ATLANTA, Aug. 5, 2009 – More and more utilities have migrated to social media outlets such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to communicate vital information including energy efficiency promotions, community involvement and outage restoration updates, according to utility industry research firm Chartwell Inc.

 

Popular social media sites provide a variety of ways for users to interact with one another and stay in touch via email, instant messaging and mobile applications. These channels are also a direct path to the customer, many utilities have discovered.

 

Chartwell details the industry’s dive into the social media phenomenon in its latest Industry Update report, Social Media for Marketing and Customer Communications. Chartwell researchers evaluated dozens of utility social media Web sites and interviewed those overseeing social media functions at utilities to provide an in-depth and well-rounded view of what outlets utilities rely upon, what types of messages are conveyed through social media channels and utilities’ strategies behind their “tweets,” fan postings, blogs and online videos.

 

Social Media for Marketing and Customer Communications, a part of the Chartwell Products, Services and Programs Research Series, includes charts and graphs on utility social media activity, emerging trends and tactics and a rundown of the various ways utilities have tapped the Web to communicate with customers, the media and other stakeholders. The report also analyzes the business reasons for taking to social media and what utilities can hope to gain from their social media strategy. The study includes useful “takeaways” readers can look to when undertaking their own social media strategy.

 

The Industry Update: Social Media for Marketing and Customer Communications is available for purchase for $295 and is also available to all Chartwell Premier and Products, Services and Programs Research Series members. For information on membership or Chartwell’s research, contact Kristy Dickens at (800) 432-5879, (404) 237-9099, ext. 25 or kdickens@chartwellinc.com; or visit www.chartwellinc.com or Chartwell’s EnergyLibrary at www.energylibrary.com.

 

ABOUT CHARTWELL INC.
Chartwell is a specialized information provider that facilitates knowledge exchange among utility professionals responsible for management practices and technology solutions. Chartwell publishes best practices case studies, quantitative research and electronic newsletters, and hosts conferences and other events for utility professionals.

Dennis Smith

404-237-9099, ext. 31