Is there anyone who is not on Facebook ? Although it has become less exciting because of its overuse, it is still relevant to each organisation needs. It’s clear that social media platforms, particularly Facebook, have greatly influenced how the communications industry has both pursued news leads and dispensed narratives to the public. Effectively using social media as part of a PR strategy has become inevitable. There’s even pressure surrounding producing a story that has a

In June 2015, BBC journalist Ahmen Khawaja, tweeted that Queen Elizabeth "has died." The reporter apparently considered a BBC practice for the woman's death to be real. Part of the repetition coincidentally occurred at a hospital that England's monarch was visiting for an annual check-up. The reporter, realising her mistake, immediately deleted the tweet and issued a "false alarm." She also claimed the mistake was the result of a "silly prank." The BBC contradicted Khawaja’s

About a month ago, I received a message from Euractiv, the pan-European media platform : "You are ranked among the Top 40 EU digital influencers. We are writing to invite you to join us at an event in Brussels". Wow, but how do you become an influencer - an authority in your field? How do you gain celebrity-like status on social media? Being an influencer means many things, but it really comes down to being someone who actually influences decisions of others. It’s not about

In the projects funded by the EU like Horizon 2020, ERASMUS, INTERREG, ENPI or CAP the work package of communication and dissemination is a key element. Progress and important results need to be communicated through different channels in order to show that these projects are relevant to everyday lives. To demonstrate how they can create jobs, fight diseases, introduce novel technologies or make our lives more comfortable. Here are 7 tips on how to communicate successfully you

Social media is growing and it is growing fast. There are now more than 2 billion active social media users worldwide and that number is increasing significantly every year. While 2015 was a great year for social media, my prognostication is that 2016 will be even better. Here are 7 trend predictions for the coming year: 1. Content will rocket brands In 2016, content will remain king, with an increasing focus on quality, personality and variety. Content will be more important

French and Belgian authorities are tracking down the terrorists suspected of organising attacks in Paris on Friday 13 November 2015. As any community that has experienced terrorism can declare, the fallout from such a traumatic experience can last for years. The consequences of the Paris attacks have impact also outside of France as the country is a EU member state and has boarders with Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Spain and Italy. Those could be: an increased sense of fear;

Reputation has always been important, but probably never more so than in the digital age. Therefore, social media are indispensable communication channels and essential to all organisations. People want to see that there is a face behind organisations and businesses like political leaders, EU commissioners, spokespersons, business owners, CEOs, etc. Here are 7 tips you really need to take into consideration: 1. Be authentic and share your personality Social media is all abou