If you're not using social media to promote your brand, you're missing out

Nearly everyone who is online in the US -- 98% -- uses social media, according to a new report from comScore, an online tracking firm. The report, "It's a Social World: Top 10 Need-to-Knows About Social Networking and Where It's Headed," also shows that females in the US spend an average of 7.9 hours per month on social media, while males spend six hours. (The report was itself reported on the Folio: magazine website, along with others.)

This data has implications for marketers worldwide, not just those selling in the US. Facebook, the social media behemoth, reaches 55% of the world's audience, the comScore report says. Its 800 million users account for one of every seven minutes spent online overall and three of every four minutes spent on social networks.

As for other popular social networks, Twitter now reaches one in 10 people online worldwide, a 59% increase year over year. LinkedIn, used by many professionals, is now the fourth largest social network worldwide (having eclipsed MySpace in 2011). Newer ones such as Tumbler (172% growth, 12th largest) and Google+ (already at 65 million users, 5% of the global social networking audience) are also growing by leaps and bounds.

All these millions of people all over the world using social media aren't just posting trivialalities about what they ate for breakfast or which friend they saw where; many are also talking about products and specific brands in both positive and negative ways. If your brand isn't part of that conversation, you're missing out on a golden opportunity to reach new customers and keep existing customers.

At Petfood Forum 2012, social media experts from Watt Publishing (parent company of Petfood Industry and Petfood-Connection.com) will present research on how petfood brands are being highlighted in social networks, especially Twitter. Plus, you can learn about best practices for using social media to promote brands. (If you register for Petfood Forum by February 1, you'll save up to 15%.)