Social media is used by over 2.2 billion people across the world and for many, it’s a self-confessed addiction. It's difficult to go even an hour without checking our phones for updates, sharing photos and things we have seen on the internet. One of the reasons we are so enamoured with social media is that it can help connect people from across the globe, sharing stories and engaging with those we wouldn’t normally speak to. Businesses have also fallen head over heels for social media, using it a to massively increase their marketing reach and contact with their customers. Here are 7 interesting social media facts that you can use to help your business.

1.    Increase in marketers who blog

The numbers of users who create and publish blogs have dramatically increased over the past year. At the same time, users have become more and more interested in reading blogs, with some gaining millions of views. Marketers use blogs as a means to drive traffic to their websites to gain leads and to improve their search engine rankings (SEO). The ROI through blogging can be high compared to any other method. As of January, We Are Social, Econsultancy blog and State of Search are some of the top marketing blogs in the UK. You can set up a blog on your own website, or use a platform like Tumblr or LinkedIn.

2.    Before making a purchase users check for online reviews

UK is at the top of the list, with more than three-quarters of the country’s population purchasing items online. Almost 8 in 10 customers research online before buying an item, either on the internet or offline. Customers know that they can find reviews from electronic items to education online. And users who trust an online review by another user is increasing by the day. It is the most reliable source of information as it helps people with their decision-making process.   

3.    Visual content has a higher chance of being shared

Visual content is most likely to be shared than any other form of content because information is conveyed better this way. And researchers have also found that people are most likely to remember ads that have visual content. It is because human brains have the ability to process pictures quickly. Visuals that include infographics and memes have a high rate of getting more “shares” and “likes.”

4.    It plays a crucial role in the election campaigns

Apart from using social media for promoting brands, it has started to make a huge influence on election campaigns as well. Earlier, information about people competing in the election was hard to find. But through social media, you can get details like educational qualifications, criminal records, and property particulars of the parties. And cost-wise social media is less expensive compared to other forms of advertisements. Prime Minister, David Cameron, has over 4.5 million followers, for example.

5.    Content delivered through social media has high return on investment

A recent study showed that companies who market content about their products through social media found a 76% success rate. Marketers depend on this because traditional forms of publishing content take time to reach people. But, through social media, content reaches people quickly, and you can measure its success quickly.

6.    People using social media through mobiles will continue to increase

One of the main reasons people access the internet is to use social media. Most of the social media websites are compatible with mobiles. Apart from texting and speaking on the phone, people mostly use it to access social media. Studies also show that on average people check their mobiles 3-4 times in a day to access social media, so make sure that your content and website are optimised for mobile.

7.    Social media usage among females is high

When compared to men, the percentage of women using social media is quite high. Today 68% of women use social media and 62% of men. Statistics show that almost 64% of Instagram users in the UK are female. Men mostly use it for business purposes, but women use but to share about their personal lives. Studies have proven that mothers with children below the age of five are likely to be more active on social media. If you’re starting a business, then it is likely you will be building your profile on social media. The key is to make sure you are using the right platforms for your audience - there is loads of data out there to help you make this decision. Keep track of the posts that receive the highest level of engagement and stick with them - you’ll be growing your brand awareness in no time.

About the authorL Nancy Grace is a social media writer at iDigic.net who also contributes for hundreds of other blogs. Her articles predominantly focus on social media and are widely followed by readers from all over the world.