Are people more likely to share something on Facebook if 'Facebook' is in the title? Do Twitter users interact with brands more than users on any other social site? Have people really come to think of Facebook as more of a search engine than a social network? Find out below in this week's 5 social media stories I wouldn't want you to miss:
1. The Most Facebook-Shareable Words
By Dan Zarrella I analyzed the words that occurred most often in titles in my dataset and their effect on Facebook sharing and found a set of "highly shareable" words. What I found was that list-based superlatives like "best" and "most" work pretty well on Facebook and that contain that explains something "why" and "how" also does.
Memo: Dan Zarrella, the "Social Media Scientist" always compiles such interesting data. Looks like if you want to increase your chances of your content being shared on Facebook, you better make sure "Facebook" is in the title.
2. 7 Surprising Statistics About Twitter in America
By Jay Baer Ah Twitter, we thought we knew you. A comprehensive survey (1,753 respondents) released today by Edison Research, paints a fascinating picture of Twitter and its role in America's social media ecosystem. The full 49-page study is full of interesting graphs and data morsels, but these are the 7 findings that I didn't anticipate:
Memo: Despite the fact that Twitter has a significantly smaller number of users than, say, Facebook, don't count it out. Twitter users are much more likely to follow and interact with brands than users on other social media outlets.
3. Boeing's Social-Media Lessons
By Stefanie Clifford Mr. Winsor's company uses crowdsourcing to build ad campaigns. So he tossed the dilemma to the readers of his blog, and began posting on Twitter about it. Commenters said that Boeing needed to deal better with customers. "Thanks to the open system we live in, the pressure is now (rightfully!) on industry to embrace people for well, people," wrote one.
Memo: A wonderful story and a great example of a positive outcome made possible by proactively monitoring a brand online.
4. Users of Facebook's Social Network Are Mostly Anti-Social
By Austin Carr Facebook users are still very skeptical about socializing online. And they're slightly confused about what exactly Facebook should be used for, according to a study of user behavior by Denmark-based Red Associates. They surveyed close to 500 members of the Facebook community -- hand-picked from fans of Fast Company -- to learn more about how users interact online.
Memo: We talk a lot about social search. What I find most interesting about this story is that half of the people polled for the article said they've come to think of Facebook as more of a search engine than of a social network.
5. With Social Media Comes Great Opportunity
By Brian Solis I believe that Social Media represents in two words and five syllables, nothing short of a revolution within any business or any industry for that matter. And, for individuals, it represents the democratization of media and equalization of influence. It presents an equal opportunity platform to broadcast and publish at will, earning audiences and prominence that directly align with the level of individual participation and investment in engagement. The socialization of media affects and empowers more than personal brands however.
Memo: Taking the time beforehand to listen will alleviate a lot of the guesswork when developing your social media strategy.