The majority of internet users in Canada are connecting in one of the fastest growing trends today - social networks.
According to a recent report from eMarketer, 59 percent of internet users currently utilize social networks when surfing on the net. The study also predicts that number will rise to 64 percent by 2012 and 68 percent by 2014. Small businesses in Canada will be able to take advantage of these numbers by having a presence on sites such as LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.
“Canadians readily adopt social network activities, often at rates higher than users in the U.S., but gaining the trust of users on a social network is a brand manager’s biggest obstacle," said Mike Froggatt, eMarketer research analyst. "As internet users increase the time they spend on social networks, social media accounts for an increasing share of ad impressions."
There was other social networking news for small businesses when a leading review website added a "check-in" feature. Yelp will now allow Canadians to indicate, through their smartphones, when they arrive at a destination and even get rewards.
