Consumers are flocking to social networks in massive numbers, but some have argued that a load of traffic doesn't necessarily equal an advertising opportunity. After all, social networks are for socializing, and ads may disturb the consumer experience.
The good news is that consumers do not find ads on social networks any more intrusive than any other ads on the web, according to a study from research firm Dynamic Logic. In fact, consumers view branded messages on social media websites as on par with those in online video and only slightly more annoying than search or banner ads, Ad Age reports.
The bad news is that social media advertising -- and digital ads in general -- are still not looked upon favorably by consumers when compared to other media. Only 22 percent of consumers surveyed by Dynamic Logic expressed a positive attitude toward social media ads, compared to 40 percent who had favorable opinions of print and TV ads.
Dynamic's definition of social media advertising did not include branded Facebook pages or Twitter profiles. Of the 2,000 respondents, 13 percent followed brands on Facebook, largely for news about products, sales, and discounts.
