By Ignoring Social Networks your business lose two thirds of 18-37 year olds

Six out of ten British consumers would be willing to interact with a brand on social networks if offered the right incentives, discounts and special offers, according to the 2007 Social Media for Brands Report.

The report, commissioned by Tamar, the search conversion agency (http://www.tamar.com) reveals that consumers are more open to contact with brands through social networks than many may think, and more than half of us are willing to act as brand advocates through social networks.

Some bullet points from this reserch:

• 80 per cent of people who use social networks have either chatted about, commented on or reviewed a brand or product on an online forum or social network.
• More than three quarters of social networkers actively commenting on brandsThe 2007
• Two thirds (66 per cent) of 18-35 year olds in the UK are actively engaged in social networking and almost two in five (38 per cent) are members of two or more online forums or social networking sites.
• negative comments posted on online forums and social networks put off customers, with more than half (52 per cent) admitting to this.
• 59 per cent of men taking negative comments seriously or very seriously as opposed to only 47 per cent of women.
• almost six out of ten (58 percent) saying that negative comments would lead to them abandoning a purchase when it comes to Travel related service or product .
• Nearly 1.5 times as many 18-35 year olds would rather accept a friend request from a brand than have banner adverts on a social networking profile page.