Stories by Hayley Jennings

On average, podcast listeners tune in to 11 hours of podcasts a week, according to Jason Hoch of HowStuffWorks.com (which of course has its own podcast). So, it’s no wonder companies around the world are jumping on board.

Though it’s extremely important for individual communicators to take steps to become proficient with data and analytics, it won’t do much good if the rest of your company isn’t on board. Brands that embrace metrics at all levels of the organization are in the best position for success.

For brands on Instagram, it might seem nearly impossible to compete with large corporations that can afford paid post after paid post in order to jump to the front of the line. But in reality, there are a few key ways to game the Instagram algorithm without breaking the bank.

How can communicators on social break through the timeline to create branded content that doesn’t feel forced or fake, but instead is fresh and fun—all while maintaining the organization’s voice? Arby’s tackled this problem by leveraging one of the greatest forces on the internet today: nerd culture.

The winners of PR News’ 2018 Social Media Awards span a wide variety of organizations, from brands like Volvo, PepsiCo, JP Morgan Chase & Co., IBM, Cisco and Bayer to agencies like Rogers & Cowan, SHIFT Communications and Weber Shandwick.

With information spreading via traditional media and social media at ever-increasing speeds, speaking out about a crisis right from the start can help you shape the story and make clear that your organization is on top of the situation. And one of the best ways to do that is with live video on your social feeds, especially if your crisis may impact public safety.

Every communicator knows that in 2018, video is the king of content. And as the second largest search engine online, YouTube should be your top choice for posting branded video. But it’s not as simple as posting a few videos and hoping for the best. The most successful brand channels focus on using their video content to build up their brand.

Purchasing advertisements on your social platforms can be one of the best ways to reach and target new audiences. But how can communicators convince their leadership to loosen the purse strings for paid social ads, especially in a smaller company with a tighter budget? Your approach should take into consideration not only which ads will be the most cost effective, but also what type of content will resonate most on each platform to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Most people these days turn to Twitter to find out what’s going on in the world. And the challenge most brands face is how to capture consumers’ attention in a crowded timeline. Get the inside scoop on how you can break through oversaturated feeds to connect with audiences in a meaningful way.

Any time you search on Google, more than half of the returned results are links to social profiles. That’s why when you’re trying to increase your brand’s search relevancy online, you should focus your efforts on your social channels as well as your owned sites. Jon Chang, digital marketing director at Kickstarter and a speaker at this week’s Social Shake-Up Show, shares some tips and tricks for improving SEO via social media, primarily to increase your engagement.