RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – A new survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Facebook finds that minority-owned and women-owned business are utilizing social media in a variety of ways to improve their bottom lines and to find employees.
Among African American owners, the survey reported they are:
- 36 percentage points more likely to have reported that they built their businesses on Facebook;
- 32 percentage points more likely to have reported increased hiring due to business growth since joining Facebook;
- 18 percentage points more likely to have reported increased sales due to use of Facebook;
- 25 percentage points more likely to have reported using Facebook to trade with other cities, states, or countries.
Among Hispanic owners, the survey reported they are:
- 40 percentage points more likely to have reported that they built their businesses on Facebook;
- 46 percentage points more likely to have reported increased hiring due to business growth since joining Facebook;
- 26 percentage points more likely to have reported increased sales due to use of Facebook; and
- 31 percentage points more likely to have reported using Facebook to trade with other cities, states, or countries
Among women-owned businesses:
- Compared with 55% of men-owned firms, 72% of women-owned firms reported using Facebook for their businesses.
- While there is no significant difference in the rates at which men- and women-owned firms reported building their businesses on the platform, or how they are using Facebook for trade, the perceived impact of Facebook does differ across the two groups.
- Particularly, women-owned firms are 10 percentage points more likely to have reported increased sales due to use of Facebook. Additionally, in this sample, 48% of women-owned businesses reported hiring since joining the site, compared with 38% of men-owned firms.
Earlier today, WRAL TechWire reported about the overall survey findings, the impact of Facebook in North Carolina, and how technology is affecting more businesses.
