Maxine Patenaude

HOT DOG! Twitter analytics now available to everyone

Ian Chan, Twitter front-end engineer, announced on August 27 in a tweet that all users now have access to its analytics platform, and it’s totally awesome. Initially the analytics platform launched in July but was open only to advertisers and verified accounts. Twitter Analytics allows users to see detailed statistics regarding their accounts and tweets. The analytics tool provides insight on users followers and individual tweets, including impressions, clicks, and engagement. This gives users an edge by making it easier to gauge how their tweets resonate. Currently the data only goes back 28 days — hopefully Twitter will eventually allow … Read more

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The art of blogger relations: Five ways to become a blogger's new BFF

Despite the death of the press release media relations is in no way extinct, but with newsrooms shrinking and print moving into digital, a successful media relations program now includes blogger relations. Working with journalists means a relationship is professional, but with bloggers it’s different. They write about their passions and have real emotional connections with their readers and followers. Respect and understanding of what matters to each blogger, and ultimately his or her audience, is what’s most important. No blasting mass emails. No sending off-topic pitches. No “just-following-up” phone calls. Respect, relevance, oh and friendship helps. Building positive relationships … Read more

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blogger blogger relations bloggers Hot topic PR press release public relations

How to protect a website from hackers

Anyone who owns a website should know that a security breach can happen at any time. But many people don’t know that when websites get cracked, it’s not necessarily to steal data. Often hackers want access to a server to re-route spam or to setup a temporary server for illegal files. Scott Burlington, senior developer at 76design, offers some advice about hackers’ most common points of access and how to keep a website protected. The server Having a dedicated server puts a lot of responsibility in a website owner’s hands versus using an outsourced hosting provider. For those whose web … Read more

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CMS Content management system database hacker heartbleed protection security server web developement Website website development

No humans necessary: print is dead, now so is the journalist?

It’s no surprise that robots have become part of the manufacturing workforce, but it’s not so easy to believe that creativity can be automated. The Associated Press (AP) announced earlier this month, that it will soon introduce automated technology to write some of its news stories. This technology provided by Automated Insights using data from Zacks Investment Research is said to help boost the production of earnings reports and take over the drier responsibility of reporting company numbers. Previously people would write a couple hundred stories but with the use of this new technology the AP could now provide up … Read more

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AP Associated Press Automated Insights automated technology journalism media news press print writing Zacks Investment Research

The missing ingredient to your social media strategy

So you think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? You’re following and engaging with your influencers on a daily basis, you’re sharing relevant content, interacting with your online community, replying to direct tweets, you’ve even got @JimWatsonOttawa following you… but you still can’t seem to grow your community and increase engagement. So what’s missing? For a social media strategy to run full circle it can’t be without a very simple ingredient – employee engagement, also known as team media. Here are a few things team media can add to your social media strategy: Create brand advocates: employees are … Read more

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Brand branding coca-cola coke employed media Social media social media definition team media

BlackBerry introduces BBM Protected

As professional communicators, when we hear the word ‘tracking’ we often think of analytics, ROI measurement, evaluation, insight and so on. This week’s hot topic is about tracking, but tracking of a different kind, one that can get a little messy; this time around it got Blackberry in a little hot water. Thanks to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), known for its security and self-avowed high-level encryption, BlackBerry has hit the spotlight after several police investigations were able to track criminal conversations through the instant messaging app. In wake of this event, and due to some people being concerned with BlackBerry privacy … Read more

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BBM BlackBerry BlackBerry Messenger Canada instant message messaging Quebec RCMP security

The Moncton manhunt captured by social media

On June 4, 2014, Moncton RCMP launched a massive manhunt for a gunman suspected of killing three Canadian Mounties and injuring two others. It was only moments after the shots were heard and witnessed that Moncton residents locked their doors, hid in their homes and took to social media; posting updates, photos and videos of the incident. As the manhunt was underway, many shared their fear and anxiety on Twitter and shortly after the hashtag #prayformoncton amongst others, started trending. The hashtag started showing up on multiple social media platforms including, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Over the next seven days, … Read more

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Crisis communication media media coverage media relations Moncton moncton manhunt moncton shooter prayformoncton Social media

The value of blogger relations is clear

Most brands have jumped on the content marketing bandwagon, but let’s not overlook the significant value that relationships with bloggers can bring to digital marketing initiatives. Bloggers offer brands enhanced value through their own social media activities. They are highly active and skilled in using most of the popular social networks because the success of their blog depends on it. Building those online relationships and creating a strong army of brand influencers can make the difference in a successful campaign. It’s a strategy that Thornley Fallis used to good effect for Ford of Canada. For three years we helped the … Read more

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blog blogger blogger relations PR Social media

Is Google+ an endangered species? Extinction is the rule.

Content marketers and podcasters fear not! Despite the rumours of the extinction of Google+, features like Google Hangouts and Hangouts On Air are here to stay. Word on the street is that there’s something going on at Google, which has spurred speculation about the future of its social media platform, Google+. And, we’re not just talking about the recent departure of Google + executive, Vic Gundotra. Google+ is the search giant’s most concerted effort to catch up with Facebook in the fast-growing social media battle field, but it continues to struggle to match the popularity of its rival, which has … Read more

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Content marketing Google+podcast Social media Vic Gundotra

Twitter’s facelift helps tell a better story

Perhaps you’ve seen it yourself, or if you’ve successfully sorted through all the noise around the social platform this week, you might have noticed that Twitter is introducing a redesign that looks a little something like a tough competitor, Facebook. Only the accounts of the newest users and a select group of Twitterites, including movie star Zac Efron and First Lady, Michelle Obama, will be made over first. A complete redesign roll out will follow in the weeks ahead. Still restricted by 140 characters, the redesign enables communicators and Twitteraties alike to better share their messages with new features that … Read more

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PR Redesign Social media story telling Twitter Twitter redesign

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