I'm a baby boomer and I write blogs. As a matter of fact, I have more than one active blog. I also read blogs written by fellow boomers but, according to the latest research, I am in the MINORITY because the majority of baby boomers don't read blogs. The study claims the number of blog reader/writers is below 10%. Although 49% of boomers use online reviews and recommendations on a retailer’s site to make their purchase, only 9% looked to other blogs or communities for recommendations.
Another interesting statistic involves Twitter. The study also showed that Twitter is not very popular with us boomers either---only 10 percent of us are "tweeting."
Meanwhile, Lisa E. Phillips, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, “Boomers and Social Media” says about 47% of online boomers maintain a profile on at least one social network, and Facebook was, by far, the most popular with 73 percent of boomers maintaining a profile.
So what do you think of this study? Is it pretty much on the money or totally off base? Also, if you are a baby boomer with a blog, please post it here.
6 comments:
Interesting issue, that we use social media but don't read blogs...wondering how accurate such statistics are (when based on a very small sampling, can be misleading...)
I have a Boomer blog: www.boomercoach.wordpress.com, and am the advice columnist for Boomster.com and Boomerauthority.ning.com
Perhaps these are the best places to reach Boomers, but I do believe more are accessing blogs dedicated to our generation that somewhat limited studies may indicate.
Thanks for raising the question!
Terri Benincasa, Ed.M.
The numbers seem about right to me.
I don't know if we can rely on such stats, but do think Lisa Phillips to be closer to the mark!
Twitter appears to be losing its gloss' of late, probably many boomer-aged folk are reluctant to be pushed too fast?? After all, the latter IS a fast-paced social medium!
Facebook on the other hand, is more appealing in that you have more time to interact with each other-I enjoy this network a great deal more these days :)
I find the study right in some areas and wrong in others. As far as Twitter, I've reluctantly started to Tweet but am woefully remiss in checking it for other Tweeters. I think, in this case, I'm not alone.
As far as blogs, I've been very lucky with mine which is directed specifically to the interests of baby boomer women. I do read other's blogs and make comments. Again, I think I'm representative of a lot of boomers.
Great idea for discussion! Thanks, Beverly, for bringing it to our attention.
I have a "feeling" the numbers may be a bit off. Not so much about Twitter (which has in many ways become a great spam machine) but about the others.
It's interesting as I am researching an article (perhaps e-book) on Baby Boomer marketing and the Internet. The more I dig, the more I find we are all over the Internet - and growing daily. The marketers don't quite know what to do with us (then again, neither did our parents).
For example, the majority of travel is booked online these days and the biggest demographic of traveling people are Baby Boomer women ages 50 to 75 (who tend to have their year's pleasure travel booked in advance).
Since marketers in general are leaving TV and radio for the Internet, and since Boomers still are the group with the greatest amount of discretionary income), advertisers would be foolish to ignore us.
Do we read blogs? Well, I can speak for all 70+ million of us...but I do! And, I write blogs:
come visit me at http://maryannenagy.com
Interesting numbers which I think will change as more boomers retire.
I have a blog www.thesocialmediaboomer.com
Barb White
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