If you work in PR and are interested in the latest thinking on the media industry, PR planning, media analysis and social media, these are the must-read stories from last week.
- Facebook at Work, the professional version of the social network, is expected to launch in the coming months, after spending a year in tests. The new service, geared towards workplace collaboration, is nearly identical to its ubiquitous social network, with a scrolling news “feed”, “likes” and a chat service. However, it was underlined that there will be minor restrictions to the social network for work such as users not being able to play the popular game Candy Crush.
- Meanwhile, it was highlighted that Twitter‘s main priority next year will be to monetise the 500 million logged-off audiences who visit the website but don’t have an account. It was reported that the company will run ads in tweets that appear in Google searches or when they are shared in a text or email. These ads will be targeted based on the context in which the person comes across a tweet, rather than the interest data used for logged-in users.
- In the latest ‘Best job in the world’ PR effort, Scottish firm Mackies recruited for a “chief chocolate taster” for its new Aberdeenshire factory, with payment listed as seven bars of chocolate per week. More than 2,000 people applied for the job and the winner will receive free chocolate for them and “quarterly additional payments of chocolate to share with friends”.
- Meanwhile, Carlsberg unveiled a Christmas tree dispensing beer, with glass shaped bottles for passers by to drink from. It was reported that the stunt follows on the company looking to kick start the ‘if Carlsberg did…’ campaigns again with ‘If Carlsberg did Christmas Trees’.
- Lloyds Bank was also spotted to be getting into the Christmas spirit as the company unveiled a 12m tall interactive Christmas tree which will light up the London skyline over the holidays. A microsite will mirror the spectacle online for those unable to make it to the South Bank with people being encouraged to share their appreciation of Christmas on social media using the #loveyoutothestars hashtag.
- Londoners were left stunned as a 9ft Iron man Hulbuster was spotted strolling around the capital. The stunt is an attempt to promote the Sky Studios Christmas Experience, which was launched in the beginning of December at the O2 with a huge installation that brings to life some of the biggest scenes from the years biggest blockbusters, most impressively the Battle for Avengers Tower.
