Introduction

Back in November 2010 we ran an online survey which was sent to companies within Yorkshire via email, Linkedin and Twitter. The aim of the survey was to understand how different sized companies in Yorkshire are using social media in their business and what return on investment they see from the campaigns.

How SME vs Large Companies are using social media

The main difference is how SME versus Large companies are using social media in their businesses. Smaller and medium businesses (1 – 49 employees) feel that social media has be responsible for creating or helping create sales or new business. LinkedIn is a more important business tool to small businesses which is reflected in the fact that more of the key people within a small business are promoting themselves on LinkedIn compared to a medium or large organisations. Whereas larger companies (50+ employees) are not promoting as much on LinkedIn, nor are their key people actively using LinkedIn.

Copmanies using a social media mix

Companies are using tools such as blogs, Twitter and LinkedIn more than video content (YouTube). Which makes sense as there is more investment required to creating a professional video compared to setting up a blog.

Using social media to boost PR

Companies overall are using social media to boost their PR activity with 75% respondents said social media had been responsible for creating positive PR about the company and 40% saying social media had helped mitigate any PR problems.

Companies promoting social profiles on their websites

Companies are promoting their social media sites on their websites with 55% respondents are linking their social profiles online on the home page of their website and 30% saying they have a dedicated page on their site for ‘community’ aspects, which sign-post people to the various sites.

Yorkshire’s companies are embracing social media to grow their businesses

This research paints a picture that Yorkshire companies that are engaged with social media as a key business tool are finding social media helps create or contribute to finding new business. Companies are also using social media to boost their PR activities and feel that social media has helped mitigate PR problems.

See other news & blogs articles on the Yorkshire social media survey:

• TheBusinessDesk.com – Social media plays vital role in region’s businesses
• Biznetcentral – How Companies are Using Social Media Sites
• Twtrcon – Social Media Has Helped Generate New Sales for 57% of Business Users In Yorkshire, U.K.
• Dead Dinosaur –
  Companies using social media in Yorkshire – the latest statistics