New Study Shows Social Media Marketers are Investing in Content

For the sixth year in a row, Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner, released the annual social media study to learn how 2,800 marketers use social media to grow and promote their business. What’s interesting about this study is the increased interest and growth in content for social media marketers. In fact, marketers with the most social media marketing experience (5+ years) put the highest focus on content creation.

Here’s a look at some key takeaways related to content marketing.

Social Media Marketers Plan to Blog More

68% of marketers plan on increasing their use of blogging.

For marketers, blogging is the top focus for future initiatives. 68% plan on increasing their use of blogging, making it the top area to invest in for 2014. Right now, out of the top 10 social media platforms used most by marketers, blogging took the seventh spot (Facebook led the pack). So while blogging has a ladder to climb, there’s hope. 81% of marketers plan to increase their use of original content, and 78% of B2B marketers are more likely to blog more, compared to B2C marketers at 63%.

Social Media Marketers Value Original Content

Marketers with 5+ years of social media marketing experience put the highest focus on content creation.

94% of marketers use original written content as part of their marketing efforts and 58% feel this is the most important form of content. B2B marketers favor original written content over B2C marketers, who tend to place more importance on original visual content. Curation of third party content is also popular among marketers at 73%.

Social Media Marketers are Using Many Forms of Content

Here are some interesting stats about social media marketers and their increased interest in various forms of content:

1. 70% plan to increase their use of infographics


2. 68% of marketers want to learn more about creating original visual content


3. 21% plan on doing more podcasting


4. 67% of marketers plan on increasing their YouTube marketing


5. 50% plan to increase their use of Pinterest


6. 35% plan on increasing their use of short-form video services like Vine

Social Media Marketers Outsource Content

When Social Media Examiner asked if anyone was outsourcing their social media marketing efforts, the majority said no. However, those that were outsourcing tended to use it for content. The top two uses for outsourcing were design/development and content creation.

Be sure to check out the full report for more details on these stats.

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1kNYXOJ