Social Marketing

Throughout history, we have devised the means to ensure our voices are heard—from the telegraph to telecommunications satellites roaming the orbit. Over the last decade, however, social media has changed the way we communicate in a way that has been revolutionary. It has, literally, given those with just a voice the power to speak to the world and has provided consumers with a platform to break news, start dialogues and share views about content.

As influencer marketing evolves from a buzzed-about effort to a proven technique, marketers need to take stock of what they know is effective. Here are five important changes coming up in 2017, and experts’ advice about what to do about them.

72% of marketers consider data analysis more important than social media skills  [REPORT]

Over the past decade, Pew Research Center has documented the wide variety of ways in which Americans use social media to seek out information and interact with others. A majority of Americans now say they get news via social media, and half of the public has turned to these sites to learn about the 2016 presidential election. Americans are using social media in the context of work (whether to take a mental break on the job or to seek out employment), while also engaging in an ongoing effort to navigate the complex privacy issues that these sites bring to the forefront.  By Shannon Greenwood, Andrew Perrin and Maeve Duggan

According to UBS Evidence Lab, 54% of 18- to 34-year-olds visit YouTube at least once per day, making it the third-most popular social media platform for daily usage among this age group.

For the time being at least, influencer marketing is a popular and effective way to reach consumers. Influencer platform Bloglovin’ sought to find out how female consumers feel about the tactic, and what would cause them to respond in a negative way to influencer posts.

Many entertainment marketers are still employing a mass-market, broad-strokes approach that TV commercials offer. But this kind of mindset does not translate to influencer marketing.

Social media is a major player in the most important conversations in media and marketing—including hot-button topics such as attribution, live streaming, digital video advertising and messaging.

Attention Marketing grew out of the rise of social media and smartly suggests that rather than interrupting the consumer and using SEM, SEO, bannAttention Marketing grew out of the rise of social media and smartly suggests that rather than interrupting the consumer and using SEM, SEO, banner ads, mobile ads, etc., brands have an opportunity to utilize social media to capture consumer’s attention and channeling this attention to the brand’s products when the consumer has a genuine interest in buying.er ads, mobile ads, etc., brands have an opportunity to utilize social media to capture consumer’s attention and channeling this attention to the brand’s products when the consumer has a genuine interest in buying.

The effort we put into our content is changing, and so is the content we create. The pace of that change is accelerating. The purpose of this research is to track those changes.

Take a look at the social media statistics infographic to learn a thing or two about how all of this online interaction can work for you.

Social media has evolved far beyond its media roots into a robust engagement platform that has deep implications for brands.

Many kids become internet users before they learn how to walk. But even as the age at which kids get a smartphone creeps downward, most lack one of their own, as explored in a new eMarketer report, “US Kids and Digital: Gauging How Digital These Digital Natives Really Are”.

In 2016, consumer packaged goods and consumer products advertisers in the U.S. will spend $5.97 billion on digital marketing, an 18.2% increase over last year. And why not: market research company IRI reports that 76% of CPG shopping trips start online, and many consumers continue researching products and comparing prices on smartphones while in the shopping aisles. Consequently, brands are targeting 60% of their digital spend to mobile devices.

When considering teaming up with a brand, social influencers say they consider a variety of factors, but mainly they just want to be sure the brand’s values line up with their own.

Forrester predicted that as social media matures, branded communities would make a comeback. Marketing leaders report they’re significantly less satisfied with Facebook and Twitter marketing.

If as the saying goes, “There’s no crying in baseball,” shouldn’t we hold athletes from all sports to the same standard? Only, I want to take this mantra one step further—to social media.

One of the most striking findings in this year’s Connected Life survey from Kantar TNS is the extent to which authority and credibility has shifted.

Nearly one in five internet users around the world block ads, according to September 2016 research. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are averse to brand messaging, however.

Facebook has been slammed with a potential class-action lawsuit accusing it of violating federal civil rights laws by publishing housing and job ads that discriminate against minorities.