Marketing Research and Insight Glossary

Definitions, common uses and explanations of 1,500+ key market research terms and phrases.

What is Social Media Listening?

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Social Media Listening Definition

The computer automated process of searching online communities (blogs and other peer-to-peer sites) looking for patterns and other useful information. Also known as social media mining or social media scraping.

Social media listening involves monitoring and analyzing conversations, mentions and discussions happening on various social media platforms. In market research, it's the practice of tracking brand mentions, customer feedback and relevant keywords to gain insights into consumer opinions, sentiments and trends.

Who relies on social media listening in market research?

Market researchers, brand managers, customer service teams and businesses of all sizes rely on social media listening. They use it to understand customer perceptions, gather feedback, identify issues and adjust marketing strategies based on real-time insights from social media conversations.

Why should I care about social media listening in market research?

Social media listening provides a direct channel to your audience's thoughts and preferences. By staying attuned to social media conversations, you can adapt your strategies, engage with customers, address concerns and capitalize on emerging trends. This active engagement can lead to improved customer satisfaction and more effective brand management.

Why is social media listening important in market research?

  • Social media listening allows you to proactively understand consumer needs and expectations.
  • Social media listening helps you identify potential crises, respond to customer inquiries and make data-driven decisions.
  • By leveraging these insights, you can strengthen your brand's reputation, enhance customer relationships and fine-tune your marketing efforts for better outcomes.