IInternet users are now accessing online video in increasing numbers according to a recent study. The study showed a doubling of the number of users accessing video compared to 12 months ago.

The number of businesses now incorporating video content in their web pages is also increasing. An increasing number are producing their own video content and using sites such as YouTube you host the material.

Business content is generally focused in two area. “how to’ video tutorials and video product promotions. Product promotions are less well received, they do however provide a good vehicle for product demonstrations.

The report by Abi Research found that:

growth is due to the amount of rich content available in ad-supported format on portals and via social networks, along with increasing demand from people for video in both short-and long-form online content.

If you are not using video then perhaps now would be a good time to consider its worth to your overall plans.

One I notice on many of the social networking sites is the number of business people who ‘hang out’ with fellow business people. As far as networking is concerned, that is fine; when it comes to social marketing, it seems pointless.

The aim of social marketing is to put your name, your brand, and/or your product out into the public domain – in other words, to promote your business. Promoting your business to other businesses is not going to increase your sales. You may increase your knowledge of the industry, but that is not the purpose of social marketing.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a need to network with others within your niche. However that should, in the long run, be secondary to promoting your business. To successfully promote your business, you need to be where the potential customer base is. This requires a little research and an understanding of which sites your demographic audience frequents, and what sort of marketing is permitted on those sites.

Hanging out with your peers is fine for networking – just remember to hang out where your customers are if you want to increase your business.

Closed social networks are not strictly closed, what I am referring to is the kind of network that rarely welcomes new member. There are plenty of individuals hovering around the edges wanting to get in, they just don’t know how to do it.

The only real way in is through invitation and that may need to come from several within the group. I may make it sound like a secret society but they aren’t, they just get terribly social with outsiders.

That however is the key. Divide and conquer. By socializing and getting to the various members you can build a rapport with them. Hopefully over time they will come to recognize you as a resource and invite you into their inner sanctum.

It should be remembered that you are not the only one trying to break into this network. What do you have to offer that no one else has? Why are you so important that you should be welcomed? These are not easy questions, yet they need to be answered.

Of course, there is one solution if breaking into a network is not working, start one of your own.

Marketing Pilgrim has published a post reporting on a recent study that should make many business owner happy. Marketing expert may however need to rethink their social marketing approaches. The study was conducted by Cone and published in their 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study.

Consumers do want to be social with business is the bottom line. However and here is the crunch, they want to be social, not spammed by constant promotions and self interest. Whilst the study was made on American consumers, many of the results could be applied worldwide. Some of the issues revealed include:

• Companies should use social networks to solve my problems (43%)
• Companies should solicit feedback on their products and services (41%)
• Companies should develop new ways for consumers to interact with their brand (37%)
• Companies should market to consumers (25%) [I assume this means online or on social media sites, not just in general]

Whilst 25% accepted that companies should market their wares, a much larger proportion were looking for the online version of a service desk. Solve my problems; let me provide feedback; and let me interact.

The social component was reinforced by Cone’s director of new media, Mike Hollywood, who stated:

“Americans are eager to deepen their brand relationships through social media. It isn’t an intrusion into their lives, but rather a welcome channel for discussion.”

It all comes down to a couple of issues. Don’t be self centered in your social marketing. Help solve problems and actually engage in social conversation. It can be product or service orientated, but it has to provide some value to the consumer, not just the business person.

If consumers want business to be involved in the social world, I wonder if social media sites will relax their restrictions towards social marketing. Don’t hold your breath!

Social blogging has stepped up a level with political blogging. As if you don’t get enough in the news and everywhere else online, Twitter has now gone political with Election Site Highlights from both the Presidential nominees and their running mates.

The site features Tweets involving the presidential and vice presidential candidates and apparently there are hundreds of these Tweets coming through at any one time. The Tweets are derived more from the general public than from any of the politicians. It does however provide for an interesting view on what people are really concerned with in this election.

I am sure the marketing and policy gurus from both sides will be monitoring the flow of information very carefully in case anything damaging hits the airwaves. Can you images how viral a juicy tidbit dropped into the Tweets could become?

You can be sure that somewhere along the line some smart marketing person will find a way to market their site using these Tweets. How successful it will be, who knows. But they will try. It’s human nature. If you a political animal and want to see what all the fuss is about then pop over and have a look – everyone’s Tweeting about something.