Is Return on Investment (ROI) the Best Metric to Measure PR Success?

Return on investment (ROI) has lately become the metric above all metrics to demonstrate success for PR, because it connects PR outcomes to corporate goals and revenues. Here’s the thing though. Although everything is measurable – even PR — and there’s a right metric for everythi … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Infographic: How Snapchat Can Expand Your Brand

We all know Snapchat is a social powerhouse but just how is a channel built on temporary media supposed to leave a permanent impact on a brand’s image? We came across this in-depth infographic from Justin Green at M2 On Hold making the business case for Snapchat. It turns out you … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Live from The Annual Corporate Social Media Summit 2016

Social Media Explorer will be reporting live from the Incite Group’s 7th Annual Corporate Social Media Summit on Monday June 20th and Tuesday June 21st. CSMNY is America’s leading social media summit, giving conference attendees the opportunity to learn from and connect with mark … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Measure the Value of Press Releases in 2016

Despite the much-publicized demise of print media, press releases remain one of the most important weapons in the PR arsenal. PR can share news releases on social media, distribute them to bloggers and other influencers interested in the company’s niche, and post them on company … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Facebook Now Lets You Post Straight to the Newsfeed

Tired of having your Facebook posts tattooed on your timeline? Facebook’s new update will enable you to post only to your newsfeed! While users have already been able to retroactively hide their posts from their timeline, this feature will allow posts to never be posted on the ti … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

5 Ways to Decrease Your Website Bounce Rate

Nobody likes a high website bounce rate – a sure sign that viewers are glancing at your web pages and then leaving seconds later without doing anything. Some truly accidental bounces are acceptable, but others will lose you conversions, which is unacceptable. So let's talk about … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Men vs. Women: How to Target Effectively Two Genders on Social Media

It’s no secret that men and women think differently. The same applies to their usage of social media. While men prefer to use social networks for business and work, women use these networks to keep in touch, find out new information about a product or service, and to share photos … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Friday Handshake Report: Isaac's a Married Man!

Yes, you heard that right! Isaac & Lauren tied the knot last night at a ceremony in northern Michigan! Feel free to leave a message of congrats or matrimonial advice on our 21 Handshake Facebook Page. | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Use Social Proof to Build Customer Relationships and Increase ROI

“Marketing isn’t a battle of products; it’s a battle of perception.” This famous quote by renowned consultant and author Jack Trout is so important because it explains the biggest problem with marketing while offering a solution at the same time. Why should people buy from you an … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How Employee Storytelling Can Humanize Content Marketing & PR

Compelling brand storytelling requires a sympathetic protagonist as a central element. A customer, fictional or real, often fills that role. Employees too offer a goldmine of storytelling that can humanize the brand. Employees have plenty of stories. They are probably telling the … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Why Interactive Content Matters and How to Get Started Today

Here’s a quick math problem: if online advertising began in 1993 and there are over 1 billion websites today, how many online advertisements (an industry that in fifteen years hadn’t innovated past blinking banner ads) are floating around click-less, user-less, and money-less? Th … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

5 Invaluable (and Quick) YouTube Optimization Tips that Will Increase Your Views

We previously talked about how to make great YouTube videos rank higher and be part of your brand strategy. But we didn't really touch on YouTube optimization as a whole – how to make your current and past videos do better. So here are 5 proven ways to optimize your YouTube conte … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

10 Top Trends in the Current SEO Landscape

If you are businessman or entrepreneur then your probably don''t have the time to research the latest SEO services and trends. However, you need to keep track of the updates and know the hottest trends that rule the SEO landscape. This article outlines the top 10 trends in the cu … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Protect Your Brand against Rampant Social Media Fraud

Social media makes it easy to find old friends. It also makes committing fraud incredibly easy. Cyber security consultant RSA calls social media fraud a global epidemic. Its investigators have uncovered a glut of fraud groups that sell and share stolen credit card data. They also … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Measure the Impact of Streaming Video in PR, Marketing and Employee Communications

With the surging popularity of digital streaming, video has clearly become an increasingly important PR and marketing strategy. The video programs can range from 6-second snippets to 30-minute documentaries. Sixty percent of marketers use video in their marketing and 73% plan on … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

The Twitter Tactics of Hillary and Donald

“Delete your account.” With this simple three word tweet late last week, it could be argued that presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, officially brought the battleground for the White House to Twitter. The Twittersphere took notice – making this Mrs. Clinton’s most fa … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

5 Things Everyone Knows About Finding Targeted Keywords That You Don't

We're going to be honest: Picking targeted keywords is not a glorious job. It's not especially exciting or fulfilling – but it is incredibly important. You can't rush through your keywords and skip to content creation, not if you want effective SEO. Fortunately, we have several p … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

7 Subject Line Tips to Get More Value From Your Email Marketing Campaigns

The subject line plays a starring role in email marketing. Write it well and readers will be raring to open the email; eager to read the rest of the message. But if the subject line isn’t inspiring, then anything can happen. Your email could be sent to the spam folder, it may be … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Marketing & PR Benefits of Google+

Google+ was initially viewed as a promising up and coming social networking site that would challenge Facebook for dominance. Google’s foray into social media never gained traction. Since the debut of Google+, Snapchat and Instagram have become major players. Facebook still reign … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Is PR Missing its SEO Opportunity?

Google’s long-running effort to remove much of the technical aspect from search engine optimization (SEO) presents PR a superb opportunity to increase the reach, readership and engagement of its output including news releases and content marketing communications. Google’s updates … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

6 Things to Think about When Posting Sponsored Posts on Facebook

Do you want to run more efficient sponsored post campaigns on Facebook? Of course you do! | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

When One to Many Is One Too Many

The other night, as I was flipping through the channels on TV, I stumbled upon an old, familiar episode of Star Trek. In this story, a planet of humanoids was worried that centuries of civil war would eventually wipe out the entire species. To address this, they automated warfare … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

4 Reasons to Repost Your Blog Content on Medium or LinkedIn Pulse

You wrote an amazing post on your blog but it’s not gaining a lot of traction. You carefully crafted a click-worthy headline, added a compelling image, and refined your message for maximum impact. But despite sharing over social media, engagement remains disappointingly slow. So… … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

YouTube SEO: The Ultimate Guide for Ranking Videos on YouTube and Google

Note: This is a YouTube SEO guide I originally wrote and posted on the LocalVox blog here.  When you hear the words “search engine optimization,” you likely think of Google. This makes sense, as Google is clearly the alpha dog when it comes to search engines, holding 63.8% of the … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Untapped Benefits of Media Monitoring for Competitive Intelligence

It should be obvious that knowledge about competitors is critical business information. Yet almost half the companies that collect competitive intelligence are not using the data to make strategic decisions, according to a recent survey by the Harvard Business Review. The Academy … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Snapchat Makes Change to Help Publishers Out

Current social media darling, Snapchat, has released yet another update. The change completely transforms the way users view content provided by publishers on the app. The Live stories and Discover sections are now merged into a neat row at the top of the Stories page. Making It … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Boost LinkedIn Profile Visibility with Keyword Optimization

Recruiters actively search LinkedIn to find the best talent. They use specific keywords to cull quickly through thousands of profiles in just minutes. These keywords help recruiters hone in on potential candidates with the right professional experience and qualifications. In shor … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

5 Beginner's Blogging Tips For SEO

As you probably know, SEO is an essential part of online marketing. If you want to increase your web traffic, you'll need to increase your search engine ranking - and the best way to do this is by optimizing your site for SEO. Of course, you'll need to have a blog as well. A good … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

[JOBS] Sr. Marketing Manager for Industry Marketing

The post [JOBS] Sr. Marketing Manager for Industry Marketing appeared first on The Content Wrangler. | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Succeed in the Crowded Content Marketing Competition – and Prove It with Media Measurement

Research shows that content marketing holds advantages over online advertising. Consumers prefer to discover digital content on their own and are skeptical of brands pushing disruptive online advertising. Millennials are especially mistrusting of interruptive online ads. A survey … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

[Recap 6/1-6/10] What’s Happening in the World of Marketing?

A lot of new developments in the world of marketing have arisen in the past two weeks- more specifically in the area of digital marketing. From Google being accused of sending some advertisers their Chromebooks for free, to Yahoo revamping their search bar into a... | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

The Friday Denver Handshake Report

Yes, that was most of the 21 Handshake team in Denver this week! We were there to both meet and learn about a new clients company culture, tour their business and gather content to be used in future marketing endeavors. | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How to Create an Effective Call-to-Action

You're doing everything that you should as far as your email campaign goes - at least you think you are. You're segmenting your email list in order to personalize your content, you're focusing on creating valuable content that is relevant to where the recipients are in their stag … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Advantageous Alternatives to Advertising Value Equivalencies (AVEs) for Media Measurement

The overwhelming majority of PR measurement experts dismiss advertising value equivalencies (AVEs) as inaccurate and misleading. The AVE measurement reports what earned media coverage would cost if it were advertising. Measurement experts agree that AVEs cannot measure PR’s effec … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

6 Critical Reasons to Do More Video

In the 1960s classic “The Graduate,” a young Dustin Hoffman is comically “enlightened” about the future with one infamous word: “plastics.” Today, I suspect that same smarmy grownup might proclaim “video” as the key to unlocking a successful future. And like he was back then, I’d … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Noteworthy 2016 AP Stylebook Changes for PR Pros

The just-released 2016 AP Stylebook contains important changes public relations professionals should understand. The new stylebook, considered the go-to writing guideline for journalists and PR pros, includes nearly 250 new or revised entries and the first interior page redesign … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

The YouTube SEO Connection That Wins Higher Ranking on Google

Google owns YouTube: You probably knew that already, but have you taken a moment to think about what that means for your overall SEO and videoexperience? YouTube videos don't live in their own little separate bubble on the Internet – what you do on YouTube will absolutely impact … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Is it Time to Ditch the Term “Social”?

Is social media social? | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

The Perfect Content Marketing Mix

Okay. Here’s what you need. 2 oz. tequila. 1 oz. lime juice. 1 oz. Cointreau. Oh, and 3 big ice cubes. You have got the perfect content marketing cocktail. Well, not quite. Not that easy at least. Crafting the right content marketing strategy can always be a drag. And that’s the … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Research Touts Marketing Benefits of Podcasts, but Production Obstacles Limit Adoption

Podcasts offer an enormous marketing potential. One in three podcast listeners expect to increase their podcast consumption over the next six months. Nearly one in five Americans ages 18-49 listen to podcasts at least once a month, while nearly one in three men 18-34 listen to th … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Facebook Is Now Targeting Non-Users

Facebook announced the decision to target to non-users this week, daring to boldly go where no social network has ever gone before. In their latest bid for internet supremacy, Facebook hopes to expand their already massive ad network to users that have never even visited the site … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Investigative Brand Journalism: A New Marketing Strategy

You’ve probably heard of brand journalism, a PR and marketing strategy that entails writing journalistic-style stories about a company. Articles read like traditional journalism rather than marketing copy, with succinct writing, attention-grabbing leads, and quotes from outside e … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

How Important Are Brand Guidelines? 8 Expert Quotes

Why do you need a brand style guide? We could spend a whole article talking about the reasons, but why not let some other experts talk about why brand guidelines are important? Here are professionals, world-renowned brands, and business experts talking about why branding consiste … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

The Myth of Print’s Demise: Small Newspapers Are Thriving

Despite doom and gloom tales of the end of newspapers, many community newspapers are surviving – and actually thriving. That’s important news for PR. PR pros who keep small daily and weekly newspapers in their media relations strategy will have an advantage. “You don’t hear about … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

4 Effective Ways to Personalize Your Website

The importance of personalization isn't new. Have you ever become a regular at a coffee shop or at a bar? If you have, then odds are that the barista or the bartender may have become familiar with your name and your order. It made the service they provided feel much more personal … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

PR, Marketing and Life Lessons from Muhammad Ali

After winning an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 1960 Olympics in Rome as an 18-year old amateur, Ali – then known as Cassius Marcellus Clay — defeated Sonny Liston in 1964 to become heavyweight champion of the world. A short time later he changed his “slave name” to Mohammad … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

Here’s Why You’re Throwing Away 90% Of Your Traffic

With view counts slowly turning into it’s own form of currency, many site owners are learning that making the most of their audience really does lead to a healthier bottom line. In this article we’ll discuss a few simple quick fixes you can apply to your site to make the most of … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago

10 Minutes to LinkedIn Success

Still think LinkedIn success is just for job hunters? Think again. Daily LinkedIn usage is a must for boosting visibility and strengthening professional connections. In just 10 minutes a day – a fraction of the time you already spend scrolling Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feed … | Continue reading


@alltop | 8 years ago