101 Social Media Statistics You Need To Know To Build Your 2018 Strategy

101 Social Media Statistics You Need to Know to Build Your 2018 Strategy Social media changes fast. Sometimes, it feels like too much to keep up with. But, if you're going to succeed, you need to know the latest trends and industry stats. You want to know that what you're doing isn't already outdated. And you don't want to miss opportunities, either. You're busy though. Who has time to keep tabs on all that stuff? If that's how you're feeling, it's a good thing you're here. To make things easy, we've pulled together 101 important social media marketing statistics, all in one place. This post is packed with the most up to date information to help you start 2018 off on the right foot. From social media video, demographic data, and usage stats, we've covered it all. Now let's get reading!

101 Social Media Statistics You Need To Know To Build Your 2018 Strategy

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Packing a full 101 stats into one post, would ... ... well ... ... run a little bit long. Who's got time for that? If the answer is "not you," then grab our social media statistics infographic. It's got an extra 70 stats you can easily skim and keep on hand for reference. Download it now, then read through the rest of the post.

TL;DR: Get Your Stats In One Handy Presentation

Is clicking left-to-right more your speed than reading this whole post? We get it. Like we said earlier, you're busy (we all are). So, we pulled together this Slidedeck:

8 Social Media Facts That Show Why It’s Important For Your Business

Social media marketing needs to be part of your marketing strategy. Why? The number of social media users is on the rise and isn’t going to die down anytime soon. Those users include your potential customers. And if you want to reach them, then you have to play the game. Here are eight more reasons why in case you’re on the fence. 8 Statistics to Prove the Worth of Social Media Marketing

88% of Businesses Are Using Social Media

It’s a safe bet to say that almost all businesses are active on social media. If you aren’t, it’s more likely than not that your competitor is. Don’t let them steal your customers!

88% of businesses are using social media.

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2/3rds of All Americans Are Using Social Media

Over 90% of young Americans are active on different social networks. Using social media can help get your business in front of them at the right time.

Two-thirds of all Americans are using social media.

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67% of All Americans Report Getting Their News From Social Media

That means that 217 million people are turning to social platforms to keep up with current events. Why not let your business’s messages be a part of that daily traffic too?

67% of Americans are using social media.

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81% of the US Population Has At Least One Social Media Profile

The chance of getting your organization's messaging across to consumers at the right time is easier than ever. Why? Because of the increased number of social media users. In fact, that number has grown 5% over the past year.

81% of the US population has at least one social media profile.

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96% of People Who Talk About Your Brand Online Don’t Follow It

This means that the discussion that is happening around your brand isn’t always coming from your followers. It’s important to keep that statistic in mind when you’re reporting on share of voice metrics.

96% of the people who talk about your brand online aren't actually following you.

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52% of Social Media Marketers Say That Showing ROI Is One of Their Top Challenges

Showing the return on investment for any social media strategist can cause a panicked reaction. How can you prove to your boss what’s working? CoSchedule and Google Analytics may be able to help you there.

52% of social media marketers say showing ROI is one of their top challenges.

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91% of Social Media Users Are Accessing Social Channels Via Mobile Devices

The use of mobile devices on the rise. Social media strategists need to make sure that everything they create still conveys the intended message in a portable format.

91% of social media users are accessing social channels via mobile devices.

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Customers Spend 20-40% More On Companies Who Engage With Them On Social Media

If that statistic isn’t enough to get you interacting with your fans online, we don’t know what will. Whether it’s addressing a complaint or saying thanks for a helpful review, genuine interactions will go a long way for your audience.

Customers spend 20%-40% more on companies who engage with them on social media.

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5 Social Media Video Statistics

Video marketing is a new frontier for social media marketers. With the addition of live video and disappearing daily stories, marketers are having to think outside the box when it comes to finding new ways to reach their audience. Check out these five statistics on the growth of video marketing. Five Powerful Video Marketing Statistics

43% of People Want To See More Video Content From Marketers

Your audience is begging for this content. Don’t leave them hanging.

43% of people want to see more video content.

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100 Million Hours of Video Content is Watched On Facebook Daily

That’s equal to about 4.2 days worth of watchable content being consumed in just one day!

86% of Business Related Video Views Take Place On Desktop Computers

With that many people consuming your organization's content via desktop both your social media strategists and your video team need to make sure that videos are optimized for desktop viewing.

86% of business-related video views in 2015 took place on desktop computers.

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56% of All Videos Published Last Year Are Less Than Two Minutes Long

We have a shorter attention span than a standard goldfish. That means that a 20-minute video isn’t going to go over well on social media. Remember to keep it concise. [Tweet "56% of all videos published in 2015 were less than two minutes long."

The Average Video Retains 37% of Viewers To The End

If only 37% of your audience makes it to the end of your video, put the most need-to-know information first!

The average video retains 37% of viewers to the end.

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8 Social Media Usage Statistics

Tracking who is using what social media channel can help your organization predict where your audience is coming from and when they are going to be active. Read these eight statistics and learn how you can target your potential consumers on the right channel at the right time.

70% of Social Media Time Is Spent On Mobile Devices

Because mobile devices are nearly always in use marketers, need to check that their social content is viewable/ still looks good in a different format.

70% of social media time is spent on mobile devices.

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200 Million People Use Instagram Stories a Month

Instagram Stories has grown immensely over the past few years since its inception. That type of exposure is not something your brand wants to miss out on.

200 million people use Instagram Stories every month.

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2.5 Billion People Use Messaging Apps

The use of messaging apps is growing and with the creation of autoresponders. How marketers begin to tap into that potential will change the way we use social media marketing.

2.5 billion people use messaging apps.

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The Average LinkedIn User Spends 17 Minutes On The Site Per Month

That means the content you publish has a tiny window of time to make an impact. Choose what you post wisely.

There Are 178 Million Active Snapchat Users Daily

If your business is looking to target millennials or generation Z’ers, Snapchat is where it’s at.

There are 178 million active Snapchat users daily.

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Social Media Users Spend An Average of 135 Minutes Per Day Online

That’s over two hours worth of content that your audience is consuming every single day. What can you do to help your messages stand out in a sea of content?

Social media users spend an average of 135 minutes per day online.

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80% of People Use Pinterest On Mobile

Work with your graphic designers to ensure that everything you post to Pinterest is still viewable on a mobile device.

2.07 Billion People Are Actively Using Facebook

With that many active users, there’s little doubt that at least part of your target audience will be on Facebook in some capacity. Don’t miss your chance to reach them.

2.07 billon people are actively using Facebook.

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5 Social Media Advertising Statistics

Advertising is without a doubt the most efficient way to reach your audience on any social media platform. Navigating it, on the other hand, can be a bit tricky. Here are five statistics to help you create your social media advertising strategy. Five Social Media Advertising Statistics To Power Your Ad Strategy

93% of Social Media Advertisers Use Facebook Advertising

For your content to break through the noise on Facebook, you’re going to have to boost your posts or turn them into advertisements.

93% of social media advertisers use Facebook advertising.

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49% of 18 to 29-Year-Olds Have Purchased Something They Saw In a Social Media Ad

The younger generation’s journey to purchasing a product is changing. They are starting to be influenced not only by what they see on TV but by what appears in their social media feeds.

49% of 18 to 29-year-olds have purchased something they saw in a social media ad.

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26% of Facebook Users Who Click On An Ad Make A Purchase

Facebook is one of the most popular social media advertising spots between the major platforms. Its ability to convert and reach audiences makes a significant impact.

The Average Click Through Rate On A Facebook Ad is .90%

Across all of the different industries, WordStream found that the average click-through rate Facebook ads are .90%.

The average click-through rate on a Facebook ad is .90%

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75% to 90% of a Facebook Ad’s Performance is Based on Images

In other words, if you’re creating an advertisement for Facebook include dynamic images. This will help make an impact on your viewers.

75% to 90% of a Facebook ad's performance is based on images.

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5 Social Media Demographic and User Statistics

Need more specifics on who is using what channel? Check out these five user and demographic statistics. 5 Statistics to Describe Social Media Demographics and User Data

83% of Millennials Are On Facebook

If your business is looking at millennials as your target audience, start with Facebook. It’s the most active platform for that age group.

83% of Millenials are on Facebook.

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80% Of Millennials Say Pinterest Helps Them Find What They Want To Buy

If you're targeting millennials, Pinterest would be a strong contender in helping get your products in front of them.

80% of Millenials say Pinterest helps them find what they want to buy.

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84% Of 30-49 Year Olds Use Facebook

While a majority of millennials are active on Facebook, don’t count the older generations out just yet.

84% of 30-49 year olds use Facebook.

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Over Half Of Instagram Users Are Between The Ages of 18-29

Instagram is another favorite channel for the millennial crowd, with 59% of them using the channel frequently.

Over Half of Instagram Users Are Between the Ages of 18-29

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81% of Millennials Check Twitter At Least Once Per Day

Twitter is still an active platform for millennials. Businesses can help reach them by posting to the site frequently.
As you scroll through our 31 statistics and the infographic you downloaded earlier look for trends or ideas that your social media team can use to build the perfect strategy for 2018. Check out this infographic that summarizes the 31 social media marketing statistics you just read: Do you have any more groundbreaking statistics to share? Let us know in the comments below.
About the Author

Breonna Clark has seven years of experience in marketing and data analytics. She describes herself as a high energy, collaborative leader with a reputation for innovative campaigns, creative strategic planning, and delivering results with data-driven insights. Breonna has been at Real Chemistry for almost two years. In her role, she manages multiple aspects of client marketing and multi-channel campaigns including, building measurement frameworks, data analysis, identifying key insights, and recommending updates to campaign strategies. Breonna has a passion for the work she does and is an incredibly hard worker. These characteristics are just a couple reasons why she was promoted to Analytics Manager at Real Chemistry in 2022.