43 Percent of U.S. Businesses Using Social Media, Social Networks to Win New Business

DALLAS, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The last year has seen a rise in U.S. companies using social networks to win new business, reveals a new survey from Regus, the global provider of flexible workplace solutions. According to the survey, 43 percent of firms are successfully using social networking to win new customers, up eight percentage points from last year's survey.

The research also reveals more firms are using social media to engage with existing customers than a year ago, with the following highlights:

• 50 percent of businesses in the U.S. use websites such as Twitter to engage, connect with and inform existing customers
• In the U.S., 55 percent of firms encourage their employees to join social networks such as LinkedIn and Xing
• 38 percent of U.S. companies dedicate up to 20 percent of their marketing budget to business social networking activity
• Globally, the survey reported a seven percent increase in the proportion of businesses successfully recruiting new customers through social networks such as Facebook

Social networking has fully evolved from a nice-to-have to a necessity as the majority of businesses in the U.S. (69%), and internationally (74%) agree that social media activity is playing a bigger role in their marketing strategy. U.S. (64%) and global firms (61%) are also emphasizing the need for a balance of marketing media, confirming their belief that without a combination of traditional and digital techniques, marketing campaigns will not work.(1)

The global Regus survey findings are based on the responses of more than 17,000 managers and business owners across 80 countries.

Sande Golgart, regional vice president for Regus, comments: "As businesses emerge from the downturn they are increasingly reconsidering pre-recession working practices and opting for more flexible, competitive strategies.  From supply chain management, to leaner working practices, to cloud computing, to increased use of video communications and mobile working - no area of business is being overlooked. Particularly in the U.S. where MerchantCircle reports that more than 70 percent of small businesses are promoting their business on Facebook, more and more companies are leveraging this channel to increase the loyalty of existing customers, and as a successful acquisition tools."(2)

About Regus

Regus is the world's largest provider of workplace solutions, with products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world's largest network of video communication studios. Regus enables people to work their way, whether it's from home, on the road or from an office. Customers such as Google, GlaxoSmithKline, and Nokia join hundreds of thousands of growing small and medium businesses that benefit from outsourcing their office and workplace needs to Regus, allowing them to focus on their core activities.

Over 800,000 customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a global footprint of 1,100 locations in 500 cities and 88 countries, which allow individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they want to. Regus was founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1989, is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information please visit: www.regus.com

To download a copy of the full report please visit www.regus.presscentre.com.

(1)  Marketing Week, Pulling in the same direction, Digital Strategy Supplement, May 2011

(2) Merchant  Confidence Index Q1 2011, MerchantCircle, February 2011

Press contacts
Julia Gaynor
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SOURCE Regus Group Services Limited