Social networkers swayed by online branding, buying from the brands they follow

(Renata Osinska)

Following a brand on Twitter or Facebook will make you more likely to buy a product from that company, says a new report published by market research firm Chadwik Martin Bailey.

The study, which was released on March 16, showed that consumers were up to 67 percent more likely to recommend or buy products from a brand after following them on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Consumers said that their number-one reason for becoming a fan of a brand on social networking sites was to receive discounts from the companies. Other reasons for following a brand included previously purchasing a product from the company, wanting to show others they supported the brand or to gain access to exclusive content.

Facebook users were more likely to show their support for a company they liked by becoming a fan of the brand on the social network while Twitter users were more likely to follow a brand to receive real-time information and exclusive offers.

The survey was based on the responses of 1,504 adults living in the US between February 8 and 9, 2010.

http://www.cmbinfo.com/news/press-center/social-media-release-3-10-10/