This week marked the first official day of spring, Spring Break is around the corner for many, and March Madness is in the air. It might be hard to concentrate on work – but there is a lot to celebrate in the world of social media this week as well. Before you head out for vacation or plant yourself on the couch for some hoops, check out the news below regarding Facebook reportedly adding hashtags, meet some brands using social data to increase their business, and write up a quick tweet wishing Happy Birthday to Twitter. #Enjoy!
AdWeek: Marketers Cheer Facebook’s Reported Hashtag Adoption
While the news is not yet #official, word on the street is that Facebook will soon be incorporating hashtags into the popular platform. For marketers and PR pros, this could be a great opportunity to both promote and capture brand-specific conversations. Analysts also suggest the move could improve metrics reporting on Facebook.
Google+
Dell Social Business Connection: Get to Know Google+: 5 Ways to Promote Your Business Page
While it still has a way to go to catch up, second-place Google+ is gaining on Facebook as the top social network and we’re seeing the platform’s increasing impact on search engine optimization (SEO) by the day. Read this short article from Dell for five tips to promote your business’s Google+ page.
CNBC: Happy Birthday Twitter: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About It
March 21, 2013 happens to be Twitter’s seventh birthday! In celebration of this occasion, here’s a fun article outlining seven things you didn’t know about the platform, including the official name of Twitter’s mascot bird: Larry. That’s right – Larry Bird. Read on for more fun facts!
Customer Service
MercuryNews.com: Companies Slow to use Twitter, Facebook for Customer Service, Study Says
According to a new study released Monday, more people are using Twitter and Facebook to contact businesses instead of dialing the 1-800 customer service number. But are companies hearing the complaints? Sadly – the study says no. “You’re destroying your brand by not responding,” says Natalie Petouhoff who is quoted in the article. Click through if you need more convincing.
Metrics/Data
Digiday: 5 Brands Getting Creative With Data
Wonder how tracking Facebook conversations could increase your market share by 11 percent? Have you ever considered real-time social listening to help you combat a competitor’s pending new product release? This article reinforces the importance of monitoring social media chatter and gives real world examples of how some brands turned their social media intelligence into gold.
What GFM Blogged About This Week:
Labeling GMOs a Good PR Move by Whole Foods
PR Filling Gap in Dwindling News Coverage
