Slate

I grew my LinkedIn reach by over 2,000% in a year. How I did it: - Posted 3x a week until I found my voice. - Found ways to enjoy the process so it didn't feel like work. - Took inspiration from my daily work building for social media teams. Why I did it (and will continue): - To connect authentically with the social media community. - Because as a founder, building trust and credibility matters. - To share insights and add value, whether you’re a Slate customer or not. But here’s the thing… Some of the very best social media & content marketers I know rarely, if ever, post on their personal accounts. You don’t need to be an influencer to succeed in your social media marketing career. Do it only if it excites you. And hiring managers: Judging social media candidates based on their personal social media activity? That’s a red flag. Focus on their professional skills instead.

Even the most talented social media team is set up to fail if they're kept in a silo. For social media to be truly effective, it needs to be fully integrated. This means involvement in campaign planning, overall brand strategy, PR, customer support, paid strategy, influencer marketing—even HR and employee advocacy. To drive growth, social media needs a seat at the table early and often. They need to be a key part of the overall marketing function, not just on offshoot to create entertaining clips. When social media is treated as an afterthought, CMOs won't see the success their peers are achieving. Unleash your social team by making it truly cross-functional.

Big update for content teams: Instagram has confirmed that adding your brand’s watermark or end card won’t hurt your reach. They’re only filtering out logos from competing platforms (like TikTok), not your branding. What this means for you: Don’t hesitate to watermark your best content. In a world of repurposing and content theft, watermarks protect your brand as top posts get ripped and reshared. But not every post needs a watermark. Here’s a smarter approach: 1. Use watermarks on high-priority content, like key series or tentpole campaigns you’re investing in. 2. For other content, consistently use more subtle branding touches like styled captions, fonts, end cards, or GIFs/animations that feel native to the platform and true to your brand book. 3. For sponsored integrations, focus on creating content that aligns naturally with the sponsor’s brand and yours—so it feels like a collab, not like a logo slap. Protect your brand, while keeping your content engaging and authentic. ??

If I were running a brand's content strategy, here are the four things I'd prioritize going into 2025: 1. Brand: No more blending in. In 2025, we stand out. This means higher-quality content that reinforces our brand voice and makes a lasting impact. 2. Video: The priority would be boosting views and watch time by upgrading our tools and team capabilities across YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, and Reels. 3. Tentpole events: These are our biggest chances to cut through the noise in an increasingly crowded landscape. I’d ensure we’re investing in on-the-ground creation, pre-prep, and the right tools to drive more engagement at key events than ever before. 4. Agility: Social is moving faster, and we need to keep up. But we can’t keep piling onto our lean social team. They need resources to thrive. I'd audit and attempt to aggressively eliminate the red tape they are facing that slows down creativity and output. I'd also give them more resources and the tools they need to create content. What would you add to this list? I’ll be diving deeper into planning for 2025 in our upcoming webinar this week with some heavy hitters in the social space on Nov 21 at 12pm ET. Our attendance limit is almost full—sign up to make sure you get a spot: https://bit.ly/3AzEPAk

Social media teams need creative tools, not just scheduling tools. Why? Because social media managers are content creators, not just distributors. Social is all about producing more and more engaging content—quickly and on-brand. Traditional tools cover what happens after the magic: scheduling, analyzing performance, reporting. Creative tools empower social teams to make the magic - stay on trend, craft compelling visuals, do more with less, and keep up with the relentless demand for content. Give your social team the tools they need to ??create??, not just post and recap.

Social media teams need creative tools, not just scheduling tools. Why? Because social media managers are content creators, not just distributors. Social is all about producing more and more engaging content—quickly and on-brand. Traditional tools cover what happens after the magic: scheduling, analyzing performance, reporting. Creative tools empower social teams to make the magic - stay on trend, craft compelling visuals, do more with less, and keep up with the relentless demand for content. Give your social team the tools they need to ??create??, not just post and recap.

Hootsuite just released its 2025 trends report, and I couldn’t disagree more with their top prediction. ?? They say brands will “ditch brand consistency” in 2025 to be more "creative" on social. But the truth is, brands have already been ditching brand consistency this year and last in favor of the TikTok aesthetic. The social teams I talk to are tired of blending in by trying to only look native. They’re ready to stand out — by bringing their brand aesthetic to life and embracing what makes their brands unique. It’s not about ignoring your brand to be creative on social. It’s about using creativity to ELEVATE your brand on social. I'm against creating a divide between brand marketing and social content teams. The two work best together ?? Because social media IS the voice of your brand. Not the place to abandon it.

Social media teams need creative tools, not just scheduling tools. Why? Because social media managers are content creators, not just distributors. Social is all about producing more and more engaging content—quickly and on-brand. Traditional tools cover what happens after the magic: scheduling, analyzing performance, reporting. Creative tools empower social teams to make the magic - stay on trend, craft compelling visuals, do more with less, and keep up with the relentless demand for content. Give your social team the tools they need to ??create??, not just post and recap.

Swag it and move it ??! November’s seen the start of our first #Wellness challenge so here’s a dump of some of the team getting active in Slate swag!

???Boost Your Social Media Marketing with the Right Video Tools!??? In 2024, video content is?non-negotiable?for social media success and to attract the right audiences. But with so many options, which app is right for your brand? I have rated the top 5 creative video tool in this blog: https://lnkd.in/e3hJ_7P5 ??Slate?– The best choice for brand consistency and collaboration ???CapCut?– Perfect for quick, trendy edits ???InShot?– Simple, mobile-friendly editing ???Canva?– Multi-purpose with a design-first approach ???Adobe Premiere Rush?– For professionals on the go Check out the full article for a detailed breakdown, pros and cons, and discover why we recommend?Slate?as the top pick for marketers! #SocialMediaMarketing #VideoMarketing #ContentCreation #DigitalMarketing #Branding #LinkedInTips #MarketingTools