NewsResearch
SOCIAL NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES GATHER STEAM
FUTURE WATCH
New Tool Review
What a difference a year
and a half can make.
While a November 2007
M&C survey indicated
fairly emphatically that meeting planners were not using Web 2.0 or social-networking tools for work, an M&C
survey conducted this April revealed
that such sites have wormed their way
into planners’ hearts.
Nearly three quarters ( 73 percent) of
141 respondents have either used social
networking tools or were planning to
this year to market their meetings or
events. That’s a huge leap from our 2007
survey, when 94 percent of respondents
said they didn’t use networking sites for
event-related tasks.
Among those who have used such
sites for meeting planning purposes,
Facebook is the most popular ( 74 percent), followed by LinkedIn ( 66 percent)
and Twitter ( 56 percent). More than
one-third ( 36 percent) have launched a
blog to market events. Only 20 percent
of respondents aren’t sure to what extent
networking sites will play a larger role in
their event planning (compared with 65
percent in the 2007 survey).
Fewer than half of respondents ( 42
percent) don’t intend to tweet for work.
■ MICHAEL J. SHAPIRO
To what extent will social
networking sites/Web 2.0
tools play a larger role in
your event planning?
To a great extent...................
20%
To some extent .....................
30%
To a minimal extent.............
30%
Not sure.................................
20%
GETTING CONNECTED
Are you using social networking tools
to market your meetings or events?
INCREASING UTILITY
For what event-related tasks do you use social networking sites?
Posting event information...................................................................................48%
Posting postevent photographs and other materials.............................................33%
Researching suppliers .........................................................................................23%
Researching speakers ..........................................................................................19%
Researching potential employees.........................................................................13%
Seeking jobs .......................................................................................................11%
None of the above..............................................................................................29%
Other ...................................................................................................................9%
■ Yes
■ No, but planning to this year
■ No, not planning to this year
TWEET SHEET
If yes, which of the following have you
used for your meetings or events?
Do you use Twitter for work?
Yes, have used for my meeting or event................................................................17%
Yes, but have not used for my events .....................................................................6%
I’ve registered but have used it sparingly..............................................................12%
No, but I plan to do so.......................................................................................23%
No, and I don’t intend to....................................................................................42%
Source: M&C Research survey of 141 meeting planners
Facebook ..............................................74%
LinkedIn ................................................66%
Twitter...................................................56%
Blog .......................................................36%
You Tube ................................................21%
MySpace ................................................. 9%
Other ....................................................13%
24
MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS /
MCMAG.COM
JUNE 2009
