Mind-Blowing Facebook Stats and What to Do With Them
Facebook now has over 200 million users. Who are they, and what should you do about them?
Facebook now has over 200 million users. Who are they, and what should you do about them?
By now, you’ve probably heard that Facebook has exceeded 200 million users. Clearly social media is exploding and the stats aren’t just unprecedented, they’re mind-blowing! To demonstrate this, I did a some stat research this weekend to share with you here.
How can you use this info and put it to practical use?
As media planners and online marketers, we must look at media buying tactics that go way beyond the list of placements, sizes, and interaction options we have on the menu today. Media buying’s future won’t just be about buying clicks and impressions, it will also be about encouraging peer-to-peer impressions and getting people engaged with your content. It will be about doing Facebook Engagement Ads and using chiclets to generate clicks and to get people to become your friends or fans or to post or share your content. It will be about potentiating the power of your media dollars.
Absorb these stats, share them, and realize the potential of what’s happening. You can also incorporate them into presentations and e-mail you send to colleagues and clients, to show the power of social media marketing.
Let’s start with the big news. Last week on Facebook’s blog, Mark Zuckerberg wrote, “We will welcome our 200 millionth active user to Facebook some time today.” The post offers some Flash animation with some interesting facts and a heat map showing that in some areas, like the Northeast United States, Facebook has 900 users per every 10 square miles. Here are some more usage stats:
Who’s behind that growth? It’s not just kids! According to Inside Facebook’s article, “Fastest Growing Demographic on Facebook: Women Over 55“:
In addition, according to “Facebook is Your Father’s (and Mother’s) Social Network” in “Wired” magazine, the biggest growth in terms of absolute new users over the last six month are people 35 to 44. Compared to September 2008, over 4 million more U.S. women aged 35 to 44 and nearly 3 million more U.S. men aged 35 to 44 used Facebook in March 2009.
Why is Facebook growing so fast with older people? Two reasons: First, for the same reason it’s growing with other age groups. People want to connect with friends new and old. Second, and more important, is that people can connect and stay connected with their kids and what they’re up to.
Even with 200 million users, Facebook (and the rest of the Web) has a long way to go and plenty of room for growth. Consider these facts:
Want even more practical advice on getting tactical with social? Check out a couple more of my columns: “Social Media Integration Tips from SES NY” and “Socializing Your Banners With Chiclets.”
Did I leave any out? Let me know below.
Join ClickZ Expert Julie Batten for a free Webinar: Should You Outsource Your Online Marketing Services?, Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 1 pm (EDT). Learn why outsourcing your online marketing activities — including search marketing — can help you save money and achieve better results.