X Immediate Future

Keeping customers happy when implementing a social media strategy

The brakes are off, the lights are green and 2016 is well underway. 10 years after Twitter was founded and Facebook became a mainstream platform, another batch of social media strategies are being rolled out by marketers. Objectives will include lead generation, reach and awareness, community growth and improving sentiment.

Join the POTUS on Snapchat

Gone are the days when you would receive updates from politicians through a press conference or televised announcement. Instead, more and more state officials are opting to voice their policies and connect with their constituents through popular networks like Twitter and Facebook. According to Pew Research, 61%…

Social content is not all about the content

The folk over at Smart Insights reminded me last week about the deluge of content churning through every social media platform. Much has been written about getting the content right. Investing more time, resource and money in storytelling and crafting visuals that resonate. But this is only…

Twitter’s ‘brand enthusiast gallery’ is cause for enthusiasm

Of all of the consumer tech and social media news coming out of #CES2016 last week, I wasn’t expecting news of a new Twitter ad product to be one of the most talked about. But with its ‘brand enthusiast gallery’ (purely a working title, I hope),…

Is Peach just another social fad?

It has only been 12 days and the first part of prediction 1 in our Blog 28 things guaranteed to happen in social in 2016 may soon become a reality. We predicted that a ‘Shiny new platform labelled the ‘next big thing’ will emerge’ and that ‘Digital professionals will…

5 things businesses need to know about Generation Z

When I was writing this I did think to myself ‘aren’t we all sick of talking about post-millennials?’ But upon a bit of pre-Xmas digging and realising that these tech-savvy go-getters were going to save Christmas by vowing to spend more than ever before and…

Twitter to dump its 140 character restriction?

The limit of 140 characters on Twitter is destined to disappear, and may potentially be extended to an incredibly lengthy 10,000 characters, as reported by Re/code. “So what does that equate to in words?!” you may cry. That’s probably the length of a 2,000 word essay! Why…

Are you ready for VR?

Back in Q1, 2014, Mark Zuckerburg announced Facebook’s $2.5 billion acquisition of Oculus VR, signalling his intention to bring virtual reality into mainstream digital life. Two years on and Facebook have finally begun taking pre-orders for Oculus Rift. That’s right you can now place…

New Year, New Tech, New Content Opportunities

With the new year come new trends…yada yada yada yes. But there’s no denying, as we try to keep up with the cascading popularity of the annual Consumer Electronics Show or #CES2016, that there are some highlights of this year’s show that hold clear opportunities for the…

Nailing your social in 2016

And now to hammer home the message (see what I did there?!). Many businesses are still figuring out how to go about exploiting the many benefits of social. The start of a calendar year is usually the time companies discuss needing a social strategy, but are unsure…

Twitter Fights Against Abuse

As 2015 ended, the good folk at Twitter HQ updated their policy, adding new rules and procedures to combat abusive behaviour and hateful conduct on the platform. The latest update, announced in a blog on December 30th, sees the introduction of the following passage into the abusive…

The elves are away for a while

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from immediate future We’re off to join the festivities and will be back on the 4th Jan with our first blog post in 2016. Happy, jingly Christmas and good health and happiness to all . . .

The night before IFmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Vine House Not a keyboard was stirring, not even a mouse. IF stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Howell soon would be there. The…

28 things guaranteed to happen in social in 2016

There have been many predictions for how social media will play out in 2016. But enough of the speculation…here are 28 things that are guaranteed to happen. Do you agree with them? Have I missed any? Shiny new platform labelled the ‘next big thing’ will emerge. Digital professionals…

Are media companies in danger?

New services like Facebook’s Instant Articles and Snapchat’s Discover allow publishers to host and monetise content on third-party social media platforms, without the need for users to click through to their site. Media publishers are currently uploading content on social media platforms in the hope users will click back to…

4 tips to optimise your (and our) blog in 2016

Having a blog, whether it’s on a personal level or a corporate level is, and will remain, a fantastic way of building a brand and showing your knowledge and expertise on a specific subject. In reading my esteemed colleague’s summary of IF blogs in 2015, I realised just how…

Watch out: Buffer just got buff-er!

We have all been fans of Buffer for a while here at Immediate Future. For those that do not know, Buffer is a content curation and scheduling platform. It’s great for recommending content, posting, and seeing the success of this activity. It plugs in to pretty much…

A big hello to Twitter Moments UK

After an initial roll-out in the US, Twitter finally launches Moments in Europe, starting with the UK… yippee! One aim of Twitter’s curated news tab is to make the platform an easier place to navigate; to catch up on breaking news and hot topics within your region – a key…

Not just another Star Wars blog

For many of you, tomorrow is the long awaited day. That’s right – there is only one more sleep until the theatrical release of the highly anticipated 7th Star Wars film – The Force Awakens! Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have noticed that (much to…

How can data interpretation fuel storytelling?

As a community manager I get to see the back and front end of a lot of audience platforms. Seeing the content that resonates on a community feed and then ‘popping the hood’ to see how the content actually measures up against other posts and types of interactions. Simply gaining…

A review of the Immediate Future’s 2015 blog content

At IF we pride ourselves on leading innovation and helping to shape the next industry standard. Our recent award win evidences we’ve checked that box for another year. To many, our blog is their source of digital insight into what is about to happen within industry. With this in mind,…

Reviewing 2015 in a list of lists

Everyone loves a list. Which is just as well considering it’s that time of year when people publish the most lists. Whether it’s lists of the best music or books from the year; lists of predictions for the coming year; or lists of Christmas gift ideas for your partner’s uncle’s…

8 fundamentals to an award winning paid social campaign

We were very proud to win Best Use of Social Advertising at the recent Social Media Buzz Awards recently. Fist pump. We did so on a modest budget, pipping big agencies (Ketchum, Starcom, Havas, Manning Gottlieb OMD) and big brands (Starbucks, KFC, Phillips, Unilever, Heineken) with our work for Southbank…

5 steps to getting actionable insight from staff surveys

These days the buzz seems to be around ‘social listening’ – it sounds cool, it sounds sexy, and there are a million and one tools out there ready to take your money to offer you a world of insights into your customers, markets and online audience. However, in a lot…

Defriending, unfollowing, decluttering your social profiles

I have been on Twitter and Facebook for almost 10 years now. Like most folk in social media; I am a social person. I love my social connections. I want to connect and be connected to (who doesn’t want to be liked?). The trouble is that I am now following…

5 strange social media trends from 2015

With 2015 drawing to a close, there will no doubt be many articles over the next few weeks covering the biggest digital trends of 2015 and making bold predictions for what lies ahead. Before all of this happens though, we thought it would be appropriate to take a look at…

Is LinkedIn’s new app update ‘all that’?

LinkedIn has finally caught up. After several nudges into bits and pieces of newly-designed UI, including the Ads manager dashboard, LinkedIn Pulse, and messaging features, the platform has totally revamped its mobile app. Boasting a whole new breezy design, a faster home feed and several new features including a ‘more’ instant messaging system…

Welcome to the World – Baby Zuckerberg

On the first day of Christmas, whilst the rest of us were getting excited about opening the first door of our advent calendars, powerhouse couple Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, announced the birth of their first child, Max. And if this wasn’t enough excitement for two of Silicon Valley’s highest…

Does storytelling have a place in the B2B world?

Regardless of the complexity of the sector or product, there is always a human story that can be told. It is this story that allows us to connect with B2B buyers on a personal level. While they may be key decision makers controlling the purse strings of a company,…

Anonymous taking on ISIS on social

Over the last week you will have noticed that the hacker Collective Anonymous have been at war with ISIS online. from shutting down websites, hijacking social accounts and identifying users they have been very active. Their most recent tactic has been to rickroll ISIS…

The rewards of blending online and offline personalisation

When it comes to digital, personalisation is nothing new, and throughout the year we have talked about it extensively in many blogs – whether it’s for your audience or adverts, personalising the way you reach your audience via their platform of choice and so on. The advance in CRM systems…

How Twitter can make you a better writer (and editor)

When I joined the content team at IF just over a year ago, I came in with the mantra that creative writing made me a better copywriter, and copy writing made me a better creative writer. Despite the obvious differences between the two styles, I strongly believe that they complement…

Facebook messenger for the professional

The use of social networks, especially Facebook, in the workplace has always been a contentious issue. A kind of tightrope that companies often struggle with to strike the right balance – a 15min social media break in an 8 hour working day can help to recharge the mind and boost productivity.

5 things you’re (probably) not doing on social media

As we near the end of 2015 I wanted to avoid a ‘social media trends for 2016’ style blog piece. Of course everyone will be eyes on for what is going to happen over the next 12 months, how the platforms will adapt and technology updates will take place. However,…

Open letter: Let’s stop the neglect of social media professionals

This is an open letter to brands and agencies (and a call for support from industry associations) to stop the neglect of those working in social media. This issue came to a head for me when last week I had a conversation with a young social media professional. She asked…

Love them or hate them, emojis are here to stay

For all you word lovers, get your hankies at the ready. Or, if you’re an emoji devotee, then prepare to celebrate. Since partnering up with SwiftKey, a leading mobile technology business, the Oxford Dictionaries have announced that this familiar ‘face with…

Paris on Facebook was just the tip of the iceberg

Obviously the wave of attacks in Paris on Friday November 13th shocked and saddened the world, with the ensuing wave of social dedication on Twitter ranging from sympathies for the victims (#PrayForParis and #PortesOuvertes) to support for the actual attackers (#ParisBurns #باريس_تشتعل…

Pinterest launches new visual search tool

Ever been on your friend’s profile, wondered where they had bought an item of clothing and how best to describe it so you can buy it for yourself? Or have you been stuck for words when browsing through interiors and wanted to know more about a specific item? Well if…

How John Lewis pulls a Christmas cracker

It’s like Marmite. And whether you love it or loath it, you’ve probably discussed it, and potentially even posted online about it. In doing so, you’ve contributed to the consistent and proven marketing machine that is the John Lewis Christmas advert. This well-oiled machine triggers divisive debate and motivates consumers…

Hotline Contenting…

Drake is one of the most famous rappers in the world right now, and is currently sitting at the top end of most music charts. You are probably thinking, “What does Drake have to do with social media?” and why are you writing a blog about him. Well the answer…

What does Brandwatch’s $33 million investment mean for the future of social data?

One of the industry’s earliest and longest standing social data start-ups Brandwatch has raised $33 million series C funding last week, this after raising $22 million series B in 2014. There has been a great deal activity this year in the social intelligence space. Twitter revealed its preferred partner…

Twitter: the new golden child in B2B lead generation?

When it comes to implementing Twitter as part of your B2B marketing and lead generation efforts, it can be easy to presume that the platform is best used for more ‘fluffy’ types of activity. These may be nurturing customer engagement or using it as a broadcast channel to push out marketing…

Spotting the patterns, puzzles and predictions in social data

Social data is unstructured data. It needs a framework to corral the noise into making sense. Beyond the structuring of the numbers though, lies the real value in social data: The insights. Last week I found myself in a room full of data geeks (my idea of heaven) listening to…

Employee advocacy through social media

Social Media may well be a key element in your company’s marketing mix but have you considered alternative uses for Social Media in the work place? It is entirely possible for Social Media to run much deeper than simply being another channel for your marketing communications. For example by reassessing…

Why storytelling is important when presenting social media insights

When thinking of research, data and insights, it’s easy to assume it’s all numbers and data crunching and not much else. However, the role of a good insights consultant is to be able to translate this data into tangible and meaningful information that can then be easily presented to senior…

Snapchat Speeds up, slows down, then goes backwards!

Ever want to send a video to someone but your subject just refuses to slow down or move in the right direction in time? Yeah? Me too. Well fear not, Snapchat has got your back. Yesterday Snapchat added slow motion, fast-forward, and rewind effects to your video filters with…

Blast from the past – 5 popular social networks from the noughties

Do you remember the days before Instagram and Snapchat, when Facebook and Twitter were just getting started, and when social networking felt new? Since the turn of the millennium, there have been many big players within the social media industry, with millions of users and aspirations to match. Some have…

O2’s Rachel Kneen shares content ROI insights

On 22nd of October, we welcomed back Rachel Kneen, O2’s social media manager, to our monthly Speakeasy to speak about the importance of content. Rachel has been working in social since 2009 – to put that into context, at that time, people spent more time on average on Myspace…

Spectre infiltration: A Bond guide to social media

Mission from ‘M’, just in. You must infiltrate popular social media networks with highly dynamic content, and engage your targets where possible, as the Spectre network makes a worldwide offensive. You’ll have ‘paid’ support from Q branch in the form of cutting edge channel technology and the…

With 60 shopping days to Christmas, how will spend be influenced by social?

The end of October brings pumpkins and other Halloween paraphernalia to the fore of our local supermarkets. In a matter of weeks, if not days, these will be replaced with Christmas products, displays and information on how to make catering for the big day easier. Some people (like my lovely…

Need for Speed

Apps have revolutionised speed-reading through displaying single words in rapid succession. These apps are based on a method known as Rapid Serial Visual Presentation, or RSVP. It’s nothing new and has been documented in cognitive psychology since the early 1970s, but with the rise of mobile and apps, its popularity has…

Social media tone of voice: 6 things you may not have considered

Tone of voice is no longer simply a case of using your corporate brand tone on social – you now need specific guidelines (or the opposite, depending on your brand!) for social channels. Now, I’m not necessarily talking about the marketing messages, the sales posts or the brand broadcast-style posts…

The battle for real-time – Facebook vs Twitter

Facebook announced its latest move to try out manoeuvre Twitter in the battle for real-time conversation. The range of second screen tools launched to engage TV viewers as they tune into live shows. Hashtag voting, polling for live events, photo and video submissions as well as custom icons (Facebook’s answer…

5 unique social media sites that you won’t have heard of

People say that there is someone in this world for everyone. Well the same is true of social media sites. Fed up with Facebook? Tired of Twitter? Loathing LinkedIn? Why not try one of these social networks? Although you are going to need some pretty niche interests to get on…

Analysing your Twitter ads for success

Which campaign worked best – and which was most cost-effective? An issue which must be deliberated when running ad campaigns to prove ROI. In an effort to provide answers to this key question and to entice marketers to spend more of their marketing budget on Twitter, the platform announced the…

Office philanthropy and social connectivity

Here at Immediate Future, it goes without saying that we an incredibly social bunch, but it recently struck me that we are a rather charitable lot of individuals too. This got me thinking – perhaps there is a correlation between these two qualities… Earlier in the year, myself and a…

Market research doesn’t have to be costly

All brands, big or small, can benefit from market research. And it can feed into an organisation at any level – whether that is for something as big as a re-brand; a change in strategy; a product launch; or something as ‘simple’ as a seasonal campaign. However, market research can…

Don’t Gaff My Gif, Man

With the very recent developments in GIF posting on both Facebook and Twitter becoming somewhat relaxed the temptation to get involved in what seems like the most irresistible comedy action on social seems inevitable. When one can express themselves through the most iconic subtitled short…

The evolving infographic: here comes the GIFographic

Did you know that there are almost 78 million search results for the term ‘infographic’? Content in the form of an infographic hit the mainstream in 2012 and its popularity with brands continues to rise steadily. Snack, share and stand-out There are plenty of reasons…

Should social be owned by PR or marketing (and how important is sponsored content)?

IF have been working in social for more than eleven years, and this question has consistently been asked throughout. “PRs will shape your narrative and manage your reputation – as we’ve been doing for years with your media relations”, some might say. Marketers will challenge: “now social is the most…

Banking with a social face

In the wake of the 2007 global financial crisis, many depositors have grown wary of over-sized banking behemoths taking high risks with their money, while corporate borrowers have been locked out from loans as those same lenders curbed their excesses and conformed with a plethora of new and complicated market…

Beyond broadcasting – how TV show Hunted is embracing the social side of Twitter

Are you a fan of Hunted, the Channel 4 fugitive chasing reality tv show? It’s been great, hasn’t it? The mind games, the use of technology, and that thrill of the chase. What’s also been great has been their use of Twitter. The social media platform famed for hosting TV-related…

New Age Recruitment

LinkedIn is one of the most used social media channels for recruitment and staffing, but how effective are all the other social media channels for recruitment purposes? Some say the death of the traditional paper CV is upon us, but this stance may be a bit premature, although it is…

Facebook takes off into space

Facebook has announced it will be partnering with Eutelsat, a French satellite internet operator, to transmit internet connections to offline parts of sub-Saharan Africa from late 2016. Although it now claims a mindblowing 1.5 billion monthly active users, Facebook has long been looking to emerging markets…

7 elements to building a brand for the social-age

Social media levels the playing fields to building a brand in the modern age. The ability to be able to connect with the world at the click of a button means that with the right message/product/offering anyone can build a brand. As an individual, talented musician using YouTube to get…

Don’t forget your affinities when targeting the 50+ generation

We all know the 50+ generation is hot on social. 2014 figures from Adweek showed that one in five Twitter users are over the age of fifty and 49% have a Facebook account. So how does one go about targeting this age group aside from age?…

Social Media for the greater #SocialGood

The sixth annual Social Good Summit took place last month at 92nd Street Y, a world-class cultural centre in New York. The star-studded summit coincided with the UN General Assembly and the Sustainable Development Summit, in which world leaders adopted 17 new Global Goals.

Demystifying the role of the Community Manager

Following recent conversations with various clients, marketers and other agency peers there seems to be an element of obscurity and misconception on the actual role of the ‘community manager’. The term commonly adopted for someone who sits on communication channels for followers, fans and audiences of brands, companies and networks around organisations or…

How does BBC Worldwide and Universal Music TV drive their digital agendas? (Part Two)

Welcome to part two of our Q & A with two of the industry’s leading digital marketers: Alex Ayling, Head of BBC Worldwide Digital Studios and Nick Moxham, Head of Digital, Universal Music TV. In case you missed part one which focussed on Alex, you can view that here:…

Facebook hopes to hear the Signal through the noise

Whether you are a budding blogger, a professional journalist, or just trying to ramp up your brand’s content portfolio, Facebook’s latest content offering could prove a useful app with which to familiarise yourself. For years, tabloid newspapers and radio stations have been citing celebrity comments prised from verified Twitter handles.

What brands can learn from NATO, NASA and the CIA

Attending the NATO experts’ forum on social media for international organisations, I was struck by how much public sector organisations are committed to communicating through social. So much so that they meet challenges, obstacles and the changing comms landscape, head on. Often working with limited resources, in an environment where…

London Fashion Week’s digital makeover

London Fashion Week 2015 witnessed brands lighting up the digital world, from Burberry’s use of Snapchat, Hunter Original’s use of Periscope, and Topshop’s use of Pinterest. The digital world has introduced brands to a limitless audience. The use of Pinterest and Instagram in London Fashion Week enabled brands to show…

How does BBC Worldwide and Universal Music TV drive their digital agendas? (Part One)

Last night immediate future, together with our friends at CDD, hosted a Q & A with two of the industry’s leading digital marketers: Alex Ayling, Head of BBC Worldwide Digital Studios and Nick Moxham, Head of Digital, Universal Music TV. Alex teed us off; he’s a wonderfully…

The Emoji Invasion

In recent weeks there have been a few big stories surrounding Emoji that represent the turning of the tide as more and more social platforms adopt them as the future. Firstly Twitter have sold the first of their new offering “Admoji” or custom Emoji, to Coca-Cola to promote their…

Planning for the unplannable

If you work in social media, you’ll be used to hearing the term ‘real-time’. It’s been one of the hottest industry talking points since Oreo’s ‘dunk in the dark’ tweet. In reality, using social media to communicate at speed has been on brands’ radars for far longer than 2 years.

IF Blog Best of… August ‘15

August is gone with the wind. With it go Notting Hill Festival, Reading 2015, V Fest, National Burger Day and summer. Relive the glory days of balmy summer evenings, sizzling barbeques and 30+ degree weather (sort of) by having a read through our top five IF blogs for August.

What does the #adpocalypse mean for paid social?

Apple’s recent announcement that it was going to be embracing ad blocking software has sparked some serious social debate and birth of the hashtag #adpocalypse. The move by Apple has brought into spotlight the morals and ethics behind the media industry and am sure will bring about another shift because…

Twitch gaming Final

Psst! Would you like to join a team of select brands – Old Spice, Pokemon and the BBC among others — who have led growth in a form of digital marketing gaining traction? The online gaming industry is rife with user-led content, with one of the biggest platforms making use…

What is the key to unlocking successful real-time engagement?

Real-time engagement has been a real buzzword in 2015, but is it easier said than done? And how far are brands pushing the concept of real-time engagement? How realistic is it for brands to be ‘always on’? These are all questions that have been bandied around the industry this year,…

3 things we learned from Zuckerburg’s last Townhall Q&A

Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage yesterday for the latest Facebook Townhall Q&A. He spent the better part of an hour fielding a mix of serious and silly questions about everything from virtual reality and artificial intelligence to why he doesn’t wear a different coloured shirt (he does,…

Achieve all your event objectives by creating a “social cyclone”

What are your main objectives when your company attends an event? Leads? Awareness of new products and service? Positive brand interactions? Whatever your ultimate end goal is, more often than not, the marketing activities that I see, especially across digital and social, do not tie together with a clear ‘line-of-sight’…

Don’t forget your demographics!

Marketers around the world are pronouncing the death of demographic segmentation, and behavioural segmentation has swept in to pick up the pieces. Thanks to the digital invasion, marketers are armed with the tools to analyse consumers’ behaviour. And as we all know, this is called behavioural segmentation. This has allowed…

Behind the Curtain at Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg will be hosting his 7th Town Hall Q&A session on Tuesday the 15th of September. This much anticipated event will provide the Facebook community, and a live audience at Facebook HQ, with yet another opportunity to quiz Zuckerberg on a range of (mostly) Facebook-related topics.

Facebook Optimises Pages in time for Christmas Build Up

With Instagram Ads slowly rolling out to engagement-hungry marketers, and Twitter adding advanced coverage of all events as well as upping their game on Windows 10 and iPad Twitter apps – where does that leave the ever-dominant Facebook? With the recent announcement…

Activate the ‘trident tactic’ to drive B2B event attendance

All too often driving attendance to events in the B2B world is an afterthought. Companies spend hundreds-of-thousands of ££’s on set-up, stands, design, product and offline marketing and organisation. Then, in the weeks running up to the event, they realise they have not placed enough focus on making their customers…

Twitter ads, now available in more territories than ever before

From Iceland to India, Twitter ads are open for business, and the global reach of its network of 100,000 active advertisers is about to get a whole lot larger! Although late in the game compared to other social networking giants, the event marks a substantial step forward…

Football clubs, social media and bridging the gap with fans

Over recent years, many football fans have felt disconnected from their football clubs, and largely due to the wealth gap, disconnected from players too. With the increasing popularity of social media amongst sports fans and the growing acceptance of its importance at executive level, here are some of the ways…

How crazy golf can unlock the power of your connected network

We call it ‘the power of a connected network’; uniting your workforce to harness the potential influence available on social. “Well that’s just social media tosh”, you might say. I assure you it is not. And here’s why: The most overlooked use of social is internal communications and it’s staggering.

What are Snapcodes and how can I use them?

You might have noticed twitter is full of ghosts. You might have asked ‘Why?’ or ‘Who am I going to call?’ well I can tell you, Snapchat is why. An ever growing number of users are utilising Snapcodes to migrate Twitter followers over to Snapchat and with…

There are more ways to screw up on social than a #fail

Everyone has heard about the spectacular fails on social media. But this isn’t a post poking at those brands that make mistakes. This is about raising the bar on the quality of social communication. Which right now, isn’t always that great. Social media marketing is on pretty much every brand’s…

Millennial Schmillennial – the pitfalls of lazy marketing jargon

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, if you are consuming content online hardly a day goes by without someone somewhere dropping the “M” word. Millennial. “How millennial are you?”; “The Millennials Are Coming”; “10 Surprising Habits of Millennial Art Collectors”;…

Imitation is the most social form of flattery

The social media industry is always exciting, with new social media sites popping up all over the World Wide Web offering different concepts and uses. Two of the most notable social media platforms that have grown exponentially in recent years have not been born on an American university campus nor…

How to target gamers – the easy way

YouTube has launched a new service designed specifically for gamers, YouTube Gaming, in a brazened attempt to compete with Twitch – a company that it lost out to Amazon in trying to buy last year – in the live streaming arena. While it may…

How ‘always-on’ can your marketing strategy really be?

As brands become comfortable with social customer service, crisis response, in-house community management and even some command centre style executions, the thirst for an ‘always-on’ approach to marketing only gets more intense. Let’s face it, it’s sexy stuff, some would say a necessity but it ain’t that easy! Here are…

Thought leaders and Bloggers of the World Unite!

When people think of paid advertising in social media they usually think of platforms like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Nothing wrong with that. They have hundreds of millions of users. But how about blog sites? Already blog sites offer thought-provoking and…

Smartphones driving conversion and shopping cart values down

We all know that more often than not mobile beats desktop when it comes to online traffic and social media usage. Browsing on the go, or second-screening, are topics discussed at length. However, what isn’t discussed in much detail is how on-the-go browsing and double screening is having an effect…

The Social Media Makeover of the Wedding Industry

The UK wedding industry is worth around £10 billion every year, with an average of around £36 thousand being spent on each wedding (W.I.F.E). It’s an industry which is steeped in tradition; from the importance of wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, through…

Video in demand

Video is racing ahead of any other medium on the web. It’s capability to lead on engagement and shareability is undeniable. Web consumers are eating up video at a rate that is literally shifting mainstream provision from larger production channels. On demand services like Netflix are clearly challenging the convention…

Governments open up with social media

Governments, not always naturals for open government and publicity, are hoovering up opportunities to develop their cyber presence via social media. Perhaps in defiance of what we recently discussed in this blog on a retreat among UK investor relations professionals, both private sector boardrooms and governments are starting to…

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Keeping customers happy when implementing a social media strategy

Join the POTUS on Snapchat

Social content is not all about the content

Twitter’s ‘brand enthusiast gallery’ is cause for enthusiasm

Is Peach just another social fad?

5 things businesses need to know about Generation Z

Twitter to dump its 140 character restriction?

Are you ready for VR?

New Year, New Tech, New Content Opportunities

Nailing your social in 2016

Twitter Fights Against Abuse

The elves are away for a while

The night before IFmas

28 things guaranteed to happen in social in 2016

Are media companies in danger?

4 tips to optimise your (and our) blog in 2016

Watch out: Buffer just got buff-er!

A big hello to Twitter Moments UK

Not just another Star Wars blog

How can data interpretation fuel storytelling?

A review of the Immediate Future’s 2015 blog content

Reviewing 2015 in a list of lists

8 fundamentals to an award winning paid social campaign

5 steps to getting actionable insight from staff surveys

Defriending, unfollowing, decluttering your social profiles

5 strange social media trends from 2015

Is LinkedIn’s new app update ‘all that’?

Welcome to the World – Baby Zuckerberg

Does storytelling have a place in the B2B world?

Anonymous taking on ISIS on social

The rewards of blending online and offline personalisation

How Twitter can make you a better writer (and editor)

Facebook messenger for the professional

5 things you’re (probably) not doing on social media

Open letter: Let’s stop the neglect of social media professionals

Love them or hate them, emojis are here to stay

Paris on Facebook was just the tip of the iceberg

Pinterest launches new visual search tool

How John Lewis pulls a Christmas cracker

Hotline Contenting…

What does Brandwatch’s $33 million investment mean for the future of social data?

Twitter: the new golden child in B2B lead generation?

Spotting the patterns, puzzles and predictions in social data

Employee advocacy through social media

Why storytelling is important when presenting social media insights

Snapchat Speeds up, slows down, then goes backwards!

Blast from the past – 5 popular social networks from the noughties

O2’s Rachel Kneen shares content ROI insights

Spectre infiltration: A Bond guide to social media

With 60 shopping days to Christmas, how will spend be influenced by social?

Need for Speed

Social media tone of voice: 6 things you may not have considered

The battle for real-time – Facebook vs Twitter

5 unique social media sites that you won’t have heard of

Analysing your Twitter ads for success

Office philanthropy and social connectivity

Market research doesn’t have to be costly

Don’t Gaff My Gif, Man

The evolving infographic: here comes the GIFographic

Should social be owned by PR or marketing (and how important is sponsored content)?

Banking with a social face

Beyond broadcasting – how TV show Hunted is embracing the social side of Twitter

New Age Recruitment

Facebook takes off into space

7 elements to building a brand for the social-age

Don’t forget your affinities when targeting the 50+ generation

Social Media for the greater #SocialGood

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