Social Media & SEO

Call it another strike in Alex Rodriguez’ clumsy efforts to cleanse his reputation. It’s also a cautionary tale about the proper use of Twitter when you’re a salaried employee.

On Monday, the National Zoo alerted its more than 45,000 Twitter followers that Rusty the red panda was missing. What ensued was a social media search party that eventually led to his safe return.

Video is decidedly the most engaging content on the Web. With that in mind, there are many challenges and opportunities at stake for PR pros looking to leverage the medium. Tim Baker, vice president of digital strategy for MWW Group offers tips and tricks for the PR pro looking to master video content.

In abruptly firing Men’s Wearhouse founder and executive chairman George Zimmer, the men’s clothing company has sent a few messages to the marketplace, none of which are likely to help the brand’s reputation or its PR efforts.

Content marketing is an essential skill in the PR professional’s tool kit. From Red Bull’s “extreme content marketing” to Old Spice’s numerous viral videos about the way a man should smell, content marketing is a superb way to define your brand’s personality, engage consumers and even garner media coverage. But where should you start?

Morgan McLintic, executive vice president of LEWIS PR and PR News Next Practices Annual Conference presenter, weighs in on Instagram video and what it takes to grow a community on Facebook.

The Miami Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs last night in dramatic fashion to claim its second consecutive NBA championship, and increased global awareness of the towering image of star LeBron James first, and its own team brand second. That’s a lot of No. 6 jerseys and, ultimately, boosts in CPMs for Heat games on TV.

Facebook on Thursday introduced video for Instagram, which the company acquired last year for $1 billion. While the announcement came as little surprise to reporters and bloggers following the story, it has left PR pros scratching their heads wondering how to leverage the social platform’s latest feature.

For this week’s video pick, PR News chose “Bodyform Responds :: The Truth.” In the spot, Maxipad’s fictional CEO Caroline Williams addresses a man named Richard Neill who penned a tongue-in-cheek Facebook rant decrying the brand’s false depiction of a woman’s “wonderful time of the month.”

My son Max tells very long stories that veer in curious directions. By the time he’s nearing the point, he forgets the ending. It’s rather cute and endearing – he is, after all, only 12… Continued