Look At These Numbers!

According to estimates by eMarketer there were nearly 116 million U.S. user-generated content consumers in 2008, and 82.5 million content creators.

Both U.S. user-generated content consumers and creators are expected to grow significantly by 2013, with an estimated 154.8 million user-generated content consumers and 114.5 million user-generated content creators.

So what are the major content types being generated; well, eMarketer looked at social networking, blogs, user-generated video, and virtual worlds.

They found that in the U.S. social networking has the largest number of content creators with 71.3 million (in 2008), and social networking will continue to have the largest number of content creators in 2013, with 105.3 million. Blogs were second with 21.2 million content creators in 2008, and will reach 32.1 million in 2013. Followed by user-generated video at 15.4 million in 2008, and 27.2 million in 2013. And, lastly virtual worlds with 11.6 million in 2008, and 19.9 million in 2013.

Take that. Looks like marketers and brand managers need to be prepared to share control with their customers and prospects. Let our voices be heard!

--Milissa Rick, VP Online Insights