{"id":26477,"date":"2011-07-17T03:32:23","date_gmt":"2011-07-17T02:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=26477"},"modified":"2011-07-17T03:38:08","modified_gmt":"2011-07-17T02:38:08","slug":"women-are-more-savvy-than-%e2%80%9cthe-rest%e2%80%9d-want-to-admit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/women-are-more-savvy-than-%e2%80%9cthe-rest%e2%80%9d-want-to-admit\/","title":{"rendered":"Women Are More Savvy than \u201cThe Rest\u201d Want to Admit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The following is by G. A . “Andy” Marken, President of Marken Communications<\/span><\/a> Inc. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking article. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the opinions expressed are solely those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and the opinions of the rest of the ABT staff.<\/strong><\/span><\/span> \u2013Mark Poppin,<\/span> ABT Senior Editor<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Critical Half<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201c<\/em>Oh, then why don’t you get yourself some friendly little therapist and try to work out all that hostility.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Nick, Basic Instinct<\/em>, Carolco Pictures (1992)<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We enjoy research, especially researching research.\u00a0 Take LinkedIn\u2019s recent report that women are less savvy (well informed, perceptive, shrewd) than men.<\/p>\n

Their results only reinforced H.H. Muro\u2019s comment in the early 1900\u2019s when he noted, \u201cA little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

The professional networking site produced the amazing findings because women weren\u2019t hanging out as much there as they were at all of the other social media sites.<\/p>\n

They blunted some of the challenges to their \u201cfindings\u201d by having a female member of LinkedIn sign-off on (read \u201cpublicize\u201d) the results.\u00a0 Otherwise, someone might have accused them of being sexist.<\/p>\n

Nick looked at the report and the person presenting it and said, \u201c<\/em>You tell me. You’re the shrink.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Somehow, LinkedIn believes that since the ratio of gender are pretty equal on the Web, including techie and game sites, then it\u2019s only logical that they should have their \u201cfair share.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Nick said, \u201c<\/em>That’s miserable enough to carry an obligation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Female vs. Male Internet Users<\/h3>\n

% of total<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Figure 2 \u2013 Females Dominate \u2013 <\/strong>While the world population is \u201croughly\u201d 50\/50 male\/female, a higher proportion of women use the Internet than men.\u00a0 More importantly, they do more of their product research and purchasing online than men.\u00a0 Source – comScore<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, any difference in the numbers could be a rounding error; but look at how much more active females are on the Web.<\/p>\n

Women of Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

They buy more online.<\/p>\n

They make more transactions.<\/p>\n

They spend more.<\/p>\n

Gee, if we\u2019re trying to sell something \u2013 product or service \u2013 guess we might as well look beyond LinkedIn!<\/p>\n

Nick gritted his teeth and said, \u201c<\/em>You wanna play hard, come on!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A report that USA Today<\/em> discussed not long ago provided a different set of conclusions.\u00a0 The report conducted by Netpop Research concluded that more than half of those considered \u201cheavy contributors\u201d are not only female but are also active in six or more social media activities.<\/p>\n

Time Expended by Females on Social Media<\/strong><\/p>\n

(By Generation)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 % of Respondents<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 3 \u2013 Social Media Experts \u2013 <\/strong>Women are more involved in the majority of social media activity than men, with the exception of LinkedIn.\u00a0 Their social media activity runs across all generations with netizens leading the way.\u00a0 Source – WhyMomsRule<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Netpop research found that women outpaced men on social media 78 percent to 66 percent.<\/p>\n

Young and old, they spent a lot of time on the main social media locations and were involved in more social media activities.<\/p>\n

The truth is, women around the globe take the lead in social networks and social media activity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Figure 4 \u2013 Worldwide Web \u2013 <\/strong>Regardless of the region of the world, women lead men in their web activities at home and at work.\u00a0 Source \u2013 Media Metrix Worldwide<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

O.K., everywhere but LinkedIn, which Pew Research Center found was the last real bastion of male domination.<\/p>\n

Sex Distribution by Social Networking Platform<\/strong><\/p>\n

% of users on the following social networking sites who are male or female<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Figure 5 \u2013 All But One \u2013 <\/strong>While women dominate the conversation in most websites\/activities, men dominate the participants at LinkedIn, which can be good or bad depending on your interpretation.\u00a0 Source \u2013 Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet & American Life Survey<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pew Research\u2019s study concluded that LinkedIn is one of the few social networks that has fewer women than men. In their published results, they also reported that women significantly outnumbered men in every other social media site\/activity.<\/p>\n

Wrong Message<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being savvy from LinkedIn\u2019s perspective is that they have an exclusive (but open) club where people can make professional connections and relationships.<\/p>\n

Or, as a smart-alecky female in our office translated the report, \u201cJust proves guys need their egos reinforced and pumped up more than gals.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Boy, we wanted to say something smart back at her because we resented that \u2013 didn\u2019t deny it, just resented it!<\/p>\n

Most of the research we\u2019ve seen shows women to be as active, if not more so, in the social media arena as men.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Figure 6 \u2013 Social Leaders \u2013 <\/strong>Women have found the Internet\/Web the ideal means of connecting with people of similar interests and spend more time networking, IMing, emailing.\u00a0 Source \u2013 Pew Research Center\u2019s Internet & American Life Project<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

comScore\u2019s study last year concluded that globally a higher percentage of women than men were more active with social networking, email, IM (translation–just about everything covered by the social media umbrella).<\/p>\n

comScore noted that 75.8 percent of women online visited networking sites, compared to 69.7 percent of men.<\/p>\n

The study also found women spend significantly more time on social networking sites than men, with women averaging 5.5 hours per month compared to 4 hours for men.<\/p>\n

According to \u201cShe\u2019s Connected,\u201d they were busy:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Viewing social network profiles \u2013 92%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Creating a social network profile \u2013 91%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Watching online videos \u2013 88%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reading blogs \u2013 84%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Uploading pictures to sites \u2013 82%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leaving comments on sites \u2013 78%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Starting blogs \u2013 52%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Subscribing to RSS feeds \u2013 48%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Downloading podcasts 48%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sending private messages to friends (not on LinkedIn) \u2013 34.6%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Getting product info including coupons \u2013 8.7%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Playing games \u2013 6.4%<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Writing product reviews \u2013 5%<\/p>\n

Imagine what they could do if they were social media savvy?<\/p>\n

Great Reviewers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many females have found that social media provides them with an excellent opportunity to express their views \u2013 especially about products \u2013 and interact with people with similar interests and ideas.<\/p>\n

Gus warned, \u201cEveryone that she plays with dies.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

These social expressionists provide excellent and highly credible word-of-mouth endorsement of products they like in addition to turning the spotlight on products\/services they don\u2019t like.<\/p>\n

Having mastered the domination of social media on the Web, Nielsen recently reported that women are dominating the mobile social network.\u00a0 More than 55 percent of the individuals on the mobile social network were female while 45 percent were male.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Figure 7 \u2013 Bell Curve \u2013 <\/strong>Gen X and pre-boomers are very active on social networking sites with fairly predictable Bell Curve participation in millenials and late boomers.\u00a0 Source – comScore<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to some of the research we\u2019ve seen, one of the major areas of mobile networking women lead in is game play \u2013 individual and group.<\/p>\n

As Catherine said, \u201cI have a degree in psychology; it goes with the turf… Games are fun.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In LinkedIn\u2019s defense, they did note that several areas of the study were gender-centric such as seniority, job function and desire to stay in the \u201cmanagement loop.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, jobs, referrals, business relationships\/deals.<\/p>\n

What the study failed to take into consideration at the outset is that every individual today has an online brand and people \u2013 men and women \u2013 are professionally and socially networking 24\/7.<\/p>\n

Really Worth It?<\/strong><\/p>\n

About the only thing they did validate is that the \u201cgood old boy\u201d club still lives; but we\u2019re not quite certain if a place where you can build and \u201cmanage\u201d your professional network has a value of $4 billion plus–especially when you can tear it down with a dumb Tweet!<\/p>\n

Yeah, we like LinkedIn; but when you want to do business \u2013 sell your stuff\/service \u2013 you\u2019re probably better off looking to the rest of the social media sites and that means getting real good at the mobile activities.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the real business seems to be done.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Figure 8 \u2013 Self-Confidence \u2013 <\/strong>Females around the globe have found social media and web activities the outlet they want\/need to exchange information on products, hobbies, family and work.\u00a0 Men may dominate the \u201cnew good-old-boy club,\u201d LinkedIn, but just about everywhere else women dominate the discussions, activities.\u00a0 Image Source \u2013 Caroloco Pictures<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But even with all the research that is done on the Web and how closely we listen to our wife and daughter, we still agree with Sigmund Freud\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThe great question that has never been answered, and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, is \u2018What does a woman want?\u2019”\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Something about the way she glared at us and said, \u201cI\u2019m not stupid\u201d,<\/em> made us believe her!<\/p>\n

# # #<\/p>\n

by: G.A. “Andy” Marken<\/strong><\/p>\n

President<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marken Communications Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andy@markencom.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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