INSIGHTS

Have you ever wondered how brands are finding success on TikTok? From the outside, you may see a brand with all of their videos getting thousands of views - even in the millions. I hate to break it to you but no brand starts out like this. Here is our approach to launching and scaling your TikTok account.

This may seem obvious but having a cohesive brand aesthetic is something that can be pivotal when creating social media graphics. So many brands do not have this together and then social media graphics may be out of hand or just feel “like graphics” vs branded assets.

Every day, consumers are pushed ads and content from thousands of brands - including many competing brands. It’s hard to stand out. As a social media agency, there are always challenges that we are handed when it comes to clients, but the worst challenge of all is a terrible product and terrible packaging. Not only does a bad product bring on comments and content from users that are negative, but not having a solid unboxing experience and packaging that makes people WANT to post is not helping your brand.

After 9 years in the business, we have learned a lot about ourselves as an agency and how we best work with clients. On both sides there will always be compromises, but getting started there are definitely things that need to align. Selecting the right agency partner and preparing for this collaboration requires careful consideration and planning.

Brands come to us everyday asking what will be the fastest way to growth - typically considering they need to get the most out of their budget. Here is what we typically suggest when it comes to growing on social media.

Setting up a TikTok Shop is a game-changer for consumer brands looking to boost sales and connect directly with their audience. TikTok has evolved beyond a social app for fun videos into a powerful marketplace where consumers discover and purchase products with just a few taps. In this how to, we will walk you through the steps to get your brand’s TikTok Shop up and running.

Instagram Live allows brands to broadcast real-time video to their followers, creating an interactive and engaging experience that traditional posts or stories cannot match. While this offering sounds great, many brands do not take advantage - why? It’s hard as a brand (and not an individual) to go live, dedicate someone to live/allocate budget, or figure out what content works - not to mention having an engaged enough audience to feel like it’s worth the time - will people even tune in?

We will argue with a brand all day who says their demographic isn’t on Instagram - everyone is on Instagram and all industries have a place on Instagram. The hard part is typically figuring out what content will resonate - and content costs - either money or your time (and time is money right?) this is the real question - is Instagram a place to spend on when you have limited resources.

As a social media agency our number one conversation with clients is growth - whether that is sales, followers, or views - growth is top of mind. While we love what social media can do, a holistic strategy typically amplifies things even more. When email marketing, Google Ads, your website, etc are pushing people to be involved in the brand (and lead back to social) it’s a win win - the funnel we all want and need. It may be hard to get all of this in place especially for smaller teams, but what we want to talk about today is a hot topic with our clients: Brand Ambassador Programs.

Employee advocacy and employee created content is nothing new - but it is having its moment in short form video right now, especially on TikTok. If you have employees who are willing (and excited) to be on camera this can be a great way to make content affordably, consistently, and offer an insight that truly no one else can to your company online.

The fact that I am 9 years older and realizing I started this company at 23 is completely insane.

I remember being in the basement of a store I worked at in college - working on my blog after hours and working on a company name for my future company that I had no idea what it would be - The Creative Exchange was as creative as I could get (still hate the name). 2 years later the name became my social media agency.

I am a tomato girl and I was recently at a coffee shop that has a special heirloom tomato pastry that I had to have. Then I started to notice that this was a part of a promotion by Dukes. Welcome to Hot Tomato Summer.

Remember when hashtags used to be THE growth method on Instagram? I was able to post 1-2x a day and use hashtags and grew my personal account by about 1,000 followers in a few months in 2016. However, with the algorithm changes and Explore page, hashtags feel somewhat irrelevant - are we even seeing growth from them anymore? Do they affect your visibility on the Explore page?

This brand is killing it on TikTok and I was lucky enough to be one of their first 30k followers because they will be at a million soon. If you are unfamiliar with Mohawk Chevrolet’s TikTok - take a look. Their content is engaging, funny, and leaves you wanting more.

Staying ahead of the curve is essential for any brand looking to make a mark. Liquid IV, a popular powder hydration brand, has mastered this art by becoming a top 10 seller on TikTok Shop.

Launching a new product can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor - mainly when budget is in the way. Leveraging UGC has become a powerful strategy to amplify your brand's presence and drive sales, not to mention cost effective. Collaborating with UGC creators allows you to generate authentic, relatable content that resonates with your target audience - you can utilize this content on their accounts, your own organic channels, and even paid (and don’t forget your website too).

It doesn’t always seem natural for a brand to talk about the business side of things - or to approach a platform such as LinkedIn, and share not as “obvious” marketing content. However, there are other people in marketing, in business, and general brand fans that love to engage and learn from their favorite brands on LinkedIn - not to mention this is a great place to recruit new talent (which may be why most brands are active on the platform). We took a look at some of our favorite brands to see what they are posting on LinkedIn (Sidenote: The drink brands seem to be having the most fun on LinkedIn).

As these new tools on Instagram are becoming more popular (and rolled out to everyone now) you may be wondering - How can I best utilize Notes and Broadcast Channels for my brand on Instagram? Well today we are going to dive into some ideas on how to use these tools to your advantage.

Brand collabs not only give you an excuse to bring a new cool product to life but they are a great way to bring more eyes to your brand. When we first got into social media it was all about collaborating on giveaways - you still see them pop up on social every now and again but if you have ever run a social first giveaway you know how spammy they can feel and also attract followers that don’t even care about your brand. Now with the usage of Instagram in particular it’s harder to get followers and people to stay engaged - they want to see things on their Explore page (just like TikTok).

With its unique blend of inspiration, discovery, and shopping functionalities, Pinterest offers a fertile ground for brands to showcase their products and connect with consumers on a deeper level. To be honest, it’s not usually a “top” channel of consideration for our brands as the usage is a bit different from the timely posts and usage of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

In the dynamic realm of social media marketing, staying ahead of trends is key to maintaining relevance and engaging with audiences effectively. In recent years, TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse platform, captivating millions with its short-form video content and viral challenges. While initially perceived as a platform for Gen Z users, TikTok has swiftly transcended demographics, presenting unparalleled opportunities for brands to connect with consumers in innovative ways. The latest move by John Deere to hire a Chief Tractor Officer (CTO) for TikTok underscores the growing significance of this platform in brand strategy.

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter often steal the spotlight. However, there's one platform that's quietly growing in importance for CPG brands: LinkedIn. Often seen as a space for professionals and B2B interactions, LinkedIn is emerging as a valuable tool for CPG brands to connect with their audience in meaningful ways.

In the vast landscape of social media platforms, TikTok stands out as a powerhouse for brands looking to engage with younger audiences through innovative and captivating content. Among the brands that have seamlessly integrated into TikTok’s vibrant community is Heinz, the beloved condiment company known for its ketchup and other iconic products. With their strategic approach to TikTok marketing, Heinz has not only entertained millions but also set a benchmark for other CPG brands aspiring to thrive on the platform.

If you truly want to see your brand succeed through a content strategy on social media, this is what is takes in 2024.

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, one platform has managed to capture the attention and loyalty of Gen Z like no other is Snapchat. With its ephemeral nature, creative tools, and real-time engagement features, Snapchat has become an indispensable part of Gen Z's digital world.

Social listening is the process of monitoring social media platforms for mentions of a brand, product, competitor, or any other relevant topic, and analyzing these conversations to gain insights into customer sentiments, trends, and behaviors. It involves tracking keywords, phrases, and hashtags across various social media channels to understand what people are saying about a particular subject.

Having a mission driven brand is something that must come natural - typically from the start or something that naturally evolves over time for your brand. So many brand’s today struggle with creating content (mainly on social media) as they truly lack a “brand” or having a stance on, well anything! Having a well rounded brand and voice is key BEFORE putting your brand out there (aka on social media).

In the landscape of social media platforms, X (Twitter) stands out as a dynamic hub of real-time information, conversation, and connection. From its inception as a microblogging platform, X has evolved into a versatile tool for individuals, businesses, and influencers alike.

When I started working in social media in 2012, Instagram was new and Facebook was still fairly new. I mean, do you remember the days on Facebook where you put a status up and people will comment on it asking you direct questions that were honestly no one else’s business? We shared our locations, who we were with, everything in live time - and waiting for people to comment and ask questions that really everyone could see. We would NEVER do that now.

I ask people ALL THE TIME what their favorite brand on social media is. I am always hoping to hear a brand I don’t know about or see a new strategy, but more often than not I hear brands that everyone already knows and sees or that they read in an article that was “the best” brand on social media, Duolingo being one I hear more often than not. I have nothing against Duolingo, I actually use Duolingo daily (currently learning Spanish) , and love their approach to social media. The other side of this is when I speak to brands and work on their strategies we often hear the brands say the same thing - we want to be as big as Duolingo. But the fact is, your brand will NEVER be like Duolingo on social media.