How Can You Use Twitch To Market Your Business?

When you hear the word Twitch what do you think of? Live streaming? Video Games? Unless you're already a successful content creator, business opportunities may not be the first thing that come to mind but it should be! 

Originally designed for gamers, the Amazon-owned platform has recently made a big shift into all different categories, from politics to music, and even sports. Have a talent or passion you want to share with the world? This is a platform designed for building communities!

Here's how you can use Twitch to take your business to the next level.

Build Your Brand

Twitch can open you and your company up to engaging with potential and current customers. For example, the 1,000 Dreams Fund non-profit did a partnership with Twitch where they were able to introduce an entirely new audience to their brand. 

In the partnership they offered some female Twitch streamers currently attending university grants to assist with their educational expenses. Twitch promoted the content on its social media channels, helping drive awareness for their brand. 

Influencer Marketing Opportunities

Twitch has more than 15 million daily unique visitors with an average watchtime of 95 minutes of content every day. The platform is literally designed for connection and community building which is the perfect environment for influencer marketing strategies to thrive. In recent years, Twitch and TikTok are the only social media platforms that have seemed to increase focus on influencer marketing. Meanwhile, more traditional platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have only seen a decline. 

Finding the right Twitch influencer to partner with is a great way to expose your brand to an established community of loyal followers. 

Unlike other platforms, Twitch looks at interaction much differently. Both the streamer and the audience get to see the chat and engage with each other in real time and hold a one-on-one discussion. This is especially great for gaining feedback on a company or product as well as learning about your audience.

Create Your Own Content

Behind Closed Doors

Consumers are often curious about what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite brand, so why not give them a little taste? Is there something exciting happening at the office or a work event? Want to show the world what it's like to be a CEO? Set up your camera and take them along for the ride!

Q&A Session

Whether you have a topic in mind or not; Just Chatting is a great category for your viewer to get to know you. If you're nervous about low attendance, you can always request questions in advance and have some in your back pocket just in case. Once you establish a regular schedule, it'll be easier to get questions and viewers on a regular basis. (NOTE: Even if viewers missed your live stream, they will be able to watch a rerun VOD”Video On Demand”on your main page.)

Online Classes / Webinars

 If your business model contains any educational aspects, running an online class or holding a webinar are great ways to build your audience. If your audience likes what they learn, it provides you with the opportunity to connect them to your landing page where they can find more of your content. Think of it like a free sample. You can also repurpose your VOD recordings for clips and content on other social platforms or newsletters.

While Twitch can be an intimidating platform for marketers or business owners to include in their content strategy, those who are willing to put in the effort to build a community have gotten encouraging results. Even though live streaming is now a prominent feature on multiple social platforms, Twitch's ability to customize the user and viewers' experience truly makes it the best. 

Interested in putting your business on Twitch? Connect with us by sending a message below!

5 TikTok Features to Help Your Business Thrive

With approximately 1 billion active monthly users worldwide, TikTok is one of the most influential apps in the marketing world right now. In just a few short years the app has become a globally diverse ecosystem of culture and people looking to digest all types of entertaining content. While some people may look at TikTok and only see Gen Z dancing to choreographed routines or light comedy skits, many businesses are taking advantage of its wide range of audience to grow and promote their own company. 

As I'm sure any good business owner would tell you, success in any format doesn't come easily. It takes hard work and knowledge to figure out how to connect with customers and create something that they authentically want (and keep coming back for).

Here are 5 TikTok features to help your business thrive:

Filter your comments!

This TikTok feature can be accessed through the Settings and Privacy tab. Go to Privacy and click on Comments to add any beneficial filters. The menu brings up an option to enter keywords and phrases that you wish to be automatically blocked from your content. 

While feedback is important, we all know that the internet is full of trolls so this feature can be helpful for avoiding triggers or dangerous language. Another cool thing is that this feature has multiple language options besides English. A similar feature can filter commenters themselves. To go one step farther, the menu even has a Who Can Comment On My Videos tab that has the option to restrict comments on your content to friends or family.

You can Dislike videos!

A lot of people agree that the TikTok formula does an awesome job at figuring out what kinds of videos you enjoy and customizing your For You page, but did you know that you can take matters into your own hands?

To start, you can dislike any videos that appear on the app's For You page by holding your finger down on the video and selecting the option titled Not interested on the menu. Disliking a video tells the app that you don't want to see similar videos and can help customize your feed better to the content that you want to see. 

Another tool for further control is Restricted Mode, which helps to prevent your feed from recommending videos that might be risque or inappropriate. In order to activate this mode just tap your Profile at the bottom right and click on the three-line menu at the top right. This should bring up a menu where you can then click the Settings and privacy. From there go to Content preferences, tap Restricted Mode, and Turn on Restricted Mode. (Note that you will need to enter your passcode in order to enable this feature.)

Go Live!

TikTok LIVE is a feature that allows you to stream live broadcasts to your followers and others on the app who may be interested in your content. Live streaming tends to improve engagement rates and gives you the opportunity to engage with your followers on the platform in real-time. You can answer questions, read out your viewers' comments, and even play games together. This feature can help you to create a much stronger connection with your audience all while building a community.

Here are some features that can help to boost engagement during your next live stream:

You need Stitches!

Instead of there being a split-screen like the duet feature, Stitches play a few seconds of another creator's video (usually as a reference point) and allow you to connect your own video to it. Stitching is commonly used to respond to a video or add a follow-up to a thought or idea. 

For example, you might post a video on how to grow an audience on social media, and you find that another creator has a great video on talking about the same subject. With Stitches, you can take a short clip of that creator's video, add it to your own post and say This creator has made good points, and here are some things I want to add. Tell me your thoughts in the comments.

TikTok Stories

Similar to Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, TikTok has jumped on the trend of allowing users to create ˜Stories.' TikTok Stories are great for sharing quick thoughts that you don't want to make a regular video for, or content you only want to last for a short period of time. 

A blue ring will also appear around your profile picture, indicating to your audience that they can tap to view your Stories. TikTok stories allow you to see who has viewed your stories and who has reacted and commented. 

To create a Story, click on the Post button at the bottom of the navigation bar and swipe to the Story option. From there you can either record a video on the spot or upload one from your camera roll. Similar to regular TikTok videos, you can edit your stories, then tap the Post to story to upload.

There is no doubt that TikTok is the app to be on. Whether you're building a brand or making a community, taking advantage of all the amazing features is going to help you get to where you strive to be. Check out these examples from five brands that are killing it on TikTok.

Looking for a way to help your business's TikTok thrive? Connect with us by sending a message below!

Think Outside The Box: 3 Social Media Strategies to Increase Engagement

Social media is no longer optional -- it's necessary.

When it comes to social media, you'll either have a lot of success engaging with customers, or little results for content you thought would thrive. But as long as you're posting, your social media will excel, right? It's not always that simple. Sometimes you have to look outside the box to find a strategy that works. Here are 3 tactics to help increase engagement on your social media.

Explore the World of Reddit AMA 

When you think of Reddit, what do you think of? Internet trolls? Know-it-alls? What a lot of companies might not realize is that Reddit's AMA (Ask Me Anything) is an easy resource that, when used correctly, can actually help your business develop an identity through community and dive into some pretty interesting and fun conversations. 

Now, you might be asking, how? Well, the key is to pitch your topic as being deserving of an AMA. A lot of the time you'll find actors, musicians, politicians, scientists, and celebrity figures hosting AMAs, but it's pretty common for regular users to host as well. 

For example, in this AMA from 2015 a small business owner left his job to develop his own software company. While that might not be as captivating as someone like Elon Musk hosting an AMA, there is a huge audience on the platform who are dying to read and listen to stories about regular folks who have riveting stories to share. Promoting your AMA's on socials could bring in interested users / potential customers and allow them the opportunity to ask questions about you or your business.

Learn the Art of GIFs and Memes.

Unless you've been living under a rock since 2012, you should know that GIFs and memes have become the language of the modern internet. So how do we implement this phenomenon in a way that feels relatable to your audience instead of cringey?

First, you have to understand your audience. Are you trying to appeal to one generation or multiple? Not every type of humor is going to connect with all generations, so you should make sure you know who your GIF or meme is meant to target. 

Secondly, know what kind of GIF/meme you want to make. 

Traditional: GIF/Memes are common memes you see when scrolling through social media. They usually contain mainstream images or clips from a scene from a television show or movie, a notable celebrity, images of animals, or a viral image. They often connect to the latest popular trends, hot topics of conversation, and even current events.

Dank: GIF/Memes involve outlandish or out-of-context jokes that walk the line of dark and light humor. Dank memes tend to parody traditional memes by applying them in a way that's new and a little unorthodox. Dying or out-of-date memes are often chosen to fulfill this role. 

Edgy: Edgy GIF/Memes usually entail dark humor that is designed to push social norms and shock its audiences.

Wholesome: Wholesome GIF/Memes tend to be less about humor and instead focus on a positive and uplifting message.

Finally, it's time to design your GIF/Meme. There are hundreds of websites that make it easy to design and create GIFs and Memes. A lot of GIF/Meme design websites such as Giphy.com or Imgflip.com are free to use and already have preloaded templates for users to edit and re-word however they want. OR if you want to make your own meme from scratch, they also provide users with the resources to turn their photos and videos into the next viral trend! (Here's to hoping right? 🤞)

Take advantage of Poll features.

One of Twitter and LinkedIn's underused features is Polls. 

Polls are a quick and easy way to get followers to engage and interact with your company (not to mention a way for you to get insight on your industry). The options are endless. Some creative uses include letting followers make decisions for you, voting on an item to go on sale, or asking opinions on current events occuring in the industry. 

And the even better part? POLLS GENERATE COMMENTS! Everyone has an opinion, so if you manage to ask the right question, followers and even non-followers will likely be influenced to explain why they voted the way they did, present you with detailed information, and open up conversations on the topic at hand. No matter the industry, polls are the way to go.

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

Bop or Flop? - YouTube Shorts

Imitation is the best flattery, and it's no secret that social media platforms love to imitate each other. As soon as a new, innovative app or feature is introduced, the rest of the platforms are on it like hawks 👀 

One example is the rise of TikTok and the subsequent push toward short-form video that has ensued across the rest of the social media world. 

Stay tuned for a blog post on the strategy and psychology behind that phenomenon. For now, we're exploring whether YouTube Shorts have been successful for creators and companies, in order to make the ultimate ruling: bop or flop.

Bop (and Flop?): The algorithm

Let's just dive right into the good stuff: how well does the Shorts algorithm work? Shorts were only introduced in the U.S. in 2021, so there isn't much concrete data yet on their performance, but there are some sources we can take a look at.

According to a July 2022 video from YouTube's Creator Insider channel, the platform says they researched differences in performance between channels that only made long-form content and channels that made both long-form content and Shorts. They found that channels that made both were actually growing faster.

The demand for short-form video has been on the rise over the last three years, but is it only creating surface-level success for creators and brands?

A Reddit thread from March of 2022 asks users, What has been your experience with YouTube Shorts? Commenters say they occasionally get quick viral views on their Shorts, but it doesn't lead to a reliable increase in subscribers. A few users say they've had great experiences with creating Shorts, but most are dissatisfied. 

And actually, looking back to the Creator Insider video, there are also many comments from creators saying that Shorts have actually hurt their channels. Here's one from Cinecom.net, a channel with over 2.4 million subscribers.

Flop: 60-second limit

With the Instagram Reels limit of 90 seconds and the TikTok limit of 10 minutes, only allowing 60-second videos on Shorts can be a bit of a drawback. It's still short-form content that will keep people engaged, but 60 seconds goes fast when you're creating the video. It's very possible that YouTube will increase the length in the near future, but until then, creators will have to remain a little limited with time.

Bop: Monetization

YouTube is giving 45% of ad revenue right back to creators. 

It was just recently announced that starting early next year, Shorts will be a part of the YouTube Partner Program, meaning those who qualify will get a chunk of the ad revenue from Shorts. 

In order to qualify, creators must have at least 1,000 subscribers and either 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days or 4,000 total long-form watch hours. For creators who don't qualify, YouTube is creating tipping and paid membership features.

Flop: Changes to the interface

Lastly, adding Shorts to the YouTube app has significantly changed the interface and user experience. The Shorts tab has now taken the place of the Explore tab, which allowed users to discover recommended videos and see the current trending videos. The Explore page still exists, but it isn't as easy to find.

A side note also related to interface: the Shorts creator seems to have many of the same features and abilities as TikTok and Reels, including the option to add trending sounds and songs to your video. We'll call that a mini bop.

At the end of the day, some users might seem disillusioned by their Shorts experiences, but if you're a creator or brand already creating consistently on YouTube, why not experiment? There are always engagements and impressions to be gained from video content, and short-form video is undoubtedly here to stay.

If you're having trouble navigating the world of short video, reach out to us below to learn how we can work together! And let us know in the comments: what do you think of YouTube Shorts?

Does Taking a Political Stand on Social Media Increase Engagement?

Data and surveys indicate that engaging with politics on social media can increase engagement with your brand--but your product and business model, what consumers may consider political or not, and target audiences are all vital considerations before devising a strategy.

The Numbers

While finding data specifically on how political speech affects brand engagement on social media may be tricky, statistics about brands and political speech in general are abundant and can applied confidently to social media.

Political speech and tapping into conversations or movements using hashtags will likely increase engagement rate (ER) on social media. In 2020, political pages had the highest engagement rate per post on both Facebook and Twitter out of 35 total industries and carried the third-highest ER on Instagram. 

Studies from multiple sources suggest that consumers are open to, even expectant of, brands engaging politically. A survey from SAP revealed 63% of consumers prefer to purchase gifts from brands that support specific social positions. A study from Sprout Social contended that 66% of consumers wanted brands to take public stands on political issues. Interestingly, these trends are reflected in consumers' opinions of companies that sell consumer goods and staples: polling in 2020 showed that 68% of Americans wanted consumer brands to engage specifically with social issues. And 58% of consumers are most receptive to brands communicating social and political positions on social media, the highest percentage of 11 mediums polled.

Surveys show that liberal and left-leaning audiences are more likely than conservative or right-leaning audiences to think positively of brands aligning with political and social movements.

What This Means

These numbers indicate that your audience is likely to be open to your brand taking a political stance on social media. If your target is predominantly left-leaning or Gen-Z, they may even be looking for your brand to engage politically and express its values.

So...what kinds of things count as "politics"?

What do audiences consider political speech? What constitutes "taking a stand"?

Voting is a key pillar of the American political process, and encouraging audiences to vote garners bipartisan support. Users across the political and age spectrum approve Get Out the Vote campaigns from nearly every brand on social media. According to Morning Consult, 46% of consumers viewed more favorably companies that got involved with voter registration efforts, and 58% viewed more favorably companies that gave employees Election Day off of work. These trends will likely extend to brands that encourage voting on social media. 

Urging your audience to engage with the electoral process, offering reminders to vote, or even rewards and incentives to do so is generally viewed as a brand performing its civic duty and received favorably by consumers.

Source: Sprout Social

What is the nature of your brand?

The focus of your brand or business may also help determine what kind of and how much political speech your audience will support. 

Suppose you are, for example, a small business making social media content raising awareness of legislative initiatives that affect your business. In that case, this will likely be accepted by your customers and audience, with the potential to increase engagement and drive users to support your cause. The Right to Repair movement, for instance, and its importance for small electronic repair and retail is a prime example. A brand related to aquatic sports or outdoor adventures may logically support environmental causes and conservation initiatives.

If legislation will affect your business or industry, sharing your opinions, increasing awareness, and even mobilizing users will all likely be viewed as appropriate, rather than divisive, by your existing audience.

Who is your audience?

As mentioned above: younger and/or left-leaning users tend to view brands that engage politically more favorably than brands that do not. Many older and/or right-leaning users are indifferent about brands engaging politically - a minority even view engaged brands less favorably. 

Use analytics to determine your audience's demographics on various social media platforms to help decipher how much you stand to gain (or lose) by aligning your brand with a cause or movement.

The Bottom Line

Taking a stand politically will likely increase your brand's engagement rate on social media.

However, there is such a thing as bad publicity in this circumstance.

When your brand takes a political stand on social media, it may endear some users and alienate others. When, where, and how to align your brand with a political movement should be influenced by your audience and the nature and values of your brand.

Need help crafting a social media strategy that promotes your business and also takes a stand on social issues? Shoot us a message below!

How to Talk to Your Kids About Social Media: A Complete Guide

Given the (oftentimes) negative nature of social media and the dangerous challenges that go viral on occasion, parents may find themselves dwelling more on the relationship between their children and social media.

Social media platforms including Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and numerous others are here to stay. Finding consistent, constructive, and respectful ways to talk about social media with your children is paramount to keeping them safe online now and throughout the rest of their lives.

The Pros of Social Media for Your Children

Social media is a powerful tool for children and teens to engage with the world.

It allows them to connect with friends they may not see every day, such as companions from summer camp, sports teams, or previous schools.

Social media can be inspiring: it introduces kids to cultures from around the world, professions, and interests they may not have otherwise come across.

Social media can be nurturing: it allows children with niche interests and abilities to connect with kids just like them. Group cohesion and belonging become increasingly crucial to children as they grow into their teens. Social media allows young people to interact with and make friends based on shared knowledge.

However, social media often proves a double-edged sword. Its cons and pitfalls are serious and should be contemplated by parents.

The Cons of Social Media for Your Children

Some of the most common and pressing concerns around social media and children include issues of privacy, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, self-esteem, drugs, permanent photos and screenshots, and predatory adults.

Although most social media websites have age restrictions, you may be surprised by how many underage users are secretly on the sites. According to a 2017 UK study, 23% of children ages 8-11 reported having their own social media profile, despite the minimum age for most sites being 13. Social media users reached 74% in the 12-15 age group. While based on British children, those numbers are likely similar in the United States. Changing a birthdate and using a parent's email may be easier for your child than you suspect.

Once on an app, kids may accidentally put themselves at risk.

For example, kids may readily share pictures of themselves. As a rule, photos shared through social media never truly disappear. Other users can easily take screenshots of images on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, leading to personal photos being circulated perpetually, which children and teens may not realize.

Young people may also readily share personal information such as their address, full name, school, or even medical or mental ailments in their online bios, in messages, or accidentally through photos or videos.

Inappropriate content such as violent or adult images can be shared easily through social media. Even when media isn't necessarily problematic, it often has adverse effects on children's mental health. According to data recently leaked to the Wall Street Journal, 32% of teen girls reported that Instagram exacerbated their body-image issues. Other studies have linked disordered eating and negative body image to social media usage in young people - although it is essential to note that this is only a correlation, and causation isn't clear.

Your children or young adults may not consider that there are people online who mean genuine harm. TikTok's recent transparency report, for example, revealed that 41% of their removed videos were flagged for violating minor safety guidelines, containing elements like child grooming, sexually explicit content, or underage substance consumption.

Social Media is Here to Stay

The aforementioned dangers of social media can feel scary and overwhelming for parents. The cons might seem to outweigh the pros, and it may feel like the best decision to protect your child by preventing them from using these apps at all.

However, the reality is that your children will likely want to have a relationship with social media, just as you do. Simply forbidding your children from using social media may result in them using it secretly, which increases the possibility of negative or harmful experiences.

The good news is that the potential dangers of social media can be significantly mitigated by communicating with and supervising your children.

How to Keep Your Kids Safe on Social Media

Consider the following when devising strategies to protect your children from the downsides of social media:

Supervise

Familiarize yourself with the apps on your children's devices and make it clear you need to approve additional apps before they're downloaded. This can be ensured by using parental controls on your child's device.

Carefully review the settings for each app, both in-app and on the device”many have privacy settings that can be enabled, location services that can be turned off, and additional restrictions. There are additional apps available that allow you to more closely supervise your child's activity, such as Net Nanny or Bark, which can even scan messages sent to or from your child's device.

It is important to note that as your children grow, their need for privacy and boundaries will naturally increase”supervision apps and software are better suited for young children and have the potential to foster resentment and distrust among older teens.

Check out these great articles from Common Sense Media about parenting and social media: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/social-media.

Do Your Due Diligence

Research each app, even briefly, to understand what your child may access and what it is. For example, your kid may be excited to install a new game and neglect to tell you it is an online game that features chat or private messages. Take time to explore the app after the installation and check in every six months or so for updates or changes.

Set Strong Boundaries

Limit the amount of time your kids can use social media each day, and be clear about rules on usage. For example, will it be a rule that you can only friend or follow people you know in real life? Communicate consequences and enforce them when rules are broken. Appropriate consequences may include reduced screen time, removal of devices for a period of time, or increased adult supervision.

Discuss and decide on social media rules as a family, with input from your children, to make them feel respected, part of the conversation, and therefore more likely to commit to and understand the agreed-upon restrictions. Children and teens may even set their own boundaries, such as not having parents comment on their posts or tag them in photos, which can be taken into account.

Model Behavior

Children and teens are highly sensitive to hypocrisy and often have strong senses of fairness. Model good social media behavior by being conscientious of your own media usage and your presence online. By practicing what you preach, your children will be more apt to respect your rules and follow your good example.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Social Media

Begin discussing social media and social media safety with your children from a young age, perhaps even before they truly begin using it. If you personally do not begin this conversation with your child, it is likely they will learn about social media from their peers, who may be sorely misinformed or unaware themselves.

It is key to foster a non-judgmental space for communication around social media. Ask your children questions about why they want to use specific apps, or what they hope to get out of them. Be curious about their world and allow them to tell you about it. This can establish yourself as a trusted ally rather than purely a policing presence. Your children will feel more comfortable coming to you with questions, confusion, or anxiety about their experiences online.

However, creating a non-judgmental, communicative space around social media doesn't mean an absence of rules or enforcement thereof. Consistently enforced and clearly delineated rules are not mutually exclusive to strong communication between parents and children.

Finally, nurture a sense of good social media stewardship and encourage your children to practice empathy online by not leaving mean comments on others' posts.

Soliciting an open dialogue about social media with your child and truly listening to them, even from a young age, will create an environment where they trust and confide in you and are significantly more likely to take your rules and recommendations to heart. Remain flexible, diligent, and open-minded as your child grows to help foster their social media skills and keep them safe for years to come.

Have any questions? We're here to help! Reach out to us below.

Sizing Best Practices for Social Media

When it comes to social media, size does, in fact, matter!

We at Random have assembled specific recommendations for size, resolution, and more for Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and TikTok.

Bear in mind, these platforms are constantly evolving and changing under our feet. We'll update this helpful collection as platforms shift“check in every six months or so to ensure your posts are up-to-date!

Instagram

Everything shared to Instagram will need to be 1080 pixels across - height will vary! Although landscape images can be shared to Instagram, we advise against it - square or portrait is the way to go. Instagram users are typically on mobile, and the goal is to fill as much of their screen as possible with your content. Vertical and square images accomplish that better than landscape!

For in-feed video, the maximum time limit is 60 seconds. When sharing to IGTV, it's another story. Videos can be much longer, but many of the same visual rules still apply: vertical is best!

For Reels, 15-60 second video is preferred. A vertical ratio of 9:16 is recommended, but remember: with Reels, Instagram's UX and interface will take up unexpected space! Due to comments, text, and other features, the safe zone for Reels is smaller than you may think: instead of 1080 x 1920 px, it's actually just 1010 x 1280 px. To be clear: your whole video can and should be 1080 x 1920, but remember that the most important content should be close to the center of the screen. The very bottom and top will be obstructed!

TikTok

TikTok videos should be 1080p, 287.6 MB maximum file size, up to 10 minutes long. While posting a still image to TikTok is not only inadvisable, but impossible, sharing slideshows, animated photos, or photo montages are all options (but video content will likely get you higher engagement). Image size can be 1080 x 1920 px max.

Bear in mind that, like Instagram Reels, a lot of your video will be covered by TikTok's UX on the very bottom, top, and right of the screen. Users will still be able to see the entirety of the video on their screen, but key information and visuals should be focused on the very center of your content.

Facebook

Facebook users are on both mobile and desktop, so the best image format is vertical. Remember that Facebook tends to push video content over still images!

Video should be 1080p, 1GB maximum and no longer than 20 minutes. Landscape, portrait, and square video can all be shared, but again, vertical is best for both desktop and mobile purposes.

Stories can be shared simultaneously to Instagram and Facebook, which is convenient! Same size as Instagram: they can be still or video, 1080 x 1920, 20 seconds maximum per frame. Reels can also be shared from Instagram to Facebook for additional content.

Twitter

Like Instagram, the name of the game for Twitter is vertical or square - for still images only. Unlike Instagram, you can share GIFs to Twitter, and square or horizontal is preferred for video. Videos can be a maximum of 10 minutes long on Twitter.

Twitter supports multi-image posts, but you cannot control the cropping of those images in their thumbnails - be mindful of accidental poor cropping or display when sharing multiple photos.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is similar to Facebook in many respects. Vertical images tend to be best, and videos are limited to 10 minutes or less.

YouTube

Horizontal video reigns supreme on Youtube. Aim for 1920 x 1080 px, 1080p. Thumbnails for videos should be 1280 x 720 px. 12 hours is the maximum length of any Youtube video.

Upload your own thumbnail for Youtube videos, rather than using a still from your footage “ it'll garner more attention and interest. Include eye-catching colors, an image of your main subject, and a short piece of text, either a quote from your video or a shortened version of the title.

Want help crafting the best-looking posts possible on your socials? Reach out to us below!

Meet Casey, Our Newest Social Media Specialist

Say hi to Casey, Random Agency's newest Social Media Marketing Specialist! 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?

I chose Random Agency because I wanted to grow with a company that would provide me with the creative freedom, support, and skills I need to thrive.

Tell us three cool things about yourself.

I play video games, I golf, and I enjoy hammocking.

Favorite TV show?

Avatar the Last Airbender.

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

If money was no object I would go to Japan and experience the colorful and beautiful food and culture. You can experience the traditional architecture or explore the modernized technological advances that they have woven in with their restaurants and stores. There are so many things to see and do so I'd want to make sure to spend a long period of time visiting.

What's in your refrigerator right now?

My first attempt at homemade salsa.

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

Telekinesis so I could make things move and lift anything with my mind (including myself so technically I could also have the power to fly). It's 2 powers in one.

What's your favorite childhood memory?

Playing in the backyard with my brother and friends.

Name one thing you wish you could do better.

Play piano. Once you learn how to play piano a lot of instruments become much easier to understand.

Which three things would you take to a desert island?

Practically a knife, a tent, and a fishing pole so I can survive long enough to escape...

What is the last book you read?

The Rise of Kyoshi

What is your favorite account to follow on Instagram?

@rydelfunk. She's a bubbly and positive Youtuber that always brings a light to my day.

What Social Media Activism Means for Businesses

In today's digital age, social media has more power to conceive, grow, and mobilize entire social and political movements than ever before. 

With the digital landscape evolving in size and influence, individuals, organizations, and entire movements are utilizing social media to spread their message and demand change. Social media activism has become a core tenant to the online experience, for better or for worse. 

The Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate movements, the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ legistlation have found footing and support on the digital plains of social media. Activists are taking over the digital space to cultivate awareness, organize protests, and hold individuals and businesses accountable.

So what does this social media activism mean for businesses?

Brands are scared of offending current and potential customers, but research shows that consumers, especially Millennials and younger generations, want to know what their chosen businesses believe in. 

90% of consumers state that authenticity is important in deciding which businesses to support, according to a recent survey by Stackla. Shared values are an increasingly important factor in consumer relations and loyalty, so customers are looking at businesses' reactions to social movements and controversies even more closely. Below are some examples of how large corporations have responded to the rise in digital activism.

The National Football League

The NFL's statement following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd was received as hollow and hypocritical. The organization has a history of unfair treatment towards their players and staff of color. After kneeling during the national anthem in protest against social injustice, Colin Kaepernick faced extreme backlash and a bona-fide ex-communication from the organization.  

Target

Target put out a statement after a Minnesota location was looted. The statement mentions a community in pain, instead going in depth concerning the damage of one of their stores. They talk in vague strokes and never explicitly state they are talking about the Black community. 

Glossier

Glossier released a statement outlining their support for the BLM movement and the steps they would take to support their workers, including donating $1 million towards racial justice causes. However, ex-Glossier workers describe the company as failing their Black employees.

Ben and Jerry's

Ben and Jerry's speaks on and participates extensively in social and political issues. They have a dedicated page on their website that calls for the dismantling of white supremacy and extensively outlines a history of systemic opression and violence against the Black community. They call upon others and themselves to work together in the fight for justice. The founders themselves participated in BLM protests, with their arrests going viral on social media. 

The Lesson Here...

Silence on social matters is becoming less and less of an option, but some statements end up doing more harm than good. When companies speak in vague terms, without acknowledgement of their past and promise of concrete steps forward, they present as inauthentic. Their posts embody a certain level of performative activism. Customers will know if your actual business goals and practices do not align with what you are posting.

Woke language and well-placed hashtags alone are not enough to mask hypocritical behavior. Authenticity demands action, and action demands effort. Past shortcomings or mistakes when it comes to diversity and inclusion aren't necessarily grounds for eternal ˜cancelling.' Rather, they demand genuine efforts to re-learn and repair.

Some businesses favor silence over taking specific sides on social justice issues or political controversies. However, silence is still a statement. Silence can be seen as acceptance, complacency, or a disguise for shady corporate actions. 

Bank of America predicts that Gen-Z is one of the fastest-growing consumer groups, with incomes estimated to surpass those of Millennials within a decade. Gen-Z is more ethnically and racially diverse than previous generations, with increasingly liberal social and political ideals. This combination of ideals with increasing spending power and social media has shaped and continues to shape a new generation of consumers. 

We must acknowledge that, yes, profit can be made from staying silent or speaking out about social issues. Aligning corporate values with customer beliefs is often carefully planned to increase connection, loyalty, and a strategy that marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Americus Reed, calls a form of values and identity-driven marketing. 

But profit should not be the only driving factor in the fight for social justice. Consumers are smart. In particular, Gen-Z consumers are skeptical of businesses' abilities to act in society's best interests, more likely to trust demonstrable actions of the company and its employees. That is to say, you can't bullshit activism.

Authenticity demands action, and action demands effort.

The Bottom Line

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for businesses wondering how to interact and engage with social movements. What's best for your business depends on intent, authenticity, and action-backed statements. It's not enough to write buzzword-filled press statements and social media posts. 

Not all businesses have to engage with social or political issues. But if your company profits heavily off the inventions, work, or culture of people of color, you have increased obligations to speak and act with intention and integrity for minority communities.

More generally, how do you, as a company, genuinely stand behind and support the movements sweeping across the country? How can and will you financially, socially, physically, and emotionally support these communities, within and beyond your company's walls?

Supporting one thing or another will inevitably result in some level of consumer dissatisfaction. Then again, what's new? You can never truly please every single one of your customers, so you may as well support civil rights in the meantime. 

If you decide to, speak up and speak out not for profit, but out of a moral obligation to leave this world more aware, more inclusive, and more accepting than you found it.

Want to learn more about how to support communities your business serves? We're here to help! Reach out to us below.

How to Use Social Media for Hiring

When seeking new employees, sharing open positions on classified pages, Glassdoor, Monster, and other job boards are obvious first steps. Increasingly, however, brands and small businesses are finding success seeking new team members through social media.

According to recent surveys conducted by Glassdoor and Monster, 84% of employers are already using social media as a recruitment tool, and 85% of employers have found that social media helps them connect with passive job seekers.

LinkedIn remains the social media giant of the hiring process“but many businesses find additional success cross-posting on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other mediums.

How can you leverage your social media presence to recruit the best candidates possible?

1. Create eye-catching graphics.

Share the news that you're hiring across all your social media channels! Link out to the full information about qualifications, benefits, and application portals - a social media post is an opportunity to garner interest, attention, and share a few enticing tidbits about the position, rather than a place to share all relevant legal information.

2. Connect with your current employees.

Build your company's network by connecting with your employees, with their consent, across platforms. Encourage your employees (especially if they love working with you!) to share your hiring post on their channels, and to even add their own opinions and testimonials. You can incentivize employees with rewards for sharing or producing leads. 

3. Utilize video content.

Give potential new team members a video tour of your company, process, and introduce them to your current crew. Video content, statistically, performs well across social media platforms. Are you a young company? Fast-paced? Hands-on? Use video content to help develop your company identity so potential employees know exactly what you're about, and so you can attract the right talent. Check out an example from KO Studio on TikTok below.

4. Highlight your company's strengths.

What are aspects of your employee experience, company ethos, or workplace culture of which you're particularly proud? Highlight them on social media! Many young employees are looking not only for a company to pay them well, but for a company to offer benefits, healthy work culture, and perks. Share your company's best features across platforms.

Whether you're actively hiring or open to passive job seekers, building your company's social media presence will help generate leads and connect you to the best people for the job!

Curious about increasing your business's social presence? That Random Agency is here to help. Shoot us a message below!