Influencer marketing is the hot topic in 2016. Arik and Kevin take it on in this episode, and the cost and value of an influencer. Also, what Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn means for corporate communications. Plus, a Pew study on what employees are doing on social media reignites concerns about employee productivity and why some…

Guest co-host Martha Krueger – co-founder and CEO of The Social Lights – joins Kevin. They discuss a survey of brand social media activity about the most popular platforms, content types and the frequency of posts. Also, does the word “social” apply to all social media? Plus, why your next job might come your way…

Interview edition – Mike Pilarz, content marketing evangelist at LinkedIn, joins Arik and Kevin to discuss his work, trends in content marketing and some advice for individuals and businesses looking to make better use of LinkedIn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest co-host Becca Bijoch – senior publicist at Lola Red PR – joins Arik and Kevin. They discuss the rise of private messaging platforms and the implications for PR and marketing. Also, should brand and company social media leaders still spend some time on the tactical side, “in the trenches”? Plus, the key trends facing…

Are the days of being slave to the page view coming to an end? Wishful thinking? Arik and Kevin discuss a story about the philosophical struggle that news websites – and companies for that matter – face when creating content. Also, it’s job hunting season for would-be marketers and PR pros. What digital skills are…

Arik and Kevin kick off their discussion in this episode with the marketing lessons from a hip hop mixtape from Hamburger Helper. Also, an article that was passed around in the tech community recently questioned whether there’s still confusion over traditional vs. digital marketing. Plus, should a business do its own PR? Arik has a…

Interview edition – Steve Lubetkin, managing partner of The Lubetkin Media Companies, joins Kevin to discuss podcasting. Lubetkin co-authored “The Business of Podcasting” with Donna Papacosta. The conversation address why a business, brand or organization should podcast, how to produce and host a show, and trends in podcast listening. And given his experience in PR…

Guest co-host Susan Beatty – vice president of External Brand Communications at U.S. Bank – joins Arik and Kevin. They discuss a comprehensive new report on employee advocacy out this week from Altimeter Group. Also, just how prevalent is podcasting? Results from the latest Infinite Dial study should spark some ideas for communicators. Plus, a…

As the assumed reach and influence of the major social platforms continues to be called into question, where should companies and brands invest their social time and resources? In this episode, Arik and Kevin consider the shift to messaging apps as one solution. Part of that discussion also involves the continued consumer distrust of anything…

Arik and Kevin discuss a content idea used by some mainstream media outlets, on their social channels, that should be copied by more companies and brands. Also, AVEs are soundly criticized by the PR industry, but what about impressions? And a study of content marketing output and engagement isn’t surprising – we should think about…