Category: Social Media

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February Social Media Updates

Social media platforms are constantly innovating ways to retain users and draw in new ones. When done strategically, businesses can leverage these innovations to grow the visibility and value of their product or service. The following are the top three social media updates helping grow businesses.

Instagram Goes Shopping

Instagram is becoming an avenue of opportunity for e-commerce businesses. The app’s increasing popularity among beauty and retail brands and the rise of influencer marketing emphasize its potential for businesses. In order to capitalize on this insight, Instagram is testing a more immersive in-app shopping experience.

Courtesy of AdAge

According to AdAge, the test includes full-screen and multimedia ad units allowing users to scroll up from the ad to see featured products in richer and more descriptive detail. Best of all, this feature would allow users to complete purchases without ever leaving the app, satisfying their purchasing desire quickly and seamlessly — making brands even more effective on the platform.

Snapchat Snap Map

Snapchat is now allowing people to view its content and formatting outside of the actual app. Using a web-based map, users can go to the Snap Map website and view publicly posted stories just like in the app. The unique element of this feature is it allows users to embed the story onto a webpage.

This update can be a great asset helping brands showcase their events. It provides a more personal experience via consumer-generated content and greater reach to those who were unable to attend. In addition, the update allows marketers to integrate the feature into a larger overall campaign.

Facebook Viewable Impressions

Facebook announced a new measurement update possibly resulting in a reduction in organic reach for business Pages — but it’s not all bad news. The social network will start only counting ‘viewable impressions’ for Pages. These impressions only count when a Page’s post actually appears on the screen and not when it’s just preloaded into the feed.

Despite the possible decrease in reach, this change gives Pages a newfound confidence in their numbers and ensures brand awareness is achieved. Also, rates of engagement per impression will be more insightful, truly showing which portion of users engaged out of those who just saw the content.

Allowing your brand’s voice to be heard can be a tough task. Our duty as marketers is to provide our clients with every resource available, including the most up-to-date social media tools and tips. With our expertise and these innovations, we’ll keep your business flourishing. Contact or stay social with us! We’re just one call, like, follow, retweet, favorite and DM away.

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Advertising Blog Industry Trends Social Media

2018 Digital Trends to Grow Your Business

2017 was a big year for digital and tech — and 2018 is looking to be even bigger! As technologies have evolved, brands now connect with consumers in new ways as they demand a more integrated experience. We share what we think are the major 2018 digital trends:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will be Commonplace

Artificial intelligence is no longer the product of science fiction. It’s real and helps brands better connect with their consumers. But what is it? Simply, it’s the study of how to make machines smart enough to solve  problems as well as people can. Combined with big data and machine learning, AI is expected to make a huge impact on how we market to our consumers. Think image recognition software, chatbots, speech recognition, recommendation engines, and programmatic advertising.

Voice Searches Are Shaping SEO

As the use of Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, etc. increases, brands will begin optimizing their websites for how users search with their voices as opposed to typed.

According to Google, 20% of mobile search queries submitted via its app are already done using voice. Meanwhile, comScore estimates 30% of searches will be done without a screen by 2020.

Live Video Will Continue to Skyrocket

Live streaming started as a niche but has quickly been adopted by dominating social platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Unsurprisingly, live video accounted for 75% of all internet traffic in 2017 and is slated to increase.

Personalization Is Increasingly Important

The further that technology evolves, the higher consumers expectations are. If these expectations aren’t met, they can just click away in an instant. So, personalization, relevance, the customer experience, and tailored messaging will be key to truly connecting with your audience. AI and other technologies allow marketers to achieve this relevance at scale.

Strategic Social Media Will Become Your Best Chance at Reaching Followers

It’s no secret social channels are constantly updating their algorithms — making it harder and harder for you to reach your intended audience. That’s why 2018 is going to be the year for strategic, actionable social media plans for local businesses and large brands alike. Tailor content to your target user and be sure to keep up to date with trends.

Influencer marketing will evolve.

Brands will need to establish deeper, more authentic relationships with influencers, rather than a mere paid transaction that consumers see through. Micro-influencers with audience sizes of 1,000 – 100,000 followers will also gain more traction in the new year as their posts are likely to get up to 4x more engagement than macro influencers.

Mobile Video Viewing (and competition!) Is Growing

Video is king and brands have taken notice. In fact, brands have created video content to boost search engine rankings, increase engagement and website traffic rates. This will continue to grow in the new year.

Get Hyperlocal

Google and Facebook alike have begun incorporating local into their platforms, making it easier for local businesses to connect with their consumers. As ‘local’ becomes an increasingly hot topic, even larger national  businesses will focus on local marketing, ensuring all locations are appearing in local rankings in 2018.

No matter your goals for the new year — if you want your business’ digital presence to outshine the rest — you need to be on top of the latest in digital. Need some help? We’re here for you!

Contact us today to see how we can work together.

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Advertising Blog Public Relations Social Media

3 Ways Social Media is Impacting the Public Relations Industry

We are living in a connected world, a world where most rely on social media platforms to get their latest news. According to a recent PEW Research Center study, in 2017 two-thirds of U.S. adults received news from social media sites, predominantly Twitter.

Social media has affected not only how we consume news but how we engage with one another. For businesses, social media has become the new content distribution model, disrupting not only the nature of brand marketing, but also public relations strategies.

Gone are the days of traditional public relations, when developing brand awareness and visibility solely depended on press releases and cold calls to relevant media. Social media has changed the rules of the game, making it easier to amplify a brand’s reach, publicity efforts and media outreach on a global scale.

Today, PR firms must be disruptive and innovative, utilizing the power of social media to maintain a brand’s voice and online reputation through promotional content and consistent engagement. To better understand this transformation, here are three ways social media is impacting public relations initiatives:

1. Audience Reach

When it comes to audience reach, writing and distributing press releases is still a prominent and useful promotional tactic for content distribution and news coverage. If a media pitch is successful, press releases offer additional details and information journalists can endorse to audiences via broadcast, print and online channels.

Social media, however, gives brands the power to relieve a bit of this dependency and release news more frequently outside of local media outlets. By posting relevant content and utilizing visual aesthetics such as photos and videos, businesses are able to expand their audience reach, engage with their followers and measure traction. Social media offers a great platform for public relations firms to boost their client’s opinions, promote relevant content and offer commentary on the latest news and trends.

2. New Editorial Opportunities

Social media platforms, like Twitter, have become modern-day newsrooms. PR professionals can utilize these channels to find and segment new journalists by interest and industry focus. Most journalists are highly active on social media, often utilizing it as a search tool for interviews and expert commentary to support their latest story assignments.

Not only can sites like Twitter help PR professionals build their rolodex of media contacts, it can also result in new editorial opportunities for their clients, placing their brand and expertise in front of a larger audience.

3. Crisis Management

If there’s one thing a business dreads to hear and deal with, it’s a crisis. No matter the magnitude of a controversy, how and when a business responds can either boost or severely damage their reputable image.

By identifying potential crisis scenarios and preparing holistic approaches, PR professionals can employ social media in interim, to offer an immediate statement on behalf of their clients until an official assessment of the situation is made. An online presence following a crisis is necessary to not only monitor feedback and complaints, but to maintain a brand’s reputable image overall.

Overall, knowing how to use social media is an essential component to having a successful public relations campaign. Without it, you miss valuable opportunities for your brand and your message. Don’t forego social media’s power in your PR campaign. If you want to know more about how you can leverage social media to impact your campaigns check out our website or get social with us. We are just a like, tweet, follow or connection away.

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Advertising Blog Public Relations Social Media

Understanding Influencer Marketing

From YouTube stars to lifestyle bloggers, influencer marketing has emerged from the social media landscape as a new opportunity for marketers.

The buzziest of buzzwords at the moment, influencer marketing has gained traction for becoming an effective campaign strategy. In fact, a study suggested that 60% of marketers were increasing their influencer marketing budgets. However, like most trends, it is too easy to contextualize what something is and its effects without knowing the facts. Here, we help you gain a rational understanding of this up and coming trend.

Influencers vs. Celebrities

So, what exactly is influencer marketing? Deriving a definition from itself, influencer marketing is a strategy that uses influential people to successfully persuade people to use a good or service.

Simple enough. But what differentiates this marketing model from celebrity endorsements? They, too, are influential people who are often used to persuade audiences. To get a better understanding of social influencers, let’s look at key differences between them and celebrities

  • Influencers have their own niche audience; celebrities attract mass appeal
  • Influencers use social channels to produce content; celebrities use traditional channels
  • Influencers produce their own content; celebrities are a small part of content produced

These differences suggest influencers have a stronger connection with their audience than their celebrity predecessors. This is the key opportunity for marketers – leveraging influencers to tap into their personally invested audience. For this reason, there are many benefits that influencers bring to any campaign.

The Benefits

The most recognizable value of using influencers is also the most basic: people like them. This is a notable element for marketers because people have higher rates of attention and are more likely to be persuaded by people they like. Yes, this may seem intuitive, but it is also based in psychology. The most common of Cialdini’s persuasive principles is liking and it’s one of the reasons that celebrity endorsements have worked so well in the past. However, as the digital world flourishes, influencers may supersede celebrity endorsers.

Influencers are also highly specialized having become an authority in a particular niche. As a result, they receive greater engagement and are perceived as highly credible (another Cialdini principle). People go to them to meet a very specific need. Thus, marketers can access a highly engaged audience via the trust established by the influencers credibility. This ultimately leads to a better ROI. In fact, Adweek suggests 40% of respondents purchased something they saw promoted by an influencer through a variety of channels.

One overlooked benefit is that influencers help break down the traditional communication structure of advertising. Rather than typical one-way communication, partnering with influencers allows marketers to establish a dialogue with their target audience in the comments of social platforms. In addition, using influencers adds personality, tone and character to a brand. These elements are created organically by using a real-life person rather than fabricating it through a collection of tactics that can feel off-putting and artificial.

Precautions

With everything in marketing, it is important to reflect on the unintended consequences of whatever strategy your business is employing. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what to look out for with influencer marketing.

Like celebrity endorsements, placing your trust in a public figure can be unnerving. Even a celebrity is just a human, and humans make mistakes. As a result, your brand’s image can suffer greatly if an influencer makes even the most minuscule of mistakes. We’ve all seen how unforgiving the internet can be if a mishap does occur.

Another precaution to be aware of is selecting the correct influencer to promote your product. Yes, there are many. No, the one with the most followers isn’t always the best idea. According to research by Hitwise, a campaign’s success must be, “guided by the interests of both the influencer and target audience.” There must be a harmonious connection between influencer and a brand’s target audience, one that extends beyond demographics.

Understanding how to use social influencers can be a daunting task. Done correctly, it can be a valuable strategy to building your brand. As marketers, we understand the nuances in differing strategies, and with our assistance, we can use our expertise to help meet your business goals. Contact or get social with us!

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Blog Noisy Trumpet Social Media

Facebook Tests Radical Changes to Pages Organic Reach

If you run a Facebook Page for your business like most of us, you are well aware that it is a constant battle to get adequate reach with organic posts. In fact, there has been a steady decline in Facebook Page’s organic reach in recent years, all thanks to the increasing competition.

Soon, this problem may be replaced by something even more unsettling.

What’s Changing

As of today, the standard news feed for users includes posts from family and friends as well as posts from Pages users follow. The News Feed algorithm adjusts this content to show the user what is the most relevant to them.

However, recent insights of Facebook users suggest they desire an easier way to connect specifically with their family and friends posts rather than scrolling through a variety of content. In lieu of the insight, Facebook is testing a new system that moves Page’s organic posts into their newly constructed Explore feed.

The Consequences

So, what does this mean for those of us that run these Pages?

First, this means that Page’s may have to lean more into the current trend of pay-for-play on the platform and loosen their grips on the proverbial wallet. Page’s will have to pay in order to be seen by users in the old newsfeed.

Second, the usage behaviors of Facebook users will have to be reexamined. Facebook is becoming increasingly family-centric. Users go there to socialize with their inner circles rather than be entertained like they are on Instagram. This means that there will need to be a shift in focus to the details of the Explore feature; how content reaches users, how users interact with this feature and which users use this feature the most.

What’s Next

As of right now, a Facebook spokesperson says that the company has no plan to roll out this change globally in the near future. More research will be needed to see how this adjustment works and what impact it has on reach, engagement and, ultimately, sales.

So, for now, you can relax and trust that Noisy Trumpet will keep you updated on this topic and others.

If you feel that you need a specialized team to help you and your business stay updated on trends in social media marketing, contact us so we can help your brand’s voice to stand out and be heard.

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Blog Social Media

Top 5 Social Media Updates You Need to Know

In the vast sea of social media, it’s sometimes hard to stay updated on all the changes that take place. A larger issue emerges when marketers and business professionals miss the opportunity to jump on trends that engage consumers.

Without adapting to current trends, marketers lose influence over consumers in every media consumption shift; this happens daily. With that being said, here are the social media updates you need to know:

1. Snapchat Context Cards

Snapchat has been the pioneering force behind image filters since their inception. They are continuing to push forward with context cards, creating a great opportunity for marketers.

Context cards are a new feature that inserts contextual information into pictures and videos on public stories when using a specified geotag. This is a mutualistic relationship between marketers and users. Users have the ability to quickly get information about a business such as contact, business hours, location and reviews. Marketers get to increase their reach, engagement and sales through crowdsourced content.

2. Two-Person Instagram Live Video

Instagram stories are taking off, with over 250 million daily users. As its popularity increases so too does the popularity of live video.

To keep things fresh, Instagram is introducing ‘Go Live with a Friend’. This new option allows users to invite another person into their live video story. This opportunity has a wide range of functionality for both casual users and marketers allowing for more dynamic and captivating entertainment. Instagram is proving that two heads are better than one.

3. Instagram Polls

In recent history, the use of polls has been reserved to the social media giant, Twitter. Now, Instagram is pulling rank and introducing polls into their stories.

The simple feature lets users insert a poll with two options, of which the user can creatively rename beyond a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This is a great new tool for marketers to really get a good read on how much engagement they are receiving on their Instagram stories, rather than just relying on the inanity of views. However, a word to the wise. The polls are not anonymous and user’s votes are able to be seen by those who posted them which has turned out to be a hilarious misconception.

4. Facebook Explore Feed

Facebook has a massive number of followers who spend a massive amount of time on their platform, so it’s hard not to notice any type of change. But if you haven’t noticed, Facebook introduced a new discovery-focused feature to their platform, called ‘Explore’.

This option steers users through a cluster of new content so they can, as you can imagine, explore new content that expands beyond content that is posted by their friends, family or Pages that they follow. This has practical uses from allowing a greater reach for Pages to uncovering a new highly engaging target segment that was previously unseen. It even has societal changes to help reduce the echo chamber effect that is prevailing on social media, especially Facebook.

5. Twitter Bookmark Feature

This has been a long time coming. Most other social media platforms allow users to save content for later and Twitter has finally joined the club.

Twitter is soon unveiling a bookmark feature that lets users save a tweet for later. For many Twitter users, this helps alleviate using the “like” feature as a stand-in bookmark because they were still accessible. In turn, this creates an opportunity for marketers to better understand the motivation behind particular engagement from their consumers. Now when a tweet is liked, it is because they truly enjoy the content rather than are saving it for later for another completely different reason.

Allowing your brand’s voice to successfully be heard can be a tough task. Our duty as marketers is to provide our clients with every resource currently available. The willingness to adapt as a brand is not easy, but with our assistance, you will not be a victim to modern evolution. Contact or stay social with us! We’re just one call, like, follow, retweet, favorite and DM away.