Meet Stefany, Our Newest Account Executive

Say hi to Stefany, Random Agency's newest Account Executive! We can't wait to get to know her and what better way to do that than a Q & A?

First, the obvious question: Why did you choose Random Agency?

It's funny because, throughout the process of being laid off and trying to rediscover myself and what I wanted, I realized that at the rate I was going, I wasn't exactly growing to my fullest potential. I was a Jack of all Trades, but a Master of None to an extent. So, I needed to guide my path toward a specialized category of Marketing/Advertising to then grow that specific skill set.

Through my search, I found myself being drawn more and more toward the world of social and paid media. Then, That Random Agency came up on my LinkedIn! Since the moment of applying, it was a chain of fortuitous events that lead me here and I can't be more thankful. 

Tell us three cool things about yourself.

Get ready for this

  1. I am a first-generation American of Romanian immigrant parents. 
  2. I have a love for the pop-culture world “ especially when it comes to movies, actors, and artists.
  3. I have a personal goal to tour and hike at all the U.S. National Parks. 

Bonus: I have a small interest in fitness and nutrition “ all about those micronutrients! 

Favorite TV show?

Favorites for different reasons

If money was no object, where would you go and what would you do?

If money were no object, I would take myself, my husband and our two dogs on a tour of the Netherlands mountains and valleys during the summer. Where we could hike, have fun in tulip fields and possibly live happily ever after. 

What's in your refrigerator right now?

Oh. Uh this is awkward, I have hardly anything in there right now since I just got back from a trip. But there is some salmon defrosting for dinner tonight and some fried rice leftovers. (likely to go together this evening)

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Walking through walls like Kitty Pryde in the X-Men. I mean, just the coolest. 

What's your favorite childhood memory?

My parents would take my brother and me on camping trips all the time as kids. I remember one time we went out on one of these trips with our boat hooked up to my Dad's truck, so you know it was at least somewhere with water. Throughout the trip, it happened to be my brother's birthday and so my parents look into a restaurant down the lake across from our campsite for dinner that night.

We made reservations, cleaned up, and took the boat to the old marina that I could only imagine as anything else but cool at the time. I must have been about 6 years old, so anything is cool honestly. I remember seeing turtles and fish come up to the surface in the boat bays. I guess people would feed them often because they were NOT scared of us. 

We walk up the hill from the marina and get into what I could probably paint as a local little dive diner by today's standards, but back then it was a fancy place that we'd never been. We sit down for a while and when it comes to getting our orders, the waiter asks me what I want. Of course, I haven't even glanced at the menu. I mean how could I? I was so young, I didn't know what was going on. So, then I tell them, Spaghetti! 

They didn't have that on the menu. 

I'm pretty sure this place was a burger bar. They probably didn't even stock noodles for pasta. The waiter looked at me and to my surprise to this day, said, Okay, sweetie. 

You know, it was my brother's birthday, but when they came out with a plate of poorly made noodles and sauce, it felt like my birthday. 

Name one thing you wish you could do better.

I wish I could run faster per mile but with my stubby short legs, every 2 steps for me is 1 step for any person of average height.

Which three things would you take to a desert island?

  1. The food: Endless supply of peanuts 
  2. The friend: My dog, Dotson
  3. The escape plan: The police phone booth from Dr. Who to transport out of there

What is the last book you read?

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollen

It's basically about all of the foods and food-like substances we eat, where they come from in nature, as well as what to look out for nutritionally in certain food items.

What is your favorite account to follow on Instagram?

Ooooh, this is a new one for me actually, but @bigmootoo. It's a dog influencer from Thailand that is the funniest meme-like dog I have ever seen. I mean look at him as a little cop. 

4 Creative Approaches for Your Next CTA

Whether you're a social media manager, content creator, or business owner, you understand how important it is to have a strong call to action (CTA) for your audience. But the same Click here! CTA is overused and doesn't quite speak to a customer like you hope it would. A great CTA needs more depth than that.

Here are four creative CTA approaches that are sure to shake things up a bit:

Graphic of multiple "Click Me!" buttons with mouse cursor hovering over middle.

Provide an Actionable Next Step

Sure, Click Me! and Follow the Link! sound exciting, but they don't really give us a clue to what will happen. Your audience wants to know where this journey will guide them. Putting an actionable next step in your CTA will show your audience what they can expect. CrazyEgg uses the CTA Show me my Heatmap below to let their customer know what the next step in the process is. Pretty clever. Take a look:

Handle an Objection

Your audience will always have a reason not to follow through with your CTA. Whether it's because they don't want to spend money, or they don't want to spend the time, the objection is in the back of their mind. 

This just means that you can use the CTA to your advantage and handle some of those objections. For example, you can tell your audience in your CTA that no credit card is required or that they can try a demo of your product in just 2 minutes. Here's a look at how Basecamp handles objection in their simple CTA:

Call to action for Basecamp website.

Show some specifics

Have you ever been invited to a party that you don't know details about? Maybe you don't know where it's at, if it's formal or casual, or who else is going to be there? Kinda stressful, right?

That same feeling of uncertainty can happen when a CTA fails to show some specifics. In the example below, Netflix gives you a specific number (30 days) to ease your uncertainty:

Call to action for Netflix website.

Demonstrate Empathy

Good copywriting talks to an audience on their personal level. Using this empathy can be a great tool when creating a CTA. 

Everyone has a pain point, and the best thing you can do is acknowledge that pain point. Everyone wants their problems to be heard, right? Look how Metafy points out the problem and empathizes with their customer's desires:

Call to action for Metafy website.

We hope these unique approaches help you give some fire to your call to actions. If you need more help navigating the social and digital worlds, reach out to us below!

Send us a Message!

Is the Internet Changing? - What to know about SCOTUS and Section 230

The internet is a wonderful, exciting, and chaotic place. With how much it has shaped modern culture, it's hard to imagine our world without it. But the internet as we know it could be coming to a dramatic change. This is all due to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) deciding to revisit Section 230, a law that protects online platforms from user liability.

If you're a business owner, social media manager, or simply an individual that uses social media, this could change how you use the internet. So, buckle up, because we've put together all the important info you need to know.

What exactly is Section 230?

Section 230 is often referred to as the "26 words that created the internet." 

Why?

Because it's been credited with enabling the growth of the internet and the rise of user-generated content platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. The law was passed in 1996 as part of the Communications Decency Act, and it clearly states that online platforms are not responsible for the content any of their users post.

However, Section 230 has also come under scrutiny in recent years because of an increase in hate speech and misinformation that's been published to these platforms. Which brings us back to SCOTUS's push to reform or repeal this impactful law.

What does this mean for brands?

Brands have a lot to be worried about with this change. For years, Section 230 has provided a level of protection against liability for user-generated content. This means that companies have been able to build and promote their online presence without having to worry about the risk of lawsuits stemming from user comments or reviews. A change in this law would force brands to become more accountable for the content on their platforms.

A possible outcome of this is increased moderation and filtering of user-generated content. This would limit the free flow of information. As a result, brands may have to reevaluate their approach to digital marketing, focusing more on moderation and content management to minimize legal risk.

How does this affect users?

Ordinary social media users and individual content creators are also at risk. If platforms become more responsible for the content on their sites, it could lead to increased censorship and limitations on free speech. This could impact the ability of individuals to express themselves online, particularly on controversial topics or issues.

Additionally, if brands are held responsible for third-party content, it could lead to increased scrutiny and backlash from consumers. This could change how people interact with brands on social media.

Will this affect politics?

Section 230 has been a contentious issue between political parties. Some argue that it gives too much power to big tech companies and others claim that it is necessary for free speech on the internet. If the Supreme Court makes changes to this law, it could influence the way that politicians and policymakers approach online content and regulation.

One more thing to note: If brands become more responsible for user-generated content, they may be forced to take a stance on controversial issues that arise on their platforms. This could lead to increased pressure from consumers and advocacy groups to take action on specific issues or content, putting companies in difficult positions. It could also lead to more transparency and accountability when it comes to political advertising.

What should you do?

Big changes to online platforms means even bigger changes for users of the platform. Whether you're a digital marketer, social media manager, or an ordinary user, it's important to stay informed about changes to Section 230. After all, it did give us the internet as we know it today.

Need help strategizing your social media presence? We're here for you.

Send us a message

4 Copywriting Best Practices to Help You Shine on Social Media

What's harder than writing a 10-page essay? Writing a two-sentence caption for social media.

Ok, we're joking. But copywriting for social media presents its own set of challenges. You have to write with strict character limits and for an audience that might call you out if they spot a mistake in your grammar, all while getting your message across.

But with quality copy comes better engagement and action from your audience, making it all worthwhile. So, if you've ever spent two hours looking at the same Instagram caption, these best practices are for you!

Photo of man's hands typing on a laptop.

Involve Your Audience!

Just like I'm talking to you right now, it's important that your social media copywriting is inclusive and immersive for your audience. Why? Well, you're more likely to pay attention to something that is speaking directly to YOU. Remember, for the most part, copywriting on social media doesn't have to be too formal.

One good way to involve your audience on social media is to ask questions (bonus points if they're open-ended). This will get them engaged and excited to add to the conversation. Look how Chase uses copywriting to involve their audience:

Keep it Simple. Like, REALLY simple.

Attention spans are not long on social media. Keep your copy concise and to the point. Use bullet points, lists, or emojis to break up long chunks of text and make it more visually appealing. Most social media users decide very quickly if they're going to interact with a post. If the main message of your post is front and center, they're more likely to stay and engage. Check how Starbucks kept it simple with their copy:

On top of that, you only have a few lines of text to explain your product, service, post, or promotion. Cut the jargon and write like you're talking to an 8th grader. This will save you the trouble of having a confused audience. So, use plain language and short sentences. To make sure you have your message down, practice on your mom, friend, or dog to see if they understand (your dog won't, but it'll be cute).

Have a clear purpose.

What action do you want your audience to take? Do you want them to head to your website or leave a comment? Whatever it may be, make it clear in your CTA (call to action).

Remember that your CTA doesn't have to be some large button or super big element in your post. It could be as simple as encouraging your reader to comment or giving them a good reason to click the link in your bio. But for the love of all things holy, make sure it's not boring! Here's how New York Magazine casually introduces their CTA:

Stay Consistent.

Lastly, consistency is key when it comes to social media copywriting. The style of your writing might differ based on the needs of different social channels, but keep a consistent tone. This will help you build a strong brand identity and make it easier for your audience to recognize your posts.

Bonus Tips!

Use Emojis: Using emojis can make all the difference in a social media caption. Emojis can help break up the text, emphasize copy, and add some needed emotion and expression to your words!

Read Your Copy Out Loud: This is one of the most effective ways to test your copy on readability. If you read your copy out loud and it sounds like a robot wrote it, you'll want to change some things. 

Use Writing Tools: There are writing tools both paid and free like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor that can be super beneficial. Never again will you have to worry if your copy is unreadable or full of grammatical errors!

Want more tips on how to engage your audience? Follow That Random Agency on social media or connect with us by sending a message below!

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