February Right Now Report
The Right Now Report gives you the high-level updates you need without the unnecessary clutter. This month, we’re looking at how public relations shapes your reputation, how a Google Business Profile helps people find you and the latest social media updates from LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and Instagram.
How to tell your story the right way with public relations
Public relations is more than just press releases. It’s about shaping how people see and understand your organization. The Public Relations Society of America calls it “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”
That covers everything from reputation management and crisis communications to media relations, content creation, executive messaging, events and so much more.
PwC’s 2023 Global Crisis Resilience Survey found that 96% of businesses faced a crisis in the past two years. Without a plan, it’s easy to lose control of the message when things go wrong.
But PR isn’t just about handling crises, it shapes public perception, builds credibility and makes sure the right people hear your story, through media coverage, partnerships, social media, or direct engagement. When you prioritize public relations you take an active role in how your business is seen and understood.
Where do you start?
- Set clear goals.
- Know your audience and what matters to them.
- Define key messages to keep your communication consistent.
- Use a mix of media outreach, social media, events and partnerships to reach the right people.
- Build relationships with journalists, influencers and community members before you need them.
- Have a crisis plan in place so you’re not scrambling when something goes wrong.
- Track what’s working and tweak your approach as needed
It’s a process, and you won’t see results overnight. But putting in the effort now will make your communication stronger in the long run.
Need help with public relations? Right Relations can help you craft a strategy to build trust, navigate challenges and connect with the right audiences. Let’s chat!
Do you have your Google Business Profile set up?
Have you ever Googled a new place to eat and noticed businesses listed on the right-hand side of your search? Or searched for a product and saw a recommendation pop up at the top of the page above the search results? Those businesses have their Google Business Profile set up (formerly known as Google My Business). It’s a free tool that helps you show up in Google Search and Google Maps, making it easier for people to find your business. According to Google, verified businesses are twice as likely to be considered reputable.
You can share key info like your location, hours, website and even updates or special offers. To get it set up, you can go to Google Business Profile, sign in, enter your business info, verify your listing and start adding details. If you haven’t set yours up yet, now’s the time!
You can also claim your business on Bing Places for Business and Apple Business Connect to reach even more potential customers who aren’t using Google. Setting up your business on all three helps ensure more potential customers can find you, no matter where they search.
Social Media Update Round-Up
It feels like everywhere you turn there’s a new social media update to keep track of and adjust to. Here’s your highlight reel of the latest news.
According to LinkedIn, video content has seen a 36% increase in watch time year-over-year on the platform. With this success, they’re continuing to make updates to how video works on the platform. Users can now swipe or click through videos in their feed or the “Videos for You”section on desktop and mobile.
They’re also testing a larger video display in the mobile app and a mini-profile view that highlights a user’s video uploads. Videos will appear in wider frames in the feed and open in full-screen when tapped. A more noticeable follow button is being tested in the video player, and search results will now include swipeable video carousels. Plus, free LinkedIn Learning courses on video creation are being rolled out. With video content growing twice as fast as other post formats, it’s worth considering how it fits into your LinkedIn strategy.
Threads
Buffer, a social media management tool, analyzed 10.2 million posts published to X (formerly Twitter) and Threads in 2024 looking at their engagement rates, trends and strengths. Threads posts earned a median engagement rate of 6.25% while X had a median engagement rate of 3.6%. This means that Threads posts drove 73.6% higher engagement rates than X on average. This makes Threads a great social platform for community engagement.
Meta also recently announced a test of running ads on Threads with a small group of advertisers. They haven’t said yet if the test will expand, but we’ll be keeping an eye on it. Not sure how to jump in on Threads? Meta has some tips to get started.
TikTok
TikTok has been under pressure since President Biden signed a law requiring it to be sold or banned due to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership. The Supreme Court upheld the ban.
TikTok was offline in the United States for about 14 hours starting on Jan. 18, just hours before the ban was set to take effect. Service was restored a little over 12 hours later, with a message that said, “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok”
One of President Trump’s first moves back in office was to delay enforcement by 75 days. He also floated the idea of the U.S. owning 50% of TikTok in a joint venture.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance will have the ultimate say about if and to whom the app is sold. President Trump also signed an executive order directing the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to explore purchasing the app through a sovereign wealth fund.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, continues to push back against a sale, and the Chinese government also opposes it. But, China’s Foreign Ministry recently said that decisions like this should follow market principles. Stay tuned for more updates here.
Instagram
Last month, Instagram ditched the classic square grid and switched to a 4:5 portrait format for profile thumbnails. With the platform leaning more into vertical content, this update makes profiles look taller and a little more like TikTok.
Previously, grid images were shown in a 1:1 ratio (1,080 x 1,080 pixels), but now they display in 4:5 (1,080 x 1,350 pixels). That’s great for portrait shots, but older square or horizontal posts might look a little off. The good news? You can adjust the fit by zooming out to keep the full square and adding a white or black background.
When this update rolled out Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri shared an Instagram post that even more changes are coming. It’s always an adjustment when Instagram switches things up, and it seems that there is a lot in store for the social platform in the coming months.
If you have any questions about these topics or would like support in implementing these trends in your own marketing strategy, we’re here to help. We’re committed to helping you navigate the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing with ease.
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us today to explore how working with Right Relations can help you stay ahead of the curve and bring joy back to your marketing efforts.