There’s no one better placed than a PR and social media agency to tell you how these two digital marketing techniques have collided in recent years. Here at VerriBerri, we have seen how the rise of social media has changed the way in which PR operates. A solid combination of them both is almost always vital in today’s digital age.
Social media popularity
Just in case you have been living under a rock for the past decade, social media has become a prominent factor in the daily lives of many of us. The media landscape has changed too; people are no longer getting information from newspapers, but they are relying on their social media feeds to give them the latest updates.
Although print journalism still holds influence over consumers, people are relying on this format less and moving towards social media. Our phones are in our pockets and are so easily accessible, of course it’s the first place we look for information and news. Over the years, businesses and brands have developed ways to utilise social media for marketing, eventually leading to the existence of businesses like VerriBerri, a PR and social media agency.
PR and social media are similar
PR is all about building connections with your audience. It creates two-way communication between you as a brand and your customer base. This is very similar to what social media does. You can use both as tools to build your brand reputability and bridge the gap between your target audience and you. They are also both utilised to build credibility and brand awareness, so why not combine them both!
Reaching journalists on Twitter
One thing social media has changed within PR is the ease of being able to contact journalists. Many journalists have Twitter accounts in order to reach a wider audience and to source information. They also use it to start conversations. A quick PR tip is to approach journalists on Twitter or to use #journorequest to find the person you want. When trying to get attention of journalists, be sure to provide as much information as you can – give facts.
Find your opportunities
Social media is all about connecting with people. This doesn’t just mean your customers and target audience. It is a great place to search for media opportunities and identify people who can be of use across all platforms. We’ve already spoken about reaching out to journalists on Twitter, but don’t be afraid to branch out to other platforms. Joining relevant Facebook groups and building connections with journalist that way can be just as effective. This can lead to established relationships with people in the right places, making it easier for you to obtain media opportunities.
Influencer marketing
A big crossover between PR and social media is the use of influencer marketing. This marketing method is the practice of combining a social media following and therefore credibility, with an increased reach, reputation, and therefore sales. Influencers (users who have a large following and are seen as experts in their niche) will endorse a product or a service from a brand. From here, as people see influencers on their social media feeds all the time, they then see the brand too.
People trust influencers and are invested in their lives, what they do, what they buy, what they wear. If a user sees an influencer using your product or service, they will be more likely to purchase from you. Studies show that those who implemented influencer marketing into their strategy experienced a higher level of ROI than those who did not. This shows just how lucrative utilising this type of marketing can be.
What to look for in an influencer
When you are choosing influencers to promote or endorse your brand, you will want to look at a few things. The things they post about is always a good place to start. You need to ensure the influencers you pick have a relevant target audience that are likely to buy your product. If you are a vegan company, it is beneficial to choose vegan influencers to promote your brand. Follower numbers can be valuable however, a good engagement rate is key. An engagement rate is measured by how many followers someone has and how often people interact with their posts. Just because someone has a lot of followers, doesn’t mean their posts get the same level of engagement.
Why do you need a PR and social media agency?
Our PR and social media agency has a wealth of experience within influencer marketing and all areas of PR. PR is often about the people you know. We have an established list of influencer contacts that we have worked with for many years. These influencer range across many sectors. We also have numerous journalist contacts to ensure you’re getting the correct coverage for your brand. Our PR and social media teams work hand in hand to cohesively produce effective campaigns. We can then roll these out across socials and within the media, creating brand cohesion. Both teams are experts in their fields and know the digital marketing industry inside out. We have regular brainstorms and together, our fresh minded team are able to produce new and exciting ideas for your brand.
We understand that creating campaigns and running social media platforms can take time. You might not be able to focus your time and attention on them as well as run your business. That’s why specialists like VerriBerri exist. With over 12 years of experience and a track record of getting results, we can take your brand in the right direction.
Contact Us
As well as PR and social media, VerriBerri can also provide your business with graphic design (branding/rebranding and website design), search engine optimisation (SEO), business development and events management.
If you think your business needs any of the above digital marketing services, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team today or call us on 01376 386 850 – we would love to start discussing your strategy with you!