside
of your region, what type of information do
you share most on social media?
• Project wins/expansions/retention 29%
• Information on your region’s quality of life 26%
• National ranking or media coverage on
your region
17%
• Other 15%
• Expert opinion 13%

13. On a scale of 1 (least important) to 5
(most important), how important is social
media in your current marketing plan to
individuals outside of your region?
31%
26% 26%
14%
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Least important
1
2 3 4 Most important
5
NOTE: The following
questions were asked
of all respondents,
whether or not they
currently use social
media in their
communication
efforts.

14. How important will it become
in the next three years?
5%
14%
28%
36%
15%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Least important
1
2 3 4 Most important
5

15. Which economic development organization
(excluding your own) do you find use social
media most effectively?
• 51% “Don’t know”
• ED organizations were mentioned by multiple
respondents: