What’s up everyone! 👋 Welcome back to Stronger Social! We’ve got some good stuff today. We’re going to talk about social media strategy development. Social media strategy development is highly complex…but there’s power in making it simple. And that’s what we are going to do today. I’m hyped. Are you? 👀

In today’s issue, we will go over the following:

Let’s get started.

I truly believe that brands on social media need to be known for…something…or they will be known for nothing. This is crucial for social teams and this is something I have learned over the past year.

I mean…think about it. There’s so much noise. There are so many posts that consumers scroll across and consume every single day. At the end of the day, social media teams are not competing against competitors on social…we’re competing against anyone and everyone who posts. This includes competitors, creators, media accounts, and much more. It’s a battle for attention and creativity.

So how do you stand out and craft a compelling social media strategy and social DNA?

The best brands create ownable, recurring, and scaleable branded content that remains top of mind for consumers. Like I said, if you’re not known for something, you’ll be known for nothing and be forgotten.

So now what? Keep reading.

Today I am going to share 5 ideas for what your brand can be known for on social media. Take these into consideration when crafting your social media strategy and DNA.

Memes work. Plain and simple. I love memes for a lot of reasons but the main reasons are because they are relatable, scaleable, affordable, and shareable. They may not work for every brand, and that’s fine! But there is nothing wrong with being a brand known for executing and slinging some shareable and entertaining memes. Some of my favorite brands that are known for their memes include Chipotle, Taco Bell, Dr.Squatch, and Dr. Pepper.

There’s a wonderful trend within the social world where brands are creating episodic content series, and I am so here for it. This gives consumers a reason to prescribe and subscribe - which is essential in crafting a high-performing social content strategy. Content series aren’t for everyone. However, I would highly recommend exploring one if you have the resources to do so. One of my favorite brand content series right now is CAVA’s Bowlmates - huge shoutout to the CAVA social squad over there.

Another avenue to explore is being consistent with a specific content format. There are a variety of content formats to explore but it ultimately comes down to what makes the most sense for your brand and what is executable. One content format that I really enjoy and admire is how PFF (Pro Football Focus) approaches dynamic carousels on Instagram. They lead with a strong hook that stops the scroll and a carousel experience that delivers a ton of value to football fans.

Brand characters and mascots are still hot…and they are highly effective for brands on social. To me, brand characters are essentially content engines and brand properties - and should be brought into consideration IF it makes sense for your brand. Of course the Duolingo owl is a great example. But I also love how sports teams use mascots as brand characters and properties within their social ecosystems. The Indianapolis Colts’ mascot Blue is a personal favorite of mine. He’s lowkey a bit unhinged and a menace and I am so here for it 🤷.

How does your content make people feel? When consumers scroll do they get a sense of thrill and adventure? Are they inspired to throw around some weights in the gym and hit a PR? Do they start cracking up and share your post in the group chat? Every post you make should evoke a certain emotion. So how will your content make consumers feel? This feeling should be consistent and can establish what your brand can be known for on social. Gymshark is a great example with how they showcase the grit and grind of gym culture.

I hope you enjoyed today’s email! Here are a few things top of mind that I want to share before you go.

📲 This is the best platform for social media teams! 👀If you’re looking to scale branded content creation, I would highly recommend checking out Slate. Slate is used by some of the biggest brands in the world and I personally love using it. Learn more and book a demo here!

✍ Check out previous issues! Did you miss the first two issues of Stronger Social? Check out the archive here

📱Quick Social Tip! Struggling with content ideas? Dive into your comments and try to understand your community some more. At the end of the day, comments inspire content. The more you know about your community, the better content you can create.

🤔 Got a topic that you want to see addressed in a future issue? If so, respond to this email and let me know!

Thanks for reading and hope you have a great week!

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