Do consumers want to engage with companies and brands through new media?
Do they think they can influence corporate responsibility practices online?
Are they supporting social and environmental causes via new media?

According to the 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study, the answer is a resounding yes … with a few caveats along the way. The new research released today explores American new media users’ interactions with brands, their engagement with corporate responsibility practices and their support of social and environmental issues.

This survey builds on Cone’s 2008 Business in Social Media Study, but this year, we expanded the research to explore the diverse ways in which consumers are engaging with companies and nonprofits through new media.

Key findings include:

• Brand Marketing: Almost 80 percent (78%) of new media users interact with companies or brands via new media sites and tools, an increase of 32 percent from 2008 (59%).
• Corporate Responsibility: Sixty-two percent of users polled believe they can influence business decisions by voicing opinions via new media channels.
• Cause Branding: Nearly eight-in-10 (79%) Americans who are active on new media believe companies and nonprofits should use these channels to raise money and awareness for causes. Yet, fewer than one-in-five users (18%) have made a donation through new media.

Read the complete release here, and visit www.coneinc.com/consumernewmediastudy to download all three fact sheets.

Comments

Dawn Kwan

December 2, 2009 1:12 PM Hi Sarah, I really like your blog post, and it's refreshing to hear that consumers want to engage differently with companies. Your post spoke about the importance of giving back, so I'd like to invite you to check out a new social venture called Philanthropedia at http://myphilanthropedia.org. They identify expert recommended top nonprofits in different social areas, so that people can donate with confidence and with ease. Warm Regards, Dawn -- Dawn Kwan Manager of Nonprofit Profiles & Social Cause Expansion http://myphilanthropedia.org 650 868 0525

Sarah

December 4, 2009 2:38 PM Hi Dawn- Thanks for your kind words and for sharing this resource. I'll certainly take a look. Best, Sarah

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