Already a favored resource in every good journalist’s toolbox, Twitter remains highly underrated in the world of PR. Indeed, the typical use of Twitter involves just a few core activities:

●     Publicizing news, blog posts, articles, and other content, typically the firm’s own content

These days, it seems like social media is standing in as an assignment editor for many different media outlets. Tune in to just about any cable show and, sooner than later, you will hear or see Twitter or Facebook or Instagram mentioned. But, does that mean the rules for contacting media sources on social media have shifted? Have we entered an era in which connecting with a journalist on social media is acceptable as a best practice?

The answer to that question is “yes and no.” While, yes, it can be acceptable to communicate with a journalist on social media, there are a few guidelines that you may want to consider if you want to be more effective in your efforts.

Most startups have a challenge to face when they’re dealing with public relations. Young companies know that they need to create buzz for their organizations – but it’s hard to do that when they don’t have the right connections and budgets in place.

Developing a successful PR strategy for a startup is a critical component of ensuring your business has the right foundations for success. However, most companies simply don’t know where to get started. Here are a few tips that can help startups to set up a more effective PR campaign.

For many companies, social media marketing initially seems to belong exclusively to the business-to-consumer marketplace. However, research into B2B advertising suggests that companies can actually benefit more from social media advertising than they think – particularly if they choose the right platform.

Around 84% of business decision makers say that they’re influenced by social media when making purchasing decisions. For executives, social media is a crucial resource because it helps them to make choices based on things like social proof and local endorsements. Although various social channels can contribute to a company’s B2B social media marketing strategy, there are few channels that appeal more to professionals online than LinkedIn.

Social media PR can be a moving target. Rules and guidelines change, algorithms shift, and consumer moods can turn on a dime. Taken together, it can feel daunting to product a series of campaigns that consistently wins. But it doesn’t have to be. Consider these tried and true social media PR strategies, and you can find balance, even as the social corner of cyberspace continues to shift.

Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies, interests, or passions. While you should take care in how your messages may be perceived, the big benefit of social media is that it humanizes big brands and brings celebrities closer than ever to their fans, while still providing necessary separation to protect your privacy. Well-handled, you could leverage your interests to create deeper bonds with your fans and your customers. A casual conversation about a shared interest could be the push that turns a customer into a dedicated fan.

Social media giant Snapchat is now introducing a new series of lenses to their platform that can respond to voice commands. The audio lenses will animate automatically when users speak simple words like “yes”, “love”, “no”, and “hi”. This is an alteration on previous filters that respond to physical actions that users take on camera like opening their mouths or winking.

For instance, if a customer says “hi” using the new audio lenses, Snapchat will automatically launch an application that surround them with a flock of birds. On the other hand, if a user says “no” they are placed in an infinite tunnel of photos, while if they say “yes”, the Snapchat filter will zoom in on the user’s face.

For companies looking to build their brand, there’s no better tool than a solid PR strategy. The right plan can help to nurture new leads, facilitate rapid growth and improve an organization’s reputation both online and off. Of course, there are still many businesses out there that don’t know how to use PR as a brand-building tool.

As the world of marketing continues to evolve, the strategies available to modern firms are sure to grow and transform. However, for 2018, the following tactics could have the best results.

By: Ashley, Account Director

In the world of influencer marketing, one thing is certain –a creative, properly executed campaign with just the right influencers can work wonders for a client by increasing brand visibility, creating buzz and even generating sales.