Public Relations and Marketing Blog

What’s that X on my phone — The Twitter rebrand and what that means for you

In a world where social media is extremely relevant and user preferences are constantly evolving, social media platforms need to adapt. Rebranding can be extremely effective in reinforcing dominance within any industry. Keeping up with consumers will keep you relevant and ahead of competitors. Twitter is one major platform that has recently rebranded its logo from its infamous bird to an X, but why? There are a variety of reasons for a need to rebrand, let’s discuss Twitter’s objectives and reasoning behind rebranding. Continue reading “What’s that X on my phone — The Twitter rebrand and what that means for you”

Which Social Media Should I Put My Efforts into for My Business?

Due to issues with privacy and security, Google+ is shutting down in April of 2019. On November 6, 2018, Google+ users were faced with the exposure of their private profile content. Alphabet Inc, Google’s mother company, revealed that a bug allowed 52 million users’ private information to be compromised and given to outside app developers … Continue reading “Which Social Media Should I Put My Efforts into for My Business?”

Due to issues with privacy and security, Google+ is shutting down in April of 2019.

On November 6, 2018, Google+ users were faced with the exposure of their private profile content. Alphabet Inc, Google’s mother company, revealed that a bug allowed 52 million users’ private information to be compromised and given to outside app developers without the users’ consent. Continue reading “Which Social Media Should I Put My Efforts into for My Business?”

Facebook’s Feed Change & How It Affects Business

On January 11, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made an announcement that the social media site’s main goal will shift from finding relevant content for users to helping users have more meaningful social connections and interactions. The change reflects an effort to improve the value of time spent on Facebook and the well-being of its users, … Continue reading “Facebook’s Feed Change & How It Affects Business”

On January 11, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made an announcement that the social media site’s main goal will shift from finding relevant content for users to helping users have more meaningful social connections and interactions.

The change reflects an effort to improve the value of time spent on Facebook and the well-being of its users, according to Zuckerberg, who explained in a post that News Feed has shifted over the years from mainly personal content to mainly public content. “At its best, Facebook has always been about personal connections,” he wrote.

Zuckerberg’s recent News Feed plan will make it more difficult for businesses, brands and media to gain feed time on the social site. To stand out, companies need to create engaging and interesting content that a reader will click on and share. Businesses should also be aware that not only will consumers encounter content and advertisements less frequently, but it is also anticipated that users will spend less time on the site in general, and this may not be an effective marketing platform.

Paid content will likely still see a larger reach and higher success than organic content, but Facebook’s prioritization and the subsequent success of those ads will be dependent upon the ad’s overall objective. Businesses with marketing plans that are heavily reliant on Facebook must reconsider their ad goals, prioritizing those that aim for higher post or page engagement, including Likes and Video Views, over ads aiming solely to send viewers to a website for more information.

Ads that aim to foster page engagement and website clicks may be the most successful. For instance, an ad which samples a company’s blog might entice someone to continue reading the article on the company’s site. The Facebook post itself might see a high engagement rate via Reactions, Comments, or Shares, which based on the new algorithm – in theory – should result in better performance.

Though digital “billboard” advertising may have had its day, paid Facebook content isn’t going away any time soon. Additionally, there are many digital marketing opportunities on other social media, like Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and on search engines like Bing, Yahoo!, Google and their networks.

The digital marketing team at The Public Relations and Marketing Group has a personalized solution for your goals. Working continually to stay informed of new trends and how to work with them for over a decade, PRMG brings clients the experience they deserve. Call us at 631-207-1057 or email us at info@theprmg.com today!

New Features in Google My Business

Earlier this winter, Google added insight reports, tailored actionable buttons (think take-out ordering or hotel reservation booking) and bulk upload spreadsheet functions to its Google My Business features. Though all are especially helpful to restaurants, the latter is a great tool for businesses with more than one location (and, thus, more than one listing on … Continue reading “New Features in Google My Business”

Earlier this winter, Google added insight reports, tailored actionable buttons (think take-out ordering or hotel reservation booking) and bulk upload spreadsheet functions to its Google My Business features. Though all are especially helpful to restaurants, the latter is a great tool for businesses with more than one location (and, thus, more than one listing on Google) as it enables page owners to collect information for all locations to one central location. For results-driven business owners, the addition of insight reports means they will have greater access to digital marketing analytics, while the other changes make it easier for customers viewing a profile to take action directly from the listing.

New Additions

With the changing landscape of social media management, and owing to the fact that Google+ never quite became the platform people expected, the behemoth company has once again adapted its platform to make it possible for companies to utilize Google My Business pages in a similar fashion to traditional social media. Using the new Google My Business API (Application Programming Interface), business owners and their marketing departments can manage their Google My Business account in a more efficient manner.

With the latest updates, page owners will now be able to:

  • Edit location information for one or more pages
  • Read and respond to customer reviews from a centralized area
  • Update menu details, such as pricing, photos and descriptions for one or more locations
  • Create and update relevant social media-style posts
  • Add additional business photos as applicable
  • Incorporate a Call-to-Action button, such as “Learn More,” “Reserve,” “Sign Up,” “Buy” and “Get Offer”

In a similar fashion to Facebook, users now have the option to create an “event” – which can be used by restaurants to advertise a holiday special or for destinations to promote a local fundraiser, among an endless assortment of occasions.

Though these new features have already proven to be powerful marketing tools, to be effective, social media pages and listings like Google My Business must be managed properly to ensure positive results. One thing for established companies to consider is the need to migrate Google+ pages to the Google My Business social media page functions.

Taking Care of Your Social Media Profiles

The exposure of your listing works both ways. Though online exposure can draw more attention to your company in a positive way, errors or poor customer service often have a serious impact on your online reputation. Since social media is so, well… social, a business that doesn’t respond to negative feedback on its profile could face consequences from a broader audience of people looking to stir the pot. While many business owners may simply opt to ignore the naysayers, a disproportionate number of negative reviews on one or more social media pages will affect a company’s ranking on a results page on search engines like Google or Bing.

To take advantage of the new Google My Business features, one must regularly check up on these consumer comments and reviews. It is also important to create and manage a social media schedule that reflects the tone of your business. For example, a children’s activity center would interact with its target audience in a different manner than a fine dining establishment. And, it’s important to accurately reflect the atmosphere of your business.

Further, customers want to know that your business is active and responsive. Lack of social media maintenance will affect how search engines view your listing, so it’s important to manage social media pages like Google My Business effectively.

Ask an Expert

Though we’ve outlined the basic feature updates of the new Google My Business API, it takes a some skills and effort to fully and properly integrate some of the more in-depth functions. This includes:

  • Setting up subscriptions to push notifications for new customer reviews
  • Viewing insights for locations
  • Providing additional attributes for locations (like a hotel’s amenities or a restaurant’s menu URL)
  • Inviting and removing managers
  • Managing service-area businesses

The Public Relations and Marketing Group was established 15 years ago, at a time when social media was first coming into fruition. PRMG’s team of social media managers continually learn and grow their skills to keep ahead of changes in the industry and can help you develop your Google My Business page. We can also help to redevelop your existing Google+ and Google My Business pages to take full advantage of the latest updates.

Contact us at info@theprmg.com or call us directly at 631-207-1057, ext. 107.

Businesses That Advertise with Twitter Videos Have a Leg Up

Twitter’s trendiness has made it a hotspot for advertising. The social media site, infamous for its 140-character limit, has rapidly gained popularity since its release in 2006 by founders Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone. By the end of 2010, the service had gained 50 million monthly active users. That number tripled just two years later … Continue reading “Businesses That Advertise with Twitter Videos Have a Leg Up”

Twitter’s trendiness has made it a hotspot for advertising. The social media site, infamous for its 140-character limit, has rapidly gained popularity since its release in 2006 by founders Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone. By the end of 2010, the service had gained 50 million monthly active users. That number tripled just two years later in 2012, and, despite a small dip in 2015, the number of users continues to grow. As of December 2016, 319 million people used the platform on at least a monthly basis.

Businesses are joining the Twitter community in efforts to reach those who might not be so keen to comment on other social media platforms (such as Facebook or Instagram). Twitter users often opt to “mention” businesses, friends or famous people in their tweets, a feature which enables those mentioned to view and respond to said tweet instantaneously. This effectively provides users a direct line of communication with businesses to which they previously may not have had access.

Politicians, athletes and entertainers (among others) use the social medium as a resource for indulging pertinent information (such as the status of a recent bill in Congress, the current score of a soccer match, or the release date of a musician’s new album) in a concise and personal way. News and media outlets similarly utilize Twitter to reach out to mass audiences with crucial and critical news updates, a helpful and potentially life-saving feature in states of emergency, such as 2013’s Boston Marathon bombing. The ability to immediately reach a wide and varied audience is Twitter’s strongest suit, for business, celebrity, news and personal use alike.

The great thing about social media is its flexibility – the platforms change and update rapidly, which reflects the ability of the human mind to change and update, and easily keep their users’ ever-distracted attention. Facebook’s major success with new video advertisements has prompted Twitter to follow suit, shifting away from promoted tweets and toward video advertising.

Advertising on social media is useful in expanding brand awareness, increasing website traffic, and generating leads. When organic reach on social media platforms declines, ads are inversely on the rise. As Twitter rolls out its new video advertising campaign, businesses that take advantage of this new feature will be ahead of the game.

If you think your business would benefit from target-audience lead generation, you should consider video advertising on Twitter. Call the experts at The Public Relations and Marketing Group for advice and guidance, as well as ad scheduling and implementation. Please reach out to us at 631-207-1057 x107 or email us at info@theprmg.com.

Facebook’s Audience Network Expands Reach of Digital Ads

Earlier this year, SocialTimes reported a change to Facebook’s Audience Network that will allow even non-Facebook users to see Facebook-powered advertisements as they surf the web. Since its launch in 2014, the Facebook Audience Network has become one of the largest ad networks in the world. So what does this new policy mean for businesses and organizations … Continue reading “Facebook’s Audience Network Expands Reach of Digital Ads”

Facebook Audience NetworkEarlier this year, SocialTimes reported a change to Facebook’s Audience Network that will allow even non-Facebook users to see Facebook-powered advertisements as they surf the web. Since its launch in 2014, the Facebook Audience Network has become one of the largest ad networks in the world. So what does this new policy mean for businesses and organizations trying to gain a cutting edge in the cutthroat world of digital advertising?

Originally, advertising partners with Facebook simply reached Facebook users through ads displayed on the site. But with the launch of the Facebook Audience Network two years ago, the social network enabled advertisers to extend the impact of their ads beyond Facebook. On a select number of mobile apps, partners could display ads with the added capabilities of the same targeting and measurement tools used on Facebook. However, these ads only reached users who were simultaneously logged into Facebook.

Facebook’s recent announcement removes even this restriction. Ads that take advantage of the Facebook Audience Network now have the capability to reach even users without Facebook accounts. This offers a further incentive to advertisers looking for the convenient and comprehensive metrics Facebook’s business program provides. In addition, it increases Facebook’s clout in the world of online interest-based marketing, alongside other services like Google.

Ultimately, Facebook has stated that they aim to improve users’ experience through their new advertising program as well. One of the benefits of the common ad platform will be to improve the overall quality and relevance of the ads users see, while individuals’ tools to opt-out and control their ad preferences are maintained. One can hope that the increased reach of the Facebook Audience Network will prove to enhance both advertisers’ and users’ online experience.

At the Public Relations and Marketing Group, LLC (PRMG), we can help your company develop strong and well-coordinated Facebook advertising campaigns to broaden your exposure and drive people to your business. For a free consultation or for samples of previous digital advertising campaigns, please contact us at (631) 207-1057 or at johnzaher@theprmg.com.

ADVERTISING SPOTLIGHT: PERSONALIZED SNAPCHAT FILTERS WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO YOUR BUSINESS

Now that it has surpassed Twitter in daily users, Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps. With the introduction of personalized geofilters for photos to increase user engagement with businesses, it can now be used as an influential marketing platform. Snapchat is a photo- and video-sharing social media app, famously known for … Continue reading “ADVERTISING SPOTLIGHT: PERSONALIZED SNAPCHAT FILTERS WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO YOUR BUSINESS”

Now that it has surpassed Twitter in daily users, Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps. With the introduction of personalized geofilters for photos to increase user engagement with businesses, it can now be used as an influential marketing platform.

Snapchat is a photo- and video-sharing social media app, famously known for its vanishing element: users may to choose set a timer for their photos so that their friends can only view the photo within a certain (and short) timeframe.

Filters are a way to frame or otherwise ornament photos that users have taken with their mobile devices and will share through the Snapchat app. Geofilters take this one step further, as they are based upon the user’s specific geographic location. Many geofilter designs include logos, pictographs, words or phrases (including slang) and other fun images associated with a certain state, town, restaurant, etc. The filters were originally designed for exclusive use in public places, such as the Grand Canyon or the Washington Monument. With the introduction of on-demand geofilters that can include company logos, your business could benefit from substantial new branding and reach.

These “on-demand geofilters” won’t go unnoticed, particularly if your customer audience is made up of teens and young adults, the largest demographic to use Snapchat. According to Business Insider, 77% of college students use Snapchat every day and 58% of college students would be likely to purchase a brand’s product or service if they received a coupon on Snapchat. Additionally, Snapchat users are very actively involved with the medium, watching over 10 billion videos per day, according to a report published in Bloomberg back in April.

Your company would also benefit from the use of Snapchat geofilters for and during your planned events, as photos with filters are more likely to be shared on the social media platform than those without filters, and these shares attract attention.

A personalized geofilter for your business would appear to a Snapchat user after he or she takes a photo and swipes to the right; the filters could highlight either your brand or your particular event.

The cost for these personalized company filters depends on the size of the location where the filter will be displayed (called the “geofence”) and the length of time the filter will be displayed (from one hour to 30 days). If your business could profit from increased exposure, contact The Public Relations and Marketing Group for filter designs and other social media expertise. To learn more, call (631) 207-1057 or email us at info@theprmg.com.

“The Times” Is Changing: Study Shows Increasing Role of Social Media in News Delivery

Where do you get your news? If this question were asked forty or even twenty years ago, the most common responses would have included radio, television and good old-fashioned newspapers. But the Pew Research Center and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recently released a study on news and social media, and the … Continue reading ““The Times” Is Changing: Study Shows Increasing Role of Social Media in News Delivery”

Social Media Is Shifting News SourcesWhere do you get your news? If this question were asked forty or even twenty years ago, the most common responses would have included radio, television and good old-fashioned newspapers. But the Pew Research Center and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recently released a study on news and social media, and the findings reveal a significant demographic shift over the past few years.

Shifting News Sources

The big statistic revealed from this study is that 44% of American adults get news via Facebook. Yes, 44% of all adult Americans stay informed via the world’s most popular social networking platform. This number represents two thirds of all adult Facebook users, up from 47% of Facebook users in 2013.

Some other figures from this study are worth mentioning as well. The total percentage of American adults who get their news from any social media network (including Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tumblr, and more) is 62%, and almost two thirds of those usually get it from just one social media network. For journalists and marketers alike, this represents a paradigm shift. While news consumers of a previous generation might have read the day’s headlines in the morning paper, heard additional news on the radio during their commute to work and returned home to catch the six-o’clock news on TV, today’s consumers are increasingly likely to get their updates from just one source—most often Facebook. Today, information and advertising are still delivered via a screen, but more and more the screen is located on consumers’ desks or in their hands rather than in their living rooms.

Shifting Attitudes

Another important statistic: Among Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube users who get their news online, about 60% report that they merely see headlines while they’re doing other things online; only 40% specifically search the web for it. The internet has made it easier than ever before for information and advertising to reach consumers wherever they are, even if they don’t intentionally seek it out.

It is impossible to predict whether social platforms will ever completely crowd out the “traditional” media of newspapers, radio, and TV. But in regard to marketing and public relations, organizations can gain valuable information about consumers’ shifting news sources from last month’s report. A thoughtful, relationship-driven approach to advertising is essential to navigating the complex avenues of social media successfully.

If you have questions about how best to promote your organization across social media, The Public Relations and Marketing Group, LLC (PRMG) is happy to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us at (631) 207-1057 or at johnzaher@theprmg.com.

Instagram’s New Logo Shows Importance of Social Media Branding

(image from Instagram’s blog) In our evolving digital age, organizations must recognize the importance of online presence in marketing and reputation management. Even a seemingly simple branding change can have a significant impact on the public’s opinion of a product. Take a trending topic from two weeks ago, for instance: Instagram, one of the world’s … Continue reading “Instagram’s New Logo Shows Importance of Social Media Branding”

A sample of Instagram's new look

(image from Instagram’s blog)

In our evolving digital age, organizations must recognize the importance of online presence in marketing and reputation management. Even a seemingly simple branding change can have a significant impact on the public’s opinion of a product. Take a trending topic from two weeks ago, for instance: Instagram, one of the world’s most popular social media/photo-sharing platforms, generated a firestorm of criticism for its recently-redesigned logo. The new image inspired snide memes, critical tweets and New York Times coverage headlined “The Great Instagram Logo Freakout of 2016.” While such a strong reaction to something as simple as a logo change may seem incredible, the story goes to show that social media users care deeply about the platforms they use. In this case, a simple marketing choice had a major effect on popular opinions of Instagram.

More importantly, however, this month’s Instagram drama is a reminder of just how big a part social media platforms play in today’s digitally-connected environment. Since its launch in October 2010, Instagram has grown from a simple photo-sharing service with one million users into a global platform on which more than 80 million photos and videos are shared every day. Today it’s one of the most popular websites in the world.

Like many other popular networking platforms, Instagram has expanded from a purely personal network to an important presence for businesses and organizations. According to one report, almost 40% of marketers used Instagram to promote their products in 2015. But it isn’t just the number of Instagram users that stands out, it’s also the level of interactivity the platform allows between businesses and their target audiences. Social media sites like Instagram allow customers to invite their favorite corporations and causes into the stream of their everyday lives. Organizations need to capitalize on the opportunities provided by these platforms to interact with their target audiences frequently and consistently.

The Public Relations and Marketing Group, LLC (PRMG) can help your organization successfully navigate today’s complex media environment. As a full-service public relations, marketing and digital advertising agency, we have extensive experience in increasing individuals’ and corporations’ visibility across all major social media platforms. If you have any questions about our social media or other marketing services, please contact us at (631) 207-1057 or at johnzaher@theprmg.com.

Facebook Releases “Reactions”

As we noted back in January, the Facebook development team was experimenting with new variations on its “like” button, following the latter feature’s more than six-year success and exponential popularity. Now the social media giant has unveiled “Reactions,” a series of emoji to expand the options for responding to posts and statuses on the site. … Continue reading “Facebook Releases “Reactions””

reactions
As we noted back in January, the Facebook development team was experimenting with new variations on its “like” button, following the latter feature’s more than six-year success and exponential popularity. Now the social media giant has unveiled “Reactions,” a series of emoji to expand the options for responding to posts and statuses on the site. CEO Mark Zuckerberg developed the choices to reduce the awkwardness of “liking” a sad or uncomfortable status or post. “Reactions,” which allows all users, commercial and individual alike, to express themselves with additional emoji “Love,” “Haha,” “Wow,” “Sad,” and “Angry,” was introduced as a means to convey empathy for friends and family, but will also be used to show irritation or discontent with brands and businesses with an online presence.

Social media has a huge impact on business success, evolving into a new – and virtually permanent – word of mouth. In the age of online reviews, where any imperfect interaction can result in very loud discontent, businesses need to be very aware of what their consumers are thinking and feeling – particularly with regard to their product. Reactions enables consumers to show their emotions, including whether something upsets them. Though potentially dangerous for business, this feedback option will allow companies to respond to consumer complaints in real time, ultimately upping their public status and their sales.

The problem with catch-all negative options “Sad” or “Angry” is that it will be difficult for companies to parse why their consumers are unhappy. Luckily, Facebook’s comments option is increasingly popular and can be utilized to voice complaints or concerns. With the combination of a Sad, Angry, or Wow emoji and an explanatory comment, businesses know what is working and what to re-evaluate.

This direct consumer-to-brand communication is key to consumer happiness, as long as businesses are responsive and follow through on the feedback they receive. Seventy-two percent of people who complain on social media platforms expect a response within one hour, according to a study by Lithium Technologies. If companies aren’t regularly monitoring their social media, this could be colossally damaging to their public reputation. But it works both ways; according to a study from the London School of Economics and the Listening Company, a seven-point increase in word-of-mouth advocacy can increase revenue by one percent.

When a business understands its customers’ wants and needs, it prospers. Studies show emotion is the number one factor in customer loyalty, which explains why sentimental commercials generally do better than commercials that don’t elicit emotion. Businesses that understand and reflect empathy are more competitive and more successful. If you are able to respond quickly and adapt accordingly, having negative emotive options on a social media giant like Facebook will have a more positive than harmful effect on your business.

The Public Relations and Marketing Group, LLC (PRMG) is a full-service public relations, marketing and digital advertising agency. The company is dedicated to helping businesses, professionals, non-profit organizations, government entities, attorneys and law firms leverage their time, talents and resources by using effective public relations and marketing techniques. For more marketing advice, please contact us at (631) 207-1057 or at johnzaher@theprmg.com.

 

 

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