Social Pros Podcast

Data-Driven Decisions is a new limited-series marketing podcast presented by Convince & Convert and shared with our Social Pros listeners. Is it true that many Americans perceive their homes not just as living spaces, but as vehicles for wealth accumulation? And can this lead to a disconnect between their desires and the reality of home ownership? In this episode of Data-Driven Decisions, we find out. What do Americans really want from their homes? Is it just a cozy living space, or something more profound? Join us as we dive into the psyche of the modern homeowner with Erin Willis, Chief Insight and Marketing Officer at Sekisui House, one of America's leading home builders. We look at the importance of understanding customer happiness and how it's at the core of creating homes that truly feel like a sanctuary. Erin also delves into the methodology behind Sekisui House's customer-centric approach, revealing the synergy between data-driven decisions and a genuine understanding of customer needs. From leveraging video diaries for real insights to incorporating behavioral science into home design, this episode shines a light on the innovative strategies employed to make homes that genuinely cater to the happiness and health of their residents. This includes addressing common challenges like storage and space optimization, which are crucial for creating a stress-free, comfortable living environment. Erin also shares the exciting launch of SHAWOOD, a brand that exemplifies Sekisui House's commitment to offering architecturally unique, environmentally friendly homes that meet modern needs. In This Episode: 01:04 - Introducing Erin Willis and Sekisui House 03:09 - The overall strategic goals of Erin's role as Chief Insight and Marketing Officer 05:31 - What American homeowners are looking for compared to other countries 08:20 - How Sekisui House conducts research into homeowner needs 10:40 - Building a culture of curiosity in your team and organization 13:29 - Turning insights into messaging that resonates with your audience 16:27 - How the data impacts the content that they create 19:44 - How Sekisui House sets customer expectations and measures them 22:15 - The launch of SHAWOOD and what it means for Sekisui House 25:02 - How Sekisui House validates hypotheses 27:31 - How the company extends customer lifetime value and builds loyalty 30:50 - Advice for marketers to start using data insights to develop a better customer experience 34:03 - Practices and guidelines that promote a sense of safety and creativity within the team 36:20 - Insights Erin wishes she had known at the beginning of her journey 39:23 - Examples of companies Erin admires for marrying customer-centricity and data Quotes: "Building a culture of curiosity is something that I always encourage organizations to do. What kinds of practices do you have in your team's meetings or in your guidelines or in your processes that help to create that sense of safety, and make sure that folks feel like they can bring their questions and their ideas to the table?" "A lot of Americans view their home as an investment property. It's a vehicle to accumulate wealth. And it ceases to be a home when you start to think about it like that. A lot of people don't feel at home in their homes." Resources: Sekisui House: https://www.sekisuihouse-global.com/ Connect with Erin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinboggswillis/ Connect with Zontee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zonteehou/ Purchase the book at convinceandconvert.com/data-driven (use code CCData20 for 20% off and free shipping in the UK and US) and sign up for more content at convinceandconvert.com.

Are you focused on the right things on social media? Or are vanity metrics keeping you up at night? In this episode, we take a deep dive into what's really important on social media for brands with Kate DiLeo, CEO and Brand Architect of The Brand Trifecta. Full Episode Details Join us for an insightful chat with Kate DiLeo, CEO and Brand Architect of The Brand Trifecta, as she shares practical tips for building an authentic brand presence on social media. With a unique background in sales, Kate brings a fresh perspective to brand building on social media. We hear her approach to creating meaningful and real content that reflects her brand voice on LinkedIn and why she chooses to focus on only two platforms for her content. Kate explains that while it's easy to get caught up on vanity metrics, social pros need to focus on what really matters – being real and connecting with people. She also recommends finding a niche and keeping your content laser-focused rather than trying to talk to everyone. Hear her thoughts on AI, running events, and how she came to write her book, 'Muting the Megaphone.' In This Episode: 2:50 - How Kate moved from sales to social 6:05 - How Kate built her brand methodology 8:30 - The importance of developing a clear brand voice 10:41 - Kate's advice for focusing on LinkedIn as your go-to platform 12:45 - How she finds balance between her real and professional lives on social media 14:37 - AI's impact on brand building 18:23 - Why finding your niche is key 20:21 - The importance of knowing what to say no to 21:45 - How to start building your brand on social 24:27 - Kate's experience of running events 26:10 - Kate's approach to cultivating her network 27:31 - Kate shares details about her current and upcoming book 31:20 - How leaders who can reflect on what's holding them back 34:01 - Kate's top tip for aspiring social pros Resources Download ICUC's Data-Driven Personalization Report Connect with Kate on LinkedIn Follow Kate on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

New podcast series alert from Convince & Convert! Full Episode Details A brand new series hosted by Zontee Hou, our Managing Director, looks at the lessons we can take from data to inform the best marketing practices and internal culture. In this trailer episode, we catch a bit of her interview with Daniel Lemin on the Social Pros podcast, where she talks about her new book Data-Driven Personalization. She discusses some of the key insights from the book, why marketers need to have a more important presence at the 'data table', and how the concepts in the book apply to every marketer. Data is more important than ever and gives marketers a seat at the table, not just when it comes to marketing decisions but also discussions that affect company culture, team structure, and sales. The book and podcast explore lessons and insights for marketers to get more out of the data they have and translate that into impactful and personalized customer experiences that increase customer lifetime value and allow us to develop more engaging marketing strategies. In This Episode: An introduction to the book, 'Data-Driven Personalization' What we can learn from companies who use data to drive decision-making Why we're launching the Data-Driven Decisions podcast Topics the podcast will cover Quotes: "Whenever I can capture stories and share them and also explore why people made the decisions that they did behind the data, it makes it more tangible for us as marketers, and it makes it more usable to the folks who are looking at this content." "We're not just going to be talking about marketing specifically, we're also going to be talking about the nexus of marketing and sales, the nexus of data and internal culture. So there's going to be a lot of really fascinating conversations." "My goal is to make sure that you are really seeing how these ideas are applicable within your own organizations so that you have ideas of how you can make a more impactful marketing presence through data." Resources: Connect with Zontee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zonteehou/ Purchase the book at convinceandconvert.com/data-driven (use code CCData20 for 20% off and free shipping in the UK and US) and sign up for more content at convinceandconvert.com.

As a creative, where do you stand on AI? Do you see it as a friend or foe? In this episode of Social Pros, we speak to Simon Berg, Founder of Ceros, who talks about the use of AI in the creative space and how we can find that happy place in the middle… Full Episode Details New AI tools are coming at us thick and fast. That genie has well and truly left the bottle and as creatives, it's time to decide whether we will embrace it as a part of our work processes or get left behind. While this might sound harsh to some, it's the conversation that everyone is having and it was great to dive into it with British entrepreneur and thought leader in AI and creativity, Simon Berg. Simon opens up about his journey from struggling with academic and family constraints, to finding solace in creative expression. He emphasizes the significance of embracing AI as a collaborator, providing many of his own experiences navigating its potential and challenges. He also talks about the importance of authenticity, how to effectively brief AI tools, and the role of constructive feedback in personal and professional growth. Simon also expresses his vision for a future where productivity is driven by creativity, underscoring the necessity for organizations to adapt to the insanely quick advancements in AI technology. In This Episode: 1:08 - The early days of Ceros and what it is today 2:33 - What it was about the creative space that Simon felt needed a solution like Ceros 4:56 - How Simon came to start interacting with AI and how he feels about it as a creative 8:23 - Simon's advice for creatives worried about gen AI uprooting everything they've known 13:06 - Why we should play with AI and the benefits 15:08 - How organizations should support and onboard their people when introducing new AI tools 18:54 - Unpacking the concerns around the opportunity for AI tools to inherit bias 19:37 - How to brief your AI companion better so the results are authentic and accurate 25:36 - Simon's advice to someone looking to express themselves more creatively 25:46 - Why you need to surround yourself with people who tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear 29:51 - What Simon is most looking forward to over the next five years 32:30 - Where to connect with Simon 33:43 - Simon's advice to Social Pros Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Meet Gemma Connect with Simon on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you want to connect with your audience in the here and now, you've got to lean into the moment. That's one of the key takeaways from this episode with Renee D. Edwards, Global Social & Brand Marketing Executive. Renee brings bags of experience and wisdom to this episode, having worked with huge brands like IBM, Intel, and Samsung. Full Episode Details All brands want to build that all-important connection with the audience on social media. But it is definitely easier said than done. Luckily, we have Renee D. Edwards on the show to give us some pointers on embracing and building your community on social media. For Renee, sometimes social pros need to "color outside the lines" and try something a little different – whether that be spending extra time engaging in the comments or collaborating with brands and content creators. We hear in this episode how social comments are "the new Twitter," and why social pros should spend time connecting with people and other brands via comments. Renee shares her take on why she values collaboration over competition. While social media is a highly competitive place, sometimes it pays dividends to collaborate with other brands to create fun, refreshing content that stands out on your audience's social feed. We also hear her thoughts on AI, authentic content, working with content creators, and more. In This Episode: 2:22 - Renee shares what she's working on and is most passionate about 4:05 - The themes Renee is seeing in the B2B space 6:57 - Leaning into the moment on social 8:35 - How B2B and B2C social strategies differ 10:35 - Being social savvy on LinkedIn as a B2B leader 13:27 - How AI is shaping how social platforms are used 14:18 - Why comments are the new Twitter 18:55 - Best practices for handling comments on social media 20:43 - How to balance collaboration with competition 22:40 - Renee's favorite campaigns as a Webby Awards judge 25:21 - Highlights from Renee's career 27:08 - Renee's experience being an advisory board member of Storythings 29:09 - What brands can learn from content creators 32:54 - Renee's favorite brands to follow on social media 35:44 - How to connect with Renee 36:53 - Renee's advice for those looking to become a social pro Resources Join the Social Pros LinkedIn community Connect with Renee on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Is your brand ready for the future? Being a future-ready brand is about more than just hopping onto the latest tech trends. In this episode, we hear about what marketers can do to keep their brands ahead of the game. We welcomed Mitch Duckler, Managing Partner at FullSurge & Bestselling Author of The Future-Ready Brand and The Indispensable Brand, to share insights he uncovered in his research. Full Episode Details Mitch Duckler, as Managing Partner of consultancy firm FullSurge, is well-versed in what brands can do to drive and accelerate growth. And a big part of growth is looking forward to the future. So how can you make your brand future-ready? When writing his recent book, The Future-Ready Brand, Mitch interviewed CMOs from Fortune 500 companies to get their perspectives on new technology, audience expectations, and how they're preparing for the future. We hear some brilliant insights into how CMOs at some of the top brands are experimenting with technology like AI and AR, and why they're trending cautiously right now. Mitch talks in detail about the differences in generations and how Gen Z, an important demographic for brands, prefers content that's authentic, not polished, and brands with a clear purpose. In This Episode: 2:03 - A background on Mitch, his role, and book 3:27 - The most surprising feedback Mitch received from CMOs 5:28 - How brands are balancing using AI with maintaining brand identity 8:13 - Why brands with a clear purpose are popular with Gen Z 10:48 - How brands are pivoting due to societal changes 12:57 - How brands are targeting different generations on different platforms 15:28 - Why control has shifted to the consumer on social media 18:24 - How emerging technologies are helping brands meet their audience where they are 23:12 - What smaller brands can do with limited resources 27:14 - Mitch's tip for anyone looking to become a marketer or social pro Resources ICUC's 2024 State of Data-Driven Personalization report Connect with Mitch on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Why do people follow brands on social media? What prompts them to unfollow? How close are social media followers to becoming customers? These are important questions that just about every social pro has asked themselves. We can make guesses and predictions, but what does the data say? Hootsuite's Social Media Consumer Report is full of incredibly useful data for marketers, and their Head of Content, Sarah Dawley, joins this episode to talk us through it. Full Episode Details Social media is changing all the time, and with it, consumer expectations, preferences, and behavior. Hootsuite's latest report provides solid data answering the key questions marketers have about social media. Sarah Dawley, the Head of Content at Hootsuite, joins us in this episode to highlight the most important findings for social pros to be aware of. The data that Sarah takes us through answers key questions on why people follow and unfollow brands, the top things consumers are looking for, and how brands can tap into that. We talk about some of the more surprising findings around purchase intent, plus the not-so-surprising findings too. Sarah gives her take on AI in social content generation and how it relates to (and potentially harms) the audience's need for authentic content. We also hear some great tips on how brands can reuse and repurpose content, Hootsuite's fantastic method for promoting the report, and why B2B social content should never be boring. In This Episode: 2:30 - An introduction to the report 4:38 - How brands can connect with their audience 6:17 - The top thing that surprised Sarah about the data 8:05 - Why people unfollow or don't follow brands in the first place 12:11 - How the use of AI affects authentic content 15:01 - How can teams use AI 17:33 - Why people follow brands on social media 21:17 - Advice on building an efficient content strategy 23:16 - The trick with repurposing content 24:32 - How Hootsuite promoted their latest report 27:40 - What holds B2B brands back? 30:13 - Where to find the report 31:42 - Sarah's top tip for social pros Resources Join the Social Pros community on LinkedIn Follow Sarah on X Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn Hootsuite's Social Trends Report Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Get ready to learn about the magic of marketing! Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association, joins the Social Pros podcast to shed light on why he believes marketing is equal parts art, science, and magic. Full Episode Details The American Marketing Association is probably an organization you're familiar with, and in this episode, we welcomed none other than the CEO himself, Bennie F. Johnson, for a fantastic conversation. Bennie shares some background of AMA and how it supports those on the academic and practitioner side of marketing. We hear his thoughts on AI and the ethical and legal considerations that marketing pros need to know about – some of which differ by state and country. Bennie also explains why LinkedIn is the platform of choice for his personal brand and AMA. Bennie shares his advice for the future marketing leaders out there, and we chat about why marketing today doesn't just belong in the creative realm. There's also a science to it (with a dash of magic too). He outlines how marketing pros can communicate the value of marketing to a wider organization, the importance of taking risks, and his advice for the Social Pros community. In This Episode: 2:15 - How the American Marketing Association supports the marketing community 6:05 - Why marketers need communities more than ever 8:35 - How marketers can embrace AI 12:07 - What marketers need to know about different privacy regulations 14:20 - Balancing communication with community members 18:31 - How Bennie speaks to future marketers 21:45 - How marketers can communicate their value to a wider organization 25:53 - Why risk and curiosity are key to marketing 30:44 - Leading authentically in marketing 32:30 - Bennie's one tip for those wanting to become a social pro Resources Join the Social Pros community on LinkedIn American Marketing Association Connect with Bennie on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

In the world of podcasting, the most important element is the story you're trying to tell. You can have all the best equipment at hand, but it's the story that makes it. We're getting a little meta this week with a podcast episode about podcast episodes and storytelling with Elaine Appleton Grant, CEO of Podcast Allies and Host of the Sound Judgment podcast. Full Episode Details Now, we're no strangers to sharing great stories on this podcast. But this episode is a little different. We peek behind the curtain and look at what it takes to unravel these stories in a podcast. And it all begins with the host. The host of Sound Judgment and CEO of Podcast Allies, Elaine Appleton Grant, gives us a masterclass on how to tell a great story by asking great questions and being curious above all. Elaine shares plenty of anecdotes from her career and the brilliant public speakers and podcasters she's met along the way, including the former host of this very podcast, Jay Baer. In each of these stories, Elaine breaks down the key lessons she's learned and teaches to others, including the importance of preparation, asking questions that really dig into the details, and how to be a good listener. There's so much to take away from this episode if you're interested in starting a podcast or want to improve your hosting skills. But equally, there's plenty of value if you're in the business of telling stories on social media. In This Episode: 2:25 - Why it's so important to share and tell stories 4:00 - What Elaine learned from Jay Baer's Standing Ovation podcast 5:50 - Elaine gives a breakdown of what her podcast is about 7:51 - Elaine's background in storytelling 9:51 - How Elaine approaches getting into deeper stories on her podcast 16:34 - How framing questions the right way helps you mine for stories 22:54 - How to become a great listener 25:25 - Why curiosity is the key skill 26:29 - How looking for different perspectives can uncover multitudes of stories 33:08 - How do you start becoming an expert storyteller 37:11 - The final two questions Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle The Sound Judgment podcast Podcast Allies Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn Follow Elaine on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Joseph Galbo, Social Media Specialist at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is a certified friend of the Social Pros podcast! We're thrilled to have him back as a third-time guest on the show to talk about his work at CPSC and his tips for making safety content fun and engaging. Full Episode Details How do you take something like product safety information and turn it into a library of fun, interesting, and entertaining content? Well, Joseph Galbo, Social Media Specialist at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, shares his secrets in this episode. We hear a rundown of what social is like at CSPC, how it's changed since we last spoke, and Joseph's creative approach to getting important information out there. Joseph shares stories of unique social campaigns he's worked on, from the CPSC album drop to its Marvel-like universe of characters, including Potato the Dog, Copernicus Jackson the Cat, and Quinn the Quarantine Fox, who all share important messages with the public. Aside from talking about safety memes, Joseph chats about the importance of engagement data, evergreen content, and communicating different safety issues around the U.S. In This Episode: 3:35 - What social media is like at CPSC and what's changed 6:25 - How CPSC strikes a balance between serious information and fun content 8:40 - Joseph explains the album drop campaign 13:50 - Taking a more creative approach to communicating with the public 15:52 - How Joseph gets creative ideas approved 19:28 - How government agencies are evolving on social 26:47 - How CPSC uses engagement data and social listening 29:34 - Joseph explains his favorite projects and why CPSC has a Marvel-like universe of characters 32:47 - Joseph asks our Social Pros hosts about following government accounts 37:08 - Why people are looking for more hopeful content on social 38:13 - Joseph's top tip for anyone looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Follow the US Consumer Product Safety Commission on X Connect with Joseph on LinkedIn Join the Social Pros community on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

This episode with Fractional VP of Social Media at Social Proof Agency, Robyn Nissim, is a masterclass in social media. Hear about her journey from in-house roles to fractional work, the importance of investing in social media, and much more. Full Episode Details This episode welcomes Robyn Nissim, who shares her journey from Head of Social at big brands such as Alo Yoga and Anastasia Beverly Hills to her current role as Fractional VP of Social Media for a variety of brands. Robyn reflects on the pivotal shift towards a digital-first approach and emphasizes the importance of adapting in the dynamic social landscape. Host Leanna Pham and guest co-host Sunny Hunt talk to Robyn about how vital it is to invest properly in social, and she highlights the percentage of online users that are influenced by brand social media—a compelling stat that shows just how important it is for brands to be engaging effectively. They talk about the value of tracking impressions, click-through rates, and cultural impact, emphasizing the need for brands to align their strategies with the digital behaviors of their target audience. The conversation also explores Robyn's thoughts and advice on innovative influencer marketing strategies and the role of social media teams within organizations. Robyn shares her favorite structure for her social teams, advocating for cross-functional collaborations and strategic content planning. They also discuss finding the balance between leveraging trends for brand visibility and maintaining a robust content strategy grounded in brand authenticity. In This Episode: 0:40 - Robyn expands on her current role 2:14 - What she loves about building teams 3:54 - How she approaches brands that aren't investing in social 6:13 - Why brands need to invest in roles and responsibilities within the social team 8:42 - Robyn's ideal social team breakdown 11:32 - How social teams can share their insights with the whole organization 13:06 - Ways small teams can get a seat at the table 15:03 - Trends Robyn is seeing in social currently 21:17 - Advice for starting an influencer program 23:35 - Robyn's favorite activation and why 26:04 - In-house roles vs fractional roles Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

How does an Ivy League school manage its social media with a small team? We asked Maya Wesby, Social Media Manager at Harvard Graduate School of Education, for some insider insights into her role on this week's Social Pros. Full Episode Details With a small social media team consisting of Maya Wesby (Social Media Manager) and a student intern, a key part of Maya's role is wearing many different hats. While challenging, Maya's realm of responsibility includes creating social-first content for multiple platforms, videos, editorial content for the website, and even a podcast on top of it all. Maya joins this episode of Social Pros to share her secrets to balancing it all and creating engaging content for students, alumni, faculty members, and anyone else interested in learning about the school. In this episode, we hear how Maya has become a master at prioritizing the best content to work on, how she jumps on opportunities to create new content, and where she gets inspiration from. We also hear a bit about her personal branding on LinkedIn and why she's a big fan of the platform. In This Episode: 1:38 - Maya gives us an introduction to her role 4:13 - Who Maya's audience is on different platforms 5:11 - The challenge of managing different brand voices across social media channels 7:07 - Balancing social-first content to build a community with the institution's needs 8:18 - How Maya prioritizes what content to work on in a small team 10:08 - Maya's experience with generative AI 13:06 - How Maya seeks out student events that make great social content 14:50 - The types of engagement Maya seeks out and how she manages reporting 16:45 - Maya shares some of her favorite content projects 20:26 - How to review last year's content and take it up a notch 23:29 - Why Maya uses LinkedIn for her personal brand 27:54 - Maya's top tip for those looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Maya on LinkedIn Follow Harvard Graduate School of Education on X Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

HeyOrca, the uniquely named social media scheduler, is one to keep an eye on for some community-driven content inspiration. Their CEO, Joe Teo joins this episode of Social Pros to share his vision behind collaborative work, building a community, and the story behind the name HeyOrca. Full Episode Details Joe Teo is the CEO, aka "Chief Executive Orca," at HeyOrca, a social media scheduler built to make collaboration between social teams simpler. He joins the Social Pros podcast to share his philosophy on a community-first approach to social media and advice for social pros to lean into the communities they want to build. Joe explains where the idea behind HeyOrca came from and how important it was to build a tool that makes collaboration easier within social and marketing teams. He talks about customer feedback and how that's helped HeyOrca to evolve, optimizing video content for social, and the important question you should ask yourself before you post something. In This Episode: 2:04 - A little background on HeyOrca 4:07 - How Joe pivoted his focus to community building 8:00 - Why Joe works closely with users and uses audience feedback to evolve the platform 10:42 - How Joe stays on top of all the evolving changes in social media 14:54 - Joe shares details of his new project, the HeyOrca Podcast 18:13 - Joe explains what it's like to work with non-profits and faith-based organizations 21:58 - Why Joe has invested more time in his personal brand 27:20 - The important question to ask yourself while building your personal brand 29:00 - Where the name HeyOrca came from 34:07 - Joe's tip for social pros Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Follow HeyOrca on LinkedIn Follow HeyOrca on Instagram Follow HeyOrca on X The HeyOrca Community on Facebook Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Social media for brands has evolved and a big driver of the shift has been the emergence of the creator economy. Audiences resonate with organic, user-generated content on a level rarely seen with other strategies. To talk more about how creators can evolve on social, we welcomed Katelyn Sorensen, the CEO of Planoly. Full Episode Details Planoly is the first social media management tool built by creators, for creators, and CEO Katelyn Sorensen shares her story on the podcast. In this episode, we hear how Planoly helps creators manage their content more effectively and how it partners with many creators to promote the tool. Katelyn is a big fan of the supportive nature of the creator economy, and Planoly's partnership program makes it easier to connect with creators who want to tell the world how much they love Planoly. We discuss the realities of being a creator and how consistency can pay off in a field with a low barrier to entry but a huge mountain to climb to reach success. Katelyn talks a bit about the evolution of Instagram, and we swap stories on our very first Instagram posts. Thankfully, we've all learned a lot since those days… Katelyn also talks about why it's a good thing that the creator community is less focused on follower counts and more on engagement – which is the real key to success on social. In This Episode: 1:33 - What is Planoly and how do creators use it? 3:23 - How the creator economy has evolved in recent years 6:20 – Katelyn talks about how earlier creators she's worked with have evolved 8:40 – How Planoly finds great creator stories and works with the community 11:43 – Planoly AI features to help with creator burnout 16:23 - Why creators are less focused on follower counts these days 18:19 - Our very first Instagram posts and what we've learned since 20:07 – Katelyn's favorite moments at Planoly 22:08 - What's next for Planoly? 25:13 - How Katelyn balances the "always on" world with real life 28:52 - Katelyn's advice for those looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Planoly Follow Katelyn on X Connect with Katelyn on LinkedIn Follow Planoly on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Are you ready to build a brand and become a creator? Then this episode of Social Pros is for you. We revisited one of our favorite episodes from 2023 with DoctorJonPaul. They are the Executive Producer of the BFF: Black, Fat, Femme Podcast, a writer, media critic, speaker, educator… and the list goes on. Hear their secrets to balancing it all while staying grounded. Full Episode Details It's hard to explain everything DoctorJonPaul, Executive Producer of the BFF: Black, Fat, Femme Podcast, achieves with their content, but it's an inspirational feat. DoctorJonPaul somehow manages to balance writing, creating, podcasting, public speaking, educating, and everything in between and has built a brand that people stop and take notice of. We hear how they got their start on X originally but expanded to create a web of content and a strong personal brand that goes beyond just one platform. DoctorJonPaul explains why they decided to experiment with different platforms, and we hear about the origin story behind the podcast. Creating so much content requires focus, and DoctorJonPaul shares their method for balancing it all and staying focused on what matters most. They also impart some words of wisdom on the nature of social media and why it's important to stay true to your own brand and priorities. In This Episode: 1:58 - How DoctorJonPaul became a creator 6:31 - Finding balance as a business owner and creator 8:05 - How to decide what to create each day 12:00 - Being intentional with self-promotion 16:09 - DoctorJonPaul's take on the changes to Twitter/X 19:08 - The importance of branching out into different platforms 23:07 - The origin story of the BFF: Black, Fat, Femme podcast 32:58 - DoctorJonPaul's advice for creators Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle DoctorJonPaul's website Follow DoctorJonPaul on Twitter Follow DoctorJonPaul on LinkedIn Follow DoctorJonPaul on Facebook Follow DoctorJonPaul on Instagram Tune in to BFF: Black, Fat, Femme Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Higher education may have been slower to adopt modern marketing practices and technology like AI, but higher ed marketer Bart Caylor is on a mission to change that. As President and Founder of Caylor Solutions and The Higher Ed Marketer, Bart joins the Social Pros podcast to share his lessons on the best marketing practices for higher ed. Full Episode Details Bart Caylor, President and Founder of Caylor Solutions and The Higher Ed Marketer, predicts a declining demand for higher ed in the future, meaning schools will face greater competition for a smaller pool of potential students. So, it's more important than ever that higher ed invests in great marketing practices. In this episode, Bart shares his predictions for the future of higher ed marketing, what he tries to teach institutions that have been slower to adapt to modern marketing practices, and how schools can utilize AI effectively. Bart believes that AI is often underused, but the trick is learning how to train the AI to give you the results you need. He shares his thoughts on the importance of content creation, managing marketing budgets, and how to become an authority in the higher ed space. We also hear about his journey to create The Higher Ed Marketer podcast and his book, Chasing Mission Fit: A Marketing Guide to Fill Your Institution with Students Who Will Succeed. In This Episode: 1:42 - Bart explains how he first entered the higher ed marketing space 3:08 - How higher ed marketing has evolved 5:12 - Bart's predictions on its future 7:38 - How higher ed marketers can adopt AI and get better at prompting 12:11 - Bart's favorite use cases for AI 16:28 - Why the "early adopters" are only a few months ahead of everyone else 18:23 - Bart's thoughts on younger people getting into higher ed marketing 22:16 - Using the necessary skills to succeed in modern marketing 24:10 - Why you don't have to market to everyone 25:34 - Where Bart finds inspiration 28:57 - Emerging trends that marketers should pay attention to 31:40 - Insights and themes in Bart's podcast 34:09 - How marketers are making mistakes 38:00 - Bart's top tip for those looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Bart on LinkedIn Listen to The Higher Ed Marketer podcast Follow Bart on Twitter Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Brands and agencies are increasingly using influencers and creators to collaborate on social media content, but it's still a brand new world for many in the social media space. Nathan Jun Poekert, Fractional Head of Social & Consultant, Founder of JUN Social, joins us on the Social Pros podcast to share his take on the current landscape of influencer marketing and collaborating with creators. Full Episode Details For influencers/creators and agencies to work in harmony, both sides may need to evolve in one way or another. This is one of the top takeaways from Nathan Jun Poekert, Fractional Head of Social & Consultant, Founder of JUN Social, in this episode of Social Pros. As someone who's collaborated with creators many times, Nathan shares his experiences and why he always prefers to work with creators who treat their work like a business, not just a creative venture. He gives his thoughts on influencer pay, how to attribute success the right way, and why timeliness is the golden ticket to great social content. Nathan's mic drop moment in this episode is around the approval process when it comes to bringing new ideas to clients and getting them out there. He says that social pros need to work fast to jump on trends, but sometimes agencies make this tough with long-winded approval processes. In This Episode: 1:24 - Nathan's perspective on working with influencers 4:28 - Why attributing success is so important when working with influencers 7:55 - Why creators who treat their work like a business are the most successful 10:40 - The growing pains of the creator industry 16:39 - Why Nathan believes social agencies need to evolve 22:09 - Why social agencies need to move fast and what's stopping them 28:22 - The importance of giving social pros the freedom to enact ideas 30:51 - What a Chief Social Officer role could look like 34:10 - Why consistency both on social and the buying experience is key 35:58 - Who will be the first big company to make a CSO role? 39:48 - Nathan's top tip for those looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Content creators each have their own journeys and secrets to success, but for Justin Tse, content creator and CEO of Feature Media, it's all about staying focused and consistently creating content that you love. Full Episode Details Two years since he was last on the show, Justin Tse, content creator and CEO of Feature Media, joins us on this episode of Social Pros to share some insights into how to succeed in content creation. Justin explains how he's able to stay focused and invested in his own work while maintaining a healthy audience in multiple niches. Starting out as a tech channel, Justin has branched out into lifestyle, travel, and car content, and this has proven to be beneficial in many ways, especially when it comes to brand partnerships. We hear Justin's advice on finding inspiration versus copying what others are creating and why it's so important to build your own formula for success. Justin also shares his advice for new content creators and explains what he would focus on if he started from scratch today. In This Episode: 2:58 - How Justin stays interested in content creation 5:51 - Justin tells us about winning Youth Entrepreneur of the Year in Canada 7:04 - Justin's advice for younger listeners to stay relevant 9:47 - How Justin balances being true to himself and listening to audience feedback 11:51 - Justin shares details about his pivot toward travel content 13:36 - The benefits of working in multiple niches 15:38 - The value of collaborations with creators 16:56 - What's changed in content creation since Justin first launched his Creator Cashflow course 19:14 - Pivoting between short and long-form content 19:51 - Becoming an influencer without a plan 21:36 - Content that inspires Justin 22:42 - Where Justin would start if he were to begin his creator journey from scratch 24:50 - Why content creation is sometimes about going with the flow 26:46 - Best practices for those working with brand partnerships 29:22 - Can brands compete with influencers? 32:48 - Why Justin moved away from podcasting 33:58 - Justin's platforms of choice 36:59 - Balancing evergreen content with timely content 37:58 - Recent content projects Justin has worked on 39:59 - Justin's top tip for those looking to become a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Follow Justin on Instagram Follow Justin on YouTube Connect with Justin on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you're in the market for career advice, this is the episode of Social Pros you need. We speak to Eric Stark, Co-Founder and President at Slate who provides some excellent reminders on how to be a decent human being, a great colleague and ultimately progress in your career. Full Episode Details This week's guest is Eric Stark, Co-Founder and President at Slate, and previously with the NFL in several different capacities. He joins this episode to tell us about his transition from working in social for a massive organization like the NFL to launching and running his own successful start-up. He opens up about his own career progression and how he believes social pros, wherever they are in their career, can set themselves up for success. Eric has a deep understanding of what it's like to manage the expectations of multiple teams when it comes to social and provides his thoughts on how to get your wins acknowledged and appreciated by your organization. Plus, why it's important not to be too precious about what goes out on the channels you manage. Eric also chats about how some of the best people he knows in social don't maintain a personal brand and why that is often a good thing… In This Episode: 1:35 - Eric explains what Slate is and what it does 4:46 - Why they expanded beyond sports and some new power users 9:23 - How social media is the centrepiece of the marketing team 10:31 - The best ways to grow and be promoted when you're in social 12:20 - What Eric would tell his younger self 14:20 - Eric's advice for social media managers who feel undervalued by their organization 16:23 - Why you shouldn't wait to share your exciting wins with the organization as a whole 21:36 - Thoughts on whether having a personal brand is vital for those in social 23:56 - The benefits of having a strong personal brand 28:14 - What it's like running a company like Slate now Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Eric on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you want to showcase the experience of being a student, who better to ask than the students themselves? We shine the spotlight on Boston University's student creator program with Director of Social Media, Dave McDonald. Much like with user-generated content, student creators bring authenticity, creativity, and expert knowledge to their audience. Full Episode Details Dave McDonald, Boston University's Director of Social Media, joins Social Pros to talk about his Terrier Creator Program - a program for student social media creators to produce content about student life. The program has been a huge success since its launch. BU's social media content is fresh, engaging, and highly targeted to its audience because student creators have in-depth knowledge of what the target audience wants to see and engage with. Dave explains how the program operates, his approach to coaching students, and why he prefers to let the students flex their creativity rather than restrict them with formal creative briefs. Dave also speaks about the importance of following trends, optimizing content for platforms, reporting on metrics, and ensuring creators always have the chance to bring new ideas to the table. In This Episode: 1:22 - Dave explains his day-to-day responsibilities and the programs he runs 2:31 - How Boston University builds its international social presence 4:25 - Why reporting is so critical for Boston University's social push 5:30 - What the Terrier Creator Program involves 8:42 - How the program optimizes content creation for each platform 10:07 - Why the program is open to new ideas from student creators 13:04 - How student creators highlight the student experience on social 14:09 - How Dave coaches student creators and other university departments 16:26 - The art of the pivot – how Dave coaches people through campaign pivots 17:45 - The importance of testing new ideas and jumping on trends 19:01 - How Dave balances the creator program with scheduled social content 20:30 - Why student creators don't get strict creative briefs 23:03 - Dave's advice on working with student content 24:27 - Dave shares some standout content stories 25:57 - What's next for Dave's team 28:59 - Dave's top tip for becoming a social pro Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Learn more about the Terrier Creator Program at Boston University Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Animal pics brighten our day here at Convince & Convert. We're sure you can relate! But we've found out that there's so much more to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's social than animal pics. We're thrilled to welcome their Senior Social Media Manager, Taylor Moore, onto Social Pros to tell us more. Full Episode Details Everyone loves animal content on social feeds, right? But what goes into the marketing behind animal content for San Diego Zoo, and how do they tap into humanity's love for animals and garner meaningful results in the process? On this episode of Social Pros, Taylor explores why wildlife conservation sits at the very heart of their content strategy and tells us the importance of storytelling on social. Plus, she shares the story of how she posted a certain viral 'dik-dik pic' and why great content can be cheeky as long as it's relevant to your cause. In This Episode: 2:14 - Taylor explains what the San Diego Zoo is and stands for 2:40 - The difference between San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park 5:46 - How they drive awareness through social 8:31 - How Taylor and her team stay inspired 11:18 - The story behind that dik-dik post 14:14 - Social pros love-hate relationship with content creation 15:49 - Their reptiles vs mammals performance metrics 20:16 - How they use Twitch and why it works 26:46 - How Taylor's career has evolved and what's next for her 33:19 - How you can connect with Taylor Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn Follow Taylor on Instagram That viral dik-dik pic… Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you feel like your social strategy has plateaued, Michael Corcoran, Ex-Head of Social at Ryanair and Managing Partner of Frankly, has some bold suggestions for how you can refresh your approach on this episode of Social Pros. Full Episode Details Do you ever feel like you're posting the same type of content over and over, but not getting the reach or ROI you once were? It can be easy to get stuck in a rut when you're making risk-free decisions. This is why Michael Corcoran believes it's time to be bold and question your choices. In this episode of Social Pros, Michael tells us how brands can pull themselves out of the "sea of sameness" by re-evaluating their priorities on social. He shares how he helped transform Ryanair's content marketing strategy as their Head of Social and gives us three foundations for a successful strategy. Michael believes social media is "the biggest pyramid scheme since Tupperware" and in this episode, he tells us why! In This Episode: 2:07 - Michael's time at Ryanair 6:10 - What impacted Michael's marketing at Ryanair 12:18 - Why social platforms should provide entertainment 15:24 - The benefits of lo-fi and creator content 16:45 - Why social media has become a pyramid scheme 26:51 - Michael's advice for how to break onto social 35:54 - Why social pros need to challenge themselves and their peers 36:14 - Why social shouldn't be about quick wins 37:04 - Social will continue to evolve 49:03 - Michael's last two questions Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Follow Michael on X Follow Michael on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Cut through the noise on LinkedIn with expert advice from Social Media Strategist and Brand Marketer, Jacqueline Joyner, as she joins this episode of Social Pros. Full Episode Details When it comes to creating and consuming B2B content, LinkedIn is the place to be. But with content saturation placing obstacles in your way, how can you create the content that gets your message heard? Joining Social Pros to share her expert insights, predictions, and expertise is Social Media Strategist and Brand Marketer, Jacqueline Joyner. She explains why there's no secret sauce for social and why she champions experimentation, gut feeling, and demonstrating value. Don't get her wrong though - there are some best practices she swears by! Jacqueline explains why leveraging data is essential to running a successful social media strategy. In This Episode: 1:44 - Discussing Jacqueline's career 5:33 - Why evolution is vital for sustained success on social 6:20 - What to bear in mind when approaching social 8:30 - Can gut feeling and snap decisions create great content? 10:39 - Why you should let content live and breathe 11:00 - Balancing data with creativity 13:52 - Persistence or consistency? 15:29 - Where to start with LinkedIn content 18:13 - How Jacqueline built toward success 22:09 - Where should paid social fit into your strategy? 27:44 - The power of copy 33:13 - The final two Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn Follow Jacqueline on Twitter/X Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Some brands are built for social media, and FIBA 3x3 is certainly one of them. Their Digital Content Manager, Esteban Gonzalez, shares how their community-led strategy transcends borders on the Social Pros podcast. Full Episode Details FIBA 3x3 is a sporting discipline that is just perfect for social. But how do they keep their community spirit alive with a global audience? Esteban Gonzalez favors a rare tactic – opening the organization's DMs to the public. This allows him to take suggestions, leverage UGC, and foster a "family atmosphere," as he explains on this episode of Social Pros. Esteban tells us how his team keeps community front of mind, whether it's creating regular content or being on-site at events. He shares how FIBA 3x3 adds spontaneity to their content and how they welcome new fans into their community. Plus, he shares why, if you're passionate about content, you just need to create it and the opportunities will come. In This Episode: 1:33 - Esteban introduces FIBA 3x3 4:20 - How Esteban handles FIBA 3x3's global audience 6:09 - Creating content on the ground 7:54 - Keeping track of a content strategy 11:51 - Honoring different cultures and languages 13:45 - Why 3x3 keep their DMs open 16:40 - Appealing to crossover fans 21:09 - How Esteban grew from intern to manager 25:11 - Encouraging athletes to grow their social presence 30:17 - The power of livestreams 34:21 - Esteban's final two Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Esteban on LinkedIn Follow Esteban on Twitter/X Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If there's one message social pros should live by, it's to trust ourselves. Find out why as Jay Acunzo, Host of Unthinkable and Co-Founder of Creative Kitchen, returns to Social Pros. Full Episode Details When it comes to social, it's not always easy to trust your instincts. But the most authentic content that resonates with the most people comes when social pros believe in themselves. Jay Acunzo, Host of Unthinkable and Co-Founder of Creative Kitchen, tells us why as he kicks off 2024 with a bang. We've all felt the weight of bosses' expectations, brand guidelines, and our own insecurities, but it's time we flexed our creative muscles and felt empowered to share innovative ideas. As Jay explains, audiences love marketing that feels human, and trusting your instincts allows you to share raw insights that no-one else can. He explains why trying new things, telling engaging and unique stories, and making the content you really want to make is the key to success on social. In This Episode: 2:01 - What Jay has done since his last appearance 4:43 - Why authenticity is a priority on social 9:55 - The first towards creating authentic stories 13:26 - The power of trying new things 18:05 - Can Jay's model apply to everyone? 19:17 - Why AI is your intern, not your rival 27:44 - Jay's take on perfection 29:22 - Aligning with your boss and keeping your creativity 40:32 - The final two Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit Jay's website Listen to Jay's podcast Read to Jay's newsletter Connect with Jay on LinkedIn Follow Jay on Twitter/X Follow Jay on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Social media is bursting full of all sorts of creator content. But what lessons can social media marketers take from influencers? We ask Eric Gray, founder of Maverick Content Studio, on Social Pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details When you believe in the power of engagement and connection, there are tremendous opportunities for success on social. That's why Maverick Content Studio Founder Eric Gray says it's time marketers learn valuable lessons from creators and start making simpler, more compelling content. Creator-style content is not only easy to make, but unlike some content that brings in big numbers chased by CEOs, it fosters a deeper audience connection. Eric shares how entrepreneurs are creating simple yet effective videos and tells us why social pros should fight their fears and showcase their personalities. And here's some more good news… you can start today. Eric says action beats perfection. If you have a phone and a ring light, you're good to go! In This Episode: 2:33 - What Eric has been doing since leaving Universal Parks & Resorts 4:12 - Eric's take on current events in social 8:16 - Why social first is a good marketing tactic 15:33 - Creating compelling content has never been easier 16:34 - Should you test ideas with influencers? 18:33 - The best practices brands should leverage from creators 22:02 - Why action beats perfection on social 26:12 - Eric's impact on social at Universal Parks & Resorts 29:50 - Discussing Radical Content 32:14 - Eric's Final Two Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Eric on LinkedIn Follow Eric on Twitter/X Visit the Maverick Content Studio website Find out more about Radical Content Eric's Previous Appearance: How Universal Parks & Resorts Creates In-Park Social Moments (2022) Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Join us for another deep dive into social media's burning questions as we welcome Sammy Lent and Zach Fitch to the latest edition of Social Pros Unfiltered. Hear their insights on fandom, why Gen-Z's pulling back from social, and their top predictions for 2024. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details In 2024, Amazon will become the next big social media platform, brands will return to in-person community building and fans will become our greatest influencers. Now, you may be wondering how we can predict the future. We can't! But the closest we can do is ask our Social Pros Unfiltered guests, Sammy Lent and Zach Fitch, for their biggest predictions ahead of 2024. Zach shares why he forecasts a rise in Amazon influencers (and how it could even create a little beef with TikTok), while Sammy explains why brands will start to leverage fandom to tell authentic stories to their audiences. Sammy and Zach also discuss how brands should approach seasonal content, how managers can deal with Gen-Z stepping back from social, and why LinkedIn's 'Open to Work' badge isn't such a red flag after all. In This Episode: 2:18 - What percentage of Gen-Z is on social media? 3:17 - Why are Gen-Z pulling back from social? 11:30 - Should brands do seasonal content campaigns? 21:00 - What brands can learn from fandom culture 32:51 - Should you add the 'Open to Work' badge to your LinkedIn profile? 40:09 - Sammy, Zach, and Gia's predictions for 2024 Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Leanna on LinkedIn Connect with Gia on LinkedIn Connect with Sammy on LinkedIn Follow Sammy on Instagram Connect with Zach on LinkedIn Follow Zach on TikTok Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Have you heard of Notion? You've probably already been asked that question… and there's a good chance that it's already your "second brain." Like all great products, it's the community and the users who make it, so we sat down with Notion's Head of Influencer Marketing, Lexie Barnhorn, to hear all about it. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details Deemed by many users as their "second brain," Notion is the go-to place for people to jot down thoughts, ideas, collaborate on business ideas, and create templates for organizing your entire life. If you've not already tried it out, this episode with Notion's Head of Influencer Marketing, Lexie Barnhorn, may just convince you… Lexie gives us a window into why everyone's talking about Notion. It doesn't matter whether you're following productivity influencers or your favorite D&D DM, the beauty of Notion is you can make it whatever you want. Influencers are at the heart of Notion's growth and popularity because as Lexie says, they can talk about use cases in their own relatable brand voices. We hear about Notion's approach to evergreen influencer content, why trying too hard on TikTok is the wrong approach, how to make your social content more relatable, plus much more! In This Episode: 1:47 - An introduction to Notion 3:09 - Lexie gives an overview of Notion's influencer marketing strategy 6:01 - How Notion utilizes unconventional use cases 8:33 - Lexie's strategy for reaching new communities 10:43 - How Notion balances marketing use cases with product marketing 15:06 - Lexie explains how she acts as an influencer for Notion 18:48 - How Notion maintains brand continuity across platforms 22:14 - The universal truths Lexie has learned while working at Notion 25:40 - How Notion speaks with its community about future developments 27:15 - Notion's approach to influencer sourcing 32:01 - The final two questions Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Follow Lexie on Twitter Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

How can global brands cultivate a strong sense of community that keeps their audience interested and engaged on social? We ask Anthony Yepez, Associate Director, Social Media at Orangetheory Fitness, as he returns to chat with us on Social Pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details Sustaining a strong community spirit across a global company is not an easy feat. Especially when your brand has franchisees, studios, and team members all around the world. So, what is Orangetheory Fitness' secret? On this episode of Social Pros, Anthony Yepez shares how social listening, audience understanding and, leading by example build the foundations for Orangetheory's community-led strategy. He also talks to us about how he uses Reddit for content opportunities and the benefits of consistently leveraging user-generated content (UGC). Plus, he shares his predictions on what's in store for social pros over the next few years. In This Episode: 2:59 - Anthony explains Orangetheory and his role 5:46 - Sustaining a "community feeling" for a global brand 8:30 - Balancing individuality with brand goals 13:07 - Instilling a social media mindset 14:56 - How Orangetheory leverages user-generated content 19:24 - Orangetheory's Reddit strategy 22:15 - Maximizing a small-but-mighty social team 25:11 - Anthony's predictions for the next year in social 30:52 - Anthony's Final Two Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn Follow Anthony on Twitter/X Follow Anthony on TikTok Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Sharing the personal stories behind your brand can empower your employees, build audience connection and attract future talent. But where do you start? Hear top tips from Jonathan Hatch, Talent Brand Program Manager at Zoom, on Social Pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details Sharing the personal stories behind your brand can empower your employees, build audience connection, and attract future talent. But how can social pros reap these benefits by creating employee-led content in authentic, non-exploitative ways? Jonathan says it's all about adding fun to the equation. Getting to know the person behind the work can make for compelling content and also encourage more employees to want to share their stories. On this episode, Jonathan explains how employee branding can appeal to potential new hires by igniting curiosity and giving the audience a glimpse behind the curtain. Plus, he highlights the top platforms for employee branding and discusses how sharing stories can enhance wider company culture. In This Episode: 2:31 - Jonathan discusses his career 4:19 - How storytelling plays into employee branding and storytelling 7:14 - Is LinkedIn the hub for storytelling? 9:29 - Getting employees excited about being a voice for your brand 12:56 - Balancing individuality and brand goals 17:54 - Why we're in the most transparent era of LinkedIn 19:50 - Managing cultures and subcultures in the brand 25:16 - Why team culture is "your life" when you're at work 32:09 - Jonathan's Final Two Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn Follow Jonathan on Twitter/X Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

We welcome Anthony Yepez and Mariya Spektor onto our second episode of Social Pros Unfiltered to discuss the hottest topics on social. Hear their thoughts on working with influencers, jumping on trends, and how social pros should respond to cancel culture. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! ICUC Full Episode Details Trend-hopping is super common on social, but is jumping on trending content the best way to provide value to your audience? Anthony and Mariya share how it can bring in the big numbers chased by management, but often fails to drive meaningful engagement and resonate with your community. Also in this episode, Mariya tells us why we should think of influencers as "advocates for our brand" and choose wisely when we work with creators. Plus, Anthony shares why social media managers should be the "eyes and ears for your brand on social" and explains how they can build strong relationships with marketing departments to craft the content that will help you reach your business goals. In This Episode: 3:23 - What mistakes brands are making when working with creators 9:35 - Why should brands not hop on trends? 17:03 - Balancing authentic trend-hopping with regular content 18:42 - The impact of going viral in your own community 25:16 - How should brands respond to cancel culture? 34:06 - What is a social media manager? And what does the role mean? Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Leanna on LinkedIn Connect with Gia on LinkedIn Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn Connect with Mariya on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Joél Leon, Creative Director, T Brand Studio at New York Times Advertising, hits us with some mic drop moments in this episode of Social Pros. He explores how to build more harmony into the creative process and lead your team to success. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details If you want your creative team to hit it out of the park, then you've got to foster a healthy environment for them. Joél Leon, the Creative Director, T Brand Studio at New York Times Advertising, believes there needs to be more "harmony" within the creative process. And part of that is by building a healthy environment for your team. In this episode of Social Pros, we hear Joél's take on what it means to be a great creative director and why the environment that you set up for your team is key to helping them create their best work. We hear how Joél approaches creative projects and why his role is all about trusting people to do their work and creating safe spaces for them to flourish creatively. He explores how he defines success, some of his favorite campaigns to work on, and why we need to be genuine and practice what we preach when joining conversations about social issues. In This Episode: 1:51 - Joél explains his role within T Brand Studio 5:40 - How Joél's team works alongside the newsroom and editorial teams 7:10 - Joél shares some details of campaigns his team has worked on 8:16 - How Joél leads his team to deliver the very best content 12:12 - Joél's methods for managing expectations and working with brands 15:20 - How leaders can create a healthy work environment 17:20 - How to protect the interests of your team while keeping clients happy 20:20 - Joél shares some of his favorite campaigns to work on 23:56 - How Joél prefers to think about failure and success 27:14 - Finding a harmony between creativity and social issues 31:05 - Why listening is the most active form of communication 32:11 - Joél announces his publishing deal and upcoming book 33:29 - Joél's top tip for those wanting to become a social pro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Joél on LinkedIn Follow Joél on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

It's our 600th episode! What better way to celebrate than by inviting former hosts Jay Baer and Adam Brown, and previous guest Allison Day, Senior Manager, Social Media at Reddit, on the show to share insights on the biggest platforms, the greatest changes in social and so much more. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details When we published episode one of Social Pros, we had no idea we would reach 600. It's a milestone few podcasts get to celebrate! That's why we invited past co-hosts Jay and Adam back on the show to roll back the years. Together with Reddit's Senior Manager, Social Media, Allison Day, they discuss the many changes that social has seen over the years. Jay, Adam and Allison reveal what they love about TikTok, Instagram Reels, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X, share the biggest changes they've witnessed on each platform and tell us what they would do if they were starting out as budding social pros today. In This Episode: 5:45 - Thoughts on X, LinkedIn, and short-form video platforms 21:39 - Why TikTok could become the standard on social 24:41 - The biggest changes in social over the past ten years 27:16 - Gaining trust from leaders 30:05 - Why social media was about social, now it's about media 35:56 - What our social pros would do if they were starting out today 38:52 - Why Jay Baer would start making YouTube content 43:18 - Jay, Adam, and Allison answer the final two Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Jay Baer on LinkedIn Connect with Adam Brown on LinkedIn Connect with Allison Day on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Being bold on social media isn't always the easiest thing to do. What if you get it wrong…? No one wants to go viral for all the wrong reasons, but in this week's episode, Gabriel Gomez, Account Supervisor, Social, Community, and Influencer, Gen Z Lab Ambassador at Edelman, shares some food for thought on being socially bold. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details Many social pros are apprehensive to try new things on social media. There's a fear of audience reception, and if you're managing social for various clients, you need to take their thoughts on board as well. Gabriel Gomez, Account Supervisor, Social, Community, and Influencer | Gen Z Lab Ambassador at Edelman, joins this episode of Social Pros to share his blueprint for being socially bold. In this episode, we hear Gabriel's methods for keeping tabs on social trends, how he talks to clients about trying new things, and some examples of bold and inventive campaigns he's worked on in the past (#cancelpizza anyone?) He explains why we need to test and learn by trying new things but also engage in social listening to watch audience reception (both good and bad). We also hear about Gabriel's meme-based strategy for LinkedIn and why he thinks micro-influencers can bring more credibility in their content. In This Episode: 2:42 – Gabriel breaks down the clients and campaigns he works with 4:12 – The benefits of working on the agency side of social media 4:56 – How Gabriel keeps tabs of different trends 9:07 – How he talks to clients about trends 11:32 – Gabriel takes us through a fun Beyonce-themed Dolby campaign he worked on 13:34 – How the #cancelpizza campaign made a dry campaign more fun 16:05 – How Gabriel followed the conversations around #cancelpizza 19:45 – Why micro influencers tend to bring more credibility 21:48 – How brands should decide which influencers to work with 23:41 – Gabriel's relatable approach to LinkedIn 27:13 – Gabriel's advice for LinkedIn 29:02 – How the Gen Z Edelman lab came about 31:44 – Gabriel's top tip for becoming a social pro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

How can brands build strong, beneficial partnerships with creators? We invite Lucy Quick, Creator Partnerships Manager, Global E-Commerce Operations at TikTok, onto Social Pros to tell us her thoughts. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details It's one thing collaborating with influencers, but building meaningful, long-term partnerships is no easy feat. So what are the best ways to make sure your partnerships are successful? Lucy Quick has experience working with both brands and creators, so we couldn't pass up on the opportunity to pick her brains. She provides insights on the current influencer marketing landscape, reveals what questions brands should be asking and explains why storytelling with data is the best way to prove your ROI. Plus, Lucy shares why working with smaller influencers could be beneficial and tells us the secrets behind the most successful campaigns she's worked on. In This Episode: 3:50 – The current state of influencer marketing 7:57 – Questions that brands aren't asking enough when working with influencers 11:02- The top trends Lucy is seeing in the industry right now 14:56 – When influencers pivot to becoming competitors with brands 18:14 – How brands can strike a good balance between micro and macro influencers 19:51 – How brands should approach influencers in the early days of their career 22:08 – The best ways to talk about ROI and metrics 24:37 – How to navigate regulations around influencer marketing 26:55 – Lucy tells us about a funny campaign experience 29:18 – The different skill sets required for live streaming 36:15 – Lucy's tip for becoming a social pro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Lucy on LinkedIn Follow Lucy on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

There's no denying lululemon creates a feel-good vibe on social, but what's their secret sauce? We revisit our conversation with Ravi Hampole, their SVP, Global Brand Creative, as he reveals all. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details lululemon started life as solely a community hub and physical space, so translating that people-first approach onto social was no easy feat. That's why we asked Ravi Hampole, their SVP, Global Brand Creative, to share how lululemon built on their in-person offerings to garner a loyal online community. We revisit this fascinating conversation with Ravi as he shares how the brand prioritizes human connection, gets to know its audiences on a deeper level and turns limitations into opportunities. In This Episode: 3:13 – Ravi's role at lululemon 6:31 – Representing the lululemon community on social 13:41 – Translating brand purpose to different channels 21:31 – Utilizing platforms correctly 23:43 – How lululemon work with ambassadors 36:44 – Ravi's top tips for social pros Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn Visit Ravi's website Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

What are the best ways to collect and analyze data and share it with your audience in a captivating way? We ask Convince & Convert Strategist Sunny Hunt for her advice on this episode of Social Pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details With every sales presentation you make, you have the chance to influence your audience and make a lasting impact – and data is often a crucial component. But Sunny Hunt believes it's not as simple as plonking a screenshot into a slide deck. Adding color and visual aids can bring your data-storytelling to life. In this episode, Sunny shares her useful D.A.N.C.E. formula to help you revitalize your data-storytelling and reach your audience in more meaningful ways. Plus, she explains why simplicity is key when you collect, analyze and present your data and tells us why generative AI can be useful for presentations – so long as you proceed with caution! In This Episode: 2:42 – Introducing Sunny's D.A.N.C.E. formula 5:41 – The right data to share 8:46 – How to display data to an audience 14:38 – Why narrative is crucial when presenting data 21:35 – Remember to consider cadence 23:54 – Using AI to structure data visualization 26:18 – Considering engagement and feedback 31:13 – Sunny's top tips for social pros Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit the Hunt Interaction website Connect with Sunny on LinkedIn Follow Sunny on Instagram Follow Sunny on Twitter/X Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you're planning on taking a trip, there's a good chance you've stumbled on Delta Vacations and its awesome social content. We asked Arielle Berlinsky, their Social Media Marketer, to join Social Pros to clue us into the strategy behind their wanderlust-inspiring content. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details What's Delta Vacations' formula for social media success? It turns out that Arielle Berlinsky and her team don't follow a strict formula, but that's part of what makes their content so fresh, exciting, and engaging. Arielle is a big believer in doing what works for you on social and not just following the crowd. Your audience wants to see the human, caring side of your brand, and you can only do that if you have a team who genuinely cares about the content. Arielle takes us through her tips for social media success, including the importance of consistency, why you need to always deliver value, and why social pros should always ask themselves one key question: would you follow you? In This Episode: 2:05 – What Arielle's role involves 3:33 – How Delta Vacations' social content inspires different audiences 5:16 – Arielle's approach to different audiences 7:20 – How Delta Vacations uses its audience's content 8:37 – How Delta Vacations still sees success on Facebook 9:56 – Where Delta Vacations' content fits into travel plans 13:00 – How Delta Vacations prioritizes inspiring content over promoting deals 15:50 – Arielle's advice for keeping social fresh in corporate marketing 19:00 – Arielle's approach to personal branding on LinkedIn 23:58 – Should you throw out the formula on social media? 29:24 – The final two questions Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Arielle on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Leanna Pham, Head of Creative & Social Media at Convince & Convert, Gia Lee, Co-Founder of NinetyEight, and Convince & Convert's Strategist and Marketing Consultant, Sunny Hunt and Jennifer Harmon, join forces to discuss the hottest topics in social on this special episode of Social Pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: ICUC Full Episode Details It's been a dramatic year in social media so far! We've witnessed the dawn of Threads, a controversial Twitter rebrand and seen AI infiltrate every industry in new and powerful ways. So, for International Podcast Day, here's a special episode of Social Pros, covering the topics that everyone is talking about. Host Leanna Pham, Head of Creative & Social Media, is joined by co-host Gia Lee, Co-Founder of NinetyEight, and guests Sunny Hunt, Strategist and Jennifer Harmon, Marketing Consultant at Convince & Convert. They discuss whether Threads is officially dead already, thoughts on Twitter's rebrand and why AI is a helper, not a replacement. Plus, they share their thoughts on where social teams should sit in an organization and whether social media roles are still undervalued. In This Episode: 1:27 – Is Threads dead? 5:23 – How the launch of Reels differed from Threads 8:48 – Twitter's rebranding to X and how it's changed since 13:42 – What it's like managing client content on Twitter 15:48 – What social pros can do about the rise of AI in social 21:10 – Where AI gets it right and wrong 27:09 – Is social media work still undervalued? 33:05 – What people need to know about social pros 35:34 – Where social media should sit in an organization 46:20 – Why measurement must be front and central Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Leanna Pham on LinkedIn Connect with Gia Lee on LinkedIn Connect with Sunny Hunt on LinkedIn Connect with Jennifer Harmon on LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

How does Marvel connect with fans of all ages, hailing from every corner of the world, and speak to them in a way that truly resonates? Join us on this episode of Social Pros as we delve into Marvel's incredible social strategy with their Executive Director of Social Media, Adri Cowan. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details Marvel is a global phenomenon that transcends generations, so how do their social media team create a unified strategy that speaks to their vastly diverse audience? On this episode of Social Pros, we are joined by Adri Cowan, Executive Director of Social Media at Marvel and The Walt Disney Company. Adri shares an overview of her role, how she taps into fandom and loyalty and how her and her team keep their strategy unified yet adaptable. Plus, she shares the ways in which user-generated content plays a part in her work, her measures for success and how she tackles burnout within her team. In This Episode: 3:15 – What Adri's role at Marvel involves 5:03 – How Adri became part of the Marvel team 7:31 – How Marvel adjusts its social strategies across the Marvel universe 9:52 – Building a unified social media strategy 12:23 – Strategies for building loyalty in the fan base 14:12 – How Marvel harnesses user-generated content 16:41 – How Adri helps her team tap into trending content 19:29 – Celebrating and measuring successes at Marvel 23:02 – The challenges of managing a fast-moving team without suffering burnout 25:41 – Adri's top places for seeking inspiration 27:05 – The Marvel character Adri thinks would have the best social media presence in real life 29:14 – The final two questions and Adri's tip for social pros Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Find out more about Content Marketing World Connect with Adri on LinkedIn Follow Adri on Twitter/X Follow Adri on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Stephanie Garcia, Director of Communications at Agorapulse, will be on this episode of Social Pros to share her tips for succeeding with live video. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, Stephanie's advice will help you take your live video game to the next level. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details TikTok has changed how we think about live video. However, it has a track record of humanizing brands and building instant rapport with audiences. So, how can social pros thrive on 'live'? Stephanie Garcia, Director of Communications at Agorapulse, joins this episode of Social Pros to share best practices, no-nos and everything in between. She tells us about how she approaches live video at Agorapulse, the first steps you can take today and how you can become confident on camera. Plus, she shares tips for agencies introducing their clients to live video and we explore her own business, Lights, Camera, Live. In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 4:15 – How are brands using live video today? 6:27 – A quick dive into Agorapulse 7:28 – Convincing the C-suite to use live video 10:33 – The broad spectrum of live video for business 13:35 – How TikTok has changed live video 16:54 – How do you prepare for live? 19:47 – Ways agencies can approach clients about live video 25:56 – What to expect from Stephanie's workshops 32:50 – Repurposing and repackaging live video content 39:30 – Stephanie's final two 42:27 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn Follow Stephanie on Twitter/X Follow Stephanie on Instagram Check out Lights, Camera, Live Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

We revisit episode 544 of Social Pros with Jamie Dinar, Senior Manager, Social & Digital Content at Glossier, as she unpacks the brand's distinctive social strategy and provides top tips and tricks for social pros. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC We all know how fast-paced social media is. It simply does not sleep. There are many brands out there whose social media speed and efficiency are off the charts. One of them is the skincare and beauty brand, Glossier. So how do they do it? Here, we revisit episode 544 where we ask their Senior Manager of Social & Digital Content, Jamie Dinar, about their 'secret sauce'. Jamie explains how her team is empowered to act fast and says that clear communication between colleagues is key to being proactive in social. Plus, she explores how they replicate in-store customer experiences online, keep their brand voice united and stay in touch with their community. In This Episode: 0:00 - Introduction 1:07 – Introducing Jamie Dinar 2:37 – How Glossier came to be a legendary brand on social 4:52 – What Jamie's role looks like 9:08 – Do Glossier eat, sleep and breathe social? 15:03 – How Glossier tap into their vast community 18:09 – Optimizing to keep brand voice across platforms 21:24 – Replicating in-store experiences online 24:06 – Jamie's TikTok Live experiences 28:30 – Jamie's Final Two 30:41 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn Follow Glossier on Twitter Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Once you hit 'publish' on a piece of core content, it's easy to get caught up in the production cycle before starting on something new. But when you don't repurpose your pillar content, you miss the opportunity to extend its life and maximize its potential. This episode of Social Pros with Content 10x founder and CEO, Amy Woods, is full of tips to help you get started. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details Are you serious about maximizing the potential of your content? Social pros spend hours making each piece of core content. But in doing so, it's possible to neglect to see the potential value that comes from repurposing it. On this episode of Social Pros, we speak to Amy Woods, founder and CEO of content repurposing flagbearers Content 10x. Amy shares the story and purpose behind Content 10x, the key benefits of content repurposing and how she and her team help B2B clients find the true potential of their videos, podcasts and written content. Plus, she explains her 'content waterfall' method, shares what she has learned from speaking to social pros on her podcast, B2B Content Strategist, and tells us about her opinions on how to best use AI. In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 3:57 – What do Content 10x do? 7:26 – How content repurposing can benefit social teams 13:39 – What stands in the way of repurposing 16:19 – Why social teams could be sitting on a goldmine of great content 18:37 – Amy explains the 'content waterfall' approach 25:13 – Findings from Amy's podcast, 'B2B Content Strategist' 35:16 – Amy's Final Two 37:48 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Follow Amy/Content 10x on Twitter Follow Amy on Instagram Visit the Content 10x website Amy's previous appearances: How to Repurpose Your Content on Social for Maximum Results (2019) Why Writing is Still the Key to Social Media Success (2021) Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

If you're feeling the pressure as a social media manager, this episode of Social Pros is for you. We welcomed Hannah Tooker, VP of Content at LaneTerralever, to talk about why social pros don't need to know it all and what we can do instead. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details With new platforms popping up, ever-changing trends, and a mass of competition, social pros have a lot to keep up with. But in this episode of Social Pros, our guest wants to take the pressure off social media managers. Hannah Tooker, VP of Content at LaneTerralever, joins this episode to give us a behind-the-scenes look at how she manages social media strategies for brands while offering tips for other social pros. She explains that social pros can't always be "everything to everyone" – and why that's okay! We dig into core topics such as tone of voice, tailoring strategies per channel, knowing your audience, and more. She also shares how she helped to launch a highly successful campaign for PetSmart. In This Episode: 3:02 – Hannah's role at LaneTerraleaver 4:28 – The challenge of staying ahead on social 7:38 – When to push on new ideas with clients 10:39 – Cleaning up after bad advice clients have received in the past 13:20 – How Hannah coaches clients 16:08 – Getting the tone of voice right for brands 17:37 – Hannah describes a successful campaign she worked on for PetSmart Charities 23:01 – How to navigate big changes in the social media landscape 26:43 – How Hannah began her social pro career 29:25 – The final two questions Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

It's easy to get distracted by the trends, new platforms, and brands that are social media stars in their own right. But how do you create a strategy that's right for your brand? This episode of Social Pros with Mariya Spektor, Director of Content, Social Media at Social Chain, has some tips you won't want to miss. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details It should go without saying. Social media is all about the people, and yet if your social media strategy is caught up in trying to go viral or become the next Wendy's, you might not get the results you hope for. In this episode, we spoke with Mariya Spektor, who is the Director of Content for Social Media at Social Chain. We chat about the importance of building a community and how there's often a disconnect for brands who are going about social the wrong way. For Mariya, she sees a lot of brands practicing "savage social" (think Wendy's and Ryanair) when it doesn't match their brand tone. Instead, Mariya shares some tips on building a strategy that puts people first. We also discuss different platforms and whether Threads is the next Twitter rival, how some brands are monetizing TikTok content, and why there's a compromise to be made between speed and creativity. In This Episode: 00:00 - Introduction 03:36 – Why community is so important in social media 06:30 – Why some brands face a community disconnect 08:32 – Which brands get "savage social" right 15:31 – How brands can set themselves up for success 20:44 – Mariya's experiences of TikTok shopping 26:00 – Predictions on the future of Threads 30:20 – The challenge of keeping up with different social media platforms 32:16 – Speed vs. creativity – which matters most? 35:48 – Staying on trend in social media 38:03 – The big two questions Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

We are so pleased to welcome Noam Bardin, Founder of Post News, on this episode of the Social Pros podcast. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details As much as we love social, we have to acknowledge that it comes with gray areas and undesirable aspects. Joining this episode to dissect social's shortcomings is Noam Bardin, Founder of Post News. Noam shares the dangers of platforms making engagement top priority, how social pros can grapple both the positives and negatives of social networks and how Post News plans to work toward preventing misinformation. Plus, he gives his thoughts on the future of Threads. In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 3:19 – Noam's background in the industry 4:44 – What is Post News? 10:39 – Positive vs negative sides of social 15:03 – Unravelling Threads 19:12 – How Post can fight mis/disinformation 29:55 – Post's reception from journalists and users 33:53 – The future of social media 39:29 – Noam's Final Two 42:35 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Download Post News Connect with Noam on LinkedIn Follow Noam on Twitter Follow Noam on Instagram Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details What's the best way to collect meaningful audience insights? As social pros grapple with Threads and the latest Google Analytics update, traditional metrics aren't always available. On this episode of Social Pros, Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro, tells us how you can navigate these changes and gain better audience insights through social listening, talking to your customers and consuming the content they consume. Plus, she shares whether she believes Threads is set to be a "formidable competitor" or just a "shiny new thing." In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 2:51 – Amanda's career to date 7:47 – Her thoughts on Threads 16:35 – The best Threads strategy 19:57 – Why not to go hard on posting 24:44 – New ways to research audiences without metrics 36:06 – Amanda's final two 40:29 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit Amanda's website Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn Follow Amanda on Twitter Follow Amanda on Instagram Follow Amanda on Threads Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details In this ever-changing world of social, how can community managers serve their people in the best possible ways? Erika Lovegreen, SVP of Marketing & Communications at ICUC, returns to Social Pros to tells us her expert advice. Erika discusses why social listening is as crucial as ever, why it's important to keep your community front of mind when making changes on social and how best to team AI with your 'human-first approach'. Plus, she shares her thoughts on Threads and changes to Reddit and gives us the lowdown on ICUC's brand-new eBook. In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 3:32 – What ICUC are working on right now 6:05 – How brands should approach Threads 12:30 – Will Threads welcome brand-safe interactions? 15:03 – Erika's take on Reddit's current situation 18:10 – Have your finger on the pulse of your community 24:49 – Integrating AI and maintaining human touch 39:24 – Erika's up-to-date final two! 42:05 – Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Visit the ICUC website Connect with Erika on LinkedIn Follow Erika on Instagram Download the 'How to Beat the AI Craze with Human-First Messaging' eBook Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details So many teams work with creators to amplify their brand on social. But how do you build strong, fruitful relationships with the right partners? Taylor Speer, Manager of Global Social Media at Shiseido, joins this episode of Social Pros to share her thoughts. Taylor discusses how creators help Shiseido compete with celebrity-backed brands, the best ways to build authentic partnerships and why it's more crucial than ever to keep diversity and representation front of mind. Plus, she tells us why Microsoft Excel is her tool of choice and the one biggest mistake you can make as a social pro. In This Episode: 0:00 – Introduction 4:44 – How Shiseido cut through the noise on social 7:33 – How creator relationships have changed 11:15 – The benefits of fostering strong creator partnerships 14:40 – Diversity and representation at Shiseido 20:44 – Networking with influencers 23:41 – Planning social content 31:05 – What keeps Taylor organized 36:34 – Taylor's final two 40:25 - Outro Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn Follow Taylor on Instagram Visit Taylor's website Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.

Selling is the primary motivator for a lot of people on social media. Some people do it really well, others are a little less polished. But it's safe to say that a lot of people aren't pros at social selling. Timothy Hughes, on the other hand, is a social selling master who joins Social Pros to share his wisdom, advice, and thoughts on selling on social media today. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn't do it without their help! This week: Salesforce Marketing Cloud ICUC Full Episode Details Timothy Hughes, CEO and Co-Founder of DLA ignite, plus the author of Social Selling: Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers, joins Social Pros to talk about the art of social selling. For Timothy, social selling is not a new or "future state." If you're not already doing it, you're already behind. This is something Timothy addressed in his book – which he recently updated with tons more information about how social selling has moved on since. In this episode, Timothy explains how the world has changed, why conversations are still king on social, how to avoid being outdated, and the best ways to talk to strangers online. We also hear his three top recommendations for those wanting to sell on social. If you're looking to improve your social selling skills, this is one you'll want to tune in for. In This Episode: 5:09 – Why Timothy decided to revisit his book 7:16 – How starting DLA ignite contributed to the second edition 9:58 – How being ingrained in interruption marketing gives a false view of social selling 10:44 – Social media is for people to be social 12:00 - How to "sell" the idea of social selling to leadership 13:56 – Why cold calling falls behind social selling 16:32 – How the digital world has changed 18:07 – Why some people don't "get" social selling 21:09 – Timothy's definition of social selling 24:13 – How to actually connect with people over social media 25:44 – How you can start expanding your network online 31:28 – The three things Timothy recommends social pros do 33:12 – Why content is always king 37:07 – Timothy's advice for social pros Resources Schedule a consultation with ICUC Grab your free Social Media Audit Bundle Connect with Timothy on LinkedIn DLA Ignite LinkedIn Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.