Zoomerang Online Surveys and Polls conducted a survey which found small-and mid-sized businesses in the Great Plains and Southeast states of the U.S. are integrating social media into their business model at a quicker pace than other areas of the country.

Polling more than 500 SMBs, the survey found businesses in the Great Plains are 30 percent more likely to have branded social media channels, and make up 22 percent of the most active social media participants on behalf of their businesses. Businesses in the Southeast states were 28 percent more likely to have branded social media, and make up 28 percent of the most active business social media participants.

Of the companies surveyed, 15 percent have created an internal social media policy, 6 percent plan to create one, and 8 percent are deciding if they need one. Also, 6 percent of business owners have fired an employee for misuse of social media.

"For many smaller businesses, social media policy may not be required. Instead simple education on the potential repercussions of ill-informed tweets or updates will deter most situations," Alex Terry, General Manager of Zoomerang, said.

Northeast states and the Mid-Atlantic regions showed a slower rate to adopting social media. Terry argues that less populated areas or cities with a concentration of small businesses are more focused on less expensive mass communication tools to acquire and interact with customers, as well as network within the field.

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