Hanson & Hunt

After 10 years, we’re ending our podcast. We are both incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have you as a listener. So in this final episode of Hanson & Hunt, we’ll tell you about our decision, reflect on producing 190 episodes of the show, share some podcasting advice, and give thanks to all who helped make this so enjoyable to do. Thank you! Arik and Kevin Please note: Our website - Hansona...

Anyone who oversees a website needs to pay attention to the impact of Google's new “AI Overview” on referral traffic. We'll discuss that. Also, do brands care anymore about appearing ‘woke’? Plus, the U.S. surgeon general wants a warning label for social media, a project that might inspire your brand to pick up a camera, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your c...

What's behind the drop in average marketing budgets and martech spend? We'll discuss that. Also, strategies to address the shift in how people find and consume news, why corporate social media continues to be the most misunderstood job in comms, and what do do about the death of the social media follower. Plus, an unlikely spokesperson, slogan and real-time campaign for Minnesota tourism, and more...

Gini Dietrich has made some interesting new additions to her popular PESO Model, we'll discuss that. Also, a new report on social media jobs, the latest numbers on podcasting’s popularity, and the anti-AI backlash in imagery. Plus, why you should never assume the story a journalist is working on will be as bad as you think, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with you...

There's new evidence that you should reconsider sharing links in your social media posts. Also, why your thought leadership approach might be stuck in “mutually assured irrelevance.” Plus, a new report on challenges in internal communications, the increase in distractions at work, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about the topics we talk about in...

What kind of posts perform best on LinkedIn? We'll dive into an overwhelming new analysis of user activity on the platform. Also, Pew recently released its latest data on the usage of all major social media channels. Plus, LinkedIn collaborative articles, the art of commenting to gain favor with your company's stakeholders, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with you...

From the rise of social search to AI's use in content creation there are many trends identified for the new year. We'll talk about a few that are getting attention. Plus, Solo Stove's use of Snoop Dogg, a new free training resource for media measurement, a growing push against career ambition and promotions, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about...

The quality and trust of AI-powered content vs. human-powered content is a hot topic right now. We'll look at two new studies that get into that. We also chat about the priorities for comms leaders in 2024. Plus, the viral marketing stunt from The North Face that seems too far-fetched to be true, the continued use of bad photos across internal and external comms, what to do about the mess at X, an...

There's some great insight about creators and their fans in the "Creator Connections" report from Teachable. We also chat about the outlook for social media platforms charging for subscriptions. Plus, a post on the impatience so many organizations have right now with their social media strategy. Also, should you help your kid be an influencer? And, how Adidas struggled to manage Kanye, and more! W...

Was it ever worth it to share a link to a blog or website on Twitter? We talk about some data from NPR after they left the platform. We also chat about the type of stories that could drive meaningful thought leadership, how LinkedIn turned personal, Edelman’s 2023 Future of Corporate Communications study, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about the...

We chat about Hootsuite's first-ever Social Media Career Report, which has some interesting insights on workload, salaries, mental health and more. We also share what stood out to us in Edelman's Trust at Work report. Plus, Chobani's "ghostwriter" job posting goes viral, an uptick in money spent on influencer marketing, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your co...

It's time to think differently about your social media accounts. We discuss why a niche approach is in and scale is out. We also chat about one company's shoutout of their social media team in their latest earnings report. Plus, a job involving YouTube that we had no idea was so lucrative, why the dreaded calibration meeting could be holding you back in your career, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We...

We discuss how going against the grain in social media starts with taking a data-driven approach. We also chat about what early-adopter brands are doing with Threads and how you should be thinking about it from a strategy perspective. Plus, is there any problem with having a side gig? The impact of the FTC's recent updates to its Endorsement Guides, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear fro...

We discuss a great report from Reuters on how people are getting and interacting with news from social media. We also chat about a growing call for organizations to produce and post less content. Plus, the rise of the bored work colleague, Arik shares his story of getting suspended by Twitter, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about the topics we t...

We talk about Bud Light's marketing mess and the lessons we all can learn from it. We also spend some time on USC's 2023 Global Communication Report, which focuses on the state of corporate reputation. Plus, what PR managers want in an employee, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about the topics we talk about in this episode. Or, are you looking fo...

Documentaries and brand films are just two examples of long-form videos that many companies are producing. We talk about why organizations are creating them, how you can know if they're right for you and how you can create them. Also this month, Twitter melts down again. Should you or your company pay to get a blue check next to your username? Plus, we call BS on a couple commonly held assumptions...

We all know that social media is getting more fragmented. What the platforms used to be isn't what they are today. And we're all spending our time in more places. So it's time to take a fresh look at how your organization should use its social channels. We offer up five social media truths for 2023. Also this month, is it ok to apply for a marketing or comms job if you don’t meet all the requireme...

We offer our thoughts on generative AI and ChatGPT, advice for how to use it in the content marketing and social media space and how to get your teams thinking about its possibilities. Also this month, why is it still so difficult for some brands to go dark on social? Plus, the best time to go with an agency or a solo consultant. Also, a new "de-influencing" trend, the strategist behind a big bran...

Have you noticed who is the face of your favorite brands on TikTok? Sometimes, it's an employee. We talk about some examples of this trend, the risks, and what you should consider if your brand wants to hire an in-house creator. Also this month, humor is on the way out in marketing. Plus, do you need to be active personally on social media to be hired for a social job? Also, a backlash against wha...

Does influencer marketing really pay off? We’ll look at how you can make the most of your influencer partnerships. Also this month, remember when Lush quit Facebook and a few other social channels? How have they done without them? Plus, the things that annoy PR pros about journalists and vice versa. Also, the importance of making data-driven decisions in comms and marketing, a listener question ab...

What should your organization be thinking about when it comes to Twitter? Should you stay or go? Also this month, audio content continues to make an impact, a new resource from Tik Tok filled with good advice for marketers, and what consumers expect your CEO to say and do. We also have a listener question about how to choose a host for a company podcast, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hea...

The social media platforms, and marketers, are prioritizing short-form and live video. We’ll offer some ideas to help your organization tap into the trend. Also this month, the lack of a career path in content marketing. Plus, what could you do with nine people assigned to your Instagram account? We also have a listener question about how to handle being called 'the social media intern.' Arik defe...

It's time to end the thinking that leaders in comms, PR and marketing don't have business chops. We'll discuss earning and keeping the coveted seat at the table, at any point in your career. Also this month, the factors that might make you say no to working with an influencer. Plus, was a recent one word tweet trend worth the effort? And, a listener question about job candidates who dress down for...

What are your biggest challenges as a communicator? We'll discuss a new survey of your peers that tackles that, as well as the top comms activities this year. Also this month, the fallout from ‘the crying CEO.’ Plus, have we reached the point where a link included in a social media post is pointless? And, a listener question about the best way for a leader to share company news on LinkedIn, and mo...

What does digital reputation really mean? We talk through some ideas for how communicators can help their organizations stand out. Also this month, what's going on with Radio Shack's Twitter account? Plus, how long it takes content creators to make it on their own. And, some advice for anyone just starting out in their comms or marketing career, and more. WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from yo...