Social networking has overtaken email in popularity, according to a new report by Nielsen Online.
“Two-thirds of the world’s Internet population visit a social network or blogging site and the sector now accounts for almost 10% of all internet time. ‘Member communities’ [have] overtaken personal email.”
The report is not surprising and mirrors what I’ve observed on the web. Many email lists are becoming less active, and some even declining in numbers, while the number of members on a well-managed social networking profile can grow organically and virally. Here are some other key take aways from the report:
- Time spent on social networking sites and blogs has grown 3x the rate of overall internet growth.
- It’s not just young people anymore! Facebook’s greatest growth has come in the 35 – 49 age group. And has added more than twice as many 50 – 64 years old visitors than it has added those under 18.
- Users are taking their social networking mobile! 19% of those in the US are using social networks on their cell phones – and 156% increase over the previous year!
Your members, funders, customers, and future supporters are all on the social networking sites. The question is, are you?