Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 25, 2024

One of the biggest challenges for government agencies on social media is humanizing their communications. You want your audience to feel that you’re friendly, approachable, and genuinely care about their needs — not just another faceless public body. As part of our December 2023 Social Media Strategy Summit for Public Agencies & Government, Ellen Kamilakis — Assistant District Administrator for Communications at VDOT Northern Virginia — explained how her agency tackled this problem by creati

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Communities Social Media Engagement Transportation 263

Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 30, 2024

Higher education marketers and communications teams are constantly grappling with the sheer number of social media accounts across campus. When each unit, team, faculty, and degree has its own account, it’s near-impossible to figure out who’s sharing what and when. And creating a holistic social media strategy becomes a serious headache. It makes it hard for students to know where to turn for information.

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Social Media Strategy Case Study Education 206

Social Media Strategies Summit

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Social media is visual media. And this is with good reason, as Dr John Medina mentions in his book Brain Rules : “If the information is presented orally, people remember about 10 percent, tested 72 hours after exposure. That figure goes up to 65 percent if you add a picture.” Even less ostensibly “aesthetic” social platforms are increasingly dominated by visual elements.

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Brands Tips Template Templates 231

Social Media Strategies Summit

DECEMBER 14, 2023

According to HubSpot’s latest State of Marketing Report , producing and publishing content is the marketing strategy with the highest potential ROI in 2023. And not just because content marketing offers a great way to reach, engage, and convert audiences (as well as nurture loyalty). But, more impressively, exceptional B2C content unlocks a natural way to capture audience attention, seeing that the average person spends 7 hours and 34 minutes (per day) consuming digital media.

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Content Marketing Loyalty Collaboration 222

Social Media Strategies Summit

DECEMBER 7, 2023

As a higher education marketer, you’ve probably heard about the so-called “enrollment cliff” and its potential impact on the higher ed landscape. But what can you actually do about that ? One of the best people to answer this is Dr. Carrie Phillips , the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. For her dissertation, Dr.

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Social Media Management Social Media Education Collaboration 147

Social Media Strategies Summit

DECEMBER 1, 2023

It’s fair to say 2023 has been a busy year in the social media world. So much has happened that Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in late 2022 feels like ancient history. So we thought it was a good time to round up some of the biggest social media moments of the last 12 months, from the neverending viral hype train surrounding the Barbie movie to those horrendous big red boots all the influencers wore for approximately two weeks back in February.

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Social Media Meme Fashion Trends 241

Social Media Strategies Summit

NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Have you ever woken up in a blind panic because there’s a campaign going live tomorrow, and you forgot to schedule a post? Or logged onto Instagram while eating your dinner to check the engagement on your latest Reel ? For social media managers, being “always on” has long been a challenge of the job. But the appeal of being glued to a screen 24/7 is clearly fading.

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Social Media Management Social Media HootSuite Skills 162

Social Media Strategies Summit

OCTOBER 13, 2023

Remember when Cinnabon posted that insane tribute to Carrie Fisher ? Or when Burger King UK tweeted, “ Women belong in the kitchen ”? The internet is littered with examples of brands receiving backlash after failing to read the room. But for every high-profile failure, there are countless instances where brands got it exactly right when hopping on social media trends.

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Examples Trends Social Media Brands 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Once primarily thought of as a marketing tactic for edgy brands, user-generated content (UGC) is quickly becoming a bigger and bigger element of content marketing strategies. The focus on UGC is for a good reason; it improves customer satisfaction, helps brands understand their audience, provides a means for users to build community, and is inherently peer-reviewed, making it more trustworthy.

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UGC Content Bazaarvoice Hashtag 224

Social Media Strategies Summit

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

Investing in social media content should be a no-brainer for businesses trying to reach, engage, and convert their target audiences. Especially considering that people spend an average of 2 hours and 26 minutes daily using social media. However, the harsh truth is that creating winning social media content for your brand can be challenging. It requires a strategic approach to the creation process — preferably one that prioritizes your audience’s wants and needs.

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Social Media Brands Content UGC 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Customer care isn’t just a way to keep existing customers happy. Used wisely, it can be one of your most valuable sales and marketing channels, with research revealing that: 79% of Americans trust a brand more if it delivers an excellent customer service experience 52% of Americans will pay more if they know they will receive excellent customer service Part of delivering superb service is about leveraging the right communications channels.

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Strategy FAQ Guidelines Policies 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023

Influencer marketing can be highly impactful, with one-third of consumers agreeing that influencer posts are the best way for brands to persuade customers to try new products. And the best news of all: working with influencers needn’t be complex or expensive. Port of Seattle’s influencer program started with just a handful of bloggers attending the launch of two new retailers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

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Influencer Travel Retail UGC 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Marketers spend up to 20 hours a month on content ideation. That’s a massive chunk of their workload. And the more time they dedicate to developing ideas, the less they have for other vital tasks — like creating high-quality content and measuring the results. Some days, ideation feels especially tough. To help you out when you’re lost in the creative desert, we gathered a panel of social media experts to discuss how to run effective brainstorming sessions for social media campaigns, create the m

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Content iPhone Sports Remix 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

AUGUST 17, 2023

As marketers, we have more data at our fingertips than ever before. Yet research from Sprout Social reveals that proving ROI is consistently one of the biggest challenges for social media teams. Image source Demonstrating the impact of your actions is all about monitoring the right metrics for social media marketing — metrics that speak directly to your overarching business goals.

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Metrics Social Media Sentiment ROI 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

AUGUST 15, 2023

Higher education marketers are busy, so finding the time to keep up with the latest industry developments can be challenging. Have you missed an important update to a key tool? Is there a high-performing tactic, channel, or platform you’re not currently using? How are external trends and events going to affect your broader marketing strategy? Figuring that stuff out can be tough.

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Marketing Education Forums LinkedIn 240

Social Media Strategies Summit

AUGUST 10, 2023

Influencer marketing has always been one of the most effective strategies for reaching new audiences. But it isn’t just about engagement; influencers can drive real action. Almost half of consumers say they’ve bought products promoted by influencers, while over one-third believe influencer posts are the best way for brands to persuade customers to try new products or services.

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Influencer Campaign Marketing B2B 186

Social Media Strategies Summit

JULY 19, 2023

TikTok rose from the ashes of the Musical.ly app to become one of the world’s biggest social networks, with over one billion users. For many of us, the short video platform is the go-to destination for entertainment — the type of stuff we scroll through quickly when we get a few minutes of downtime. And it seems we like being distracted , given that the average TikTok user opens the app 19 times daily.

Brands 130

Brands Energy Sports Fashion 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

JULY 12, 2023

Marketing campaigns sometimes encourage consumers to do something new, something they may have yet to consider. But often , especially in the world of public sector marketing, they’re more about reiterating and reinforcing messages that people are already familiar with — persuading us to adopt actions or behaviors we already know are the right thing to do.

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Campaign Social Media Case Study Training 210

Social Media Strategies Summit

JUNE 8, 2023

Brands have many reasons to move away from the social media giant Facebook. From its slowing growth to its constant algorithmic changes , the environment on Facebook gets more challenging every day. But despite all of these reasons to move away from Facebook, there is no denying the platform’s continued influence. As of the first quarter of 2023, Facebook had 269 million monthly active users in the US and Canada.

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Brands Facebook Influencer Campaign 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

MAY 11, 2023

User-generated content (UGC) is an invaluable tool for higher ed social media marketers , helping them level up their content creation capabilities while building brand trust. According to TINT , three-quarters of consumers find reviews and testimonials submitted by real people more credible than brands talking about themselves. Meanwhile, 93% of marketers agree that consumers are more likely to trust UGC than brand-created content.

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Education Examples UGC Content 174

Social Media Strategies Summit

MAY 4, 2023

YouTube’s vast reach and credibility make it a valuable resource in the world of government on social media. The video platform has over two billion monthly active users , with over three-fifths of American users visiting the site daily. Moreover, nine in 10 users agree that YouTube provides trustworthy recommendations and information. Creating video content requires more thought than simply rattling off a tweet or a text-based Facebook post.

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YouTube Education Resources Social Media 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

APRIL 25, 2023

Every marketer knows that having a robust online presence is essential for boosting brand awareness and driving sales. But not everyone stops to consider the powerhouse potential of their company blog in their marketing arsenal. Treat your blog as more than just a content hub to boost conversion rates. Picture it as a personal trainer at a gym, helping members achieve their fitness goals.

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Conversation Company Loyalty Case Study 159

Social Media Strategies Summit

APRIL 21, 2023

Viral trends and cultural moments can be a social media marketer’s best friend. Whereas you may have brainstormed your “regular” content weeks (or months) in advance, a well-timed response to a viral post or topic can be a shortcut to tons of impressions and engagement. But tapping into buzzworthy conversions isn’t a silver bullet for social media success.

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Conversation Brands Authentication Trends 130

Social Media Strategies Summit

APRIL 6, 2023

Influencer marketing shows no sign of losing its appeal, with four-fifths of marketers believing it to be an effective channel. However, it’s most popular in e-commerce, where brands can leverage influencers to recommend apparel, beauty products, tech, and more. Things become a lot more complex when the “product” being promoted is a school or college.

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Education Influencer UGC Apparel 182

Social Media Strategies Summit

MARCH 22, 2023

LinkedIn’s advertising revenue more than doubled from 2017 to 2021 — and it’s set to double again between 2022 and 2026. Image source With approximately 63 million decision-makers using LinkedIn and four-fifths of all B2B marketing leads originating from the platform, it’s not hard to see why. Are you wondering how to advertise on LinkedIn? Fortunately, the LinkedIn Ads Campaign Manager is intuitive.

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LinkedIn Campaign Groups Groups 231

Social Media Strategies Summit

MARCH 16, 2023

In just over a decade, Instagram has transformed from a convenient way to share pictures of your lunch to a staple of many brands’ social media marketing strategies. That’s largely down to its reach and engagement. According to Pew Research Center , four in ten Americans are on Instagram. About three-fifths use the platform at least once a day, while almost half do so several times a day.

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Instagram Hashtag Research FAQ 222

Social Media Strategies Summit

MARCH 9, 2023

Time is one of the most precious resources in social media for government agencies. Many government social media managers have small teams responsible for managing content and strategy across multiple platforms; others might be the only people focusing on social media at their agencies. Either way, you must leverage tools and workflows to ensure maximum productivity.

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Team How To Social Media Management Trends 188

Social Media Strategies Summit

MARCH 3, 2023

Hybrid learning is here to stay, with research from Barnes & Noble College Insights revealing that almost half of students favor a hybrid class format. This data poses a few challenges for higher education marketers. How do you engage students who are spending less time on campus? And how do you reduce “melt,” whereby students who’ve applied and paid a deposit don’t turn up for their first day of classes?

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Engagement Social Media Class Film 164

Social Media Strategies Summit

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

Crisis management is one of the biggest challenges of social media for government agencies. A fast-evolving situation can cause panic and confusion in your community, requiring you to communicate the latest information in a calm, clear manner to the public, stakeholders, and media. Get it wrong, and you risk undermining confidence in your agency; get it right, and you’ll play a key role in mitigating the worst effects of the crisis.

Strategy 174

Strategy Construction Resources Press Release 174

Social Media Strategies Summit

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by marketers wasn’t always a foregone conclusion. As recently as January 2020, half of the respondents to an Advertiser Perceptions survey said they had no plans to use AI to support their marketing efforts. Fast-forward to today, and opinions have shifted. Organizations are now using AI and machine learning (ML) software to streamline or improve marketing actions, from email to data analysis to content writing.

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Tools Price Marketing Template 172

Social Media Strategies Summit

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Taking your first steps into a new social media platform allows your government agency to reach different audiences and experiment with new content formats. But it also presents challenges — not least how to grow your following from scratch. As with anything in the world of social media for government, it’s essential to have a clear plan. To help you out, Mike Mueller — Digital Media Specialist at the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy — shared the best practices he learned from

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Social Media Energy How To Tweetdeck 202

Social Media Strategies Summit

FEBRUARY 8, 2023

The internet is packed with advice for social media managers. Whether you want to attract more followers, craft more engaging content , or optimize your post timings, millions of articles claim to provide an answer. The trouble is, only some of those articles consider the unique challenges faced by higher ed social media teams. You might have a small team, serious time constraints, and dozens of accounts to manage.

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Social Media Google Tips Template 202

Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 26, 2023

Facebook Pages used to be a lucrative way for brands to connect with customers on Facebook. However, pages have seen a decline in organic reach in recent years, with the average organic Facebook Page post now seeing an engagement rate of just 0.07%. Ouch! This data doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up the team and move away from Facebook, though. Another way to reach and engage audiences on Facebook is through Community Groups.

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Groups Groups Communities Engagement 238

Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 23, 2023

Anyone who works in social media for government agencies understands the importance of public trust. Generally, agencies do fantastic work and are rightly proud of their efforts. However, as marketers, you can’t afford to assume people will take your words at face value, with just two in 10 Americans saying they trust the government to do what’s right “just about always” or “most of the time.

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Transportation How To Posterous Team 196

Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 12, 2023

Higher education social media marketers face unique challenges. Far from managing accounts for one or two brands and sub-brands, they might be responsible for managing social media profiles across dozens — or even hundreds — of different departments. They must ensure that each department consistently creates and posts suitable types of content and find reliable, scalable strategies for centering important messaging on top-level brand accounts.

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Collaboration How To Education Team 226

Social Media Strategies Summit

JANUARY 5, 2023

It’s hard to imagine anyone not using social media today. Yet the industry continues to expand, with the global number of social media users climbing to almost 4.6 billion in 2022. Image source. But not all social networks enjoyed equally strong years in 2022. Facebook has plateaued since 2021, adding fewer than 50 million new users throughout 2023 (vs. 194 million in 2020).

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Trends Social Media UGC Marketing 298

Social Media Strategies Summit

DECEMBER 29, 2022

A communications strategy sets out how you reach, engage, and convert your target audience, including: Who they are. Why you’re talking to them. How you talk to them. What content should you create. Which channels to share it through. Social media for government should form an integral part of any agency’s communications strategy, with 82% of Americans having profiles on at least one social platform.

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Strategy Press Release How To Collaboration 130