Fortune 500 Corporate Blog Adoption Slow and Steady According to Society for New Communications Research Chair Dr. Nora Ganim Barnes and Eric Mattson of Financial Insite
The Fortune 500 are farther along in their adoption of public-facing corporate blogs than previous data has suggested according to a new study.
Palo Alto, Calif. (PRWEB) April 23, 2009 -- The Fortune 500 are farther along in their adoption of public-facing corporate blogs than previous data has suggested. This was the key finding of a new research study, "The Fortune 500 and Blogging: Slow and Steady" conducted by Dr. Nora Ganim Barnes, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Research Chair of the Society for New Communications Research and Chancellor Professor of Marketing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Eric Mattson, CEO of Financial Insite Inc., a Seattle-based research firm.
Dr. Nora Ganim Barnes, PhD, Senior Fellow, Society for New Communications Research & Chancellor Professor of Marketing at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
The new report is the outcome of a statistically-sound study of public-facing blogs among the Fortune 500. The study examined the 2008 Fortune 500 list in an attempt to quantify the adoption of social media by identifying those with public-facing blogs. Barnes has conducted similar studies on the Inc. 500, US colleges and universities, and Fortune magazine's list of the 200 largest charities. The report conclusively shows that while the Fortune 500 companies are adopting social media at a slower rate than other leading businesses, universities and charities, many more of them are blogging than has been previously reported.
Key Findings include:
| | - 81 of the Fortune 500 or 16% currently have public-facing blogs.
- This compares with 39 percent of the Inc. 500; 41 percent of the higher education sector and 57 percent of the nation's Top 200 Charities.
- 28 percent of the Fortune 500's blogs link to Twitter accounts. (Other Fortune 500 companies have Twitter accounts, but they are not linked to their blogs)
- Five of the top ten companies have public blogs: Wal-Mart, Chevron, General Motors, Ford, and Bank of America.
- 90 percent of the Fortune 500's blogs have the comments feature enabled.
- The computer software/hardware technology industry has the most blogs, followed by the food and drug industry, financial services, Internet services, semi-conductors, retail and automotive respectively.
- Ten percent of the Fortune 500's blogs link to podcasts; 21 percent incorporate video
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"It appears that those companies that have made the decision to blog have utilized the tool well. There is frequent posting, ongoing discussion and the ability to follow the conversation easily through RSS or subscriptions," stated Barnes. "Those F500 companies that have taken the leap into the blogosphere represent all the things that make social media great. They're diverse in both size and industry, thereby adding a range of new perspectives to the online conversation. They're enabling their readers to better control and participate in that conversation. And they're exploring other ways - like videoblogging and podcasting - to communicate with their community."
"As social media becomes more integral to the business function, we should see evidence of it in the use of blogs, podcasts, Twitter or other tools," added Mattson. "Given that the Fortune 500 stand as a model for business success, it is interesting to examine their involvement in the social media arena."
A full copy of the new research report can be downloaded here:
http://www.umassd.edu/cmr/studiesresearch/fortune500.cfm
In addition, Dr. Barnes will publish a paper based on the findings in the upcoming issue of the Society for New Communications Research's Journal of New Communications Research and will present the findings via a web-based briefing and at the Society for New Communications Research's annual conference.
About the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
To facilitate the economic development of the region by providing an affordable, high-quality economic alternative to meeting business needs for research, training, and consulting in any and all aspects of Marketing. The Center for Marketing Research is associated with and maintains a close relationship with the Chambers of Commerce within southeastern Massachusetts. This unique relationship provides the Center with an effective business networking capability. For more information, visit http://www.umassd.edu/cmr/.
About the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR)
The Society for New Communications Research is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) research and education foundation and think tank focused on the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communications, and their effect on traditional media and business models, communications, culture and society. SNCR is dedicated to creating a bridge between the academic and theoretical pursuit of these topics and the pragmatic implementation of new media and communications tools and methodologies. The Society's Fellows include a leading group of futurists, scholars, business leaders, professional communicators, members of the media and technologists from around the globe - all collaborating together on research initiatives, educational offerings, and the establishment of standards and best practices. For more information, visit http://sncr.org.
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