Social Media

Social Media Library

Insight

2009

Page 2Social Media Insight by Social Media Library

Contents

Foreword3Introduction to Social Media Insight4UK Blogging Activity

UK Inuential Bloggers by Region

Inuential Bloggers by Sector

B2B Focused Blogger Activity

Consumer Focused Blogger Activity

Healthcare Focused Blogger Activity

Finance Focused Blogger Activity

Technology Focused Blogger Activity

Infuential Social Networks14Infuential Podcasts15Infuential Forums16Dissemination o UK Twitter Users18Conclusion19

Report written by

Ian McCawley

Editorial Consultant,Social Media Library

Page 3Social Media Insight by Social Media Library

Foreword

The UK PR industry aces many challenges -recession, globalisation, competition rom otherdisciplines - but social media should be seen as ahuge opportunity or 2009. As a marketing discipline, PR has been in theascendant or the past ve years, largely becausebusinesses and politicians recognise that they mustengage in the ‘new conversations’ to maintain, andenhance, their reputations. The explosion o new digital media has meant thatthese conversations now take place globally, 24-7 andthe speed o exchange is ever-accelerating. This plays to PR’s strengths which are: the ability tomonitor and infuence opinion on an ongoing basis;and the ability to build the right relationships to achievethe ormer.Last year WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell attributed thegrowing strength o PR to digital media, which he saidhad created growing interest in ‘editorial marketing’.PR’s growth rates this year continue to refect this.For 2009 Twitter has quickly become the avouredmedia or ‘new conversations’. PR proessionals mustembrace it as they have other new comms channels.Because i they do not, there are other marketingdisciplines that surely will.Social media has evolved to a level that it nowimpacts on the very abric o our everyday lives. Theprolieration o blogs, orums, podcasts and socialnetworks crosses generations, occupations andinterests, throughout the UK and Ireland. This steadily is changing the way we interact withone another and we way we view the world.Whereas previously, people learned o news andevents predominantly via traditional media outlets,in this highly networked world, people digestinormation rom a ar larger number o sources.People can be ound online collecting aroundalmost any topic imaginable. And the ways that theycommunicate, the nuances, culture and associatedethics, are constantly shiting - as the technologiesunderpinning social media continue to evolve. This presents both a challenge and an opportunityto brands. Here now is a very personal, engagingplatorm to reach your customer base. But to makeull use o this, it is rst vital to get a clear view o thesocial media landscape. What exactly does it looklike? In what way is it relevant to me?I hope Social Media Insight 2009 helps answer thesequestions and more.

Danny Rogers

Editor, PRWeek

Graham Lee

Chie Executive,Social Media Library