The article focuses on the impact of social media and social networks to Social Media Peer Groups (SMPG) and professional decision-makers. It mentions that customers and prospects have an instant platform of discussions for their ideas, experiences and knowledge through the use of social media, wherein their important role is utilizing the tools and mediums before engaging to decision-making processes. It states that social media increase the impressive strength of decision-making and change the dynamics of customer relationship management, marketing, and communications. It also recommends being part in a peer network or online community for sharing ideas that were often formed in office settings.
5. 5
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements . 7
Preface 9
Executive Summary 10
Detailed Survey Findings 13
Conclusion . 25
About the Research Team 27
About the Sponsors 29
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
7
The team of SNCR Research Fellows included Donald Bulmer
of SAP and Vanessa DiMauro of Leader Networks. We also
thank our Research Chair Dr. Nora Ganim Barnes.
The Society for New Communications Research thanks
its volunteer Fellows for their work on this project and
SAP and Leader Networks for their support
in making this study possible.
9. 9
PREFACE
The convergence of the Internet, Web 2.0, and mobile technologies has created a disruptive shift in busi-ness.
The era of Business-to-Person (B2P) communications driven by all things social (social media, social networks,
and social influence) has emerged as a new model for engagement, and Social Media Peer Groups (SMPG) have
evolved to take important and influential shape in a new business and economic environment.
This shift has disintermediated many long-standing marketing, communications, and selling beliefs that
have traditionally guided how companies interact, support, and collaborate with their customers. We now work in an
environment where companies have diminished control over the reputation of their brands, products, and services as
the wisdom of crowds increasingly dictate the rules of reputation management and selling. Through the use of social
media, customers and prospects now have an almost instantaneous platform for discussion of their ideas, experi-ences,
and knowledge. Increasingly, the use of social media is playing an important role in the professional lives of
decision-makers as they utilize the tools and mediums before them to engage their decision-making processes. The
social nature of decision-making has increased with impressive strength, connecting generations of professionals to
each other—changing the dynamics of customer relationship management, marketing, and communications—forever.
In today’s global environment of a vast network of seamlessly connected devices (one billion people con-nected
to Internet and four billion mobile phones), information has the capacity to travel at a business velocity never
before seen. More than four hundred million people are sharing billions of pieces of content and experiences each
week via online exchanges. Communities of practice, professional networks, email, and SMS are among the tools
that enable multi-channel access for individuals (employees, customers, partners, and suppliers). We are finally a
part of the long-promised global virtual and collaborative work environment.
Online communities and professional networks have arguably changed the way we do business and are, in
themselves, new ecosystems, virally creating communities within communities that drive brand recognition and brand
experience—beyond the control of most companies to manage. Professional networks facilitate vast interactions,
connections, and networks of people by enabling collaboration anywhere and at any time.
Through this research, we focus on professionals’ use of social media—and it all comes back to the strength
of the relationship. Human relationships and peer-to-peer decision-making are inherently interrelated. Traditionally,
we make decisions about who we trust in work settings based on a number of factors—one often being proximity.
With social media, proximity is often superseded in the trust factor by relativity or like-mindedness. Is this person
knowledgeable, credible, believable? Do we share the same views and networks—online or offline?
Because belonging to a peer network or online community requires us to perform publically, to share our
background by way of a profile, to display our professional connections and networks, trustworthiness is, in many
cases, more tangibly determined. Peer groups can now be formed by idea sharing and virtual collaboration as easily
as the proximity-based groups that often form in office settings.
Enter the era of Business-to-Person (B2P) communications and the emergence of Social Media Peer Groups
(SMPG).
Through the use of professional networks and online communities, decision-makers are connecting and
collaborating with peers, experts, and colleagues far and wide in an on-demand environment, about the issues that
keep them up at night. The impact of these far-reaching business networks is becoming clearer every day as mil-lions
of consumers, partners, suppliers, and businesses discuss and share their professional experiences with each
other with increasing levels of trust and reliance. It has long been known that peer endorsement is the single greatest
decision-making accelerant. Through social media, peer influence cycles are happening at a velocity never before
seen and, in many ways, companies are losing the ability to control their messages. They need to get back into the
relationship cycle, but on the terms set forth by the SMPG. Participating in the SMPG relationship requires a behav-ioral
change on the part of organizations—one dominated by valuable content and genuine contributions, transparent
honesty, and a commitment to follow where the decision-maker wants to lead.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A great deal of attention and research have been devoted over the last few years to evangelizing social
media as a new form of customer-centric relationship building. Building a network or using social media to deepen
customer intimacy has become the mantra of today. However, what is often overlooked is the impact of social media
to change behaviors, and the potential to use social media to impact a professional’s decision-making processes.
While everyone is endeavoring to capture the mindshare of the buyer, few understand what success truly looks like.
In an effort to begin to better understand the impact of social media on business, we conducted research to
examine the role that social media has on decision-making among business professionals. Specifically, we sought to
understand the following:
• Is social media typically regarded as a trustworthy source of information for professionals?
• Does social media offer effective tools to access information, advice, and engage in professional col-laboration?
How do they compare to traditional off-line networking?
• What are the tools and sources of social media that professionals rely on to make decisions?
• Will social media change the business and practice of enterprise-level operations?
The methodology for this study involved a mixed-methods approach supported by quantitative data gathered
via an online survey, which was completed by 356 professionals. The survey included questions designed to help
the researchers better understand respondents’ perceptions of and experiences with social media in support of their
decision-making.
Following the survey process, in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 12 professionals using
a semi-structured interview guide. The researchers used an ethnographic research process to explore the role of
decision-making to better understand the survey results in context.
The demographics of the respondents included:
• 23 percent of respondents identified themselves as CEO of their organizations; nearly 50 percent as
“Director” (24 percent) or “Manager” (24 percent)
• Company size ranged from less than 100 to more than 50,000 full-time employees
• The age of the respondents was well distributed, with the greatest proportion in the 36- to 45-year range
• 25 countries were represented, with 58 percent of respondents living in the U.S.
• All respondents were either the decision-makers or influenced the decision process within their compa-nies
or business units
Which of the following categories best describes your professional role in your organization?
12. 12
Which of the following best describes your responsibilities in making decisions on
products and services in your company or organizational unit?
Key findings included:
• Professionals tend to belong to multiple social networks for business purposes
• The “Big Three” social networks, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, have emerged as professional
networks
• Mobile is emerging as a frequent professional networking access point
• Traditional decision-making processes are being disrupted by social media
• Professional networks are an increasingly essential decision-support tool
• High levels of trust exist in information obtained from online networks
• Changes are taking place in organizations’ internal and external use of social media
• There is a recognized need for peer input in decision-making.
• Connecting and collaborating are key drivers for professionals’ use of social media.
Additional findings included:
• Final decision-makers are more likely to indicate that they conduct research via a search engine
(82 percent vs. 70 percent of Decision Supporters)
• Those professionals with more networks are more likely to gather opinions through their online
network, read blogs and query the Twitter channel as early steps in the decision process
• Younger respondents are more likely to read a company blog and to query the Twitter channel vs.
older demographics
The following report details the data that support these findings.
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DETAILED RESEARCH
FINDINGS
Professionals Tend to Belong to Multiple Social Networks for Business
Online communities and professional networks are not just for teenagers anymore; they are finding their
way into the C-suite and decision-makers’ work practices more frequently. This is evidenced by the sheer number of
professionals who report belonging to online professional networks. Half of all survey respondents report participating
in three to five online professional networks. Another three in ten participate in six or more professional networks.
Interestingly, in examining the reasons that motivated respondents who belong to three to five professional
networks, as compared to those who belong to six or more networks, there was a noticeable trending difference. It
appears that many of the professionals who chose to participate in fewer networks also engage online in search of
exclusive information, content, and peer connections as opposed to those network “collectors” who are seeking expo-sure
for marketing and brand-building purposes.
The interviews also revealed that early adopters tend to join many networks in order to learn about them and
see if there is a “good fit” for their business needs. This trend suggests that one’s online professional behaviors are
largely shaped by individual goals that are not too dissimilar from many professionals’ in-person networking behav-iors:
Some choose intimate groups for idea exchange and peer connections, while others focus on larger venues to
achieve wider exposure and increased marketing velocity.
The Big Three Social Networks Have Emerged as Professional Networks
“I find that I will network offline at events and meetings where I establish connection with many
people and I use online tools to follow up and maintain contact. I may meet 20 or so people at an
event and then immediately then put them into Plaxo or LinkedIn to keep and maintain connection.
I try to maintain my status and activity regularly to keep engaged and keep people informed.”
Alan McNabb, Worldwide Vice President, Customer Advocacy, NCR
The emergence and dominance of the popular Internet sites LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have taken
shape as vibrant professional networks of mass “individuals” sharing experiences and collaborating around personal
and professional issues, ideas, and interests.
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These “networks of people” or Social Media Peer Groups (SMPG), as we have defined them, are changing
the dynamics of social and professional influence.
●● More than 90 percent of respondents indicated that they use LinkedIn and half reported using Face-book.
●● Interestingly, Twitter and blogs were frequently listed as “professional networks.”
●● Hundreds of other networks were mentioned, many by only one or two respondents.
An overview of key membership and usage statistics of the top three networks provides an interesting picture
of growth that supports these findings.
●● LinkedIn: LinkedIn has approximately 50 million users worldwide in 200 countries. Member-ship
in LinkedIn is growing at roughly one new member per second. When LinkedIn launched
in 2003, it took 477 days (almost a year and four months) to reach its first million members.
The last million took only 12 days. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn
members. (source: http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/10/14/linkedin-50-million-professionals-worldwide/)
●● Facebook: Facebook has more than 400 million members, with 200 million who log in at least
once per day. The fastest growing demographic on Facebook are 35 years and older, and
according to Facebook more than five billion pieces of content (Web links, news stories, blog
posts, notes, photos, etc.) are shared across the network each week. (source: http://www.
facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics)
●● Twitter: Twitter has more than 75 million members with the segment of 45- to 54- year-olds
being the top demographic, and 25- to 34-year-olds following closely behind at second.
(source: http://themetricsystem.rjmetrics.com/2010/01/26/new-data-on-twitters-users-and-engagement/#
comment-1562)
The remaining group of professional networks identified by respondents in the study identified hundreds of
more specialized networks associated with role and function (e.g., CIO, CMO, and developer communities); industry
associations; and multimedia groups that have formed around sites like YouTube.
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Mobile Is Emerging as a Frequent Professional Networking Access Point
The convergence of the Internet, Web 2.0, and mobile technologies has taken significant shape over the
last 18 months as people increasingly rely on 24/7 (anywhere) access to information, relationships, and networks all
around the world.
As smart phone technology, bandwidth, and mobile applications evolve, the impact on social networking will
be dramatic. Today there are more than four billion mobile phones in the world vs. one billion people with Internet ac-cess.
Facebook reports that there are more than 100 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their
mobile devices. People who use Facebook on their mobile devices are almost 50 percent more active on Facebook
than non-mobile users. There are currently more than 200 mobile operators in 60 countries working to deploy and
promote Facebook mobile products. (source: http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics)
The survey research findings include:
●● Nearly all respondents access social networks on a PC or Mac.
●● Close to half also access social networks using a mobile device.
●● Those who use multiple networks are more likely to access them using mobile devices.
●● Younger respondents are also more likely than older respondents to indicate that they access net-works
through a mobile device.
What devices do you typically use to access social networks? (check all that apply)
The research findings also suggest that usage of professional networks is increasing as professionals who
engage in multiple networks report greater decision-support activities online. Essentially, those who engage online
more frequently tend to report greater returns from their peer network than those who do not engage online as fre-quently.
As with any relationship-building activity, returns come over time as relationships and trust are evolutionary
and efforts must be expended in order to reap the rewards.
Three quarters of the survey respondents reported that they visit their social networks at least daily, and
40 percent visit a network for work reasons many times each day. All respondents indicated that their usage has
increased over the past three years. The research also found that those professionals who belong to other online
professional networks are more likely to visit many times per day.
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Traditional Decision-making Processes Are Being Disrupted by Social Media
“My online social networks certainly influence my thinking about trends and issues that are important
to me. There is also a great indirect influence on the decisions that I frequently
need to make or issues that I need to address.”
The research also suggests that the use of social media/social networks to inform decision-making plays a
starring role in the process as professionals increasingly rely on their networks to inform and validate their deci-sions.
Prior to the emergence of online communities and professional networks, decision-makers were limited to
information gathering mainly through the people they knew and trusted. Other steps taken have been to research by
either contacting the company directly or searching for them online, or through secondary sources such as industry
analyst reports. The actual customers or clients a decision-maker contacted was limited to either the reference list
supplied by the company itself, or through peer word-of-mouth. There were few occasions where a decision-maker
could query customers or clients in a quick and transparent way—until the advent of social media. Now, if decision-makers
want to learn more, they can either go public via networking tools like Twitter to broadcast a request for
information, or they can leverage private-gated communities such as a group within LinkedIn or an industry-practi-tioner
private community. This information-gathering channel now accelerates and clarifies the answers to support
the decision.
Be it crowd-sourced or the ability to access trusted peers quickly and globally, the decision-making process
is fundamentally different due to social media. The reliance on online networks to support decisions is especially
significant for people who utilize multiple networks of three or more.
Additionally the research found that:
●● Final decision-makers are more likely to indicate that they conduct research via a search engine
(82 percent vs. 70 percent of decision-supporters).
●● Those professionals with more networks are more likely to gather opinions through their online
networks, reading blogs and querying the Twitter channel as early steps in the decision process.
●● Younger respondents are more likely to read a company blog and to query the Twitter channel vs.
older demographics.
These trends represent a clear indication in the shift of company control of messaging (e.g., Websites and
blogs) as decision-makers broaden their reach to peers, networks, and community to support their decision-making
process. For example, one interviewee described her process of utilizing professional networks to explore a deci-sion
point.
Alan McNabb, Worldwide Vice President, Customer Advocacy, NCR
17. 17
She reports:
“I go in search of who in my professional network would have information that I’m looking for, and
then I search on the company, see how their business is doing, see some of their recent press
releases or product awards. I take all those pieces and put them together to make my decisions.”
Tanya Laughlin, Marketing Manager, EMC
Professional Networks are an Increasingly Essential Decision-support Tool
“I recently relied heavily on an online professional network to help me solve an internal technology
issue that otherwise would have cost me several thousand dollars to fix. I approached solving the
problem by selectively contacting people whose opinions and experience I value. It is great to get fast
and timely insights that I can’t get any other way.”
Consistent with the longstanding notion that peer endorsement is the single greatest decision-making ac-celerant,
the research found that colleagues and peer networks rank as among the highest forms of influence to any
decision process, with three-quarters of the survey respondents reporting that they rely on professional networks to
support their business decisions. This question was designed to isolate the importance of professional networks in
general and did not distinguish online vs. offline.
Nearly all respondents indicated an increased reliance on professional networks over the past three years
with approximately 40 percent of respondents reporting that seeking peer referral, reading blogs, gathering opinions
through an online network, and looking the company up on a social network are all steps taken to inform their deci-sions.
The effects of the economic recession that began in 2008 subjected many companies and business lead-ers
to unprecedented circumstances and pressures as they worked to adjust to new business realities and changed
market landscapes and new customer buying behaviors (business and consumer). This research cannot attribute
the increased reliance on professional networks to support decision-making directly to the recession, however, it is
clear from the supporting interviews that accessibility to industry colleagues, peers, and customers (online and
offline) to exchange ideas and experiences have been extraordinarily important to adapting to new business reali-ties
over the past 18 months.
Perry Hewitt, Director, Digital Communications, Harvard University
18. 18
“The recession has opened the minds of executives and administrators at many companies and
institutions. The world has changed and has required organizations to look at and think about things
differently. My mandate is to develop a strategic, credible and thoughtful approach to a world where
communications is turned on its head.”
Perry Hewitt, Director, Digital Communications, Harvard University
According to one interviewee, social media usage in a professional domain has been accelerated by the
downturn. He reports, “The recession has accelerated the importance for us to use social networks to engage with
customers and understand their issues and challenges. Our customers are pushing us into this space,” said Alan
McNabb, worldwide vide president, customer advocacy, NCR. This sentiment was echoed by many of the respon-dents
in various forms throughout the interviews. While use of professional networks was growing and becoming more
widely adapted before the recession, its use has potentially been accelerated due to a need many organizations have
to innovate without increasing expenditures.
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High Levels of Trust Exist in Information Obtained from Online Networks
“Being able to get to information and reach people who I trust—quickly is the benefit of online profes-sional
networks for me!””
Perry Hewitt, Director, Digital Communications, Harvard University
The research also indicated that offline networking is strengthened by online engagement as an activity to
extend relationships and collaborate; many of the interviewees described how they often “blurred” the lines between
online and offline networking and collaboration. Some spoke about how they “met” a peer in an online community
forum exchange and then met them in person at an industry event; others described how they typically use LinkedIn
to connect with someone after an initial in-person meeting in order to sustain connections. Interestingly, there was
interplay between the different networks as well. Those who connected with peers on Twitter often reported following
up the online interaction with a LinkedIn search to research that person’s background. Others mentioned the impor-tance
of the profile feature in gated online communities as a way to look up and learn about peers in context as many
profiles within gated communities also list a person’s discussion posts and article contributions. Therefore, one could
learn about colleagues in the context of their work. Perry Hewitt, director of digital communications at Harvard Univer-sity
expounds on this idea:
“At this stage in my career I really care about connecting with smart people who I might not ordinarily get a
chance to interact with at the more traditional offline conferences I attend or associations I belong to. Many
of the best contacts and professional relationships that I have established over the last few years I have
never met in person. They are people I have met through various online forums or groups. I really care about
good content.”
Analysis of the research indicates that information obtained from offline networks still has the highest levels
of trust with a slight advantage over online (offline: 92 percent combined strongly/somewhat trust; online 83 percent
combined strongly/somewhat trust).
There is a Need for Peer Input in Decision-making
“In one’s professional life, it becomes even more important to get endorsements or positive user
reviews when making a work decision—because it is usually a huge ticket item and your credibility
relies on it, your job relies on it.”
Mia Dand, Social Media Manager, HP
20. 20
Respondents also revealed a strong increase in trust from information obtained through online and offline
networks. This increase in trust can be explained as people engage more and gain comfort with online community
and professional networking. These data reinforce the reality that online is not a silver bullet by any extent and that
online strategies need to complement offline activities. They necessarily go hand-in-hand. However, it is also clear
that offline engagement is strengthened by online engagement—to extend relationships and collaboration. Informa-tion
obtained from offline networks still has the highest levels of trust with a slight advantage over online informa-tion—
92 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat trust offline information, while 83 percent of respondents
strongly or somewhat trust online information.
One unique finding from the interviews was the way in which professionals use online networks to estab-lish
or reinforce professional credibility. Different social networking tools are used by the sophisticated online col-laborators
to determine various information sets. For example, many commented that LinkedIn is the place to look
to reveal someone’s professional background—who are they and where have they been in their professional life.
Meanwhile, industry-specific online communities were frequently cited as the place to learn about what someone
thinks—what is their thought leadership footprint or platform, and to find out if they are trusted by other profession-als.
And, finally, Twitter was often cited as an exemplar place to learn about who a person is—what is their “human-ness?”
What are they really like as a person and a professional?
Victoria Harres Akers, director of audience development for PR Newswire expands on this idea. “For me
personally, it is a huge help if they have an appropriate bio on Twitter. Also, if you look at their last 10-20 tweets,
quite often the Twitterer’s knowledge and credibility comes through. Does this person sound like they are speak-ing
just off the cuff or do they think about what they are saying? The kinds of responses they offer go a long way in
determining credibility online.”
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Connecting and Collaborating is Key Drivers for Professionals’ Use of Social Media
“People who join a professional network are typically much more interested in the connections they
can make and in the people that they can learn from. You need to have some content and some
issues to focus a group on. But it’s really more about the networking that can take place between
people.”
Alan Alper, Editorial Director, Cognizant Technology Solutions
An important aspect of this research was to better understand the behaviors that professionals associate
with most when collaborating online. Respondents view online connections are best used for collaboration rather than
sales and marketing. This is a stark contrast to the notion that respondents also expect their companies will increase
their use of social networks for sales and marketing purposes. Respondents also most appreciate the ability to reach
out and connect with others to gain fresh insight, ideas, and actionable information through online connections. Many
reported a persistent need for social media to become more integrated into the business and not just a program or a
campaign.
During the phone-based interviews, respondents were asked to define what they felt were attributes of suc-cessful
professional networks. The responses uniformly suggest that relevant information and content, along with a
willingness for people to share ideas and insight were among the most important attributes of a successful profes-sional
network and a prerequisite to successful online collaboration. Many reported that they joined communities for
content and access to thought leadership, but stay or return over time due to the relationships they were able to form.
Moreover, online communities need to be easy to use and understand, unlike their consumer-focused counterparts—
fewer features and more selective content sources to meet a busy professional’s need to connect on-demand. Like-minded
peers were also frequently cited as a draw to join a professional network—if a peer referred them to join or
recommended the network, they would be more likely to join and participate than through a direct marketing message.
Through the interviews the issue of the size of networks was widely debated—what is the right size for a
professional network or online community for a decision-maker? Discussions revealed that the purpose of the partici-pation—
the business goals, more than the size—determined the relevance of the network. For some, the wisdom of
crowd was very important when validating a decision and therefore larger communities or networks like LinkedIn or
Twitter gave them the breadth of information gathering to feel comfortable with a decision. This was most frequently
the case with the decision-supporters rather than the top decision-makers. So, for example, middle managers within a
corporate structure were more likely to use a large network to validate their decisions across the board.
22. 22
Meanwhile, interviewees who were senior decision-makers from the C-suite more frequently reported seek-ing
out closed networks or smaller peer groups for professional idea exchanges. Reasons ranged from confidentiality
issues (they couldn’t have the world knowing what they were researching or thinking about for competitive reasons)
to lack of trust in strangers. In closed communities or smaller work groups, the members are more likely to be known
personally by the decision-maker so the responses and idea exchanges could be put in context and therefore were
ultimately deemed more valuable by senior decision-makers. It is important to note that mid-level decision makers
reported either being in charge of relatively smaller decisions or were in search of decision-validation, whereas the
senior decision-makers often had to originate a concept or idea for decision.
“If I’m going to join a group or join a community, I want to be somebody who is contributing value.
I want to be seen as someone who is helping the cause, not just siphoning... A lot of people want to
take and not give, and I like to balance it. I want to give as well as I get.”
Alan Alper, Editorial Director, Cognizant Technology Solutions
Changes in Organizations’ Internal Use of Social Media
“We use social networking tools to build internal peer groups and social communities to maintain
a level of engagement with and among employees. As companies took to reduce operations costs
in travel and operations, it is important to improve employee community and engagement. We use
wikis, collaborative technologies effectively for this.”
Alan McNabb, Worldwide Vice President, Customer Advocacy, NCR
23. 23
The research explored the expectations that professionals have for the use of internal social media tools
within their companies to increase over the next two years. The research findings identified a clear expectation that
social media tools (formal or informal) will see increased adoption, with more than half of respondents expecting their
companies to increase social media use to share more content and conduct more company-wide communications in
the next one to two years. Less than ten percent of respondents expect to see no increase in their company’s internal
use of social media tools.
Not surprisingly, the research found that those respondents with more networks are more likely to predict a
number of changes. They believe that their company will increase its use of social media for forums and discussion
use, greater competitive intelligence, as a replacement for email, and for more content sharing.
Changes in Organizations’ External Use of Social Media
“I am using social media tools to understand and to drive us to become more aware of our custom-ers
and their environments. We see a lot more of our customers—primarily in the consumer space—
doing much more in this area and we need to keep up with them as a matter of maintaining their own
expectations of us.”
Alan McNabb, Worldwide Vice President, Customer Advocacy, NCR
In an effort to understand how companies will use social media outside of their organizations, we asked the
respondents to identify how they expect their companies to use and apply social media for external purposes. More
than half of respondents suggested that their companies will use social media for increased marketing programs and
content distribution in the next one to two years, and none foresaw a reduction in social media investment.
Interestingly, this finding is a clear contrast to the notion that professionals see the use of social media and social
networking as best for collaboration and sharing of information for their own decision making support and not for sales
and marketing.
24. Other notable findings include:
24
• CEOs and CXOs are more likely to predict an increase in the use of existing professional networks
for sales.
• Those with more networks are again more likely to predict a number of changes. They believe that
their companies will increase the use of social media for viral/WOM programs, crowd-sourcing prod-uct
and service ideas, and using existing professional networks for sales contacts.
• Those with fewer networks are more likely to indicate: “We do not use social media.”
• Younger respondents are more likely to predict increased use to research job applicants.
• There were no significant differences in predictions of future external use of social media by com-pany
size or decision responsibility.
“There is no question that digital relationships work, but there is a question of whether they work
if you have never met or collaborated together on something. If you think about the number of people
you have met at various events, you probably maintain contact with about one to five percent of the
people you have met. Social media changes that and can make us more efficient.”
Paraic O’Toole, CEO, Automsoft
25. 25
CONCLUSION
What Does this All Mean?
Social Media Peer Groups (SMPG) have changed the way we do business as professionals (customers,
partners, prospects, and employees). We use social media as a platform for discussion of ideas, experiences, and
knowledge-exchange.
As we enter the era of business-to-person (B2P) customer relationship systems, those organizations that
harness Web 2.0 technologies and SMPG platforms to enable B2P communications will be the winners. Laggards
who do not understand the value of social networking and its appeal to the emotional side of customer relationship
management will lose competitiveness and, ultimately, market share. Perhaps most importantly, they will lose the abil-ity
to connect and learn from their customers.
Professional networks and business-focused online communities are becoming the new strategic mandate.
Effective customer relationships are the core to any successful organization, and the strength of any organization is
largely dependent upon the company’s ability to deliver the right products and services to its customers in a timely
way. Knowing what customers want and understanding their current and future needs is paramount to increasing
revenue and exceeding customer expectations.
Online communities provide a prime opportunity for organizations to get to know their customers more
intimately and keep the finger on the pulse of their needs and behaviors. The time is now for companies to embrace
communities to help them serve their clients better, faster, and in more cost-efficient ways. Through the use of online
professional networks, companies now have an opportunity to forge a dialogue with their customers actively through-out
the lifecycle—not just at the point of sale—to learn what they like and don’t like about a product or service.
There is nothing more dangerous to an organization’s lifeblood than a group of dissatisfied customers. Yet, often-times,
an organization may not even be aware of clients’ issues until they have incurred reputation damage or a
trending loss in revenue. By cultivating meaningful relationships online, product development leaders can work with
clients to share roadmaps and plans collaboration—and to get early input from the people who would be their buy-ers
at a later stage. Marketing can learn what messages are most effective with their constituents and have greater
opportunities to educate and inform the customer, not just with shiny whitepapers and marketing newsletters, but by
bringing them into the discussion and process of product and content co-creation. Professional networks also offer
opportunities to make heroes out of users, enabling them to share best practice and learn first-hand from each other.
This is especially effective with enterprise-level support when the key buyer is a C-level executive: Information-shar-ing
could result in strategic growth opportunities for all involved.
The era of B2P marketing harnesses the new and deep connections that are forming between customers,
products, and their suppliers. SMPGs, associations, and other social networks are now one of the most powerful
influencing mediums in the world.
The greatest opportunity business has is to engage in “collaborative influence” via the immediacy of impact
through social channels.
Great opportunities exist for many companies to engage with customers in social networks to test, elicit and
validate ideas through various forms of “collaborative influence.” This can be an extremely powerful way to capture
insights to improve existing products or services and identify needs to that support innovation and business opportu-nities.
The move to social or “collaborative influence” requires a shift in sales, marketing, and development philosophy
for many companies, however.
Further, it is clear from our research and experiences that challenges will face many marketers and com-municators
who endeavor to manage or control social media network content. Companies should be mindful that
a primary reason professionals participate in social networks is to collaborate not to be sold to. Marketers should
develop social media strategies that do not break or breach the social contract that professionals have when work-ing
within their social networks—by avoiding overt sales and marketing campaigns and programs. This is not to say
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that professional networks can’t be leveraged effectively for such purposes, but a shift in behavior is required. Those
that embrace transparency are the conversations that customers desire. Consider for example, the power of a gated
community for key decision-makers that brings together customers of a product or service together with strategy
leaders from within the company. Together, innovation ideas can be tested and explored with the customers and
roadmaps built based on the actual needs of the buyers.
No longer do companies need to guess what the decision-makers want, or engage twice-removed customer
research projects to find out what the customer thinks. In trusted online environments where the audience is vetted
and the rules of engagement are clear, as is the case with most professional networks and online communities for
business, companies have an opportunity to make informed decisions for the future-collaboratively with the con-stituents
that matter the most to them. The implementation of collaborative influence strategies designed to interact
with customers and prospects will find better results in using social networks to effectively build brand experience,
opportunities for innovation, and sales opportunities.
Finally, this research suggests that many professionals are collaborating more outside of their organiza-tions
as a result of social media than within their organizations. This is a significant and sad realization for many
companies and executives who do not fully understand or appreciate the value that can be derived via the adoption
of social media tools and strategies for internal use. Companies would be wise to embrace the desire and expecta-tions
by their employees to collaborate by implementing social media tools for internal (behind the firewall) purposes
to enable greater connections between employees, encourage sharing of practices and experiences, and streamline
communication.
“Social media is the new thread in the fabric of everything we do. Not something that is separate that
we can grasp and let go of it. You have to deal with it—it is part of everything we do, and must be
considered with everything we do. We’re not going to launch a product or PR campaign without social
media. If we are not making use of it, need to weave it through all we do.”
Victoria Harres Akers, Director, Audience Development, PR Newswire
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ABOUT THE
RESEARCH TEAM
Don Bulmer
Don Bulmer is a 2009-2010 Research Fellow of The Society for New Communications Research
(SNCR) and Vice President of Global Communications at SAP AG. As part of the global
communications management team at SAP, Don is responsible for leading the Industry and
Influencer Relations organization, which includes: IT Influencer Relations, Business Influencer
Relations, Global Customer Communities, and University Alliance programs.
Don has more than 15 years of multi-national experience leading award-winning marketing,
communication and business development programs with measurable effect in accelerating
the sales and competitive strength of enterprise technology, Internet start-up, and professional
service companies. Don’s expertise includes designing multi-faceted marketing, communication,
and public relations programs to support the launch of companies and the introduction of new products and services
that have led to the creation and redefinition of several multi-million and multi-billion dollar, third-party validated
market categories. Don joined SAP in 2001. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of the Pacific and a
Certificate of Professional Development from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Don also serves as a member of SNCR’s board of directors and was inducted into the PR News Hall of Fame in
2009.
Vanessa DiMauro
Vanessa DiMauro is 2009-2010 Research Fellow of the Society of New Communications
Research and the CEO of Leader Networks. A pioneer in business-to-business commu-nity
building, Vanessa has been creating successful online communities and networks for
more than fifteen years. Vanessa is a popular speaker, researcher and author on the top-ics
of online communities, social and professional networking, and Web 2.0 for business.
With a research background, Vanessa takes the approach of a cultural anthropologist to
help businesses effectively use social media to get closer to their customers, generate
revenue, innovation, and tangible ROI. She has both founded and run leading online professional communities, such
as Cambridge Information Network (CIN) for Cambridge Technology Partners, Computerworld Executive Suite and
CXO Systems’ Peer Visibility Network. She consults with many organizations on Web 2.0 for business, and has a
blue chip client list that includes Cisco, Cognizant, EMC, LexisNexis, The Palladium Group, and SAP. Vanessa also
serves as an Executive-in-Residence at Babson College, for the Olin School of Management. Women in Technology
International (WITI) named Vanessa DiMauro one of “Boston’s Most Influential Women in Technology.” She holds
both a B.A. and an M.A. from Boston College.
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ABOUT THE
SPONSORS
Society for New Communications Research (SNCR)
The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and educa-tion
foundation and think tank focused on the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communi-cations,
and their effect on traditional media and business models, communications, culture and society.
SNCR is dedicated to creating a bridge between the academic and theoretical pursuit of these topics and
the pragmatic implementation of new media and communications tools and methodologies. The Society’s Fellows
include a leading group of futurists, scholars, business leaders, professional communicators, members of the media
and technologists from around the globe – all collaborating together on research initiatives, educational offerings, and
the establishment of standards and best practices.
SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software, offering applications and services that enable com-panies
of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 92,000 custom-ers
in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and
NYSE, under the symbol “SAP.” For more information, visit www.sap.com.
Leader Networks is a strategic research and consulting firm that specializes in helping clients harness the
power of new digital rules and tools to drive measurable business benefits from social media and social leadership.
We work with companies to create the strategy for online communities and professional networks, create rewarding
business models, and shape the operational best practice and user engagement to help companies launch and grow
a business focused online community or professional network.