Breaking Down Why CPMs Rise During the Holidays

This article was previously published at Social Media Today. You’re running campaigns as usual, good ones. Campaigns that have succeeded in the past. Some might have even returned best-in-class results. All of a sudden, though, the cost of those same strategies and campaign structures increased in October, and your November numbers are even higher. What […]

The Social Lights 2018 Social Media Predictions

A lot happened in the past 12 months. Social media is responsible for far more than many would have ever imagined possible. From social commerce to augmented reality to political influence, social platforms were under the microscope in 2017. As the calendar year winds down, headlines like “Social trends to watch in 2018” fill up […]

5 Social Media Hacks to Give the Gift They Never Knew They Needed

Is there anything more depressing during the holiday season than finally resolving to type “Christmas gifts for mom” or “what should I get my brother for Christmas?” Other than making a mistake while coloring in your Starbucks cup, not much comes to mind. Every year, we find ourselves grasping at straws, searching for some semblance […]

Status Update: Q3 Social Media Trends

Hello, and welcome to the third of four installments of Status Update in 2017, our quarterly trend report. We know how hard it is to keep up with all the updates and changes in social media. That’s why every 3 months, we put together this handy report, detailing all the key themes, updates, and announcements […]

How Marketers Can Use Facebook Groups to Foster Brand Loyalty

Facebook is doubling down on its commitment to a closer, more connected world. From Zuckerberg’s 5,000-word manifesto in February to his updated vision for the platform, the social giant is set on bringing people together. In mid-July, Facebook announced that brands would be able to create groups within their Page. We’re really, really big fans […]

How Amazon could force Facebook’s hand in eCommerce

This article was previously published at Social Media Today. Jeff Bezos and Amazon are drawing attention with recent rumors about launching a personal messaging app. The app, reportedly called ‘Anytime’, would link users through one-to-one messaging. Additionally, it’s rumored that the app would include integrations for many Amazon service offerings. The following snippet comes from Marketing Dive: Further, […]

Status Update: Q2 Social Media Trends

Social media is in a perpetual state of rapid evolution. Updates and new features are constantly reshaping how users engage across platforms, and the day-to-day headlines are a barrage of buzzwords and tag lines. How is one supposed to keep up? Short answer: Our quarterly publication, Status Update. Long answer: Let us help. Every 3 months, we bring you the […]

5 Tips to Engage the Connected Fan from Hashtag Sports

Los Angeles one week, New York City the next. Our event schedule is packed this year, and this week, we were in Times Square for Hashtag Sports. The event featured 3 days of thought leadership and innovation geared towards helping brands activate and engage around the connected fan. From professional athletes to league personnel to […]

Object Recognition Setting the Stage For Mixed-Reality Advertising

If you’ve kept up with social media news and updates over the first half of 2017, you’ve read the words “object recognition” about as often as you’ve read “Facebook copies Snapchat.” Pinterest’s Lens was among the first public-facing applications introduced around object recognition, one of their many moves aimed at integrating into the real world. […]

Status Update: Recapping Social Media in Q1

Social media platforms came out firing in Q1 with major announcements that are sure to make waves across social media over the coming months. From Facebook launching copycat features in its ongoing quest to be everything for its users, to the marketing world converging on social media, marketers will (or at least should) start reevaluating […]