Facebook Overtakes E-Mail

Facebook is now the next most popular communication tool, with 96% of respondents regularly using it to connect with friends, followed by text messaging at 93% and email at 91%.

When asked which method they used most frequently, most participants chose text messaging, at 37%, followed by Facebook and then the phone (28%). Although respondents clearly feel that email is now less important than social media, only 20% said they could live without it entirely."

I would think that demographics play a big part of the results as technology adoption in the various strata of age groups would produce various results...

"Interestingly, people overall seem to believe that advances in technology have created a negative effect on their lives and interpersonal communications in several ways. The majority (60%) believes that it relies too much on technology, while 71% believe social media is making communication less personal.

Despite these reservations, people are still using social media regularly; 28% of respondents claimed that they could only go one week without using social media, with a further 24% worried about just a few days. These figures compared to just 27% who felt they could live offline indefinitely.

Facebook is the most popular social network in the world, with over 350 million users, so it should come as no surprise to discover that people are using it as a primary tool for communication, says Hazel Butters, CEO of Prompt Communications. However, our survey results also show that people are still using more established methods of communication, from the phone to email. It is important for organizations to understand these trends if they want to reach their customers exactly where and how they would like to be reached. As attitudes change and new methods of human interaction develop, businesses must stay ahead of the trends.

Part of your integrated marketing plan needs a Facebook channel, e-mail, texting, interactive, along with traditional broadcast and print channels.