Users constantly adopt new behaviors, preferences and technologies. Social networks play catch up, adding new features and making changes to the user experience. This creates new opportunities and challenges for PR pros. Because the updates roll out so quickly (and sometimes without much fanfare), it’s easy to miss the latest changes.
Here’s a roundup of this week’s social media news and updates that may impact how you conduct social media marketing:
Pinterest has some new features up its sleeve. The pin-tastic social network is working to roll out new feature to its budding advertising platform, allowing brands to target their current customers who are on the social network.
Got media? Pinterest is leveraging its reputation as the huge website traffic driver by hiring its first media partnerships manager. Big media outlets such as BuzzFeed have cited Pinterest as one of its biggest traffic drivers. It will be interesting to see which outlets officially partner with this social network in the future.
Instagram 
Instagram ads travel across the pond. For the first time, brands can use Instagram to advertise in the UK. Brands such as Sony Music, Starbucks and Estee Lauder will be among the first to participate.
Want some Twitter with your movie? Since Twitter conversations naturally flow around entertainment, it’s only natural that they’d roll out a Twitter Ads feature geared towards movie buffs. Does your audience talk about certain movies on Twitter? Now you’ll be able to create tweets targeting them. Pass the popcorn.
Google Plus
Is Google Plus scaling back its promotion? This week, people who want to sign up for popular Google products such as Gmail and Google Drive are no longer required to create a Google Plus account. Does this news, paired with the discontinuation of Google Authorship, signal more changes on the Google horizon?
Are there any other social media updates or pieces of news that we missed? Let us know in the comments.
