In our recent Business of Women series blog post about technology, we shared that women visit more social and community sites than men. Now, we’d like to tell you a bit more about women’s engagement with social media.
What’s the reach of social media?
42 million women participate in social media at least weekly and that number continues to climb.
Why do women use social media?
When social media began to breakthrough and impact our lives, our primary goal was staying connected with others. While that’s still typically the number one priority, more and more women are using social media as a way to keep informed, to learn about brands and make better product choices – and then to pay it forward by sharing their product experiences.
Women are putting social media to work for them.
Women now wear multiple hats, including business professional, head of household, mother, wife, volunteer, sister and many others. Her constant on-the-go lifestyle means time is scarce and she’s being pulled in multiple directions. What better way for her to stay connected and informed than to rely on social media? With the ever-increasing penetration of smart phones and tablets, staying connected while on-the-go is common-place for many of us.
It’s also becoming easier to stay connected with social media enhancements. On a daily basis, Facebook feeds me information about what brands those in my social network “like.” Online shopping and social media go hand-in-hand. Thanks to many online stores, if I choose, I’m able to share my purchase decisions with my entire social network. And the cycle continues.
Women love to have as much information as possible.
According to the Women and Power study conducted by Fleishman Hillard and Hearst Magazines, 88% of women say that “When it comes to shopping, I enjoy having as much information as possible.” Tie this to the fact that women LOVE to feel informed about making product decisions, social media really is a win-win.
A few years ago, before social media was integral in my life (and before I was a mom), I would only seek opinions for high-risk ($) purchases (appliances, TVs, etc.). Fast-forward and here I am, spending several minutes reading reviews on a $4 nightlight. Yes, it’s a low-risk product under $5, but why would I purchase an inferior product when I have all of this information at my fingertips?
How can you get more women engaged and talking about your brands?
Well, you need to give them something to talk about first, don’t you?
Effective integrated social media strategy (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.) can greatly impact the number of people that you are touching with your brand.
Interested in uncovering social media opportunities with women? Let’s talk.
Stay tuned for the next blog in our series, The Business of Women, as we reveal actionable insights to helping you grow your business with women of different generations.