New SSI Webinar Will Reveal the Results of New Research Profiling the Most Avid Social Media Users and Sharing Effective Approaches for Bringing Social Networkers Into Market Research

SHELTON, Conn., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Survey Sampling International (SSI) will present a new Webinar—Winning the Social Media Avids: Connecting with the New Communicators—that reveals the findings of a new study on the behaviors, attitudes and characteristics of the most avid social media users.  Scheduled for June 21, 2011 at 1:00 pm ET, the educational program also will provide guidance on the optimal approaches for bringing social networkers into market research—and blending social media with other access sources.

The new SSI study was crafted specifically to answer the flood of questions the company received after its last Webinar, Taming the Social Networking Giant, which has drawn about 3,500 viewers.  During that session, SSI shared research showing social media use exploding across all ages—from 13 to 65+—with a core set of users within each age group spending 5+ hours a week social networking. SSI dubbed these high users the avids—and reported that they are most likely to post comments, answer polls and share opinions on brands.  In addition, the avids are most likely to anticipate increasing their social media use over the next year.  

Companies learning about the avids have expressed great interest in understanding more about this active group, which has the loudest voice on the growing social media channel—as well as in discovering how to bring social media users into their research projects.  In Winning the Social Media Avids, SSI will cover the specific topics its clients wanted to learn more about, including:

• Who the social media avids are—and how they are different
• Whether social media avids are also high-volume consumers…effective opinion shapers…and/or early adopters
• If social media avids are the same people influencing through traditional media—or another group with a unique profile
• How to reach social networkers—and bring them into research
• If and how social media sources are different than other sources
• What the optimal solution is for blending social media with other sources

Mark Hardy, SSI's Managing Director, Americas and Jackie Lorch, SSI's Vice President, Knowledge Management will serve as the Webinar presenters, giving viewers new insights into social networks and their implications for market research.  Participants can register free for the educational program at www.surveysampling.com/avids.

About Survey Sampling International

Survey Sampling International (www.surveysampling.com) is the premier global provider of sampling solutions for survey research. SSI reaches respondents in 72 countries via Internet, telephone and mobile/wireless.  Value-add services include questionnaire design consultation, programming and hosting, and data processing.  SSI serves more than 2,000 clients, including 48 of the top 50 research organizations. Founded in 1977, SSI has 17 offices in 15 countries.

SOURCE Survey Sampling International (SSI)