The document discusses the impact of social media and why it will significantly influence communication and marketing. It notes that social media allows for two-way conversations rather than one-way advertising. Key reasons it will have an impact include its growing popularity as a means of communication, its ability to start discussions about brands and products, and that future consumers are already accustomed to engaging on social media platforms. The document advocates for businesses to listen to conversations on social media and find ways to participate in and guide discussions in order to influence their customers.

1. The Impact of Social Media

2. thinkfresh.ca Social Media is an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction and the conversation of words, pictures and audio. “ Social Media is people having conversations online.”

4. thinkfresh.ca Why social media will make an impact

6. thinkfresh.ca “ If you’re not on a social networking site, you’re not on the internet . ” eMarketer’s predicted that 80% of businesses will adopt social media for marketing purposes by the end of 2011. That’s 4 out of every 5 businesses.

7. thinkfresh.ca It’s not a fad. It’s a fundamental shift in how we communicate .

8. thinkfresh.ca Reason #2: It starts a conversation

9. thinkfresh.ca The old communication model was a monologue . The average person is blasted with 3000 advertising messages per day.

10. thinkfresh.ca Only 18% of TV ad campaigns generate positive ROI 90% of people who can skip TV ads, do. & Only 14% of people trust advertisements .

11. thinkfresh.ca 78% of people trust recommendations of other customers.

12. thinkfresh.ca Everyone has their own circle of trust . People whose opinion they listen to and respect, marketing can’t break this bond.

14. thinkfresh.ca Reason #3: People are talking about your brand. Right now. Conversations will happen without you initiating them.

15. thinkfresh.ca 34% of people post opinions about products and brands on their blog 36% think more positively of brands who have an online presence. &

16. thinkfresh.ca Reason #4 : The Future Tomorrow’s consumers are today’s “digital natives” This year, the number of Millenials/Gen-Yers outnumbered Baby Boomers.

17. thinkfresh.ca Millenials spend nearly a third of their time online. 96% of them have joined a social networking site.

18. thinkfresh.ca On average, a person has 130 friends online. They care about the conversation revolving your ad and not the ad itself.

19. thinkfresh.ca How to make an impact

20. thinkfresh.ca Before you jump in, Have a plan. Just like with anything, you need a roadmap or you’ll end up lost. Why are you doing it? What do you hope to achieve?

21. thinkfresh.ca It’s all about communications, and the best communicators start with the best listeners. A. Listen

22. thinkfresh.ca Immerse yourself in the conversations

23. thinkfresh.ca B. Participate Remember, it’s not a monologue , it’s a dialogue . Share something!

24. thinkfresh.ca C. Relinquish Control The goal is not to control the conversation. The goal is to : Enable Inspire Influence Engage

25. thinkfresh.ca “ As the web becomes a more social and porous medium, remember that interaction and community are going to happen with or without your involvement. You can watch the conversation take place, or you can own and guide it.” Adam Weinroth, “Making Sense of Social Media” (February 12, 2008)

26. thinkfresh.ca Connect with us: @Impact /impactthinkfresh 1 866 6 IMPACT thinkfresh.ca