The Talking Points Podcast

Companies and brands might be assuming that their employees have a significant level of social media skills. Arik and Kevin talk about why social media training should be prioritized in 2016. A recent post ripped the notion of ’brands as publishers,’ saying the success of content should be judged on views, links and shares. Plus, the declining sales of newspapers and what it means for earned media and media relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many companies and brands are thinking about, or already are, producing podcasts. Arik and Kevin recap an event they participated in on the topic, and talk about the opportunities and challenges of business podcasting. Also, does PR now have a stronger place in the marketing mix? Plus, a communications or PR degree provides a solid foundation for a PR career, but is it necessary? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arik and Kevin discuss a new report on the state of corporate social media (and employee social media advocacy), how PR pros can and should interact with journalists, a decline in traffic for some of the web’s biggest publishers, and what companies/brands can learn from the mainstream media for promoting their content in social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arik and Kevin close out 2015 with some thoughts on social sharing, video marketing, corporate spokespeople in social media, user experience on websites and why we all might need to put the phone down a little bit more, get offline, and take in our surroundings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fortune 500 is cooling on corporate blogging according to new data on social media usage by big companies. Arik and Kevin discuss that finding, plus the other platforms the F500 is active on. Also, breakfast emojis take over our Spotlight in this show. The blog comment might be on its way out on business blogs. And what journalists are looking for from PR and corporate communications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview edition - Jen Swanson, Director of Digital Marketing at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, joins Arik and Kevin to talk about her role with the launch of a new marketing campaign and website, her career, and her personal blogging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you considering messaging apps for your PR or marketing programs? Arik and Kevin share some interesting data from a new survey of the tech and media landscape, with a big focus on messaging's future. Also, Target gets creepy for Halloween, how creating behind-the-scenes content can work for or against you, plus it's time to take a look at your social referral traffic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So what do journalists want from a PR pro? Arik and Kevin share their thoughts. Also, why your company or brand - and your leaders - should express an opinion on a blog or in social media. Plus, the challenges of being both a content creator and a content consumer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest co-host Bryan Vincent - director, Digital Communications and Social Media at UnitedHealth Group - joins Arik and Kevin. They discuss why some companies are not taking advantage of LinkedIn, a new content partnership between Mayo Clinic and the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the real reason companies should be active in social media, plus blog posts as Op-Eds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Communicators have a tough job, trying to restore or grow trust in their company CEO. Arik and Kevin look at a report on CEO trust and have some advice. Also, making the most of an internship from the standpoint of the student and the company. Plus, troubling times for disclosure of social sponsorships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's burn down our social media programs and just start over. Right? Arik and Kevin consider two thoughtful posts that take on the true impact of social. Also, the latest demographics for the most popular platforms (and what it means for LinkedIn), we also spotlight an influencer event that proves you don't always need to invite the A-listers. Plus, the trends in PR that you may not be paying attention to but should. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real-time marketing: what is it, really, and has it jumped the shark? Arik and Kevin share their thoughts. Also, an interesting campaign that has the tech industry talking, Facebook's video views are under scrutiny, and why the best corporate blogs name their authors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest co-host Heather Rist - director, Social Media and Content at Deluxe Corp. - joins Arik and Kevin. They discuss the increasing use of emojis by brands and companies. Also, the true impact of a corporate blog, and why many companies are bringing marketing back inhouse. Plus, they spotlight a cool drone project from GE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brands and companies are so focused on creating content, are they missing a content curation opportunity? Arik and Kevin mull that over. Also, PR pros sitting in on interviews with their company's subject matter experts, corporate writing that needs some help, and the content that could make you look lame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview edition - Jason Keath, CEO of Social Fresh, joins Kevin to talk about a variety of social media topics, including podcasting, blogging, the social platforms and his Social Fresh Conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcasting is easy, right? Arik and Kevin reflect on one year of producing shows, the lessons they've learned and the overall state of podcasting today. Also, how Coca-Cola made the most of a Mad Men finale connection, a surprising study about customer service on social media, a new way for Facebook to serve up more of the content you like to read, and a word of warning for brands flocking to Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everybody's talking about Mary Meeker's latest Internet Trends Report, so Arik and Kevin are too - they share a few highlights and the takeaways. Also, KFC's Colonel heads to Twitter, journalists still think PR pros lie for a living, what gives? Plus, native advertising comes to TV newscasts, and the importance of crisis planning in a real-time and mobile world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest co-host Jamie Plesser - director, Interactive Marketing Strategy and Execution at Allianz Life - joins Arik and Kevin. The topics they discuss include Facebook's Instant Articles, the state of search marketing and why the social media manager might need to step up. Plus, Adobe takes the Talking Points spotlight with an innovative use of audio, and Arik talks about having to fire a client. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's graduation season, so Arik and Kevin offer up some advice for PR and journalism majors out there. Also, Tide tried tying into the NFL draft - did it work? Plus, Buzzfeed solves a big part of the social media sharing puzzle, why some journalists struggle in making the move to a content creator role on the brand or agency side, and the words in press releases that should just plain go away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's one thing to create good content, but how do you get more eyeballs on it online? You may need an "alpha audience." Arik and Kevin discuss that concept. Plus, Target had a big PR and social media win, despite some challenges around keeping products in stock. Also, blogging styles then and now, the continued presence of BS in online writing, and how PR pros should approach personal branding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices