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 role2:14 - What she loves about building teams3:54 - How she approaches brands that aren’t investing in social6:13 - Why brands need to invest in roles and responsibilities within the social team8:42 - Robyn’s ideal social team breakdown11:32 - How social teams can share their insights with the whole organization13:06 - Ways small teams can get a seat at the table15:03 - Trends Robyn is seeing in social currently21:17 - Advice for starting an influencer program23:35 - Robyn’s favorite activation and why26:04 - 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 role4:13 - Who Maya’s audience is on different platforms5:11 - The challenge of managing different brand voices across social media channels7:07 - Balancing social-first content to build a community with the institution’s needs8:18 - How Maya prioritizes what content to work on in a small team10:08 - Maya’s experience with generative AI13:06 - How Maya seeks out student events that make great social content14:50 - The types of engagement Maya seeks out and how she manages reporting16:45 - Maya shares some of her favorite content projects20:26 - How to review last year’s content and take it up a notch23:29 - Why Maya uses LinkedIn for her personal brand27:54 - 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 HeyOrca4:07 - How Joe pivoted his focus to community building8:00 - Why Joe works closely with users and uses audience feedback to evolve the platform10:42 - How Joe stays on top of all the evolving changes in social media14:54 - Joe shares details of his new project, the HeyOrca Podcast18:13 - Joe explains what it’s like to work with non-profits and faith-based organizations21:58 - Why Joe has invested more time in his personal brand 27:20 - The important question to ask yourself while building your personal brand29:00 - Where the name HeyOrca came from34:07 - Joe’s tip for social pros  Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit BundleFollow HeyOrca on LinkedInFollow HeyOrca on InstagramFollow HeyOrca on XThe 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 years6:20 – Katelyn talks about how earlier creators she’s worked with have evolved8:40 – How Planoly finds great creator stories and works with the community11:43 – Planoly AI features to help with creator burnout16:23 - Why creators are less focused on follower counts these days18:19 - Our very first Instagram posts and what we’ve learned since20:07 – Katelyn’s favorite moments at Planoly22:08 - What’s next for Planoly?25:13 - How Katelyn balances the “always on” world with real life28:52 - Katelyn’s advice for those looking to become a social pro  Resources Grab your free Social Media Audit BundlePlanolyFollow Katelyn on XConnect with Katelyn on LinkedInFollow 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 Slade 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 runs2:31 - How Boston University builds its international social presence4:25 - Why reporting is so critical for Boston University’s social push5:30 - What the Terrier Creator Program involves8:42 – How the program optimizes content creation for each platform10:07 – Why the program is open to new ideas from student creators13:04 - How student creators highlight the student experience on social14:09 - How Dave coaches student creators and other university departments16:26 - The art of the pivot – how Dave coaches people through campaign pivots17:45 - The importance of testing new ideas and jumping on trends19:01 – How Dave balances the creator program with scheduled social content20:30 - Why student creators don’t get strict creative briefs23:03 - Dave’s advice on working with student content24:27 – Dave shares some standout content stories25:57 - What’s next for Dave’s team28:59 - 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 for2:40 – 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 post14:14 – Social pros love hate relationship with content creation 15:49 – Their reptiles vs mammals performance metrics20:16 – How they use Twitch and why it works26:46 – How Taylor’s career has evolved and what’s next for her33:19 – 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, nonexploitative 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.