Pew Report: Social networks are growing exponentially

Some fresh Facebook stats from the Pew Internet & American Life Project (as reported by Econsultancy) show that social networks are here to stay.

According to a January 2009 Pew report, 35% of adult internet users in the U.S. now have at least one social networking profile. More impressive here is the incredible rate of growth: this 35% is up from 8% in 2005.

The report also indicates that 60% of these users visit their primary social network at least once every few days.

These numbers offer a compelling picture for why many digital marketers are trying to tap into bustling ecosystems like Facebook and MySpace. Whether you are a brand trying to build a community of enthusiasts, or a nonprofit trying to motivate advocacy around an important social issue, the relatively low costs of entry make it a no-brainer for organizations of all kinds to start marketing on popular social networks. Facebook and its competitors are attracting and generating captive audiences at an amazing rate.

So the question is: Why not now? The substantial marketing value of social networks is becoming clearer every day.