SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT BENCHMARK REPORT THE SALESFORCE MARKETING CLOUD. Metrics from 3+ Million Twitter* Messages Sent Through Our Platform

Transcription

1 THE SALESFORCE MARKETING CLOUD SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT BENCHMARK REPORT Metrics from 3+ Million Twitter* Messages Sent Through Our Platform *All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

2 Table of Contents Benchmark Data 3 Recommendations 21 About the Data 23 Appendix 24 exacttarget.com 2 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter Facebook Twitter Engagement Benchmark Report 2

3 Benchmark Data Eight years ago, a tech company forever changed the meaning of the word tweet. Now, you can use Twitter to change the way your customers experience your brand. Since its launch in 2006, Twitter has matured into the social network of choice for breaking news, early tech adopters, power influencers, and brands looking to engage with the growing number of Twitter users. The size of Twitter s user base and the platform s ability to scale globally are encouraging an increasing number of brands to build a Twitter presence, 140 characters at a time. Twitter s self-proclaimed mission is to give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly. 1 Millions of people and companies are taking advantage of that power and connecting Twitter with the customer journey, as these statistics show: As of August 2014, Twitter reported 271 million monthly active users million tweets are sent per day and 78% of Twitter active users are on mobile. 3 Seventy-two percent of Twitter users said they were more likely to make future purchases from brands they follow or engage with on Twitter. 4 Twitter offers a wealth of ways for brands and customers to connect. The research conducted for this report, based on 3+ million tweets sent from our platform, unearthed several key findings. Consumers gravitate towards tweets that include photos. Brands and companies tweet photos only 8% of the time, although tweets containing a photo generate considerably higher reply and retweet volumes than those without photos. On average, tweets containing photos received 3.3 replies, while non-photo tweets received only 1.7 replies. Consumers are more than twice as likely to retweet a photo tweet: on average, nine consumers will retweet a photo tweet compared to five for a non-photo tweet. See the Recommendations section (p. 21) for more data on photo-based tweets. Follower numbers are trending up. In 2013, companies tracked an average 43% increase in Twitter followers, with four industries tracking percentages higher than the average: technology and manufacturing (93%), retail and e-commerce (75%), CPG (55%), and financial services (55%). Few brands tweet on Sundays the day with the highest engagement. During the work week, companies tweet the least frequently on Mondays and tweet more as the week goes on. Interestingly, companies aren t engaging followers much during weekends, although their followers continue to engage them: Sundays garner the most retweets and replies to brands, but the fewest companies tweet on Sundays. The charts in this report depict Twitter engagement rates by day of week, month, time of day, and industry, combining both paid and organic tweets. Data collected across all industries represents more than 3.6 million tweets from companies in 15 industries. Read our recommendations at the end of this report for data-inspired marketing tactics tailoring these findings to your strategy. See About the Data on p. 23 for further detail on graphed data. The data in this report shows the average number of replies and retweets per tweet that was sent in a given industry or time period. For example, on average, a tweet from a CPG brand garners 2.2 replies and 8.8 retweets. Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 3

4 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Industry CPG Media and Entertainment Financial Services Retail and E-Commerce Education and Non-Profit Tech and Manufacturing Travel and Hospitality Average Replies Average Retweets Tweets Sent by Industry 39k Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) 199k Media and Entertainment 94k Financial Services 303k Retail and E-Commerce 47k Education and Non-Profit 269k Tech and Manufacturing 287k Travel and Hospitality Each icon = 10 thousand tweets. 4 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

5 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: All Industries Tweets Sent by Month JAN 208.8K K FEB 213.5K MAR 245.8K APR 245.1K MAY 287.9K JUN 259.8K JUL 311.6K AUG 358.3K K 392.0K 368.0K 208.8K 213.5K 245.8K 245.1K SEP 368.0K OCT 392.0K NOV 384.3K K 311.6K 259.8K 287.9K DEC 367.8K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 5

6 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: All Industries Tweets Sent by Day of Week SUN 350.4K MON 566.6K TUE 594.4K WED 588.0K THU 588.7K FRI 598.5K SAT 356.3K K 588.7K 356.3K 350.4K 566.6K 594.4K 588.0K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): All Industries Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 507.3K AM - 8 AM 248.8K K 507.3K 8 AM - 12 PM 364.4K PM - 3 PM 557.9K K 248.8K 3 PM - 6 PM 735.4K PM - 9 PM 688.7K PM - 12 AM 540.4K K 557.9K 364.4K 6 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

7 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: CPG Tweets Sent by Month JAN 2.9K FEB 3.1K MAR 3.1K APR 4.1K K 2.4K 2.9K 3.1K MAY 3.9K K 3.1K JUN 3.4K JUL 3.5K AUG 3.3K K 4.1K SEP 3.3K OCT 2.8K NOV 2.8K K 3.5K 3.4K 3.9K DEC 2.4K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 7

8 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: CPG Tweets Sent by Day of Week SUN 2.2K MON 6.8K TUE 5.9K WED 7.8K K 2.7K 2.2K 6.8K THU 6.2K FRI 7.0K SAT 2.7K K 5.9K 7.8K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): CPG Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 4.8K AM - 8 AM 2.1K AM - 12 PM 3.5K PM - 3 PM 6.1K PM - 6 PM 9.3K PM - 9 PM 8.3K PM - 12 AM 4.5K K 9.3K 4.5K 4.8K 2.1K 3.5K 6.1K 8 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

9 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Media and Entertainment Tweets Sent by Month JAN 12.4K FEB 13.5K MAR 18.0K K 14.5K 12.4K 13.5K APR 18.9K MAY 18.7K JUN 18.6K JUL 17.5K AUG 16.8K SEP 15.7K OCT 19.0K K 15.7K 16.8K 18.7K 18.0K 18.9K NOV 14.7K DEC 14.5K K 18.6K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 9

10 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Media and Entertainment Tweets Sent by Day of Week SUN 18.8K K 18.8K MON 29.8K TUE 31.0K WED 29.9K THU 34.0K FRI 33.3K SAT 21.5K K 34.0K 29.8K 31.0K 29.9K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Media and Entertainment Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 33.4K AM - 8 AM 6.4K K 33.4K 8 AM - 12 PM 10.2K PM - 3 PM 26.7K PM - 6 PM 39.5K PM - 9 PM 43.0K K 6.4K 10.2K 9 PM - 12 AM 39.0K K 26.7K 10 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

11 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Financial Services Tweets Sent by Month JAN 4.4K K FEB 4.3K MAR 5.2K APR 6.4K MAY 8.7K JUN 8.0K JUL 8.5K AUG 8.9K K 8.5K 9.5K 4.4K 4.3K 5.2K 6.4K SEP 8.5K OCT 9.6K NOV 9.5K K 8.5K 8.0K 8.7K DEC 11.8K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 11

12 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Financial Services Tweets Sent by Day of Week SUN 6.1K MON 15.3K K 6.4K 6.1K 15.3K TUE 17.6K WED 14.9K THU 16.6K FRI 17.1K K 17.6K SAT 6.4K K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Financial Services Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 15.4K K 15.4K 4 AM - 8 AM 8.3K AM - 12 PM 7.1K PM - 3 PM 12.3K K 8.3K 3 PM - 6 PM 17.5K PM - 9 PM 18.6K PM - 12 AM 14.8K K 12.3K 7.1K 12 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

13 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Retail and E-Commerce Tweets Sent by Month JAN 17.5K K FEB 19.5K MAR 20.2K APR 19.2K K 17.5K 19.5K MAY 23.6K JUN 21.2K K 20.2K JUL 24.0K K 19.2K AUG 28.0K SEP 25.8K OCT 29.4K K 24.0K 21.2K 23.6K NOV 33.1K DEC 41.9K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 13

14 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Retail and E-Commerce SUN 39.8K Tweets Sent by Day of Week 36.3K 39.8K MON 41.9K TUE 44.7K WED 45.6K THU 46.2K FRI 48.9K SAT 36.3K K 46.2K 44.7K 41.9K 45.6K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Retail and E-Commerce Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 40.1K K 40.1K 4 AM - 8 AM 24.2K AM - 12 PM 34.2K PM - 3 PM 47.0K PM - 6 PM 59.2K PM - 9 PM 53.1K PM - 12 AM 45.6K K 59.2K 47.0K 24.2K 34.2K 14 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

15 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Education and Non-Profit Tweets Sent by Month JAN 3.0K FEB 3.0K MAR 3.1K APR 2.8K K 4.6K 3.0K 3.0K MAY 4.8K K 3.1K JUN 3.5K JUL 3.5K K 2.8K AUG 4.0K SEP 4.1K OCT 4.7K K 3.5K 3.5K 4.8K NOV 5.4K DEC 4.6K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 15

16 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Education and Non-Profit SUN 4.9K Tweets Sent by Day of Week 4.3K 4.9K MON 6.7K TUE 7.8K WED 7.7K THU 7.4K K 6.7K FRI 7.9K SAT 4.3K K 7.8K 7.7K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Education and Non-Profit Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 6.1K K 6.1K 4 AM - 8 AM 4.0K AM - 12 PM 4.7K PM - 3 PM 7.2K PM - 6 PM 9.7K PM - 9 PM 8.4K PM - 12 AM 6.5K K 9.7K 7.2K 4.0K 4.7K 16 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

17 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Technology and Manufacturing Tweets Sent by Month JAN 10.1K FEB 11.7K MAR 15.8K APR 18.2K MAY 24.0K JUN 21.1K K 31.5K 24.9K 10.1K 11.7K 15.8K JUL 22.9K AUG 25.8K K 18.2K SEP 29.1K OCT 33.6K K 22.9K 21.1K 24.0K NOV 31.5K DEC 24.9K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 17

18 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Technology and Manufacturing Tweets Sent by Day of Week SUN 14.2K K 14.2K MON 43.9K TUE 50.3K WED 53.6K THU 47.7K FRI 43.4K SAT 15.6K K 47.7K 43.9K 50.3K 53.6K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Technology and Manufacturing Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 30.1K AM - 8 AM 19.7K K 30.1K 8 AM - 12 PM 27.1K PM - 3 PM 40.1K K 19.7K 3 PM - 6 PM 60.3K PM - 9 PM 52.3K PM - 12 AM 39.1K K 40.1K 27.1K 18 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

19 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Month: Travel and Hospitality Tweets Sent by Month JAN 17.2K K FEB 16.6K MAR 19.2K APR 19.8K K 17.2K 16.6K MAY 25.4K K 19.2K JUN 25.7K JUL 27.0K AUG 26.2K K 19.8K SEP 24.8K OCT 26.7K K 25.4K NOV 28.6K K 25.7K DEC 29.8K Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 19

20 Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Day of Week: Travel and Hospitality SUN 26.5K K Tweets Sent by Day of Week 26.5K MON 40.4K TUE 46.2K WED 46.0K THU 47.1K FRI 44.3K SAT 36.5K K 47.1K 40.4K 46.2K 46.0K Twitter Engagement Rates per Tweet by Time of Day (CST): Travel and Hospitality Tweets Sent by Time of Day 12 AM - 4 AM 50.9K AM - 8 AM 36.5K AM - 12 PM 40.0K K 50.9K 12 PM - 3 PM 34.7K K 36.5K 3 PM - 6 PM 47.2K PM - 9 PM 40.7K PM - 12 AM 36.9K K 34.7K 40.0K 20 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

21 Recommendations With the right strategy, every tweet can become a valuable moment in the customer journey. Based on our benchmark findings, consider these insights to help guide your Twitter strategy toward improved ROI and greater results. Overall Recommendations Photos incite higher rates of Twitter engagement. Tweets with photos receive more replies and retweets than text-only tweets. Twitter Engagement Rates: Photo vs. Text Tweets Photo Retweets Text Retweets Photo Replies Text Replies CPG Media and Entertainment Financial Services Retail and E-Commerce Education and Non-Profit Tech and Manufacturing Travel and Hospitality Photo tweets encourage the user to click through and view a photo, which is a direct request for further engagement. Apply that principle to other tweets by including links to engaging content, while making sure that all content you tweet is mobile-optimized, given that 78% of monthly active Twitter users access the network via mobile device. Designate someone to oversee Twitter every day, during all hours of the day. Our data shows that Twitter users are just as engaged outside of normal work hours as they are during the typical 9 5 period. Consider how your brand might implement a round-theclock Twitter strategy, designating on-call Twitter managers (or one manager) to oversee the Twitter customer journey at every moment of the day, depending on tweet volume and resources. Brands should align their Twitter strategy with their own industry. If there s anything these numbers prove, it s that Twitter strategy isn t one-size-fits-all. The media and entertainment, financial services, and education and non-profit industries receive the most retweets per tweet (23.6, 17.1, and 15.3, respectively), while the most replies go to media and entertainment, retail and e-commerce, and education and non-profit (7.7, 3.0, and 2.8, respectively). The bottom line: different industries perform better in different areas of engagement, and few industries rank highly in every engagement format. Your customers may be more interested in retweeting your content to their followers than replying, or they may rely on your Twitter account for quick replies to help them solve problems. Regardless of your product or industry, it should be your goal to fill the exact niche your customers need. Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 21

22 Recommendations by Industry Consumer packaged goods (CPG): Customers who follow CPG brands are most likely to reply and retweet your messages between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m., so focus your attention on this window of time. CPG brands will get the most retweets on Saturdays with more than double the activity of any other day of the week. Interestingly, photo tweets garner the most retweets for CPG brands with a dramatic peak in photo retweets on Wednesdays. Media and entertainment: Twitter followers of media and entertainment brands are highly engaged throughout the year. We see the most company tweets and consumer retweets on Saturdays and Sundays, followed closely by Thursdays perhaps indicating that media and entertainment customers are the most engaged with companies on Twitter during weekend activities. Focus on these days as your largest window of opportunity to connect with Twitter followers. Financial services: Prime times to reach consumers who follow financial services companies are from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. (the period with the most replies and retweets to company tweets) and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (the secondhighest period for retweets). Mondays and Tuesdays are when consumers are most likely to retweet brands in this industry. Photos do especially well for retweets in the financial services industry (see chart on preceding page). Retail and e-commerce: Given retail brands propensity for holiday marketing, it comes as no surprise that December sees the most tweets from retail brands, with the number of tweets steadily increasing from October through the end of the year. Consumers responded in December by nearly doubling the amount of replies. Consumers are most engaged with brands on Thursdays and Fridays, so brands in this industry have a unique opportunity to capture consumer attention before they make plans for weekend shopping trips. Although consumers are consistently engaging with brands throughout the day, we see a peak from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Think about your brand s unique peak shopping times when planning a Twitter content strategy. Education and non-profit: Education and non-profit organizations get more consumer retweets than most other industries. Capitalize on this higher retweet rate by tweeting on weekends and in the morning hours (4:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) times when more consumers are engaged with education and non-profit Twitter accounts. Technology and manufacturing: We tracked 93% follower growth for technology and manufacturing brands over 2013, making this industry one of the fastest-growing on Twitter. Twitter users and tech brands are a perfect match, as Twitter officially launched in 2007 at the tech conference South by Southwest, with techies and early adopters alike swiftly embracing Twitter. However, tech and manufacturing brands are currently seeing low rates of Twitter engagement. Consider supercharging tweet content with infographics, videos, and photos to boost engagement and provide further Twitter value within the customer journey. Travel and hospitality: Twitter marketers in travel and hospitality are sending a relatively high number of tweets but seeing relatively low engagement. Brands can foster more engagement by sending photo-based tweets to their followers, as consumers are more than twice as likely to retweet and reply to a photo tweet. Additionally, followers of travel and hospitality brands are more likely to retweet on Mondays and Thursdays and between the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. 22 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

23 About the Data We collected the data in this report from the Salesforce Marketing Cloud platform according to the following specifications. We extracted Twitter data from more than 3.6 million Twitter messages published through our platform in 2013, combining both paid and organic posts. We added further social insights from the 2014 State of Marketing report and third-party studies as noted. Graphs combining overall industry data include these industries: Advertising and Consulting; Automotive; Clothing and Fashion; Consumer Packaged Goods; Media and Entertainment; Financial Services; Food and Beverage; Retail and ecommerce; Health and Beauty; Education and Non-Profit; Publishing; Sports; Technology and Manufacturing; Telecommunications; and Travel and Leisure. When reviewing pie-style charts in this report, note that numerical labels on pie charts show rounded values, and pie slices represent total values. Let data help you lead the journey. Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter 23

24 Appendix (1) about.twitter.com/company (2) about.twitter.com/company (3) about.twitter.com/company (4) business.twitter.com/products/promoted-accounts 24 Social Engagement Benchmark Report: Twitter

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