SUMMARY: Social media is gaining respect at a critical time – when budgets are being formulated. And this attitude adjustment is having a major effect on marketing spending. MarketingSherpa January 5, 2010

MarketingSherpa asked this question:
Which statement best describes how social media marketing is perceived within your organization at budget time?

Answers
7% Social media produces measurable ROI – increase budgets liberally
17% Social media is basically free – let’s keep it that way
27% Social media value is unknown – why invest more?
49% …

Investing in social is trendy. Marketing Sherpa’s Chart of the Week shows that, across the board, industries will be upping social marketing budgets by as much as 79% over 2009. Wow! But, how much were the budgets in 2009? That’s an x-factor that’s not given.

In our experience, we’re seeing clients shifting marketing funds away from advertising and print collateral to content, PR and social marketing. How did your company allocate its 2010 marketing budget?

New Chart: Change in Social …