This is a guest post from Anna Pearce, Communications Executive from OBAN Multilingual SEO, a world leader in international and multilingual SEO and SEM strategy development
Facebook and Twitter have become synonymous in the UK and USA with social networking. Businesses from every industry are jumping on the social network bandwagon.
But what do you do when you want to expand globally? A well developed Twitter strategy would not be the ideal way to speak to your customers in Russia, and having a targeted advertising campaign on Facebook wouldn’t raise your profile in China one bit.
By looking at social network markets across the globe, it’s clear that marketers need to think outside the box if they want to target foreign markets.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest social networks around the world.
India into Orkut
Social networking is experiencing quick growth in India, and there is predicted to be over 70 million social network users there by the end of 2011, up from 45 million in 2009.
Orkut is the most popular social network, holding around a 40% user reach. Facebook has a mere 13% and Hi5 8%. However, Facebook usage is on the rise, and Twitter experienced a boom in usage in 2009.
Maktoob makes a mark in Middle East
In Arabic speaking countries, social network Maktoob, which translates from Arabic to ‘letter’ or ‘written’, has 17 million users across the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordon are its biggest markets.
Facebook is the second biggest social network in this region; however it pales in comparison with only 7 million users.
China relate to RenRen
There are three main ‘local’ social network contenders in China – QQ.com, 51.com and renren.com. QQ.com and its sub-brands have a massive 90% reach, 51.com 60%, and renren.com with 22%.
In terms of percentages, the development of social networking amongst internet users in China is moderate compared to other markets, at only 35%. However, considering that there are 400 million internet users in the country, that figure actually stands at around 140 million.
‘Like’ Localisation
By looking at social networks in a local context when going global, businesses a far better chance of reaching their target market successfully.
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