Showing posts with label Forbes Agency Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forbes Agency Council. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Mastering YOUR Live Social Media Marketing?


Social media marketing: How to master the art of going live..

More than possibly ever before, social media is all about being in the moment. It’s no wonder then that live video capabilities have been adopted by multiple social platforms as of late.



Going live is an excellent way to engage with audiences and can open up a business to new opportunities.

Due to its immediate nature, going live allows people to experience what your business is doing and react in real time.

Live video can be a huge asset for companies that know what they’re doing, have a clear brand vision and are prepared. Otherwise, an unintended message, image or event may make its way through to potential clients.

To help you create a successful live video and avoid any pitfalls, we asked 15 members of Forbes Agency Council to share their top tips for creating a masterful live video marketing campaign. Their answers are below:




1. Plan Ahead

Do your research in advance. Time your video when your audience is most active, and promote it ahead of time as if it were an event. Include what you’ll cover in the video and tease an announcement. During the live stream, remember you’re in a two-way conversation; reply in real time to comments users post as you stream. Throughout the video, tease the announcement that will come at the end. -Kathy Broderick Selker, Northlich

Related Article: YOUR Video Content Is King?


2. Give Your Audience Something They'll Value

You're competing with friends, family, celebrity crushes, etc. for attention, so you really want to hook the audience within the first few seconds and make a good first impression. Be prepared. Avoid tech mishaps by testing things in advance, and give the audience an experience they can't get elsewhere or a glimpse into something they want to be a part of. Make it worth their time. -Mae Cromwell, PACIFIC

3. Optimize For YouTube

YouTube is the planet’s second biggest search engine (next to Google) and consistently outperforms other social platforms when it comes to conversions. In addition, YouTube is incredibly cost-effective when it comes to placing video ads. High conversion and cost-effective ad placement are what defines a successful video campaign. -Randy Soderman, Soderman Marketing



4. Repost And Amplify

Delivering your message to your target audience via a "live" video is a great first step. To keep the momentum going, repost the video to your platforms along with targeted ad buys. This ensures that the video is seen by your target audience, and they get introduced to your message in a creative, dynamic form. -Danielle Wiley, Sway Group

5. Make It Worth It

Our most successful live videos have offered viewers one of two things: a big announcement or behind-the-scenes content. When your brand delivers a moment consumers feel is fun, exciting and worth their time, they'll continue to tune in to future live videos. -Jess Cook, TMV Group

Related Article: YOUR Social Media Brand Screenplay?


6. Prebuild An Audience

If you interview an expert or multiple experts like a live summit and they're in a complimentary niche that will provide tremendous benefit to your audience, this would be a great first step to getting traction. Be sure to promote the live stream at least three days in advance. The final tip is to have everyone on the stream like, comment and share it in exchange for a reward. -Imran Tariq, WebMetrix Group LLC

7. Be Consistent

Consistency helps with reputation, search engines and with building good customer relationships. Each video campaign should be consistent with the brand's image and include graphics/sounds that customers identify with the brand. Also, consistency in terms of content schedule can help with loyalty because people know that on that specific day, they will have something to look forward to. -Daniela Pavan, The Ad Store New York



8. Know Your Role

The reality in the live video game is that you need to know the role you play in the conversation with your audience. You need to know what your customer is expecting you to be -- social and fun, corporate and informative, product-focused, culture-focused or maybe just impromptu free-form opinionated. If you choose the wrong path, you won't be able to keep an audience. -Paul E. Benninghove, Phalanx Digital Inc.

9. Give Them A Reason To Keep Watching

Start strong and give them a reason to keep watching. When users join your live feed, they decide in seconds whether or not to continue to watch. To support this, you want the number of people watching to increase, so help them stick around by making your live content engaging. Once you're known for your live content, people will want to catch it every time you go live. -Benjamin Collins, Laughing Samurai



10. Show, Don't Tell

Avoid branded content that comes off as too promotional or self-serving. Instead, use live video to engage with audiences and amplify connectivity through real-time content. Themes like how to, did you know, where to find, what we learned, steps to take, etc. offer solutions to viewers they’re likely seeking. The raw, unrehearsed content is relatable, becomes reliable and is fun to share. -Fiona Bruder, George P. Johnson (GPJ) Marketing Experience

11. Get Live Feedback In Real Time

The voice of the customer is essential in building brand loyalty. There are myriad ways to make the most of reviews. When orchestrating brand experiences in a live setting, the immediacy of customer feedback can be extremely powerful. Social media walls and broadcasting feedback throughout an event can create an authentic and organic buzz about your brand with very little effort or investment. -Chris Cavanaugh, Freeman



12. Have A Strong Call To Action

The key to any campaign is the call to action. When we're doing live video streams, it's easy to forget to plug the call to action in at some point. However, be mindful that it doesn't interrupt the users' experience and causes them to drop off. Go live about 15 minutes before your scheduled stream to remind your followers that you're about to go live and ask them to invite their friends. -Danielle Sabrina, Tribe Builder Media

13. Start With The Narrative

Live video storytelling is only as good as the story. When thinking about adding a live video component, first determine what the narrative of this program will be and why video is a good way to share that. A great video narrative is engaging and should fuel a conversation among the audience. It should inspire people to share, comment and invite others to view along. -Daryl McCullough, Citizen Relations



14. Mix It Up

By combining "talking heads" expert commentary with product photo stills and stock photography or video, you can provide the viewer with a richer, multi-sensory experience, while at the same time limiting the time and expense involved with traditional video production. It means being more creative with your storyboard skills, but it is well worth it. -Francine Carb, Markitects, Inc.

15. Use Premieres On Facebook

One of the major challenges for brands using live video is quality control (poor camera angles, potentially incorrect product claims, etc.). But the positives are increased exposure because the algorithms favor video right now. Facebook recently launched "Premieres," which lets brands premiere a pre-recorded video just like they would a live video. It's a great way to share quality work "live."-Jim Tobin, Carusele

Guest Authored By Forbes Agency Council. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only organization for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Find out if you qualify. Follow Forbes Agency Council on X.





Get ready to have your best year on social media yet.

Following these tips, not only will you get more likes and follows than ever before, but you'll gain more loyal customers too..

    • Post Crafted By:
      Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at GetMoreHere.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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    Friday, April 27, 2018

    14 Social Media Strategy Faux Pas?


    Want to improve your social media strategy? Avoid these 14 faux pas..

    Social media is the cornerstone of many modern businesses' marketing strategies. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and other platforms have become a multi-faceted tool for brands, serving as a content feed, community and customer service channel all at once.



    While just about every business has a presence on social media these days, they're not all necessarily using it the right way..

    Some brands commit some serious social media blunders, like using the platforms solely for self-promotion, alienating customers with an ill-advised political comment, and automating their posts while failing to engage with followers.


    According to Forbes Agency Council, here are 14 common social media faux pas your brand should avoid.



    1. Relying Too Heavily On One Social Channel

    You can't build a sustainable business on top of another platform like Facebook that you don't control. At any moment, they can pull the rug out from under you and completely cripple you. You must be diverse with your marketing plan. Social is a great channel but it can't be your end-all. -Steve Cross, iSynergy

    2. Too Much Self-Promotion

    We are all guilty of talking about ourselves and our products and services on social. When brands do that — and I see it a lot — it is the epitome of why people hate branding and advertising on social. In reality, the content that companies post should seldom be self-promotional. No one cares about your product or service. They care about what you stand for. -Chris Dreyer, Rankings.io



    3. Diving In Without A Clear Plan Or Goals

    Oftentimes businesses jump onto social media without a plan, trying to do everything and anything without fully understand the "why." Clearly define the goals that are important to your organization and who your ideal audience would be to start mapping a strategy for success. Organizations often focus on vanity metrics, when it is more important to consider your brand's direction and ROI. -Lauren Shirreffs, 2Social Inc. | Social Media Marketing Agency

    4. Ignoring Micro-Influencers

    When we think of influencer marketing, we think of well-known social personalities -- with an enormous amount of followers, like the Kardashians. But a more effective approach is for brands to think on the micro-level. Niche influencers have developed greater trust within their smaller but more engaged audiences. Micro-influencers' recommendations pack a powerful punch. -David Shadpour, Social Native



    5. Alienating Customers With A Controversial Stance

    When you become too political, you may alienate customers in the process. Taking a stand or position can be good in some cases, but just be conscious of the repercussions. The blowback can be overwhelming and can put a customer in a position where they need to pick a side (which may not be yours). -Jordan Edelson, Appetizer Mobile LLC

    6. Spammy Short-Term Engagement Tactics

    Social media isn’t going anywhere. Never choose quick wins over a long-term social strategy. Some brands have started using spammy methods that don’t reach an actual target audience, such as “follow for follow” or purchasing followers. Instead, allocate more resources to long-term social strategies, such as influencer outreach, special campaigns and paid social, to set up your brand for success. -Lisa Arledge Powell, MediaSource



    7. Abandoning Efforts When You Don't See Immediate Results

    Building your brand through social media takes time and business owners want immediate results. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others are littered with what started as good intentions but ended up as abandoned efforts. When considering social media, you need to either commit to it or don't and realize it takes time to see success. -Cash Miller, Titan Web Marketing Solutions

    8. Frequent Reposting Instead Of Original Content

    Something I've seen in the influencer marketing space is brands trying to almost programmatically buy influencer content through reposting rather than creating their own content. That defeats the purpose of influencer marketing, which is to create native content that is truly authentic and aligns with your brand. -Eric Dahan, Open Influence



    9. Joining Platforms Without A Good Business Reason

    Don’t add channels simply for the sake of having them. Be strategic with the platforms you join and think critically about the best platforms for your business. Ask yourself:

    --Is there a need? Are my peers here? Is my audience here?
    --Do I have the time to build and maintain the channel?

    If the answer is yes, add away. If not, focus your energy on existing platforms. -Nicole Mahoney, Break the Ice Media

    10. Trying To Build Your Business Directly On Social Media

    Social media is a fantastic source of prospects and customers, but it's a terrible place to do business. You don't "own" those vanity counts that indicate your following — the social platform does. The only opportunity to reach people is to buy access. So, use those properties to drive people back to your site where you can capture a mobile phone number or email address. -Douglas Karr, DK New Media



    11. Overdoing Automation

    Automation is a very valuable tool, but overdoing it, especially on social media, can be a big mistake for your brand. It’s always important to mix up the frequency of your posts and the content that you're posting. Otherwise, you’ll just sound like a robot. Understand your audiences and who you want to target so you can increase your awareness, reach and traffic. -Solomon Thimothy, OneIMS

    12. Having A One-Dimensional Presence

    Don't be one dimensional, especially if that single dimension is pitching. Be engaging, interesting, humorous, controversial (whatever defines your brand best) and be that to your audience. Your products and services can be dripped, not shot through a cannon. -Michael Mothner, Wpromote



    13. Failing To Focus On Conversations

    We still see businesses talking at their customers rather than talking to their customers. Social media done well fosters engagement and cultivates conversations. That’s difficult to achieve if you’re simply telling people things instead of engaging them in thoughtful discussions. Of course, with the changes to Facebook's News Feed algorithm, even more emphasis is put on promoting engagement. -Matthew Jonas, TopFire Media

    14. Doing Social Media For Its Own Sake

    Social media for social media’s sake is simply a horrible waste of resources, time and potentially beneficial content. Many brands don’t need every social channel but think they do to become relevant. Also, avoid the strings of posts about products, product features or info. A thoughtful content strategy focuses on the customer, not the company. -Kathleen Lucente, Red Fan Communications

    Guest Authored By Forbes Agency Council. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Follow Forbes Agency Council on Twitter.





    "Want to improve your social media strategy?

    Avoid these 14 faux pas.."


      • Post Crafted By:
        Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
      Published by at No comments:
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      Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA

      Monday, February 19, 2018

      Social Media As A Hiring Tool For YOUR Business?


      Eight ways to leverage social media as a hiring tool..




      If you're not currently using social media in your hiring process, you're in the minority:

      A 2017 CareerBuilder survey found that 70% of employers now use social media to screen potential hires.

      But it's not just about checking a candidate's timeline for angry rants or questionable photos — social platforms can also be a great recruiting tool. According to Betterteam, nearly 95% of recruiters use social media to post and promote job openings, and 59% of employees say they chose their current workplace in part because of the company's social media presence.

      No matter how you choose to incorporate it, social media can ultimately help you find and evaluate top talent for your organization. Eight members of the Forbes Agency Council shared their top ways to leverage this tool for hiring.



      1. Find Behaviors And Writing Samples In Past Posts

      The popularity of social media continues to grow both in personal and professional use, with a lot of the content staying around forever. Use social media platforms as both a medium for checking potential hires' past post types and quality (for instance, have they posted anything that could harm your brand?), as well as finding fresh writing samples. -Timothy Nichols, ExactDrive, Inc

      2. Evaluate A Candidate's Personality

      Segmenting potential employees not only by their expertise but also by their personality traits is very important when recruiting creative roles. Having contrasting characters and opinions is key to develop an innovative team that can produce integral and original concepts. We've used social media targeting tools to find different archetypes for a more comprehensive recruiting process. - Carlos Machicao, Wild Pixel Media



      3. Promote Your Opening On All Social Channels For The Widest Reach

      When we advertised for a position that was specific to the industry we serve, we incorporated the job posting into all of our owned media channels. The position was posted on our website and promoted through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and our weekly newsletter. We added Facebook ads to help extend our reach.
      The results were more qualified applicants and fewer dollars spent on recruitment. - Nicole Mahoney, Break the Ice Media

      4. Use LinkedIn For Targeted Recruiting

      When we need someone who already has experience in our industry for an upper-level position, LinkedIn has helped pull in talent with resumes that fit the exact profile we are looking for.
      This platform has allowed for focused recruiting. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram assist to provide further insight on the candidate. - Meredith Xavier, The Ligne Group



      5. Encourage Employees To Share Their Own Experiences With Your Company

      Don't just use social media as another job listing platform. Enlist your staff to not just to share the post, but to share their experiences. People want to work someplace that other people love. If your staff share firsthand experiences, their testimonials become your calling card instead of basic job listings. - Craig Greiwe, Rogers & Cowan

      6. Use Appropriate Social Channels To Show Off Different Aspects Of Your Company

      Social media gives companies and candidates the tools they need to creatively share. We utilize Twitter to educate, Facebook for culture and LinkedIn to share company achievements. LinkedIn Video is an up-and-coming tool that must be leveraged to engage and educate. I even suggest using Snapchat geofilters during large conferences where key talent comes together. -Nyma Quidwai, Blue Water Ads



      7. See If Candidates Are Engaging With Your Brand On Social Media

      It's important for us to see a potential hire engaging with our company or industry on social media. Rather than asking, "Are you familiar with our clients?" we can know if they did their research and if they "like" our clients by seeing if they've engaged online or not. -Jennifer Wentzo, coded{PR}

      8. Inspire FOMO In Candidates With Your Social Presence

      Instagram has enabled us to brand and differentiate ourselves as an employer. We communicate culture and workplace experience through a distinct voice and a focus on our people, not our services. This has the added effect of making sure we stay interesting internally. We want potential candidates to feel major FOMO (fear of missing out). -Mike Skeehan, Salted Stone, Inc.

      Guest Authored By Forbes Agency Council. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Follow Forbes Agency Council on Twitter.





      "If you're not currently using social media in your hiring process, you're in the minority:

      A 2017 CareerBuilder survey found that 70% of employers now use social media to screen potential hires.." -Forbes Agency Council



        • Authored by:
          Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, CO  where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)
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        Location: Loveland, CO 80538, USA
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