Sherrilynne Starkie

Strategic Digital Communications

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1310News Power Lunch: Discussion can get a bit heated!

At my recent visit to the 1310 NEWS studio for the Power Lunch with Mark Sutcliffe I got to meet author Fred Litwan. We discussed cannabis and how it will (or won’t) change the fabric of our country. We talked about Donald J. Trump’s 60 Minutes interview. And it got a bit heated when we talked about Hillary Clinton’s recent comments about Monicagate.

I’m on Mark’s show about once a month and it’s always a great experience. I get to meet fascinating people and we talk about subjects that I wouldn’t otherwise touch upon normally.  I really enjoy the Power Lunch. Check it out weekdays at 12 noon on 1310 News on the radio, on Facebook Live from the station’s page or on TV on Rogers Channel 22.

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Top Five: Google is shuttering G+

After a bit of a hiatus, I’m back with this week’s Top 5 Must-Know News for PR and marketing communications professionals. Top stories this week include Facebook’s crackdown, Google’s continuing investment in quality news, another new Instagram feature, the final throes of Google’s G+ and how all emoji are being treated equal on Twitter.

1. Facebook cracks down on link bait and ad farms

Facebook has just removed 559 brand pages and 251 profiles, because they’ve consistently broken its anti-spam rules. They were using multiple fake accounts to post massive amounts of content across pages and groups to drive traffic to ad farm websites. They generate income for each website visitor.

This is good news for brands and marketers because it improves the Facebook user experience overall making it a more useful channel. — SSFacebook training

 

2. Google supports quality news publishers in digital transformation

After a successful pilot program, Google is opening applications for its GNI Cloud Credit Program to give qualifying news publishers with fewer than 1,000 employees the opportunity to apply for up to $100,000 each in Google Cloud Platform credits, as well up to $50,000 in implementation support. It gives them an on-ramp to implement technologies to build more sustainable businesses.

PR and marcoms professionals need our news media industry to remain healthy and relevant, if we are to be able to do our jobs well. — SS

news

3. Now you can post multiple Instagram stories

Instagram has introduced a new feature that allows brands to record multiple stories at once. By holding the capture button, multiple 15-second stories will record. The fully recorded 15-second stories will appear on your screen while you continue filming. You can record up to 10 stories at once.

This means improved storytelling capabilities for brands. — SS

instagram

4. Google is shuttering G+

Google has announced that it’s shutting down its G+ social network because hardly anyone is using it. The recent data breach was the final nail in the coffin. It’s sad news considering the optimism surrounding its 2011 launch. Also because, even though is never took off as a sharing platform, it provided excellent SEO benefits.

We’ll miss you G+. — SS

5. All emoji are equal on Twitter

From now on every emoji will be counted as the same number of characters towards the 280-character limit on Twitter. A simple emoji had counted as two characters. Adding features such as skin tone and gender could add up to 14 characters.

Yay! Keeping tweets short and sweet makes Twitter a more useful tool for businesses. — SS 

woty: emoji

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Rules for good media relations

Many companies fail to include media relations as part of their content marketing strategies. This means they are walking away from opportunities to gain exposure to massive audiences, getting the SEO benefits of backlinks from high authority websites and often, winning a Google Page One ranking for their priority keywords. Successful digital marketing and communications depend upon Owned, Paid and Shared media strategies, and Earned media is an essential part of the mix. Here are six rules for building positive relationships with reporters and news professionals that will help in landing quality editorial coverage. media relations reporter and camera

1. Deal honestly

Not only is honesty the best policy in most things in life, in PR it’s just common sense. No tricks, evasion or hiding the facts; with the media that’s just like waving a red flag to a bull. Be accurate, helpful and have integrity in all your dealings.

2. Work for the reporter

Remember journalists are your most important clients. Serve them well by providing interesting, timely stories that their audiences want to hear. Meet their deadlines. Know their beats. Help them out; even if your assistance doesn’t relate to the company you work for. Your reputation among media professionals is a valuable asset.

3. Don’t nag or plead

News is just that, news. If the story is weak or ill-targeted, no amount of pleading will get you coverage. And, when your story runs, and it isn’t what you had hoped for (not long enough, wrong angle) don’t whine. It’s ok to point out factual inaccuracies, but respect the journalist’s treatment of the news.

4. Don’t ask for a kill

Trying to kill a hard story is a fool’s errand. If you want the media to cover your good news, you’ll have to accept that they’ll cover your bad news too. Asking for kills will only damage your relationships, and that’s never a good thing.

5. Never spray & pray

Use only well-targeted pitches. Angle your stories to suit the needs of each reporter. If a journalist is constantly receiving irrelevant news from you, he’ll hit the Del key without giving your release a glance. Think before you click send.

6. Be clean

Regularly clean your media contact database. People move around all the time, it’s your job to know when and where they go. It’s all part of serving the media well.

Contact me!

Interesting in learning how to super power your content marketing by adding earned media strategies and tactics?  Let’s set up a time for a free telephone consultation.

 

 

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Top five: Google Chrome to detect fake news with new AI extension

Social media and marketing news, information, trends and stats to set you up for a strong start to 2018.

Headline for Top Five: Marketing Trends and Stats for 2018
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Sherrilynne Starkie Sherrilynne Starkie
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Top Five: Marketing Trends and Stats for 2018

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Facebook, Google, CES, BBC all make this week's list of top social media must-knows.

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Facebook’s answer to Amazon Echo and Google Home

Jan 11, 2018
Facebook’s answer to Amazon Echo and Google Home

Rumours have it that Facebook will launch its answer to Amazon Echo and Google Home at the annualy F8 Conference in May. Called Portal, the device is said to go for US $499 and will be available at pop-up and online stores.

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Google Chrome to detect fake news with new AI extension

Jan 11, 2018
Google Chrome to detect fake news with new AI extension

‘Unpartial’ is a new Google Chrome extension that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the trustworthiness of content. It measures biases and considers grammar, density of facts and subjective statements in its assessments.

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5G, AI and Robotics top CES 2018 trends to watch

Jan 11, 2018
5G, AI and Robotics top CES 2018 trends to watch

These core industry trends and others were presented by the Consumer Technology Association's (CTA) at the 2018 Tech Trends to Watch session on opening day at CES in Las Vegas.

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101 must-know social media stats for 2018

Jan 11, 2018
101 must-know social media stats for 2018

Did you know that people spend 20 to 40 per cent more with companies who engage with them online? Get the other 100 new statistics to help inform your social media strategy.

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‘Earned’ media has whole new connotation as BBC China editor quits post

Jan 11, 2018
‘Earned’ media has whole new connotation as BBC China editor quits post

The BBC is facing a “crisis of trust” after huge earnings disparities between male and female journalists. A 30-year BBC veteran journalist has stepped down from an international post in protest #IStandwithCarrie

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