What is Newsjacking?

Newsjacking is a popular marketing tactic that has its roots intertwined with the growth of digital media platforms.

The term began floating around in the marketing vocabulary in the early 2000s, largely gaining pace when real-time updates on digital media were on the rise. The advent of platforms such as Twitter, which allows instantaneous transmission of news, paved way for newsjacking to become an effective tool in the hands of brisk content creators and marketers.

In a nutshell, newsjacking means capitalizing on a current event or topic that has just made headlines in the news. It involves creating and sharing content related to a hot topic, which can then pick up the existing momentum in online discussions and search activity. When used with SEO-friendly keywords, this strategy can channel a significant portion of the organic traffic towards your site. Since traffic is a major aim of this tactic, newsjacking proves to be a clever way to grab the attention of a wider audience who are already searching or talking about the highlighted topic.

Examples of Newsjacking

1. A tech company publishing a blog about the implications of a newly announced privacy law by a major government, including how it impacts their products and customers.

2. A sports apparel brand creating a social media campaign around a trending sports event or an extraordinary performance by an athlete.

3. An edtech company releasing a detailed analysis and insights on recently announced changes in education policies.

4. A financial advisory service writing a timely article about the impact of a sudden change or upheaval in the stock market.

5. A health food brand generating a video content presenting their take on the latest research suggesting the health benefits of certain food items.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Newsjacking

* **Trendjacking** - A close relative of newsjacking, trendjacking involves hopping on the bandwagon of trending topics or memes on social media to increase visibility.

• Real-time Marketing - It’s an immediate response or message using marketing tactics at the best possible time, which can often include elements of newsjacking.

• Viral Marketing - While it's not always directly connected to news, viral marketing has similar goals: capturing attention and gaining rapid circulation by exploiting popular trends.

• Inbound Marketing - It's a business methodology that attracts customers by creating valuable content and experiences tailored to them, where newsjacking could play a crucial part.

• Content Marketing - This broad field involves creating and distributing valuable content with an intent to attract and engage a defined audience. Newsjacking can be a powerful tool within a content marketing strategy.

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