In the early 90’s Internet was the new thing. Most companies didn’t see the need, at that time, to have an Internet connection. In the late 90’s and the first years of 21st century most companies not only had an Internet connection but they also had an online presentation through a site. Now the Social Media is the new thing. Most companies don’t see the need to participate or they don’t know how to do it, although the numbers are changing. The Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is conducting every year for the last three, a statistical analysis measuring the participation of the Inc. 500 companies in the Social Media. [Inc. 500 is a list of the 500 fastest growing companies in U.S.A. Take note that we are not talking about the 500 largest companies but those who are growing faster].

Here are a few highlights from the report as mentioned by the researchers Nora Ganim Barnes, Ph.D. and Eric Mattson.

1. "Social networking continues to lead the way. The technology that continues to be the most familiar to the Inc. 500 is social networking with 75% of respondents in 2009 claiming to be “very familiar with it” (compared to 57% in 2008). Another noteworthy statistic around familiarity is Twitter’s amazing “share of mind” with sixty-two percent of executives reported being familiar with the new microblogging and social networking platform."

2. "The adoption curves for different social media technologies are not all the same. Interestingly, while social networking and blogging have enjoyed growth in actual adoption, the use of message boards, online video, wikis and podcasting has leveled off or declined. The addition of Twitter (considered by respondents to be both a microblogging site and a social networking site) in the latest study shows that an amazing 52% of the Inc. 500 companies are already using this tool for their business."

3. "Regardless of the particular technology, social media matters and is here to stay. Forty-three percent of the 2009 Inc. 500 reported social media was “very important” to their business/marketing strategy. And an incredible 91% of the Inc. 500 is using at least one social media tool in 2009 (up from 77% in 2008). In addition, as they ramp up their usage, the Inc. 500 companies are also seeking to protect themselves legally, with 36% having implemented a formal policy concerning blogging by their employees."

Social Media are here to stay. If the 500 fastest growing companies in the U.S. are satisfied from their investment in Social Media maybe you could also benefit from them. XPLAIN can help you. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Read the full report "Social Media in the 2009 Inc. 500: New Tools & New Trends"