Social Media & SEO

In a new survey small businesses, those with fewer than 500 employees, are shown to be fairly large proponents of SEO. Some 55% of small businesses surveyed said they use SEO, a slight increase from 2017. More than 90% said last year they would be using SEO, according to Clutch, a B2B researcher.

A Snapchat ad promoting the game Would You Rather?! asked players if they would rather “slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown.” Rihanna was not amused by this reference to the 2009 violent assault by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. How did this disturbing ad make it onto the app in the first place? A representative from Snap Inc. explained their ad review process, which might need a few tweaks.

We continue our examination of consumer engagement with brands’ social posts during 2017. Data is provided exclusively by Shareablee to PR News . This week we look at the top 10 travel websites, ranked by consumer engagement. Airbnb is the leader.

While most marketers put a premium on attracting younger people, the 50+ demographic is coveted for its disposable income and stability. While it is known that this demographic is less comfortable with technology than millennials, the group has taken to social media at a strong rate, a new survey from AARP shows. The devices it doesn’t yet use can be large targets for marketers.

As Facebook continues to de-emphasize branded content in its News Feed, brands must strive harder than ever to run compelling campaigns, pouring bigger ad budgets and organizational resources into the platform. With so much at stake, how can brands drive a true return on investment with a Facebook campaign? By making those campaigns as enticing to their audiences as possible, of course.
On March 13, PR News will explore strategies for doing so in its webinar, “How to Increase the ROI of Your Facebook Campaigns.” For a taste of tomorrow’s program, here are four ways brands can increase ROI on Facebook.

Considering that Snapchat now shares analytics and insights with its network of influencers, its addition of “mentions” feels like another feature that will allow the platform to function as a serious tool for communicators. And considering that the company laid off over 120 engineers this week, it’s possible that the company might be content to continue beefing up its interface with innovations that already exist elsewhere.

The annual South by Southwest (SXSW) conference—a week-long spectacle filled with experiential marketing stunts and immersive brand experiences that’s equal parts technology, education and entertainment—always offers plenty of style and substance for professional communicators. For those unable to attend, here are five fascinating live-streamed interviews and sessions that communicators will want to catch.

Letting a social media influencer temporarily take over your brand’s accounts can be a great tactic to bring in new followers and engage with your audience in an authentic way. But there are some important tricks of the trade to keep in mind.

We continue to look at the most-engaged brands in 2017, per exclusive data provided exclusively by Shareablee to PR News . In the Airline sector, we again see a pattern similar to what’s been observed in other industries: some of the best social brands are posting fewer pieces of content year over year although social engagement with their posts is growing. Video also plays a large role.

Last week we told you despite a number of worries, the sky was not falling as far as Facebook is concerned. More evidence comes this week, from the Pew Research Center, whose survey confirms many of the trends contained in reports other groups have issued. Yes, Facebook dominates with Americans older than 18, although youths tend to prefer Snapchat and Instagram.