Social media growing rapidly among British businesses

Increasing demand for firms to manage their online presence

Social media is expected to surge across UK firms in 2011, according to a new report, which discovered that 71% of businesses have ambitions to boost their online presence.

The demand for companies to manage their online reputation across networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter is growing rapidly. Whilst the UK lags behind the US – only half of businesses use social media in Britain  compared with 90% of US respondents – the report predicts a boom in social media skills, with thousands of short-term vacancies becoming available to manage online marketing.

The survey of 1,000 UK firms revealed that, of those that aim to improve their social media strategy this year, 15% would look at creating specific roles for the positions, such as ‘social media manager’, while 65% would consider hiring freelancers, to give them a more flexible and scalable solution to meet currently unqualified future needs.

Andy Turner, founder of freelance network OfficeCavalry.com, which conducted the research, said: “As consumers spend more time online, businesses are looking at ways of changing the way they engage and interact with their consumers. The social media boom will fuel economic growth in the British economy as businesses realise the long term economic benefits of engaging with consumers via social media.

“Social media and online reputation management is changing the way organisations do business; a more agile, cost effective approach that is scalable and responsive to the ever changing social media landscape is required.”

©Crimson Business Ltd. 2011