Russia is one of the only countries where Facebook doesn’t dominate the social market. Instead, homegrown social networks remain popular. VK (formerly VKontakte) is the most widespread, with more than twice as many users as Facebook, according to a September 2012 study from Gemius SA. The site bears many similarities to Facebook—with one notable exception: VK allows users to stream a vast array of entertainment media within the site. Odnoklassniki.ru, which focuses on connecting classmates, is also a popular social network in the country that surpasses Facebook.
Still, Facebook has seen major growth in Russia. eMarketer estimates the social network saw user numbers rise by 62.8% in 2012 and expects a 57.8% increase this year, with double-digit growth continuing through 2017. Read the rest at eMarketer.
The e-Strategy Academy covers all aspects of digital marketing including search optimization & marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, video marketing, mobile marketing & public relations.