TNNW Survey # 4 - The Results are in. "Top 5 Social Media"

TNNW Survey #4: Top 5 Social Media: The Results are in.

Dear Readers:

The results from TNNW Survey # 4 are now in, and are available for your review. Since the questions asked were open-ended, the results are challenging to quantify. Sadly, we haven't a pie chart or a bar graph to offer. What we do have are some interesting observations, some analysis and some basic conclusions. Because of the extensive volume of commentary, we will restrict what is presented to a distillation of the most important results from the responses. Since the survey required a great deal of thought and a bit of writing, we received a total of only 40 responses -- this is to be expected when a poll or survey requires written responses instead of a mere multiple choice selection. Typically, based upon the nature of the topic at issue, if we had prepared the survey in a simpler, more readily quantifiable (and less interactive manner), we might have received between 100 and 150 responses.

Our objective here was to gather data in the form of commentary , rather than a mere statistical profiling. With all of the focus today on the proliferation in the use of social media platforms, we felt this approach would provide the best quality and most meaningful results for our subscribers and other readers.

If you'd like to skip the individual response lists, just jump below to the section titled: BRIEF SUMMARY OF FINDINGS in red, below.

REVIEW OF SURVEY QUESTION #4

Please take a few moments of your valuable time to answer the following questions. If a particular question doesn't apply, or if no answer is appropriate, simply type "N/A" in the box. When you've finished, click on the "DONE" button at the bottom, and exit the survey. Thank you for playing a proactive role in an important TNNW Survey. Your opinion counts...and it informs and influences others.

1. Please list your five favorite social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Meebo, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bozo, et cetera) in order from your most favorite to least favorite:

2. For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:

WHAT IS ITS BEST, MOST DISTINCTIVE OR USEFUL FEATURE?

HOW LONG HAVE YOU USED IT?

ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO YOU USE IT?

WOULD YOU SAY THAT MOST OF YOUR ACTIVE CONTACTS USE IT TOO?

HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE IT IF YOU COULD?

RESPONSE DATA

Some of the most meaningful highlights from the Results are set forth below:

Please list your five favorite social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Meebo, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bozo, et cetera) in order from your most favorite to least favorite:
#	Response Date	First Favorite
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	LinkedIn
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	LinkedIN
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	Facebook
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	LinkedIn
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	Linkedin
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	Ecademy
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	LinkedIn
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	Linkedin
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	Facebook
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	Facebook
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	Facebook
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	Ning
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	Facebook
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	LinkedIn
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	Facebook
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	Facebook
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	Facebook
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	LinkedIn
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	Linkedin
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	Biznik
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	orkut
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	Facebook
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	Facebook
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	Linked In
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	Facebook
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	LinkedIn
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	linkedin
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	Facebook
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	Facebook
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	LinkedIn
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	Linked In
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	Twitter
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	Facebook
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	LinkedIn
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	linkein
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	Twitter
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	twitter
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	Facebook
39	Nov 19, 2009 12:44 AM	LinkedIn
40	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	facebook

 

Please list your five favorite social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Meebo, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bozo, et cetera) in order from your most favorite to least favorite:
#	Response Date	Second Favorite
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	Facebook
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	FaceBook
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	twitter
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	Twitter
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	Facebook
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	Twitter
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	85Broads.com
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	Facebook
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	Linkedin
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	LinkedIn
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	Twitter
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	LinkedIn
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	LinkedIn
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	Facebook
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	LinkedIn
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	Active Rain
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	Linked IN
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	Biznik
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	facebook
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	LinkedIn
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	linkedin
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	LinedIn
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	LinkedIn
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	Facebook
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	Twitter
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	Twitter
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	twitter
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	Twitter
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	LinkedIn
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	Diigo
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	Twitter
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	LinkedIn
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	Twitter
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	Facebook
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	facebook
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	Plaxo
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	facebook
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	Linkedin
39	Nov 19, 2009 12:44 AM	Twitter
40	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	twitter

For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:
#	Response Date	WHAT IS ITS BEST, MOST DISTINCTIVE OR USEFUL FEATURE?
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	Access to credible business people
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	Research and business connection development
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	multiple ways to connect with others
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	The ability to search and connect with others. Groups
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	Questions/Answers
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	Active, engaging conversations
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	professional backgrounds and testimonials of work
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	User friendly interface and Discussion forums
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	you can start in a minute
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	what is on the minds of your contacts
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	Ability to follow comment threads
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	Ability to invite individuals to join a group.
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	lots of people are on it
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	groups & Discussion
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	Ease of use
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	User friendly-not limited to characters-many built in features
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	Organzing groups, group invitations
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	Easy of search and keeps you connected to topics and people
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	Posting businesses for sale, contact like minded people
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	3-D sense of other members via content-rich articles
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	scraps and their replies are tied as a conversation.
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	live news feeds
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	connect with friends from long ago, keep current on their lives, post pics/videos, other applications
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	Connecting with others
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	The millions of people who use facebook daily.
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	No spam, no noise, and easy to use
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	connecting with previous co-workers and networking
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	comments and pictures
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	Connecting with friends: messages, wall posts, posting photo albums
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	Discourages promiscuous connections and blatant sales/marketing
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	Business networking
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	Ideas
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	You can create events to invite people to.
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	I understand how it works
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	networking
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	Tweetgrid or Hootsuite
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	short
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	Ease of use
39	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	It's not a scam! If you use it right you'll have unlimited potentials in so many areas

For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:
#	Response Date	HOW LONG HAVE YOU USED IT?
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	5 years
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	about 3 years
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	2 years
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	4 years
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	2 years
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	One Year
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	three years
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	One year
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	half a year
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	3 years
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	1 year
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	6 mos.
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	7 years??
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	1 year
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	3 years
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	3years
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	1.5 years
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	3 months
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	6mos
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	18 mos
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	3 yrs
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	three years
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	one year
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	2 years
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	One Year
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	Two years
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	10 months
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	1 year
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	Fall of 2004
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	4 years
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	18 months
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	10 months
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	5 months
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	18 months?
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	2 years
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	6 months
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	1 year+
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	2 years
39	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	less than a year, i think

For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:
#	Response Date	ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO YOU USE IT?
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	5
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	1
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	2 hours
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	7
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	15
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	3
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	10
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	More than 20 hours
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	5
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	3 hours
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	4 hours
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	2
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	2-3
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	7
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	3
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	21
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	5- 10
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	5
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	4-5
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	5
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	2-3 hrs
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	2
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	15
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	28 hours
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	30
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	six
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	10-12
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	10 hours
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	Too many...
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	5
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	2
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	4
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	10-12
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	20
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	8
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	6
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	1-2 hrs
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	4 hrs
39	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	maybe 6

For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:
#	Response Date	WOULD YOU SAY THAT MOST OF YOUR ACTIVE CONTACTS USE IT TOO?
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	Yes
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	yes
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	not sure what you mean
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	yes
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	no
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	Yes
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	yes
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	Yes
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	yes
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	personal contacts
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	yes
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	No
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	my friends...
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	yes
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	somewhat
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	yes
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	Yes
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	about 50%
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	yes
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	no
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	yes
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	yes
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	friends, yes, not sure about business network associates
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	Yes
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	yes
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	Yes
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	yea
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	yes
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	For the most part, yes
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	yes
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM	yes
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	No
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	yes
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	Don't know
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	yes
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	yes
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	maybe 50%
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	Connect with others
39	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	yes, most do

For Your First Favorite Social Media Platform Choice, please answer the following questions:
#	Response Date	HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE IT IF YOU COULD?
1	Nov 3, 2009 8:57 PM	-
2	Nov 4, 2009 12:05 AM	direct msg without introductions
3	Nov 4, 2009 2:35 AM	easily accessible to those outside facebook
4	Nov 4, 2009 2:39 AM	ability to email to people from my groups all at once
5	Nov 4, 2009 3:32 AM	live chat or some other feature that would allow me to connect immediately with someone
6	Nov 4, 2009 2:48 PM	N/A
7	Nov 5, 2009 4:06 AM	improve best practices for Groups; add customized events calendar linked to Outlook
8	Nov 5, 2009 4:16 AM	More connections who have visited my profile - free
9	Nov 5, 2009 9:12 AM	remind people to think if they want to use it prof or private - make a split
10	Nov 5, 2009 12:07 PM	use one social platform for different needs - personal to business with limited access to different groups!
11	Nov 5, 2009 6:19 PM	organize friend lists into groups so you don't have to search alphabetically. such a drag
12	Nov 5, 2009 7:23 PM	Archive old events for future ref and only show current upcoming.
13	Nov 5, 2009 7:31 PM	sometimes the navigation doesn't work as it should
14	Nov 5, 2009 8:06 PM	Interface improvements
15	Nov 6, 2009 2:54 AM	Put it back to how it was before the last change. Insist that people use their full legal names.
16	Nov 6, 2009 11:24 AM	I do not like their new format- would go back to old one
17	Nov 6, 2009 1:10 PM	Less cumbersome
18	Nov 6, 2009 1:43 PM	I want a better understand of the do's and don'ts
19	Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM	at this point IDO NOT KNOW
20	Nov 7, 2009 2:08 AM	increase local members
21	Nov 8, 2009 4:21 PM	N/A
22	Nov 9, 2009 4:12 AM	NA
23	Nov 9, 2009 9:26 PM	better business page functionality, ability to message entire group, setup site within FB for e-commerce sales
24	Nov 10, 2009 8:00 PM	More open
25	Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM	It needs a more advanced search
26	Nov 11, 2009 12:23 AM	It's servers are sometimes slow.
27	Nov 11, 2009 2:56 PM	no ideas
28	Nov 11, 2009 3:03 PM	dunno
29	Nov 11, 2009 5:10 PM	Not as many re-designs.
30	Nov 11, 2009 8:08 PM	More flexible/varied content; withing Groups, calendar/events, job postings etc.
31	Nov 12, 2009 11:33 AM
32	Nov 14, 2009 4:59 PM	Have Tweetdeck equivalent ship w/ software install
33	Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM	Make more contacts
34	Nov 17, 2009 10:31 PM	Duplicates forms - Causes my computer to run slowly
35	Nov 18, 2009 11:46 PM	more contacts that are relevant
36	Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM	no change
37	Nov 19, 2009 12:17 AM	not sure
38	Nov 19, 2009 12:42 AM	I'm still learning what all it does so it probably already can do what I would like it to do.
39	Nov 19, 2009 11:21 AM	I think it's already set up great so If it's not broke, why fix it?!

BRIEF SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

1. The top two social media were Facebook and Linked In, with Twitter a close third.

2. In the vast majority of cases (> 85%), an individual who choose Linked In as his or her first choice choose Facebook as his or her second choice, and vice versa.

3. The individuals preferring Linked In generally chose it thematically because of the businesslike and focused nature of the platform.

4. The individuals preferring Facebook generally chose it thematically because of the focused nature of the platform, and its relationship -friendly (multimedia) and comprehensive, communicative nature. It is perceived as a mixed business and social medium, each of which aspects is perceived to enhance the other.

5. Facebook is perceived to offer greater value to its adherents than Linked In, which is narrower in communications options, and offers various tiers of service at varied fees. Facebook is the largest of these platforms, and is still growing at a faster rate than Linked In. Generally speaking, Facebook is far-better branded than Linked In, and it markets aggressively and in a "cooperative" manner with other platforms, which it does not treat as competitors, but as additional selling outlets.

6. The three most important platforms for an individual to have a presence on are Facebook, Linked In and Twitter. Organizations (companies selling services or products) are served better by Facebook and Linked In.

7. Twitter adherents invariably choose Twitter because of its ease of operation, its across-the-board accessibility through many applications, its multipost capability and its ease of use.

8. Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are the dominant platforms in the business networking arena, with a grip on more than 90% of the marketplace. This last item was not derived from the results of this survey, but through research.

A NOTE ABOUT BIAS: Bear in mind that most of the responses were derived from respondents through Linked In, Facebook and Twitter. The other media and moderators which were approached with the survey, were significantly resistant to posting the actual survey than the top three.  The reasons for this reluctance are the subject of conjecture, but one possible reason is that the platform operators and the moderators anticipated results which would minimize their significance and popularity.

[END OF REPORT ON TNNW SURVEY #4] 

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