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Instagram announced last Thursday that they will be introducing advertisements into the social media medium. For the past three years, they have grown to over 150 million users and in order to keep a sustainable business in the US, an occasional ad will appear in your feed.
These will not be any ordinary ads, they will be beautifully, filtered ads that mesh well into your already established feed. Instagram is following in Facebook’s footsteps by capitalizing on mobile ads. With Facebook’s mantra being, “Move fast and break things”, Instagram is taking the subtler approach. They will be following the “Vogue” gold standard of advertisements, meaning that these will be high quality, visually stunning photos and videos. They want to make this transition natural, like flipping through a magazine.
A downside to these ads is that they will be brands and people you do not follow but the upside is Instagram is giving users the control. If you see an ad you do not like, you can hide it. You will also be able to provide insight on why you decided to hide it. Instagram understands that this is a place where people can connect and be inspired so they do not want users to feel disgruntled by this change. They want to keep building the Instagram everyone knows and loves and therefore will give the feedback they get serious consideration.
The CEO, Kevin Systrom, explained in an article posted on Racked.com, “It’s like living at home after college. There comes a time when you have to add to the pie. If Instagram is going to become what I want it to become, then it has to do just that. It’s gotta grow up.”
No matter how beautiful these ads will be, they are still ads and how they are going to impact each users experience is hard to predict. What do you think about these Instagram changes, are they pointless or a valuable addition? Guess we will have to wait and see!
Sources: 1)http://racked.com/archives/2013/10/04/instagram-launched-ads-but-dont-worry-theyll-be-beautiful.php, 2)http://mashable.com/2013/10/04/poll-instagram-ads/, 3)http://blog.instagram.com
Social media has become an increasingly popular source for information on the latest news. More so than ever people have been turning to their Facebook and Twitter feeds for the most up-to-date information on local and national happenings. While these social media outlets sometimes are not the most reliable sources of information, because of the freedom in posting, Twitter has taken action to make sure that users are supplied with accurate and credible information.
Last Wednesday, Mashable.com broke the news that Twitter will be unveiling a new emergency alert system. This will allow public institutions and non-government organizations to send out emergency alerts during a crisis to users who have signed up for the service. Notifications will be received via text message or push notification from whichever account the user desires. In addition, tweets that are considered to be alerts will be marked by an orange bell icon.
More than 70 companies with active twitter accounts have already signed up for this alert system, some of which include:
World Health Organization
FEMA
New York City Fire Department
New Jersey State Police
Dispersing the most up-to-date information on news and where to get help from media outlets for tragedies like the Boston Bombings and Hurricane Sandy, Twitter has established itself as a reliable news source throughout the last year.
Taking this step in moving forward in its credibility, we will be seeing a lot more news worthy content via Twitter with this new feature.
Sources:
http://mashable.com/2013/09/25/twitter-alert-system/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/boston-police-twitter-marathon_n_3157472.html
For the past 3 years Pinterest has been the virtual pin board for users to keep their fashion wish lists, DIY ideas, recipes, and everyday inspiration. CEO Ben Silbermann told users Thursday, “We’re going to start experimenting with promoting certain pins because it’s so important that Pinterest is a service that will be here to stay.”
Pinterest paid advertising will be called “promoted pins,” similar to Facebook and Twitter. However, only a select group of brands will experiment with promoting pins. Silbermann promises that annoying banner ads will not be explored as an option on Pinterest. More specifically he says that ads will be:
The goal of ads will be relevancy. Pinterest will promote a few pins in search results and category feeds. For example, if you search a ‘Halloween Costume’ you might see a costume on sale at a local shop that pinned the outfit. With such a large audience base, advertising is an obvious place for Pinterest to seek out revenue.
To read Ben Silbermann’s entire announcement, click here.
Here at Neff Associates the only thing we love more than the 8 oz. Filet Mignon at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House is the 8 oz. Filet Mignon during restaurant week! We’re in the midst of the best time of year and we cannot be more excited! Of course we are a bit biased when it comes to our first and favorite choice, but who isn’t when you’re getting the best deal in town? All throughout Restaurant Week, the recently named “#1 Steakhouse” on the 2013 Philly HOT LIST if offering an unforgettable three-course dinner for just $35 per person. That steak alone will cost you upwards of $39 on any other night.
Other dinner menu options include Prime Pork Porterhouse, Filet Medallions and Salmon Fillet. Not to mention the choice of dessert between Warm Apple Cake and Chocolate Mousse.
While Restaurant Week offers a huge variety of dining options, we think the choice is pretty clear. With the best steak in the city, we know where we’ll be eating this week!
Whether you’re building a physical brand or your personal brand, it’s important to always act with your “social media manners.” There are many major companies who have learned this the hard way, and in turn, have suffered tremendously.
Mistakes like, responding to an angry customer with a heartless, canned response or posting something accidentally because a social media manager is controlling too many twitter accounts. Even just one insensitive tweet can damage a reputation that took years to build. We are all human and humans make mistakes. But some social media blunders can be unforgiveable because the world is watching.
The widely known insurance company, Progressive, received backlash from an angry blogger that went viral and received thousands of unwanted tweets. As a response the company replied with the same exact message to all that reached out, coming off as cold and uncaring. Had they addressed their consumers and apologized, their Facebook page might not have looked so repetitive.
When The American Red Cross’s social media manager forgot to switch back to her personal twitter account, thousands of followers received this tweet on their newsfeed from the esteemed organization.
In the wake of a national tragedy it is crucial to terminate all social media activity for a few days. While thousands of people were left powerless or even homeless during Hurricane Sandy, the clothing brand American Apparel decided to have a “Bored From the Storm” sale. Nothing looks worse than a company trying to promote a sale when a huge catastrophe is going on elsewhere.
More so, it’s an even bigger faux-pas to address the topic using humor. There is nothing funny about a deadly storm or an attack on innocent people, and there’s definitely nothing funny about making the same mistake twice.
Managing your brand on social media isn’t as hard at it seems. Keep in mind that social media messages and responses are available for all followers to see, then the rest is simple. Sound like a human and have compassion for your customers and the world around you. If there’s a complaint you address the issue and apologize, personally. Make sure you log out of the twitter account that you are paid to manage before you start drinking, and in the wake of a tragedy it’s best to unschedule your social media.
Screen shots originally appeared on the following websites:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/15176.aspx
http://digiday.com/brands/the-worst-social-media-screw-ups-of-2012/
http://mashable.com/2011/02/16/red-cross-tweet/
http://blog.boldchat.com/2012/09/06/when-is-canned-messaging-robotic/
Being a Public Relations and Social Media Intern isn’t exactly what I expected it to be. It’s so much MORE. Being a marketing major, I learned loads in the classroom, but having the in-agency experience has been something else. This experience allows me to continuously learn from my surroundings and colleagues. That’s why I find the PR world so exciting!
PR is definitely a learn-as-you-go type of industry requiring a quick mind, excellent attention to detail and a strong ability to multi-task. Here at Neff Associates, I’ve also learned that having fun along the way is never a bad thing either. My daily tasks are just as crucial as any of the members in the company. I help to track media mentions for several clients, compile media reports and clippings, help with media lists for press release distribution, and manage social profiles for clients on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, WordPress and Instagram. A lot of work goes into everyday life in the PR world and my insight helps the team run smoothly.
I am a 2012 graduate of Saint Joseph’s University (THWND) with a degree in food marketing. I’ve Irish danced for 16 years and recently started teaching it. I have an extreme love for froyo and boy bands. (Backstreet Boys over NSYNC obv) and I can’t wait to see what this crazy world of PR has to offer me and where this invaluable work experience at Neff Associates takes me!
Do you think you know the best of the best when it comes to restaurants, clothing and fine jewelry in Philly? Well then, why not cast your vote for PHL-17’s the Philly Hot List! The Philly Hot List is a contest featuring more than 5,900 local businesses competing to be named best. Your votes determine the outcome!
There are so many great choices to choose from but let us help you out. Our friends at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Henry A. Davidsen, Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop, Rex 1516, and Safian & Rudolph Jewelers are all the best of the best! So go ahead…VOTE!
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Nominated For: Best Steakhouse
http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/steakhouse/great-meals/philadelphia
Henry A. Davidsen
Nominated For: Best Men’s Clothing
http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/men-s-clothing/fashion/philadelphia
Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop
Nominated For: Best Cheesesteak
http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/cheesesteak/cheap-eats/philadelphia
Rex 1516
Nominated For: Best Soul Food
http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/soul-food/great-meals/philadelphia
Safian & Rudolph Jewelers
Nominated For: Best Rings
http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/rings/weddings/philadelphia
If like me, you follow Chipotle on Twitter (@ChiptoleTweets) you might have noticed some bizarre action this past Sunday (see image above). A series of seemingly nonsense tweets were let fly from the ‘usually’ social media savvy burrito juggernaut. Needless to say I tuned in to see how it progressed, as did the masses like the good folks over at Buzzfeed.com, etc. In just one short day, @ChipotleTweets had garnered over 4,000 new followers. Now this is a pretty common consequence, think about how many of you followed Amanda Bynes after the first of her (many) twitter meltdowns. But to me, there was just something about this ‘hacking’ that seemed a little ‘staged.’
Mostly, because when brands get ‘hacked’ (or when an intern goes rogue after too many cocktails) this and this is more likely to happen.
We have since found out thanks to Mashable, that this twitter hack was in fact fake. (Insert gasp here). As suspected, the overly curated tweets were purposely ‘safe’ and designed to “cut through people’s attention and make them talk.” Which they did, as evident by the 4K new followers. So why did I unfollow @ChipotleTweets? Well, I am not sure if it’s because the whole scenario ‘stunk’ of a publicity stunt from the start, that I’ve lost trust in their voice, or because most simply put, it was just lame.
-Kylie Flett
PR & Social Media Dirtector
What are your thoughts?
Facebook has introduced their newest edition to the site, the Graph Search. Facebook’s so-called social graph maps out the connections between each user. Graph Search is Facebook’s determined attempt to turn your social network into a custom-made search engine. People are calling it the most powerful “stalking” tool ever invented. Facebook considers Graph Search its “third pillar,” after News Feed and Timeline. It has been in testing for the past six months and was presented to U.S. English-language users this past Monday.
The way that most Facebook users find information is through the News Feed, which displays a combination of the most recent posts from friends into a single stream. A user can also look directly at someone’s Timeline for a more detailed synopsis of their Facebook life. A Graph Search might be something like “2008 photos of my college friends ” or “people who like the show ‘FRIENDS’.” You can even get as detailed as, “friends of my friends who are single, twenty-six years old, live in Philadelphia.” After each search, there is a page full of profile pictures —majority of them are probably people you’ve never seen before. This is because Graph Search searches through your “friends of friends” network, a grouping that is way larger than just your “friends” network.
Facebook isn’t making new information public—the company has been very careful to make sure that Graph Search respects all the privacy settings that users have put into place—but it completely changes the quality of that information’s availability. Graph Search will virtually catalog all of the content on Facebook, eventually – this means every link that’s ever been posted, every status update and every piece of data that outside websites have shared with Facebook, through its Open Graph program. Open Graph is the way that Facebook organizes the information and connections on its platform. It is an extension of Facebook’s social graph that anyone can build upon, whether by adding simple Like button to a website or developing full-scale additions like Spotify’s music service. What users will get presently is fairly limited in it’s scope. It will still be restricted to searches of photos, people, places, and interests. Also, it doesn’t work on mobile yet but just like the hashtags, they are working on it.
Ultimately, Graph Search is limited by the kind of information that people share on Facebook, but it is already a strong tool for finding information that would otherwise go unnoticed. As Zuckerberg said, Graph Search is still in its early days but it will get more powerful as time goes on.
PRDC and Pelican Properties are happy to announce their newest project, The Waves! This is a 27 luxurious residence on the oceanfront in Ventnor, New Jersey. Please join us at the official ground breaking is July 1st which is set to start at 10 am with a light breakfast followed by the actually groundbreaking at 11 am. PRDC focuses on revitalization opportunities so along with Pelican Properties; The Waves promises to be something spectacular!
There will be seven ocean front units with the rest being beach block. The units will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, ocean views, three to four unique outdoor areas, high ceilings, an open design concept and contemporary fixtures. All future homebuyers will work with The Waves’ custom designer to select interior finishing’s like kitchen appliances, tile, flooring, etc. Atlantic County has not seen something like this in over two decades. But with all these amazing views and beautiful amenities, The Waves is a very important project for the entire region. It is the area’s first significant residential real estate project since Hurricane Sandy. New Jersey is in full recovery mode and this project is proof.
The Waves is located just 62 miles from Philadelphia. Located in The Waves’ backyard are restaurants like Sage, Red Door Café, Hannah G’s and Yama Japanese. Other amazing facilities include state-of-the-art construction, luxury finishes and an elevator. The over-sized units all have their own garage and unique outdoor spaces – including a roof deck, balcony, yard and patio. Pets are also welcome for homeowners. For more information please visit www.thewavesonline.com. Interested buyers should contact Real Estate Agent Ashley Franchini on cell 609.335.9292.
