Reports: Summer is a great time for social marketing

School is out. Kids have time to go online - and so do adults. According to two recent reports, summer just might be the best time to enter the social network marketplace.

by Kristina Knight

During the month of May, Hitwise found that MySpace received just over 70% of social networking visits. Facebook remained in the second position with almost 17% of visits. Researchers also found that time spent on social networks has increased 71% year over year.

It really shouldn't be a surprise that social networks are seeing an increase in visits. Despite summer vacation absences, all demographics try new ways to stay in touch with friends and family members. Online social networks are a great way to stay in touch without spending hours each day on the phone. Users can post a quick update in their profiles or shoot one another a quick email to set up a lunch date or weekend event.

Marketers can engage that user base throughout the summer months with an inventive display ad campaign or by advertising with video. Creative companies could also snag a little extra attention by asking consumers to create their own summer-fun type ad for their product.