Social Pros Podcast

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. 

Orangetheory Fitness's approach to building a strong community on social media, utilizing strategies like social listening, user-generated content, and community integration on platforms like Reddit and Facebook. The podcast delves into maintaining brand authenticity, balancing national and local presence, and predicting future trends in social media management.

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.