Should Asian magazines find ways to use the unique opportunities offered by social media? Recent statistics suggest it’s not only an option, but a necessity for magazines that want to gain credibility among subscribers and visibility among potential subscribers. Social media is here to stay and it’s a critical source of information and entertainment for millions of users.

According to a recent Burson-Marsteller study, social media usage in the Asia-Pacific region has exploded in recent years, up to 107 percent in South Korea and 12,305 percent in Vietnam. More than half the region’s population is active on line, with Facebook the most popular social network.

With everything else a publisher has to do, it’s difficult to find time to do more than dabble in social media. However, dabbling isn’t going to get us anywhere. It’s time to think beyond simply handling occasional social media interactions. It’s time to develop a strategic plan for your social media outreach.