Who’s more trustworthy – blogs and social media or consumer reviews?  That’s the question BlogHer, the premium cross-platform media network and publisher for women,  asked in their 5th Annual Women and Social Media Study, which reveals the deeper trust between blog communities and their active readers versus other leading social media outlets, with the highest rate of conversion to purchasing action among active blog users.

Some of the key findings in their study stated that women use social meida for various reasons such as staying updated on family activity (87%), for fun (77%), to learn about new products (41%), to seek product recommendations (39%), and to make product decisions (36%).   The study also stated that women are likely to turn to blogs written by other women simply because they trust their opinions or recommendations.

“After five years of conducting this study, reviewing campaign-based statistics on purchase intent and lift, and watching our own network grow, BlogHerknows that there’s no one a woman trusts more for advice, recommendations and guidance than another woman in her circle,” said Lisa Stone, BlogHer Co-founder and CEO.

“Given the concentration of engaged users who will act on what they learn reading blogs, there is no more efficient use of marketing dollars online today.”

Pinterest is carving a special place in women’s hearts, growing at a faster rate than any other social outlet in BlogHer’s network right now, being adopted by 77% of surveyed users.  The pin board collective is also high on the relevancy scale, matching and sometimes beating Twitter for BlogHer users.  2011 was a game-changing year as more lifestyle content becomes more incorporated into social media trends, including social TV and online shopping.  Instagram is also on the rise, with a 43% adoption rate amongst BlogHer respondents.

The trend reiterates women’s position as a tech savvy demographic, and one that’s as diverse as any.  Leading the charge in social networking engagement, women in the BlogHer network in particular are far ahead of the general population as far as social media take up goes.

The increase in data analysis is helping us better understand consumer activity, and particularly intent.  “There’s a connection between finding something, trusting the source of information and actually making a purchase,” explains Elisa Camahort Page of BlogHer.

“That last step is what we as an industry are trying to quantify.  The word of a familiar blogger in your circle is going to be more powerful than a casual or unfamiliar relationship…it’s about experience and relationship.”

Women of Power

International Women’s Day was celebrated last week on March 8th, and women all over the world celebrated that special day in one form or another.  But whether the world is celebrating Women’s Day or Women’s Month, women across the globe are always making sure that they are making their mark, leading the change the our world desperately needs.

Colocation America announced the Top 5 Most Influential Women in the Data Center Industry to celebrate International Women’s Day.  After careful and thorough research, Colocation America named Ginni Rometty President and Chief Executive Officer for IBM, Padmasree Warrior Senior Vice President Engineering /Chief Technology Officer for Cisco, Diane M. Bryant, Vice President and General Manager of the Datacenter and Connected Systems Group (DCSG) for Intel Corporation, Ellen Rubin, Founder and Vice President of Products for CloudSwitch Inc, and Amy E. Alving, Ph.D, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as the most influential women in the data center industry.

The news was spread by men and women through social media, and the Colocation America website and blog post received unprecedented amount of views on the said day.

TechWomen

TechWomen, the initiative by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) under Secretary Hillary Clinton’s leadership, plans to expand to sub-Saharan Africa beginning sometime in 2013.  TechWomen brings emerging women leaders in technology sectors from the Middle East and North Africa together with their American counterparts for a professional mentorship and exchange program at leading companies in the United States, harnessing the power of business, technology and innovation.

“Following the U. S. portion of the exchange, U.S. mentors will travel to Africa to conduct workshops and follow-on training for women in the technology sector and young girls who have expressed an interest in pursuing a tech-based career,” a US Department of State spokesperson said in a statement.

The Cattiness Of Women

But as with anything else, there’s always a negative side.  Though women do seek other women’s opinions, some women would always say something negative about the advice or opinion of the blogger or even those commenting on the post.

Journalist Lisa Ling, who created the Secret Society of Women after a miscarriage, stated that blog sites such as hers offer “powerful peer support” but she is also “astonished by the cattiness” generated in such sites.

Just like technology, conflicts will always arise, especially when opinions are being voiced out.  Though there will always be misunderstandings between us women, there’s always one thing that can unite us: men telling us that women are so hard to understand.  And that’s what makes us so damn special.  ;)