These two industry leaders are generating more in store action than other networks.
A new social media marketing survey conducted by ACTIVE Network has revealed that 47 percent of social network users have taken offline action in some way following an interaction on one of those sites.
These actions consisted of such behaviors as making a purchase, meeting someone, or participating in an event.
Social media marketing and consumer behaviors from five networks were examined within the survey. They included Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn. Among them all, it was determined that Facebook was the greatest driver of offline actions. In fact 87 percent of the users of that site had taken part in at least one offline action as a result of an online interaction there.
The second social media marketing position was taken by relative newcomer, Pinterest.
Pinterest’s social media marketing generated offline action among 70 percent of its users. Next was LinkedIn, with 60 percent, then Twitter, at 56 percent, and finally Google+ at 37 percent. The ACTIVE Network study was entitled “Beyond the Click”.
Also determined through this study was that Facebook and LinkedIn were the leaders in social media marketing that brought about personal connections and meetings in person. These two networks frequently led to meeting offline as well as building direct contacts. In fact, 70 percent of the users of Facebook have gone on to make direct contact with someone because of an interaction that had occurred on the site. Comparatively, 56 percent of LinkedIn users experienced the same result after an interaction on that network.
Similarly, among Facebook users, 40 percent had actually met someone in person because of an interaction that had occurred on that website, where 25 percent of LinkedIn members had done the same thing for that reason.
When it came to event attendance, the leaders were Facebook and Twitter. At Facebook, 58 percent of users had attended an offline event following social media marketing on that site, whereas 31 percent of Twitter users had done the same thing because of what they’d experienced on that network.
BWild |
December 19, 2012
Mobile security continues to be a problematic issue for federal government
Mobile security is quickly becoming a major issue for the U.S. government, especially due to the number of agencies that have a heavy reliance on mobile technology. The federal Chief Information Officers Council, an interagency forum that aims to modernize the federal government, highlights mobile security as an issue that should be receiving more serious attention. The Council notes that several agencies are, indeed, moving ahead with mobile security initiatives, but concerted effort is needed to ensure that the sensitive information that is trafficked through mobile devices on a daily basis does not fall victim to exploitation.
Agency highlights the problems of mobile technology and security efforts
The Chief Information Officers Council highlights technical limitations of mobile devices and their associated services as a major problem for mobile security. The Council suggests that federal agencies must adopt more high-tech mobile devices that can more adequately protect their personal information and that of the government they work for. Moreover, very few security-centric mobile applications are approved for use by federal employees. Standards are currently being developed to help expand the availability of such applications, which the Chief Information Officers Council suggests will be a good way to ensure the security of information.
Gap exists between technology and practice
The lack of encryption modules also presents a serious mobile security risk. It is difficult for software developers to create this kind of software for smart phones and other high-tech mobile devices because of the rapid pace at which these devices are becoming more advanced. Changes to operating systems and smart phone technology have created a significant gap that separates the capabilities of modern mobile security solutions and mobile devices.
Cost remains a problematic hurdle
Cost is one of the reasons why federal agencies have avoided mobile security initiatives in the past. Most federal employees have smart phones and other such devices. In order for some agencies to bolster their mobile security endeavors, they would have to replace all of these mobile devices, which accounts for a massive investment of taxpayer money.
