Every year, Forrester surveys a panel of European consumers about their relationship with technology. For example, we ask them what they do online, how much media consume they and how they make purchase decisions. And for the last 3 years, we’ve asked consumers about their participation in social technologies like blogging, social networking, tagging…

Our 2008 survey reveals that nearly 60% of online adult Europeans (18 – 65+) participate. That’s up by 10 points as compared to 2007. Of the 8 countries we track, the Dutch are the most active – 71% use social technologies regularly – at least once a month.

What do these Dutch do online?

• 19% are Creators: produce and publish content online like a blog or personal web page; make and post videos or music
• 20% are Critics: comment on forums or blogs; review products
• 9% are Collectors: organize the web by tagging content like photos, sites, or articles; subscribe to RSS feeds to organize the content coming to them
• 39% are Joiners: maintain a profile and interact on a social networking site
• 61% are Spectators: consume user-generated content like blogs, videos, reviews
• Only 29% are Inactive, which means they do none of the above.

Of course, people can belong to more than one category and they often do.

How are the Dutch distinct?

Two things. Until 2008, the Dutch had the highest proportion of Creators. At 19%, the rate is still high, given the European average of 15%. So even if the Netherlands has been nosed out of the top place by Italy – with 22% Creators – this Dutch creative streak is important.

And the Dutch are still the undisputed leaders for social networking. In fact, they are two times more networked than the average European. The next in line – the Swedes and the Brits – are 8 and 11 points behind.

What does this mean?

Networks should be very important for marketers, as well as for Dutch consumers. For example, marketers will use the networks to identify the ‘hubs’ of their consumer communities – those consumers who are highly connected. These ‘hubs’ connect different people together and also help the network get to information and content. They are potentially powerful influencers.

Other marketers will invite and involve their communities in co-creation of their product, or their service or even their marketing message. And for some marketers, their network will become part of their service or product – think Nike +.

So where is “your” network and what are you doing together?