Social Media

Italy tightens control on social media influencer advertising

19-Jan-2024 By Nikki Hancocks

Italy has introduced new advertising guidelines for social media influencers which will see the most influential online celebs regulated by the same authority as mass media outlets.

The long tail of TikTok: What recent history teaches us about berberine & taurine

30-Jun-2023 By Stephen Daniells

TikTok trends are hard to predict: They burst out of nowhere, take on a life of their own, and leave brands scrambling to meet a surging demand for products. But what can we learn from the social media channels recent history?

Lubrizol taps social listening to inform consumer-led ‘Nutra 2.0’ strategy

03-Apr-2023 By Danielle Masterson

The findings revealed that in order to meet today’s demand, manufacturers have to appeal to both the logical and the emotional sides of consumer consciousness.

Ullman breaks down FTC’s recent Health Products Compliance Guidance

22-Mar-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The details around claims substantiation in the recently released Health Products Compliance Guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could be a “huge sea change”, says attorney Marc Ullman.

News in brief

MD Logic expands partnership with health influencer

08-Jul-2022 By Hank Schultz

A Florida-based supplement company has expanded its partnership with a prominent health influencer with the launch of a new magnesium product.

NutraCast: How TikTok drives sales at the Vitamin Shoppe

06-May-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Recent surges in supplement sales continue to prove the massive and growing influence of TikTok. Riding on the coat tails of many of these trends are health and wellness stores like The Vitamin Shoppe.

Second WHO report identifies formula firms’ social media use in targeting mums-to-be

05-May-2022 By Will Chu

A World Health Organization (WHO) report claims that pregnant women and mothers are being targeted online by formula milk companies with personalised social media content.

Royal Society report questions impact of misinformation on consumer opinion

27-Jan-2022 By Will Chu

A new report looking into the internet’s role in shaping people’s engagement with scientific information finds that while misinformation is prevalent online, the extent of its impact is questionable.

FTC warnings about COVID-19 claims now also include social media platforms and ecommerce sites

20-Jan-2022 By Hank Schultz

The warnings FTC sent yesterday over COVID-19 treatment claims have included the social media platforms the advertisers used and on which they sold their products. It marks a change in policy that will be dissected as part of the agenda of the upcoming...

Marketing advice: Time for a healthy Tik Tok trend

04-Oct-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Brands in the health and nutrition space are failing to make use of the oldest marketing tool in the book - word of mouth - and in this era of social media that opportunity is bigger than ever.

When fake health news goes viral: New study examines what makes people susceptible

11-Mar-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Whether it’s snake oil remedies or the latest diet scam, fake health news is not a new phenomenon. The pandemic has only exacerbated the problem, with more people increasingly turning to social media for information. Now, researchers are sounding the...

Facebook’s antitrust woes serve as wakeup call for social media market strategy

10-Dec-2020 By Hank Schultz

With the US government putting Facebook in the middle of its antitrust crosshairs, it’s a good time for supplement brands that rely heavily on social media platforms to review their marketing strategy, an expert says.

NutraVideo: Nurish by Nature Made uses TikTok to resonate with millennials

16-Nov-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Nurish by Nature Made is a monthly subscription that delivers personalized nutritional supplements. But they’re also delivering entertainment — with the help of some big names and a popular platform.

NutraCast Podcast: Shawn Arent on staying healthy and fit amid outbreak

03-Apr-2020 By Danielle Masterson

As universities and their athletic facilities remain closed, a major challenge for athletes is staying healthy and in shape during a time of self-quarantine and social distancing.

CBD: The most well-researched Instagram trend?

13-Mar-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

CBD has become one of the most mentioned health trends on social media, and according to research by Babylon Health, it also has the most research breadth behind it compared to other popular wellness fads such as 'clean beauty' and 'holistic...

Expo West pre-show: Getting to know the co-founders of Wellevatr

27-Feb-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Over 80,000 attendees and 3,500 exhibitors will flock to the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim, California.

Sports Nutrition Summit 2020

Social media influencing: Finding the right formula

12-Feb-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Jim Stoppani, Shawn Arent and Joshua Schall weigh in on how brands can strike the right balance when using online influencers.

FENS 2019: Influencing positively in an online world of ‘loud, provocative voices’

06-Nov-2019 By Will Chu

The ‘double edged’ nature of social media that can aid the spread of incorrect information can be countered by building communities and improving the way visual content is presented.

WATCH: Social media's impact on unhealthy diet obsessions

30-Oct-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Social media is driving a whole host of nutrition myths and causing a growing number of young adults to become totally obsessed with their diets, health and nutrition experts have been warned.

Influencer power: A legal and ethical guide to social media marketing

26-Sep-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Influencer marketing is still quite novel and yet it's predicted to grow to more than double 2017 figures to become a $6.5bn industry this year (Influencer Marketing Hub) so its important to ensure these promo's are legal and ethical.

Webinar: White Spaces and Influencers: Winning in a crowded sports nutrition marketplace

23-Sep-2019 By Stephen Daniells

There is still time to register for this week's NutraIngredients-USA Sports Nutrition Webinar, which will feature experts from BodyBuilding.com, Nutrabolt, Vitargo, and Lumina Intelligence.

Sports Nutrition Summit 2019

How to spin the right web in a social media economy

11-Sep-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

As online reviews become 'intrinsic' to sales it's essential that sports nutrition brands learn how their products stack up online and communicate correctly with their web audience.

Are your influencers complying with FTC rules?

03-Jul-2018 By Adi Menayang

Dietary supplement and functional food endorsements were among the many products that got influencers on the FTC’s naughty list last year.

Understanding WeChat critical to success in Chinese e-commerce, expert says

13-Feb-2018 By Hank Schultz

Exporters of dietary supplements into China need to be familiar with that country's dominant WeChat social media platform if they want to thrive, an industry association executive said.

Nature’s Way said learnings from social media informed new line of herbal powders

22-Jan-2018 By Hank Schultz

Nature’s Way’s new line of powder products isn’t new in terms of ingredients. But it matches new ways in which consumers are using its products, the company said.

RangeMe adds 1,000 new suppliers a week

LuckyVitamin: Product discovery is a messy process; it's a combination of art and science

28-Feb-2017 By Elaine Watson

18 months after its US launch, online product discovery platform RangeMe is adding 1,000 new CPG suppliers a week as more high-profile retailers use it to identify and compare new products.

The rise of Gen Z brings new marketing challenges compared to millennials, CivicScience data suggests

09-May-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

Millennials may be the generation with the most spending power for now, but Gen Z is catching up fast and how they engage with brands and respond to marketing is very different than their predecessors, according to new research from CivicScience.

IRI and Oracle’s partnership puts social and purchase data side by side

25-Jan-2016 By Adi Menayang

What do consumers think about your packaging? What do consumers think is still lacking from their pantries? Market research company IRI partners up with Oracle to offer answers to these questions by combing through social media.

Which social media platform is most effective for advertising, asks CivicScience

10-Dec-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Social media often is a dominant – and sometimes the only – component of most food and beverage companies' marketing strategies, but as platforms continue to proliferate, advertisers must understand to whom each application appeals to maximize their...

Herbalife files action against Twitter seeking ID of user who sent allegedly defamatory tweets

24-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

A court action filed by network marketing giant Herbalife against the online messaging firm Twitter points out the risks posed to brands by social media, said an expert on the topic. The company is trying to force Twitter to divulge the identity of a...

Nutritional drink marketing linked to music, sports & politics may be most effective, study reveals

06-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Manufacturers of high-end juices, nutritional shakes and smoothies likely will get more bang from their advertising buck in marketing associated with music, sports, technology and politics, according to consumer research conducted by CivicScience.

Social media can help companies identify threats as well as opportunities, expert says

09-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

Social media can be a powerful tool to identify trends as well as communicate with different customer segments. But it can also be used to identify threats, says market research firm Brandwatch.

Policing social media made easier with new tool from Ingredient Identity

12-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Consulting firm Ingredient Identity is offering a way to help companies manage their social media platforms to avoid crossing regulatory boundaries. The new subscription service can help flag posts that make disease claims that could bring unwanted attention...

Integrated social media strategy drives supplement sampling startup's rapid growth

31-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

Having a social media strategy as a foundational piece of a business can yield huge dividends in growth, as Lincoln, Neb. startup Bulu Box has demonstrated. Founded by couple Stephanie and Paul Jarrett, Bulu Box uses a sampling method pioneered elsewhere...

Targeted digital marketing helps company succeed in brick-and-mortar space

12-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

NutraClick, a Boston, MA-based nutritional products company, has found success building its business model on a targeted online advertising strategy. The company was so successful, in fact, that a major chain came to them to request they place their products...

You are what you eat (and retweet): Using social media to connect with consumers

29-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Why is your business using social media? To sell more products? Raise your profile? Change your image? Find out what key ‘influencers’ really think about your brands? Identify and target a new customer base? Or because everyone else is on Twitter and...