A new report is telling companies not to be too corporate in their social media presence.

Brands need to present consumers with a more human face when they engage with them via social media, a new report has said.

This is the overall finding of a survey of people's attitudes to corporate involvement with social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, carried out by Firefly Millward Brown.

Firms using parcel delivery and courier services have also learned that it is important not to simply recreate their homepage on the social site.

Other key recommendations include having an open and honest conversation with consumers, such as by talking to people in their own language and not use corporate speak, explained Firefly Millward Brown global brand director Rob Hernandez.

"Many of the people we interviewed commented on wanting brands to have a human face," he added

"Consumers' biggest fear is that marketers will turn social media from a community into a marketplace."

A separate survey from Yazino recently revealed that a quarter (26 per cent) of people spend more time communicating through social networks than they do in person.

Posted by Laura Rathbone

Article Added: 19/11/2010 09:26:33