The Do's and Don'ts of Pride Month Marketing

Celebrating Pride Month in the digital world: Many companies have gotten it wrong (some VERY wrong), and others have nailed it. If you want to acknowledge and celebrate Pride in your brand's online content this month, here are the biggest do's and don'ts to remember.

Do go beyond the bare minimum. Don't treat it like a box to be checked off.

If your only plans for the month are to change your brand's profile pics to rainbow logos, try to go deeper. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:

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A post shared by Abercrombie & Fitch (@abercrombie)

One great example comes from Abercrombie & Fitch, who kicked off Pride Month early by announcing their donation to The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They also worked with LGBTQ+ talent for this content and launched a fashionable pride collection in partnership with The Trevor Project.

Do think outside of the box. Don't be boring. 

Pride is about expression. Have fun with your posts! Here are some more ideas to spark MORE creativity:

Your audience will notice if you treat Pride Month content like a box to check off (Cool, we made a pretty post with a rainbow, we're done). Authenticity goes a long way, and you don't want to come across as only fulfilling an obligation and nothing more. Put some effort in, y'all. Let's make this month's social media content a true celebration of the LGBTQ+ community!

Do be mindful of your representation. Don't be afraid to ask for help. 

An important part of creating Pride content on your brand's social media is being mindful of how you might be depicting LGBTQ+ individuals in your posts or ads. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you triple-check posts before hitting publish:

If you're in doubt, this is when it can come in handy to consult a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) expert in your organization or collaborate with LGBTQ+ members of your team and community.

Do have a community management plan. Don't let any hate win.

Unfortunately, now more than ever, celebrating Pride online can come with some backlash. It's good to have a plan for responding to any hateful comments that might appear on your posts this month. 

One strategy is to hide any and all derogatory comments. This strategy can work if your brand's values align more with creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ followers on your page. 

Another strategy is to respond to hateful comments. This can take more time and resources, but it can be worth it if your brand is focused on starting conversations and educating people. 
Check out more tips for community management during Pride Month here.

Do continue your efforts after June is over. Don't forget about inclusion year-round.

Many brands let themselves fall victim to this phenomenon. No, we're not saying brands need to keep a rainbow logo all year round. But diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts shouldn't be contained to one month per year. 

Some ideas for you: 

The point here is to really take time to acknowledge, celebrate, and welcome people from all communities and identities that may be in your audience online. 

More than ever, consumers are watching brands and expecting them to make clear stances on social causes. Brands and corporations have incredible power to influence and change the world for the better. That responsibility is one to be taken seriously. 

Happy Pride! 

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A Random Twitter Update - Recent Changes to the Platform

Twitter right now is kind of like that one freeway you drive on that's always under construction. No matter how much work is being done, it's hard to see an end in sight. And a lot has happened on Twitter since our last update.

Some of these updates might actually seem like good features, while others seem like an attempt to stay relevant (or make money). One thing is for sure: changes to Twitter will not be stopping anytime soon. Early last month, Elon Musk, current CEO of Twitter, announced that Linda Yaccarino, NBCUniversal's former advertising chief, would be Twitter's new CEO, while he would focus on product development. This gives Musk plenty of extra time to concoct new additions to the app.

But for the meantime, there's plenty of change to talk about. Read on for all the latest features and news surrounding the ever-evolving platform:

Video Updates

Musk has been talking about bolstering Twitter's video content for quite some time now, and the first few updates to support this goal have already been implemented.

One of the more significant updates was giving Twitter Blue subscribers the ability to upload videos up to two hours long on the app. For reference, free users can only upload videos up to 140 seconds long. This seems like an amazing feature, but time will tell if it's incentivizing enough for users to subscribe to Twitter Blue, which is an $8 per month subscription. Back in December, Twitter added hour-long uploads for Twitter Blue, and since then, only about 0.3% of Twitter users have subscribed to the exclusive service.

Other features that Twitter has implemented in an attempt to match other video-sharing platforms are video playback speed and picture-in-picture video playback (meaning you can keep watching a video while scrolling through the app). This means that you can watch clumsy cat videos and read up on celebrity feuds at the same time!

API Access

It seems as if Musk can't decide what he wants to do with the Twitter application programming interface (API). At first, Twitter announced that they would be cutting off all access to the API (which used to be completely free). This caused an uproar, so Musk changed his mind and instead offered tiered access to the API, where each tier gives different capabilities.

Naturally, this also caused an uproar (taking away something that once was free will do that) because this meant that third-party platforms like Sprout Social and Agorapulse would be paying a large fee to maintain their Twitter connection. A few apps have already fallen at the hand of the API restriction, including Twitteriffic and Tweetbot.

As of right now, these are the current access tiers that Twitter has in place:

DM Updates

One of Musk's major initiatives with Twitter has involved improving security for its users. Seems like a worthy mission for a platform that has been exploited in the past. This goal has resulted in Twitter launching encrypted direct messages. Or at least, trying to launch direct messages. 

Here's what Musk tweeted when encrypted messages were released:

Seems like something you wouldn't want to hear when launching a security measure! Encrypted direct messages would ensure that users have full privacy control over their DMs and won't have to worry about info being shared with Twitter. Here's the predictable catch: only verified users can encrypt their DMs. Shoulda seen it coming.

Advertising Updates

Incentive to subscribe to Twitter Blue seems to be a theme for a lot of these updates. As of April 21, running ads on Twitter is now a feature only available to paying users, or those who are verified by other means. 

Here's the official notice that pop-ups on the Twitter ads dashboard:

This update might mean nothing for those already exceeding $1,000 in ad spend, but it means extra costs for those who rely on Twitter for advertising.

Other Notable Updates:

While these new changes might be exciting to some, a new study shows that 25% of users don't see themselves using Twitter 12 months from now. Will any of these new updates entice users to stay with the iconic app, or will more tweeters start to jump ship? 

Wanting your brand to stay on top of social media trends? Shoot us a message to see how we can help!

Why Do Social Media Platforms Copy Each Other?

It's not uncommon to find similarities between various platforms in the dynamic world of social media. From layout and design to features and functionality, social media platforms frequently seem to copy one another. But why? To find an answer, we are going to look at some of the primary reasons for this trend, as well as examine its effects on the digital world.

  1. User Familiarity and User Experience

The main reason social media platforms resemble one another is to provide consumers with a familiar experience. Users feel more comfortable and the learning curve is reduced when a new platform incorporates features that have already proven successful on another platform. If users are already accustomed to the features and characteristics of their preferred social media platforms, they can rapidly adapt to the new one. By reducing complexity and ensuring a smooth transition, platforms can secure new users more effectively. 

  1. Competitive Advantage

In the fiercely competitive social media world, platforms constantly seek ways to gain an edge over their competitors. Copying successful features from competitors can be a strategic move to capture a larger user base. By incorporating popular features, platforms aim to retain existing users and attract those who are looking for similar functions. For example, Instagram's introduction of Stories, which were first made popular by Snapchat, helped Instagram maintain its position as a leading platform and drew users away from its competitors.

  1. Market Validation

Creating a new feature requires significant resources, time, and effort. By observing and copying features that have proven successful on other platforms, social media companies can leverage market validation. If a particular feature is well-received on one platform, it suggests that users are interested in that functionality, reducing the risk associated with innovation. For instance, TikTok's skyrocketing popularity demonstrated the immense appeal of short videos, prompting other platforms like Instagram and YouTube to introduce similar features such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. By implementing features that have already been validated, platforms can focus on refining the execution rather than reinventing the wheel.

  1. User Expectations and Trends

Social media platforms are under constant pressure to live up to user expectations and keep up with the emerging trends. Users often desire similar experiences across several platforms to maintain a consistent digital presence. If a new platform fails to offer features that are popular on existing platforms, it risks being perceived as outdated or irrelevant. This is evident in the case of Vine, a once popular short-form video platform that failed to adapt to the evolving social media landscape. With the rise of platforms like Instagram and Youtube, which capitalized on the demand for short video content, Vine's inability to incorporate additional features ultimately led to its decline and eventual shutdown. This serves as a compelling example of the importance of adapting to trends and implementing features that resonate with users to maintain relevance in the social media ecosystem.

  1. Monetization Strategies

Social media platforms rely largely on advertising revenue and user engagement metrics. By duplicating successful features, platforms can tap into established monetization strategies. For instance, Facebook capitalized on the increased interest in real-time interactive content when it introduced live video streaming. With the help of this feature, advertisers and influencers had a great opportunity to monetize their video by including sponsorships and advertisements.

Facebook gave businesses and influencers a platform to reach a highly engaged audience while content creators could make money and form profitable partnerships by facilitating the seamless integration of promotional content within live streams. Platforms can create opportunities for both users and advertisers, attracting more investment and increasing profit.

Due to the competitive nature of the digital market and the goal to provide consumers with a seamless experience, social media companies are increasingly mimicking one another. Although some would claim that it hinders innovation, the approach has many benefits, as noted above. In the near future, we can anticipate more replication, adaptation, and invention as the social media world continues to change. This will eventually influence how social interaction and digital communication will develop in the coming years. 

Looking to optimize your digital marketing to boost your business? Our social media experts are ready to help! Chat with us below

Balancing Personal Social Media as a Social Media Manager

If you've grown up with social media, you may be unfazed by the countless notifications that you receive throughout the day. Seamlessly moving from platform to platform and learning the latest features is something that comes naturally to you, and you enjoy connecting with your friends, family, or whoever you may meet. But the social media space has become flooded with brands, creators, and celebrities, all the while creating more career opportunities to work within the industry at your 9 to 5. If you're one of those people (a.k.a. us), you may love your career in social media but find it overwhelming to scroll after hours. We're here to help you understand what you can do to save your relationship with social media and how to balance the personal and professional sides of it. 

Set Time Limits

One feature available to smartphone users is the ability to set time limits on individual apps and your phone altogether. Whether you need to limit certain apps such as TikTok (we're all guilty of the doom scroll, it's okay), or you need a scheduled break, your smartphone's got your back. If you have an iPhone, visit your settings and find the Screen Time feature; Android users can discover the Digital Wellbeing feature. When you set a time limit, you'll receive notifications letting you know when you've reached your max. Take this as you need it! Setting boundaries is great; knowing your limits can benefit your mental health. 

Reduce Notifications

Reevaluate the notifications that you feel are worth popping up on your lock screen. With so many apps on our phones, the amount of notifications we receive each day can quickly become overwhelming. The good news is you have a few options when it comes to which notifications are worth your attention. There are plenty of options when it comes to limiting your notifications, including how they are displayed on your lockscreen, to how you receive them for individual apps. Take a minute to go through your settings and decide which display is right for you.

Focus Mode

This is a great feature for a variety of circumstances. To silence your phone in a meeting, throughout the workday, putting your phone down for some R&R, or for whichever reason you need, the Focus or Do Not Disturb feature is a viable option. Most smartphones have a Do Not Disturb feature available to you that temporarily shuts off any and all notifications, texts, calls, etc. Don't want to turn everything off? No worries! You can make exceptions if you need to, but this is a great feature to utilize when you don't want to be bothered by a buzz or a ding. You can even let your contacts see when your phone is on Do Not Disturb (transparency at its finest!). We're huge advocates for this feature; just ask our Social Media Specialists. 

Make Your Personal Feed Personal

Want your personal feed to be something you value? Reevaluate the accounts follow. If your professional feed is something you can continue to gain inspiration from, keep up with the latest news, discover other brands, and then keep it to your workself. Think about making your personal feed, well, personal. Consider designating your following to friends, family, and other accounts that bring positivity into your life. This technique can help you better your relationship with social media outside of your career and contribute to the work-life balance we all strive for.

Pro tip: Create an account just for the 9 to 5 you! 

We hope these tips will help all our social media professionals improve their relationships with social media after hours.

5 Ways YouTube Shorts Can Grow Your YouTube channel.

Do you ever feel like your YouTube channel is stuck in a virtual traffic jam, with no hope of ever reaching its destination? You're posting quality content, but you get the same pity comments from friends and family members on every video.

Smartphone with YouTube Shorts loading.

Well, worry not, because in this blog post, we're going to be exploring YouTube Shorts and how they can help you break free from the gridlock and accelerate your channel's growth. YouTube Shorts are short-form, vertical video content that resembles and rivals Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Reach New Audiences

Utilizing YouTube Shorts will unlock a whole new demographic of viewers - one that still values quality, but appreciates short-form and highly consistent content.

Since Shorts are easy to consume, the content reach is significantly different from regular, long-form YouTube videos. Additionally, shorter-form content has a higher tendency to be shared, helping to attract new viewers to your channel. With YouTube Shorts, you no longer have to rely on the YouTube search bar for people to find your content. In fact, according to Pierce Vellucci, A YouTube Product Manager, Shorts get recommended based on a user's watch history and their engagement with different accounts.

Promote Regular Channel Content

YouTube Shorts is a great tool to promote your regular channel content. Think of YouTube Shorts as a teaser trailer for your longer-form content.

Let's say you're a fitness influencer with a YouTube channel. You could create a 30-second Short that highlights one specific exercise or move, with a call-to-action (CTA) encouraging viewers to check out your longer workout videos for a full routine. Additionally, you could include a CTA asking viewers to subscribe to your channel for more fitness content, helping to grow your audience and brand.

Repurpose Regular Channel Content

Any time you post a long-form video on your YouTube channel, it's an opportunity for you to repurpose that content into shorter-form bits for YouTube Shorts. You can take a snippet or highlight from your longer video and create a short clip that showcases the most exciting or interesting part. This could be a key point you made, a funny moment, or a visually stunning shot. Here an example of long-form content being repurposed into a Short from Wired:

It's double the exposure for the price of one! What a deal, right? Plus, it gives new audiences on YouTube Shorts a taste of what your long-form videos are like.

Easily Jump on Trends

Following trends plays a huge role in growing your following on social media, and utilizing YouTube Shorts is a great way to do just that. When you participate in popular trends, you increase the likelihood of your content being shared and discovered by more people. By keeping up with the latest trends, you can showcase your brand's personality and creativity, while also building your audience and establishing yourself as a relevant creator in your niche.

But why do you need YouTube Shorts to do this? Well, as you probably already know, producing long-form YouTube videos often takes time and planning. Trends on social media sometimes live and die in just a few days. Because YouTube Shorts are easy to make and can be less-polished, it lends itself better to following trends in a timely manner.

Grow Monetization Opportunities

For creators, any new opportunity to make money on social media is good news. YouTube finally introduced monetization options for Shorts earlier this year through the YouTube Partner Program. By enabling ads to appear in-between their videos, creators can earn revenue from their Shorts content and boost their income stream. This is just one more way to bring in a few extra dollars on top of the revenue your channel might already be gaining.

Need help growing your social media presence? We're good at that. Shoot us a message today!

5 Unconventional Ways to Promote Your Podcast

It's no secret that the popularity of podcasts has risen in recent years, with millions of people tuning in to their favorites daily. But with so many podcasts available, it can be difficult to distinguish between the competition and entice new listeners. Despite their effectiveness, traditional marketing strategies like email blasts and social media promotion can occasionally fall short. So if you are stuck on how to make your podcast go viral, here are five unconventional strategies for podcast promotion that you might not have considered before.

Collaborate with other podcasters

  1. A great method to cross-promote your show is to collaborate with other podcasters in your niche. Connect with them and propose a joint episode or a guest appearance. You'll get access to a new group of listeners who may not have been familiar with your podcast otherwise.

Host a live event

  1. An excellent way to engage with your listeners and foster a sense of community around your podcast is to host live events. Try holding a meet-and-greet with your followers, a Q&A session with listeners, or a live recording of your show. Whether in-person or virtual, this could be a fantastic chance to interact more personally with your audience and even receive valuable feedback from them. 

Create a YouTube channel

  1. Since YouTube is a video-only platform, unlike podcasting, it can help you expand your audience. Experiment with creating brief video snippets of your podcast episodes, producing behind-the-scenes material, or recording guest interviews. This can be an effective method to advertise your show, helping you draw in listeners who spend more time on YouTube.

Leverage influencer marketing

  1. Influencer marketing has grown to be a popular strategy used by brands to reach new consumers. Finding influential people in your niche who have a sizable following can help you reach out to potential listeners. Start by contacting these individuals and asking them to promote your podcast to their audience. Offer them incentives and rewards like a commission or a guest appearance on your show. By collaborating with influential figures in your field, you can leverage their credibility and audience to increase traffic to your podcast.

Create a podcast trailer

  1. Crafting a podcast trailer is a terrific approach to getting the attention of potential listeners. A trailer is a brief introduction to your show that focuses on its distinguishing qualities and advantages. Think about producing an eye-and-ear-catching trailer that highlights your personality and the subjects you address. To draw in more listeners, you can share this on social media, your website, and other platforms.

Whether you try all or some of these ideas, promoting your podcast requires a little imagination and originality. You may expand your audience and draw in new listeners by utilizing collaborations, live events, YouTube channels, influencer marketing, and podcast trailers.  Keep in mind that marketing your podcast is a continuous process, so try out different approaches to see what works best for you.

We've got years of experience creating and promoting podcasts at Random, so let us help you! Send us a message below to learn how we can work together to boost your podcast. 

What to Know About Lemon8, the New App from TikTok's Parent Company

When life gives you lemons, make Lemon8? Today we're breaking down the details of the new photo and video lifestyle app Lemon8 from ByteDance, TikTok's parent company.

The history

ByteDance has recently been pushing Lemon8 in the U.S. and U.K., but it has existed in other countries like Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand since 2020. Some have speculated whether this push is just an attempt to distract from the U.S. Congress's current effort to ban TikTok. Whether the excitement is real or just a conspiracy (as one content creator has called it), it sure has gotten many people talking and downloading. 

At the time of writing, Lemon8 is the number one most downloaded lifestyle app in the App Store, just above Pinterest. The app has received around 16 million downloads worldwide, according to Apptopia, with Japan as its largest market. In the U.S., there are about 4 million active users. 

What's in the app? 

When you download the app, you're prompted to add your birthday and pronouns and then choose Interests. The options are pretty limited; you can choose from fashion, makeup, skincare, food, wellness, bags, accessories, travel, perfume, nail, home, and pets.

You can then create an account and set up your profile. Besides the feature of having both For You and Following pages, there aren't many direct similarities to TikTok. The interface is more similar to Pinterest, with a scrolling page of photos, carousels, and videos.

One eye-catching feature is the stylish text and stickers you can add to photos and videos in-app. After a quick scroll on the For You page, you can see tons of Get Ready With Mes, how-tos, recipes, and fashion inspo. Many posts include affiliate links and location tags. Like any social media platform, you can like, comment, share, and save.

There's also a search page that shows you Editor's Picks and the top trending hashtags. 

The app reminds us more of Pinterest than of TikTok, at least for now. The content is mostly lifestyle-inspired, lacking the newsworthy, humorous, random content that is abundant on TikTok. This may be the primary purpose of the app, drawing lifestyle lovers and creators from other platforms. In fact, Lemon8 is reportedly even paying content creators to post on Lemon8 if they follow guidelines like creating a set amount of posts in a month. 

Should brands join Lemon8?

While it seems the app hasn't gained enough traction or virality yet (even the top posts don't get much engagement), we see real potential for brands to join the app in the future. This could be a great place for clothing, makeup, skincare, and home brands to make their mark. 

Looking to level up your brand's social media game? We got you! Chat with our social media and marketing experts by contacting us below.

Get Influenced: Analyzing The Top Social Media Platforms For Each Generation

Casey Wright

April 2023

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It has changed the way we communicate, share information, and interact with each other. There are various social media platforms available today, and each platform has its own unique features and target audience. In this blog, we will explore which social media platforms are used most by each generation and the reasons behind their influence.

Generation Z (born between 1997-2012)

Generation Z is the youngest generation and the most tech-savvy. They have grown up with technology and have a strong presence on social media. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, the top social media platforms used by Generation Z are:

  1. TikTok - TikTok is a short-form video sharing app that allows users to create and share 15-second videos that are often accompanied by music. This format is particularly appealing to Generation Z, who have grown up with short attention spans and a preference for quick and easily digestible content. TikTok's algorithm is designed to show users content that is relevant to their interests. This means that users are constantly exposed to new and interesting content, which keeps them engaged and coming back for more. TikTok has a strong sense of community. Users can interact with each other through likes, comments, and shares, and there are many popular challenges and trends that users can participate in. 

This sense of community and belonging is particularly important to Generation Z, who are known for their social consciousness and desire to connect with others. Overall, TikTok's unique format, personalized content, sense of community, and emphasis on creativity and self-expression makes it the most influential platform for this young and vocal generation.

  1. Instagram - Instagram is a photo and video sharing app that allows users to share pictures and videos of their daily lives. This format is particularly appealing to Generation Z, who are known for their love of visual content and their desire to share their experiences with others. Instagram has a strong emphasis on aesthetics and creativity. Users can use a range of filters, editing tools, and hashtags to create unique and visually appealing content. This allows Generation Z to express themselves in new and exciting ways and to showcase their talents and creativity to a wider audience. 

The platform is constantly evolving and introducing new features and trends that allow Generation Z to stay up-to-date with social culture and to express themselves in new and exciting ways. Overall, Instagram's focus on visual content, creativity, community, dynamic features, and constant innovation has kept Gen Z engaged for over a decade.

Generation Y (born between 1981-1996)

Generation Y, also known as millennials, grew up during the rise of the internet and social media. They are comfortable with technology and are heavy users of social media. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, the top social media platforms used by Generation Y are:

  1. Facebook - Facebook was the first major social media platform that many millennials used and it has become a part of their daily lives. Many millennials have been using Facebook for over a decade, and it has become a way to stay in touch with friends and family members who are spread out across the country or the world. 

The platform's wide range of features, including messaging, groups, events, and pages allows millennials to connect with others who share their interests and to stay up-to-date with the latest news and events in their communities. Overall, Facebook's longevity, wide range of features, strong sense of community, emphasis on privacy and security, and diverse content has made it a hugely popular platform among millennials.

  1. Twitter - Twitter is a platform that allows users to express their thoughts and ideas in short, concise messages called tweets. This format is particularly appealing to millennials, who are known for their ability to communicate quickly and efficiently. Users can interact with each other through retweets, likes, and replies, and there are many popular hashtags and trends that users can participate in. 

The platform is widely used by journalists, politicians, and celebrities which has given the generation a way to digest local and world news beyond the traditional morning newspaper. Overall, Twitter's focus on concise messaging, community, real-time news and events, and diverse content makes it the perfect platform for Millennials.

Generation X (born between 1965-1980)

Generation X grew up during a time of rapid technological change. They are comfortable with technology but are not as heavily reliant on social media as younger generations. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, the top social media platforms used by Generation X are:

  1. Facebook - Many Gen Xers use Facebook to connect with old friends and classmates, as well as to participate in discussions and debates about topics that are important to them. This sense of community and belonging is particularly important to Gen Xers, who are often seeking to establish and maintain relationships.
  1. LinkedIn - LinkedIn is a platform that is specifically designed for professional networking. This is particularly important to Gen Xers, who are often in their peak career-building years and may be seeking new job opportunities, networking contacts, or industry insights. The platform has a strong emphasis on professionalism. 

Users are encouraged to create detailed profiles that highlight their education, work experience, and professional achievements. This allows Gen Xers to showcase their skills and expertise to potential employers or business partners. Overall, LinkedIn's focus on professional networking, emphasis on professionalism, wide range of features, strong sense of community, and educational content has made it a hit with Generation X.

  1. Pinterest - Pinterest is a platform that allows users to discover and save inspiration and ideas for a wide range of topics, including recipes, home decor, fashion, and travel. This is particularly appealing to Gen Xers, who are often seeking inspiration and new ideas for their personal lives and interests. 

The platform's highly visual and user-friendly interface allows users to easily create boards and save or organize pins in a way that is easy to navigate and share with others. Many Gen Xers use Pinterest to connect with others who share their interests and to discover new content through social sharing and collaboration. Overall, Pinterest's focus on inspiration and ideas, user-friendly interface, sense of community, diverse content, and emphasis on personalization has found its place in this generation of users.

Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964)

Baby Boomers grew up during a time when technology was not as prevalent as it is today. They are not as comfortable with technology as younger generations, but they are increasingly using social media to stay in touch with family and friends. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, the top social media platforms used by Baby Boomers are:

  1. Facebook - Facebook is one of the longest standing social media platforms, which has allowed time for older generations such as Boomers to learn and adapt with the platform more than others.  Boomers are often in a phase of life where their children have moved away from home or have friends or family members who live in different parts of the country of the world so being able to post life updates and stay connected has proven to be extremely beneficial to this generation of users. This sense of community and belonging is particularly important to Boomers, who may be seeking to establish new social connections as they enter retirement.
  1. YouTube - YouTube is a platform that offers a wide range of content, including music, news, educational videos, and entertainment. Boomers appreciate the diversity of content and the ability to explore new topics and interests. 

With the platform's user-friendly interface and the ability to easily search for educational content, Boomers enjoy taking advantage of lifelong learning content such as wealth resources, tutorials, and topic based podcasts. Overall, YouTube's diverse range of content, user-friendly interface, educational resources, sense of community, and personalization features have made it a hugely popular platform amongst Boomers.

Understanding the platforms your target audience uses is crucial for the success of your marketing campaigns. By knowing where your audience spends their time online, you can tailor your messaging, content, and advertising efforts to resonate with them. Each platform has its unique features, audience demographics, and communication styles. Therefore, adapting your strategy to match each platform's characteristics will help you engage your target audience and build a strong online presence. 

Additionally, understanding the platforms your audience uses will allow you to optimize your advertising budget and reach the right people at the right time. Overall, knowing your target audience's preferred platforms will help you create more relevant and effective campaigns that drive engagement, conversions, and brand loyalty.

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What Should I Post on LinkedIn? Engaging Post Formats to Try

LinkedIn is no longer a simple networking site where you only post when you're looking for a job. Today, in 2023, LinkedIn is used to share ideas, information, and useful content from all types of industry.

But with over 900 million users, posting on LinkedIn can be intimidating. New users often struggle figuring out what to post. If that's the case for you, we're here for you. Here are a few engaging post ideas to help you stand out!

Carousel Posts

Carousels work great on LinkedIn because it's a simple, digestible way to share your expertise on something. Not only are they simple to consume, but they're more interactive than a typical image post. LinkedIn influencers have been using carousels for a while now, but these posts are just as engaging as ever.

Carousels are a great way to showcase products, ideas, tips, and any other helpful information in a visual format.

Text-Only Listicles

Text-only posts have a huge impact on LinkedIn. Even in a world where videos and branded images are meant to catch our eye, text-only posts seem to perform very well on LinkedIn. Maybe it's because these posts seem more authentic and intimate to audiences.

Whatever the reason, breaking up text-only posts into listicles is a great way to share tips, hacks, or something you've learned recently.

LinkedIn Polls

LinkedIn Polls are probably the most simple posts to interact with. In essence, it's just a post with a question and some buttons. Everyone likes sharing their opinion on topics whether they be controversial or trivial. This is not only a great way to get increased engagement, but also a great tool to learn what your LinkedIn network thinks about a certain topic.

Personal Stories

Sharing a story from your own life is a great way to connect with your network on LinkedIn. You just need to make sure that it is something that offers value to whoever reads this. Posts like this don't even have to be centered around employment or work-related things.

I have seen dozens of personal story posts that deal with subjects about family, community, personal struggle, etc. The purpose of these posts is to show your values and personality, all while inspiring/entertaining your network.

Need additional help beefing up your LinkedIn game? Shoot us a message to get started!

The New Era of Twitter - An Update

It's been five months since Twitter fell into the hands of Elon Musk, and it's been an exciting ride. We're here to dive into what's happened in the past months and where the platform could be heading for the rest of this year. 

What's Up with Twitter Blue?

All hell broke loose when the $8/month paid subscription was first introduced on Twitter. Impersonators took advantage of the blue checkmark to publish tweets to look like they were from the actual company, inevitably causing chaos. Just days after Twitter Blue was introduced, the platform killed it again. 

But not for long. Twitter Blue was resurrected from the dead and is still in place today. For $8/month, subscribers can edit their tweets, write tweets up to 4,000 characters, have their replies appear above others in threads, and access even more features.

One difference from the first rollout of Twitter Blue is that the blue checkmark will not appear right after subscribing. Accounts will still be reviewed to ensure subscribed accounts meet all eligibility criteria'' before the checkmark appears. 

Lastly, account security is no longer free under Musk's reign. To use two-factor authentication (like getting a code texted to you when you sign in), users must subscribe to Twitter Blue. There are other ways to authenticate your account if you don't pay, but they aren't convenient by any means. 

Losing the Big Bucks

With all the changes happening on the platform and the rise in hate speech (we'll talk about that in a sec), advertisers are taking their money and running. 

According to Reuters, more than 500 big-name advertisers have paused spending money on advertising on Twitter. On January 17 of this year, the company's revenue was reportedly 40% lower than the same day the year before. Yikes. 

Twitter also reversed its ban on political ads, which could be why many advertisers are leaving. Especially with a big presidential election coming up next year, companies might be hesitant to exist on a platform with the potential for intense controversy and hostile rhetoric. 

The Rise of the Gold Checkmark

Twitter Blue for Businesses now exists for companies that are sticking it out and keeping Twitter in their social media strategy. They still have to pay the monthly subscription but receive a gold checkmark and a square profile picture rather than a round one.

This acts as a safety measure to ensure real companies can be told apart from any impersonators. Definitely a good move on Twitter's part to keep any incidents like the one with Eli Lilly from happening again. 

Increase in Hate Speech

In Elon Musk's mission to protect free speech, he has restored over 60,000 accounts with more than 10,000 followers each. These accounts had previously been banned for hate speech. Many of these accounts reportedly belong to neo-Nazi and QAnon individuals. 

From the time Musk took over until December 2022, there was a 200% increase in anti-Black slurs, researchers told the New York Times

The Road Ahead

So far, no other platform has stepped up to the plate to take the place of Twitter. It remains the top platform for news and current events, and many businesses still utilize it in their social media strategies. Now only time will tell if Twitter survives.

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