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Social Networking Goes Big Business
PreacherTom writes, "It is no secret that sites like Facebook and MySpace are big hits among students. Big business is catching on to their possibilities too. Even in the wake of online stalking scandals, companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Apple, and Burger King are building whole marketing campaigns around social networking sites, to the tune of an estimated $280 million in 2006. It appears to be working: take the King, for example, who has amassed more than 120,000 'friends' that opt (for rewards) to associate themselves with his profile." These marketing drives are aimed at younger consumers, but (from the article): "About 36% of MySpace users are people aged 35-54, as are 30% of Facebook users."
Big business is catching on to their possibilities too.
What do you mean "is catching on"? News Corp (FOX) bought Myspace for 500 million a year ago.
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
no appreciable "cool factor"
They're not making friends with "Burger King", they're making friends with The Burger "King", a character designed such as to appeal to tweens and teens who have grown too old for Ronald McDonald, yet still are likely to frequent fast food restaurants. Brilliant campaign by Crispin Porter. Check out pictures of their revived king-- the guy would be right at home in any Snoop Dogg video.
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
30% of Facebook users are 35 or older? I thought that it was invented for college students.
.edu address. That tended to set a lower bound on age (relatively few people below 16-17 are affiliated with colleges or universities in ways that get them addresses) but didn't set an upper bound at all, when you factor in things like:
;)
Pretty much so... but the criteria used to determine college affiliation was possession of a
a) People "going back to school" - my wife "mommy-tracked" for 8 years, then picked up a second degree at 33.
b) Grad students, who are typically about 23-28 instead of 17-23
c) Postdocs, who are typically about 28-33
d) Alumni, who can be any age
d) Staff, who can also be any age - I'm staff, 35, and on Facebook because a lot of the grads and postdocs I work with are on there. (And for the free music from Apple.)
e) Faculty, who are likely to be even older than staff.
Suddenly that skewed age figure is a lot more attainable.
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.