Keep Social Media Social Magazine: Fall 2023

Fall 2023

in love Fall Process with the

photoshop ai

Ethical Considerations and Powerful New Features

12 step community building reel

Support Your Community This Season

GTfo!

Get to Freedom

Online & Offline

Tonight, We're Cleaning Out Our Closets

Hispanic heritage month Let's Celebrate!

September 15th - October 15th

in love Fall with the Process

Hey Friends,

Process - the “P” word many business owners, entrepreneurs and marketers avoid like the plague… The not-soglamorous yet necessary part of owning a business, or simply being great at what we do.

You know we’re not afraid of taking on tough topics… And after surveying our community (you all), we've realized implementing and completing processes are what sets successful individuals and organizations apart. So in this issue, we got laser-focused on the processes that will improve our personal lives, business lives and digital lives.

A friend of mine played soccer in college and when their team would lose a game, his coach would tell them "go home and clean your rooms before practice tomorrow." The players would go home, spend a few hours picking up their rooms, then come together to tidy up the rest of the soccer house. They'd make sure any neglected dishes were done, solo cups thrown out and soccer socks washed. They would return to the field the next day and hit their practice hard; with their physical spaces clean, they had the mental stamina to get back to work on the field.

I love that story as we can apply it to our businesses, marketing operations and even personal social lives. I truly believe getting our physical spaces and mental mindset 'tidy' can have a profound impact in bringing our A-Game to whatever it is we are working on.

This season, I've spent a lot of time asking myself "what needs cleaning up?". We’ve shared some tricks for getting started on page 28.

Part of the “clean up” process for me has been reflecting on the last seven years in business. I’ve taken some time to determine what to leave behind and what will come with us in this next chapter.

With that, we are thrilled to announce that McLernon & Co. has officially become Keep Social Media Social — new business name, new logo, new look, and the same big mission: to create the future of social together

Our social media marketing agency services remain untouched. We’ve deepened our commitment (and printing volume!) to the magazine, and launched our Academy, the educational side of our company that you’ve been asking for.

Besides our business activities, we’re creating more opportunities to connect and get involved with the KSMS mission. We’ve expanded to new states and are starting to select volunteers to lead IRL social meetups across the world. We’re excited for the changes, and we’re still moving slowly; creating and implementing processes for our company and our community that will allow us to grow strong together.

In Community, Amanda McLernon

we asked...

What

is one area of your life, online OR offline, that is well organized that you are proud of?

you answered...

"Definitely my file structure. All I have to do is look up the month and year and I can find any file I need for any of my projects."

- James R, Colorado

"Since I have three kids, it's my calendar. My husband and I have to share one and we always have a lot of things going on, so we utilize shared calendars where we have different categories. I have a "family" category, a "me" category a "business" category and a "travel" category. We also utilize a physical calendar that my kids can see so we kind of combine both the digital and the physical."

- liz n, Colorado

"I'm most organized at work. My calendar updates hourly and I usually have 8-9 things on there daily."

- Eva R, Colorado

- Jason M, Colorado

"I'm pretty organized at work. Just with the whiteboards sitting on top of things where I can see it with my tasks. Having things in places that are labeled where they need to be is nice."

- Henry A, Colorado

"I’m organized in the sense I’ve created a consistent workout routine that allows variation between classes and the intensity of the workout, while maintaining a strict habit of always showing up. I’ve relied less on motivation which is fleeting, and more on creating a habit that I can always fall back on no matter how I’m feeling."

- Kelsie W, New Mexico

"Thinking of clothes, color coordinating is crazy to me, but organizing based off of the feeling an article of clothing makes more sense."

- reagan k, Colorado

“My team structure is very organized at work. Having a strategic plan is really helpful keeping us on task and budget these days. Everyone is more confident and has a sense of pride. We are all gravitating towards one goal.”

“I have different “save” categories that I use diligently for Instagram and TikTok! And I reference them often”

- Riley I, California

“My Google calendar. If it isn’t on my calendar, it doesn’t exist. My priorities fill the calendar first (Family, then big work events, then goal-related activities).

If you feel out of balance, unproductive, or your relationships are falling apart: check your calendar. Where have you spent your time over the last month or so?”

"In my physical life, I keep my cupboards, fridge and dresser very organized."

- Eldar Z, Maryland

- Michelle L, California

- Laura t, Wisconsin

- Eva R, Colorado

“My inbox! I really try to have a good clear through every week to keep it tidy.”

- Penny r, wyoming

The Keep Social Media Social Team

you?! we're looking for paid writers.

©McLernon LLC 2023. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in whole or part without consent of the copyright owner. For permission to reproduce any article in this publication, or if you'd like to be a part of the next issue, contact connect@keepsocialmediasocial.com

Amanda McLernon Founder & CEO Editor-In-Chief

Elayna Hixon Head Designer Photographer

Adriana Anderson Contributing Writer

emma marlow Contributing Writer

Larry george ii Contributing Writer & Designer Photographer

Beth bogdewiecz Contributing Copy Editor

Scott bemis Mentor

helen thompson Contributing Writer & Designer

Cover Photography: Elayna Hixon

Brittany savnik Contributing Writer

Trending

by emma marlow

On the surface level, this last quarter was chock-full of content creator-owned newsletters and all things hot pink. If we take a deeper dive, we saw brands utilize video editing tools more, audiences divided during the Oceangate events and Twitter rebranded to “X.”

These are the top 5 recent trends in social media and what they mean for your brand.

Marketing to an Audience of Women

One of the biggest trends we saw this last quarter was the amount of female-led projects. There were a lot! From Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour to the Barbie Movie launch, numerous events were geared toward the shared female experience. According to Insider, the Barbie movie had a marketing budget of around $150 million, and the cost it took to produce the film was $145 million. The film is making upwards of $400 million, showing how an effective marketing strategy directed toward the right audience can yield high results.

Content Creator Newsletters

One category of posts we have seen go live, especially on LinkedIn and Instagram, is newsletters. Being based in Denver, Colorado, a common thread we are witnessing with top creators in this area is that they are introducing curated newsletters to their followers. Think blog content delivered to your inbox without having to search for it. Newsletters are excellent to institute if LinkedIn is a part of your strategy and you have a lot of content to share. Allowing your audience to subscribe to an in-depth, valuable newsletter gives you a better insight into who likes your content and what you can do to cater to them. It also provides subscribers with easily accessible content immediately upon opening.

On LinkedIn, for example, large brands like Refinery29 may post newsletters about salaries (they cleverly title them ‘Salary Stories’). Small creators, like our very own Content Strategist Larry, may post about leadership strategy.

Newsletters on LinkedIn allow your brand to expand on an idea and act as a blog.

Some of Denver's creators that do this are @raynakingdenver and @theamandabittner. They primarily share their newsletter with their social media audience through Stories. It allows them to get more creative with how they promote local happenings or their new favorite restaurants.

It is important to be aware of how frequently you send newsletters to your subscriber’s inboxes, though, to ensure you maintain a good open rate!

CapCut Helps Creators

CapCut is a video editing tool that we have seen getting used a lot because of its feature to use templates. Templates “cut out” a figure or character from another video so that you can apply the template to a photo or video of your own. Creators can make templates in the app from scratch, and then other users can put their own twist on it. For example, the Bill-Hader-dancing-meme has been used by over 775k users on CapCut alone. Numerous green screen templates are similar to this meme, such as John Cena (dancing in headphones) and Pedro Pascal (eating a sandwich). These templates make it easy to create evergreen content and establish a more personal, playful tone with your followers.

We created this short-form video for our client, Prestige Custom Home Builders.

The OceanGate Expedition Divides the Internet

The events of the OceanGate expedition that ended in tragedy had the internet on the edge of its seat. On one side, there was a lack of empathy (the people involved were all excessively wealthy); on the other, the lack of empathy towards human life sparked anger and loads of media coverage. In contrast, during the fateful expedition, a ship filled with migrants traveling from Libya to Italy sank with little media coverage. Reporting similar stories with the same amount of attention and care is essential, and these two circumstances are valuable examples of how we can be more conscious and attentive about the content we produce.

Twitter’s Rebrand

We all have seen the launch of Twitter’s rebrand to “X,” which has sparked a buzz of online discussions about the legitimacy of Musk’s takeover, the reason behind the letter X, and more.

Elon Musk acquired X (the social media company formerly known as Twitter) in October 2022, and his sweepingly dramatic changes have received mixed reviews. Here are some noteworthy updates to the platform:

Verification - Now, you must pay a subscription of $8/month to become a verified user.

Post limits - More recently, instead of unlimited access to newsfeed posts, unverified accounts are now limited to viewing only 600 posts per day.

Direct Message Limits - Unverified users can send a daily limit of messages/day. According to a recent X-support team post, there isn’t a set limit yet.

Free Speech - According to TIME, in December 2022, Musk suspended nine journalist accounts for publicizing ElonJet, which uses social media data to track Musk’s private airplane usage. These suspensions raised red flags for many users, as before his acquisition, he said that free speech would remain on the platform.

According to NBC News, Musk chose the letter X to “embody the imperfections in us all that make us unique.” With the addition of the subscription feature, the new limitations of the app, and the rebranding overall, many are shifting away from X’s services and favoring other platforms to retain the community Twitter once provided.

Currently, X operates as usual. There is still time to utilize the platform and decide whether it meets your brand's needs, as Twitter once did.

AI: Ethical

Photoshop Generative AI: Ethical considerations and powerful features

By Larry George II

In June of 2023 Adobe Photoshop released one of the most discussed features the creative community has seen in a long time, generative fill. This feature helps users quickly create, add to, remove, or replace images in Adobe Photoshop with simple text prompts powered by Adobe Firefly generative AI. What used to require a level of skill and patience can now be achieved in seconds.

While this new tool appears extremely powerful, some creators are hesitant about its use cases and the ethics surrounding it. As creators, it’s our duty to remain honest and ethical when releasing work and Adobe has been proactive in leading this charge. Their website lists their approach to generative AI including a goal to set the standard for responsibility.

“Through efforts like the Content Authenticity Initiative and Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity, we’re standing up for accountability, responsibility, and transparency in generative AI. We’re working toward a universal “Do Not Train” Content Credentials tag that will remain associated with a piece of content wherever it’s used, published, or stored.”

This article will cover what is generative AI, its use in social media, and a few key features that have proven to be useful to creators.

Understanding Generative AI

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text, and 3D models. It does this by learning patterns from existing data, then using this knowledge to generate new and unique outputs. - generativeai.net

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, Generative AI is a profound technology with many implications for content creation. Essentially, Generative AI encompasses algorithms and models that can produce new and original content. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely on predefined rules or learn from labeled data, Generative AI has the ability to generate data that was not explicitly seen during its training. This is what separates it and makes it incredibly powerful.

In content creation, Generative AI allows creators to design and craft content in exciting new ways. Creators can now generate hyper realistic visuals that can bring an idea to life or generate nearly perfect concepts for a skilled designer to elevate to the next level. This tool will allow content creators to streamline their workflow, speed up the creation process and connect with audiences in a completely new way.

Generative AI stands apart from other forms of AI like machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Machine learning involves training models on large amounts of labeled data to make predictions or decisions without being programmed. This is similar to Adobe’s heal feature. The program is learning from the data around it to try to produce something that it believes fits the situation. NLP, on the other hand, focuses on enabling computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language.

What really sets Generative AI apart is that it goes beyond learning from patterns or analyzing text. It uses complex neural networks to produce entirely new data based on the patterns and structures it has learned from existing data. From a creator standpoint, Generative AI does not need to rely on preexisting data to provide solutions, it only requires a prompt.

Chances are that you’re favorite AI tool is utilizing a form of Generative AI. Tools like GPT-3, DALL-E, and Midjourney are considered Generative AI and have become a part of many apps and creator workflows. These tools provide creators with access to create compelling, innovative, and engaging pieces of content.

With this addition to Photoshop, users can extend images, adjust lighting, and even add or subtract large elements to and from images. Access to these features is reshaping the landscape of modern content creation by automating what was once a learned skill. Many creators are questioning the ethics of using AI to alter images and learning what is reasonable vs what is unreasonable.

Generative AI in Social Media

Now that we have a general understanding of what generative AI is, let’s dive into its use in social media. Modern day social media managers are one stop shops. They are tasked with content design, caption writing, content scheduling and a host of other tasks so the introduction of a tool that could help sounds like a welcome addition.

With the use of generative AI, the days when clients send the wrong aspect ratio photo are gone. With the new photoshop feature, creators can quickly transform a horizontal photo into a vertical one. They can remove distracting elements from the photos and even generate new elements to add visual interest.

Savvy Adobe users may have signed up for Adobe Firefly which many would see as a competitor to DALL-E or Midjourney because it allows users to generate images from text. The main difference between these platforms, at the time of writing this article, is that Adobe Firefly is completely free to use while DALL-E is free for a certain number of creations and Midjourney requires a user to purchase credits.

With the combination of Adobe Firefly and Adobe Photoshop users can create visually stunning images and graphics in minutes as opposed to hours. Creators can use their imaginations to bring even the wildest ideas to life. This allows content creators to create visuals at scale, easily increasing output if the final images are desirable.

Obviously the main benefit of utilizing and implementing Adobe’s generative AI is time and cost. Instead of spending time communicating small needs with clients, creators can “fix it in post”. Instead of spending an hour trying to find the perfect stock photo, creators can generate the necessary elements. With this time back, social media creators can use it to focus on strategy, caption writing, or a well deserved break.

Another huge benefit to using generative AI is the enhanced creativity and diversity in ideation. Even if a creator does not use the exact images created by AI, drawing inspiration from a generated prompt can be extremely helpful. The AI creations can help spark the final vision or lead a designer down the correct path.

Creators who lean more towards an artistic path may choose to be inspired by AI instead of using its creations. This practice can help get a creator out of a creative block and open their mind to new and diverse ideas for visuals.

Adobe has done an excellent job with their Firefly platform by “automatically attaching a tag in the embedded content credentials to make AI-generated art and content easily distinguishable from work created without generative AI.”

However, when it comes to the Photoshop generative fill, this same rule does not apply and creators can manipulate and export images without mentioning the embed or mentioning the use of AI.

At KSMS, we believe that changes to images within a reasonable edit are appropriate to not mention the use of AI. However, if AI is doing more than 50% of the work, we believe that it should be mentioned for ethical purposes.

Key Features and Tools in Adobe’s Photoshop Beta

I’ve hinted at the features and abilities of Adobe's Photoshop Beta, but I’d like to show you what that can look like. The main feature we will be displaying is called generative fill. We will be demonstrating several uses, including: image expansion, object removal, element addition, and concept changing.

The image expansion feature allows a creator to transform a horizontal image into a vertical one and vice versa. In previous iterations of Photoshop, this technique was achieved by slowly expanding the area using content aware fill or stretching and transforming. Now with the click of a button, generative AI fills the necessary space with what it believes the remainder of the scene should be.

If the first version that appears is not ideal, there are options the user can cycle through until a desired look is achieved. If that does not work, users can type in what they would like to see and regenerate the image until their imagination is fulfilled.

The next 2 features are object removal and element addition. Removing objects from photos has been around for a long time in Adobe Photoshop. Recently Google even introduced the ability in their editing software. Adobe takes things a step further by not only quickly removing unwanted objects from photos, but offering the option to replace them with different objects.

Users now have the option to remove an object and replace the space as if the object never existed OR replace the object with another object. If a car was in the way a user could remove the car, change it to a wall, or change the color of the car. The possibilities are truly endless.

Creators can now also generate additional elements for their images. If creators did a photoshoot with missing props they can now be added with generative AI. Creators can create mock up additional wall art or furniture in graphics to add visual interest where it was previously lacking.

These are the most popular uses of the tool right now, but as Adobe continues to build upon this creation, the use cases could continue to increase.

ai has filled the space to expand the image.

the original image does not fill this space.

Conclusion

The rise of generative AI, compounded by Adobe Photoshop’s newest features have transformed the creative landscape. What was once time and energy consuming can be achieved in minutes. As this technology continues to develop, we must remain aware of and actively implement the ethics surrounding its use.

As we learn to work with and embrace elements of generative AI, let us remember that human oversight and responsible decision making remain essential. Leveraging the technology responsibly will allow everyone – including the AI – to win.

Generative AI: A type of artificial intelligence that creates various forms of content, like images, text, and more, by learning patterns from existing data and using that knowledge to generate new, unique outputs. It's like AI creativity that can produce things it hasn't seen before.

Ethics: The principles that guide what's right and wrong in a particular context. When it comes to generative AI, it involves considering the moral implications and responsibilities associated with its use.

Content Authenticity Initiative: An effort by Adobe and others to ensure that content generated by AI can be traced back to its source, promoting transparency and accountability.

Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity: An alliance focused on establishing the origins and authenticity of digital content, particularly content created by AI.

Neural Networks: Complex systems in AI that mimic how the human brain works, enabling AI to learn and make decisions based on patterns.

GPT-3, DALL-E, Midjourney: Examples of generative AI models like GPT-3 that can create text, DALL-E that generates images, and Midjourney for image manipulation.

Aspect Ratio: The proportional relationship between an image's width and height. Generative AI can help adjust these ratios without distorting the image.

Adobe Firefly: Adobe's generative AI tool that can create images based on text prompts. Prompt: A short description or instruction given to an AI model to generate specific content.

How to Add Elements to Photos using Photoshop (beta)

Skill Level:

Beginner - Intermediate

Prep: 1-3 minutes

Create: 1-6 minutes depending on desired outcome

Total Time: Approximately 8 minutes or more depending how many adjustments you'd like

Step 1

Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, select an area to add an element.

Step 2

Add your prompt to the prompt section of the pop up bar and click generate

Step 3

Once the element is generated, feel free to cycle through the options using the arrows to get your desired result. If none of the options work for you feel free to regenerate with a different prompt.

fan favorites from last year plus some NEW spook-tacular products

COLLECTION

alll the spooky things banner skeleton peace sign pillow spooky pennant ghost pillow

Businesses we love

Full Good Fulfillment & Logistics

Full Good's mission is to position CPG brands for sustainable growth by supporting and optimizing logistics and fulfillment processes through transparency, attention to detail, adding true value and teamwork. Their clients are emerging CPG businesses that are scaling nationally and world-wide. Outsourcing fulfillment allows their clients to focus on growing their product ranges and supporting their customers.

dry goods, specialty products, frozen food, kitting,

Fresh N Tasty Nuts

Imagine the smell of freshly roasted cinnamon nuts... yum! The nostalgia that the smell brings might take you back to a baseball game with your family or a state fair in the late summer. Or maybe it reminds you of the holidays, sipping hot cocoa as you shop at a winter market.

Meet Antonio and Patricia, owners of a local Totally Nutz franchise. They are bringing back the joyful memories of roasted nuts to many in the form of corporate gifts this year!

Their business gift / corporate gifting packages start at just $15 per gift, making them an excellent small business choice for your holiday business gifting. They ship nationwide and no minimum order required!

Place an order online or email freshntastynuts@totallynutz.com for a quote, and tell them that KSMS sent you!

Visit

Central Location = Faster Shipping Times

create custom stickers to stay on brand on instagram

By helen thompson

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Keep your brand consistent throughout your social media with customized stickers that are easy to make and match your brand exactly!

Brainstorm: What type of stickers you like to use on Instagram Stories? Do you use the same gif over and over again to announce a new post? Do you already have icons from your brand design?

Design time! Open the design program of your choice (today we’ll be using Canva but Adobe or Procreate are also great options!)

Set your art-board to IG Story size so you have a sense of scale: 1080x1920 pixels

Design your sticker! Keep in mind the size of your art and how an image would look behind your art. If you have a brand style guide, be sure to use your colors and fonts- this is what builds consistency!

Step 5:

Export your art as a PNG with transparent background (Transparent PNG is available only for Canva Pro users. Online background image removers such as remove.bg can be used but may degrade quality).

Step 6:

Save your sticker art PNG to your phone’s camera roll

Step 7: Step 8:

Open Instagram and choose to share a story. (I chose to share a post to my stories).

Step 9:

Step 10:

Click the sticker icon at the top (looks like a little face).

Scroll down and click on the photo option - it will be showing a preview of your most recent photo in your camera roll. Select your sticker image from your camera roll.

Adjust your sticker on the story & post!

designer pro tips:

Save all your sticker images into a folder within your phone’s camera roll for easy access!

If you want to use the in-app text on your stories but keep it on brand, use your brand colors! The easiest way to do this is save your brand colors on your phone as an image and keep it in your brand photo folder. When you want to use the colors, add the image to your story and use the eyedropper to sample colors. Once you have everything right, you can delete the image.

dispelling pinterest myths while prepping for the holidays

By Brittany savnik

As a Pinterest strategist, it’s no surprise that I believe that Pinterest is a crucial platform for most businesses and even more so for e-commerce. With that said, there are several myths surrounding Pinterest that may be a damper on your brand’s success on the platform. Through this article, we will debunk common misconceptions and provide insight into how you can optimize your account for exposure and engagement just in time for the holiday season.

Myth #1: Pinterest is only for e-commerce businesses.

While Pinterest is renowned for its visual appeal, it is not limited to businesses with physical products. No matter the type of brand you are promoting, you can utilize Pinterest to inspire, educate, and engage your audience. For service-based companies to content creators, Pinterest provides the perfect chance to share ideas, tutorials, and valuable resources that will open up the possibilities for exposure.

Myth #2: Pinterest is a short-term marketing plan.

Compared to other social media platforms, Pinterest has a longer lifespan for content than one might think. Pins can be discovered and re-pinned months or even years after their initial posting. By strategically planning your holiday content, you can create a lasting impact and drive traffic to your website long after the season ends.

Myth #3: Keywords / SEO doesn't matter on Pinterest.

While images are what pull a pinner in, it's the keywords that play a crucial role in Pinterest SEO. Including relevant keywords in your pin descriptions, pin titles, board titles, board descriptions, and profile can significantly improve your visibility and reach. When you include thorough keyword research to identify popular holidayrelated terms and incorporate them strategically throughout your account, it makes it more likely that you will experience success on the platform.

Myth #4: The quantity of pins matters more than quality.

While it's important to be consistently creating on Pinterest, quality should never be compromised. Focus on creating visually appealing, high-quality, keyword-optimized pins that resonate with your target audience. Invest time in crafting compelling yet keyword-rich titles and descriptions and eye-catching graphics that capture attention and encourage engagement.

Myth #5: Pinterest is a standalone platform.

Integrating Pinterest with your other marketing channels can amplify your holiday campaign's effectiveness. Cross-promote your Pinterest content on other social media platforms, email newsletters, and your website to reach a wider audience rather than just keeping the content on one platform. It also may be a great idea to encourage your followers to follow you on Pinterest and interact as well.

Pinterest is a great marketing tool for businesses to successfully prepare their accounts for the holiday season. By dispelling common myths and understanding how to optimize your Pinterest presence, you can increase brand visibility, drive traffic, increase revenue and engage with your target audience. Embrace the potential of Pinterest, and make this holiday season a memorable one for your business.

see examples

see examples

podcasts We Love

"...the constant connection to your old life can be really distracting, and keep you from reflecting deeply on the experiences you're having every day..."

- Dr. Jenny Nuccio, Let It Be Wild

getting started

100 unread text messages. 347 unread emails. 80 random documents on your desktop. A scary closet with items pushing at the door. A shed with boxes haphazardly thrown on shelves. A windowless storage hallway with a dozen cardboard boxes.

If reading about these scenarios makes you cringe, sound eerily familiar, or you can picture your own spooky situation, you're not alone.

Clutter and disorganization happens to everyone, and whether it's digital or physical, sometimes a big "closet clean out" is the only way to solve it. Recognizing that you have a situation that you want to address is the first step in the right direction.

The bad news? The fix is likely going to take more time than you think. The reality is that small choices and actions add up over time and you won't be able to swing the pendulum back in the right direction without the same amount of effort, time and energy that got you there.

The good news? Decluttering can have a positive impact on your stress levels and mental health. It feels good to have control over your environment and the repetitive actions can provide a sense of calm. Now, let's get started!

3

10

No time? No problem! Ask Alexa or Siri to set a 3 minute timer and challenge yourself to clear as much clutter off of a digital or physical space as possible. You’ll surprise yourself with how much you can get done in 180 seconds.

18

Tricks To get started: Tricks To get started: tools: tools:

“Just 10” - This is a game to play when you are having a hard time getting started, or are feeling overwhelmed. Tell yourself “just do 10” and whether it’s folding laundry, organizing digital files, opening mail or putting things away, just do 10 pieces. It’s a great way to move past the “stuck” feeling. Who knows, you may want to do another 10 after you see how much you have accomplished!

Some tasks feel like they are really heavy and hard; and these seem to be the ones that get pushed off again and again. Ask Alexa or Siri to set a timer for 18 minutes, and challenge yourself to ONLY focus on that task for that time. Close all other tabs, turn off notifications and power in during this time. It is amazing how many daunting tasks can be fully completed in 18 minutes.

Before you start your physical clean out, here are a few tools to make your experience as painless as possible.

Tips: Tips:

Physical

Tip - Micro Organization:

Although this process is time consuming, it's worth it if you do a lot of crafts or projects. Your future self will thank you!

Physical Tip - Odd Shaped

Try to place your odd shaped, rarely used Items as high as possible. You won't need to reach them often and they won't disrupt the organization of other items.

Physical Tip - Vertical Stacking:

Vertical stacking is ok for items that are related and are used all at the same time, for example, holiday decor bins. These items are used 1-2x / year and are typically accessed all at once.

Digital Tip - Zoom Recordings:

Do you really need a recording of the Tuesday standing meeting from 2021? Review your Zoom recordings to see what you can take to the digital trash.

Physical Tip - Group Items Together By Use:

In this image, we can see all sorts of different Items that could be used when painting. The separation of specifics keeps things tidy, while the items being physically close makes them easy to utilize.

Everyone has an area of their life that they wish were better organized or tidy. No one is perfect , and "done" , "after" or "finished" will look differently for everyone. Visualize what your "after" looks like and strive for that goal!

After+ Affirmations

Give yourself grace as you move through this process. There will be times that the physical or digital items you come across bring up difficult emotions. Give yourself time to process those and decide what you are ready to release.

Sometimes it’s gotta get worse before it gets better. Future me is going to LOVE current me. I can do hard things!

I’m slowing down to speed up.

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I am grateful for the dedication I have to making my life more organized. I am proud of myself for choosing to do hard work.

Tenacity requires tedious tasks.

I’m laying a strong foundation. I’m choosing freedom.

Looking to get started with your digital and physical clean-outs? Tear out this page, tape it to your wall and choose a task based on the time and energy you have!

I'm choosing freedom!

Digital Choice Menu

Answer one easy email

Answer one difficult email

File one document

Delete 5 old documents

Delete your last week of downloads on your computer

Organize one folder and delete any files that are not necessary

Evaluate & organize 10 items on your desktop or from your “needs organizing” folder

Delete 25 “junk” emails

Choose one “month” on your phone and delete photos or screenshots that do not need to be saved

Visit your bookmarked tabs and remove anything that does not need to be bookmarked anymore

Go through 5 “starred” or “flagged” emails

Read and handle 8 unread emails

Organize 10 recent documents and file correctly

Manually backup your phone to the cloud

Permanently delete your computer trash

Search by sender and “delete all” for old marketing emails from a brand

Unsubscribe from 5 email lists

Physical Choice Menu

Put away, throw out or recycle 10 pieces of clutter anywhere around your office or house

Recycle 5 pieces of paper

Fold or hang 10 pieces of clothing

Give away 3 items you are not likely to use again

Open and sort 5 pieces of mail

Scan, digitally file, then shred 5 documents

Choose one drawer, bucket or basket to clean out

Remove anything you have not used in over a year and are unlikely to use again in the future and put it in a file to give away, throw out or recycle

Clean the drawer, bucket or basket

Organize the drawer, bucket or basket as you put the items you’d like to keep back in

Review your hobby supplies and organize them into categories

Choose 3 books to give to a Little Free Library or donate to a local school

Shred 10 pieces of old documents

Recycle 5 old birthday cards that are no longer special to you

Evaluate and throw out or scan and file 3 receipts

Organize 5 items on your desk space

Purchase 1-5 new binders for organizing

Thanks for keeping it social this summer! to share your photos, tag us and use #keepsocialmediasocial

optimize your pinterest profile How To

By Brittany savnik

In the process of making your holiday marketing strategy? If you are looking to reach women age 25-34 who love to plan, Pinterest is the perfect platform for you. Hootsuite recently reported that 85% of

Pinterest users use the platform for planning purposes, often planning up to 5 months in advance for holidays. And, this planning process makes them feel good - 8 in 10 Pinterest users say Pinterest makes them feel positive!

1. Optimize your pinterest profile

Choose a recognizable picture such as your brand logo or a professional headshot. We suggest using the same one across all platforms so it's recognizable.

Write an informative and engaging bio that describes who you are, what you do, and what your Pinterest boards are all about. Make sure to do plenty of keyword research so that it's consistent across your account. Include a link to your website or blog in the designated space on your profile, if able be sure to claim your website as well!

2. Create Optimized Boards

Choose board names that are descriptive while keeping in mind the keywords that you want to rank for on the platform. Make sure that the boards you create are relevant to your niche or customer.

Remember your goal is to generate a brand that your ideal customer is looking for.

Write detailed board descriptions that incorporate relevant keywords and phrases users might search for.

3. Design Eye-Catching Pins

Create visually appealing and eye grabbing graphics that will grab the attention of pinners so that they will click or save for the future. Make sure that the images you are using are high quality images that are relevant to your brand/business.

You can also add text overlay or titles on your pins to grab a viewer's attention even more.

Static pins should usually be a 2:3 ratio (1000x1500)

Bonus Tip!

Search by keywords you want to rank for and study images and text that are populating.

4. Keyword Optimization/Research

Research and incorporate relevant keywords into your pin descriptions and board titles. When researching keywords use the Trends tool on Pinterest.

5. consistency is key

Be sure to continually produce fresh content that is relevant for your audience so that winners will engage frequently.

Schedule content throughout the day so you reach a broader audience.

With more than 5 billion searches on Pinterest per month and 97% of those searches being unbranded*, your company and brand has a serious opportunity to win on this platform. If you implement any of these suggestions, email us to tell us what you did and what worked! connect@keepsocialmediasocial.com

*Hootsuite + Pinterest data

is threads right for you and your business? what do you think?

That's So Meta - Threads

by emma marlow

Imagine you are running a company and want to create a product that rivals your competitor’s. You see their offering is losing traction in the industry, and you scramble to launch it and stay ahead of the game before someone else snatches up the opportunity. You launch an offering that’s not quite perfect, but it works, and it feels strangely similar to your competitor's original product before it began to decrease in popularity. Your new offering also syncs easily with the other products you’ve already created.

Sound familiar? It should. This is what Meta did with the launch of Threads, their new social platform.

Threads was introduced in early July and met with mostly positive praise. Is this new social platform right for your brand? Read on before adding it to your marketing strategy.

Since Threads is entirely new, it feels and works similarly to other (a bit unrefined) social media sites during their early days. Because of this, creating a Threads account offers an excellent opportunity to connect with audiences uniquely and authentically. Since it currently doesn’t support ads, Threads gives brands an exciting upper hand that allows them to experiment more with their audiences. A confident start doesn’t always mean lasting impact, so Meta is already working on a new retention plan (since launch, half of new users have left the app). According to Similarwebs, “On its best day, July 7, Threads had more than 49 million daily active users. By Friday, July 14, Threads was down to 23.6 million active users.”

With this in mind, we recommend Threads as a great platform to try if you want to create uniquely meaningful connections. As a brand, you’ll be able to tap into the audience that is using the platform more authentically, and as a user, you get to add to those conversations. Since Threads is just getting started, you may even be able to create relationships with coveted brands or individuals that may have been unreachable on other social platforms.

Working Threads into your strategy can be easy and seamless. Our Lead Content strategist Larry has some helpful tips to consider when implementing this platform:

1. Identify with a new algorithm - Threads initially developed a feed filled with content from people you follow and people you don’t (acting similarly as a “For You” page). They recently added an update where you can find other users through the search function and follow them, as with other social platforms like Instagram. This feature creates a more curated feed through its “Following” page. In addition, you can now sort your “Activity” feed by follows, quotes, and reposts and also search for specific accounts. Content within these feeds is prioritized based on your account's algorithm recommendations.

Things to keep in mind when following other accounts:

Make it diverse - Expanding your feed to show content you usually wouldn’t (like a women’s clothing boutique following a brunch spot) helps increase visibility outside your typical audience. What conversations do you want to be a part of? - If you're a brand that sells artisanal food products, you will want to follow accounts about related components such as quality ingredients, food recipes, new restaurants, etc.

2. Take note: some features from Instagram have transferred over - Threads introduced a few features to create a more user-friendly online community. For example, Threads allows you to join through Instagram, so you can easily carry over your existing contacts from that platform. Another feature they implemented was increased privacy. Any blocked or hidden words you already identified through your Instagram account will carry over, allowing you to save time and maintain safety while setting up a new account. Simply click the “Import from Instagram” button to transfer all your Instagram data to Threads smoothly.

as of our print date, threads' daily active user count is down by over 80%.

3. Weigh your management capacity - Threads is yet to be an apples-to-apples replacement for Twitter/X. If you don’t have the bandwidth to take on and manage another platform, don’t expend the energy if it will burn you out. Joining Threads can be beneficial if you’re looking to experiment with different messaging, new content ideas, community outreach, or gain experience connecting with more established accounts on other platforms like Instagram or Facebook.

4. Have creative content freedom - Unlike Twitter/X, Threads has a large character count of 500. Twitter/X has a 280-character limit which may slow down your content production process. If you’re looking to say a lot in a small amount of space (that’s not too small), Threads may be for you.

Another feature that Threads included is the ability to post both horizontal and vertical photos and videos. This could benefit your brand if you already utilize a wide range of visual content, as it won’t crop the assets you post.

5. Keep in mind: content strategy still matters - Threads allows you to share up to 10 different types of media in a single post; however, it’s imperative to consider how using that capability will reflect on your audience. Quantity does not always equal quality, and you need to consider how much and what type of content to post on this platform specifically.

For example, Teen Vogue created a post about “Girl Dinners” (a trend where people put together meals based on what ingredients are easily accessible to them, even if they don’t necessarily go together). This post received 206 replies. They used a Kim Kardashian Barbie / Oppenheimer meme in a different post and only received six responses.

Both posts have the right basic idea (being easy to read in the main feed with little context); however, one post opened up the capacity for a conversation, and the other simply contributed to an already ongoing conversation.

What we can learn from these two posts:

Start a conversation - Using a trending topic on Threads is a great starting point, but consider how to make it your own. Think of different ways to garner responses from your community rather than just adding your comment to a trending conversation. Get personal - Use questions or challenges to spark your followers into taking action, and use fun copy to inspire them to weigh in with their opinions (when appropriate). You don’t always need a graphic or photo - The most significant praise Threads has been receiving is that non-Twitter users can join and have a similar experience to how Twitter operates. Creating content in Threads without adding a photo or video can save time without diminishing your followers' experience. You can make more frequent, engaging posts that put community conversations at the forefront.

The critical thing to remember about Threads or any new online community is to not overthink it. As social strategists, we can get buried in content creation and must remember that these platforms are about connecting and having fun with our audiences. Sometimes the best interactions come from the simplest posts. Threads is no different: it came about to start conversations and be another communication tool. Users are seeking a fun place to escape, so if you create an environment with these tips in mind, you can make it a place for people to fall in love with social media all over again.

Brands that had a great time launching their Thread accounts:

Community building reel

If you’re looking to show off your community through reels and don’t know where to start, we can help! You can make a “Community Spotlight” reel with your favorite small businesses in just a couple steps. This is great for someone who wants to share about their community.

(for example, a real estate agent, a local content creator, travel vloggers, etc.)

Small Business Saturday is November 25th so get your reels ready!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Prep: 15-30 minutes

Create: 15-60 minutes depending on style

Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes - 90 minutes depending on skill level & style

On your phone, create an album of some aesthetic clips from a coffee shop, vintage store, brewery, etc that you love to go to. Let your style shine through with your selections!

On the Instagram App, use the + button to select Reel

Swipe up or use the photo + button on the app to access your photos.

Toggl to the album you created..

One-by-one add your favorite clips in the order you want them to appear in your reel. Click “Add” after each selection.

Repeat step 5 until all of your desired clips are added. Select an audio you want to use or search for an audio to use.

Select “Edit Video” to add different features as you see fit. We have labeled these features for you.

Pro Tip: Since this is a community spotlight, make sure to tell a story through your video. You can do this by adding text, or even doing a voiceover which can both be found in the “Edit Video” feature.

Preview your reel - if you want to edit, either use the features at the top or go back and “Edit Video”

Once you are happy with your reel, press the blue “Next” button to get to the final page.

You’re ready to publish! Add a caption, tag featured accounts and edit your cover. Remember to use #KeepSocialMediaSocial in your caption and tag us so we can see and celebrate your online creation. Press “Share”!

Don't forget to add a caption & tag the business!

watchthe full reelher

be intentional about shopping small online & offline to support your community this season.

Digital Security Checklist Spotlight on Education

Whether you are a student, teacher, marketer, parent or content creator, it’s important to educate yourself on how to protect your privacy online To help you out, we ’ ve partnered with a teacher turned CIA cyber security specialist to create this digital security checklist for your iPhone

Remember, your phone is a very personal tool, and only YOU can decide your comfort level for privacy, but using this checklist will help you apply some fundamental digital security best practices to your iPhone usage Enjoy!

The 5 Es of Keeping Social Media Social

How to Protect Your Wi-Fi Usage

Under Wi-Fi settings, make sure you have "ask" marked under the "Ask to Join Networks" prompt. This will set your phone up to ask you to join Wi-Fi networks instead of automatically connecting to any Wi-Fi that is in your proximity. Hackers are known to drive around in vehicles with Wi-Fi "spoofers" to collect data. If your phone is not prompted to ask before joining networks, your phone will automatically connect to these fake networks, allowing hackers access to all of your phone's data.

Note from Amanda: Woah! This one was scary for me. I had never done this before, so I had connections dating back to 2014.

Never allow your phone to auto-join Wi-Fi hotspots. Have this section marked as "never".

How to Secure Your Location

Privacy & Security

Location Services > Share My Location

Find My iPhone - On!

Audit the “Friends” who can see your location! To stop sharing your location, click the friend’s name and then “Stop Sharing My Location.”

Under the edit button, make sure you “forget” your joined Wi-Fi connections at least bi-weekly. If your phone is hacked, the attackers will be able to track your locations through your joined Wi-Fis.

Tracking

Under the "tracking" button, check which apps are on versus off. Applications request to track your location for advertising purposes but don't need to know your location otherwise. You can turn off the “Allow Apps to Request to Track” tab to automatically deny all new app tracking requests if you do not want apps to track your location.

Analytics and Improvements

This area is where Apple (and Android) asks you to track your keystrokes and all activity conducted on your phone. Audit these tabs to ensure you are comfortable - we recommend turning all of these tabs off, as Apple does not need visibility over this activity on your phone.

Note from Amanda: Prior to this security check in I had this area on - check out these screenshots about how much data was being reported from my phone on a DAILY basis. Everything I was doing on my phone on a daily basis was being reported to Apple.

Apple Advertising

We recommend this section is turned off, though you may be comfortable with it on. Check this on your own phone and choose based on your personal comfort level.

App Privacy Report

This is a newer feature. Though Apple presents it as a safety feature, it also tracks the application data it collects. Determine whether you would like Apple to collect this data.

Nearby Interactions

This uses Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth to precisely measure the distance between your iPhone and other devices or items. Audit this frequently to ensure this is not turned on if you do not want your location to be tracked or measured.

How to Secure Your Bluetooth Usage

While most of us use Bluetooth every day, it is important to audit your connections and ensure that you are not linked to “random” Bluetooth connections within your area. This is especially important if you are frequently using Bluetooth in public (for example, at a coffee shop, sporting event or concert). You may want to check your connections on a weekly basis if you are actively in public spaces.

New Digital Security Term: VPN

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. It is an application that allows an additional protection layer for your device by encrypting your phone/computer’s location and data. We recommend that all normal internet users utilize a VPN, especially those who use public Wi-Fi. (Public Wi-Fi usage is one of the #1 ways that hackers get access to personal information, like social media accounts!).

image created with midjourney ai

"I know that to live a vibrant, ‘lights on’ life, I must take care of myself before anything else."

- Jenny Nuccio

We’ve all been there… those days when we’ve missed lunch, we just got off a stressful call, and now mustering up the strength to type an email the length of “Thx!” feels mountainous. Those are days where--if we’re not careful--our mood can get the best of us, days when our doubt, worry, fear and anxiety can cause our thoughts to spiral and our productivity to come to a screeching halt. We’ve all been in that place. And guess what? We all have the power to get ourselves out of it.

In her book Let it Be Wild, Jenny Nuccio explores this daily balancing act between productivity and self-care: “Entrepreneurship and business is hard, but we can’t sit in doubt and worry. I have made it a daily - even hourly - habit to perform an internal energy check - this simple check in allows me to pause and notice where I am energy-wise and what I need to be innovative and creative again.”

CLARITY DAILY CHECK-IN©

What’s different?

What worked (in my performance only)?

What didn’t work (in my performance only)?

What is the state of my mind, body and spirit.

What am I grateful for?

What is my intention for the day?

Chapter 28 - Shifting Above the Line Let It Be Wild by Jenny Nuccio

"It was a cloudy and cold morning when I walked into the Clarity International headquarters. I was introduced to Cathy, Founder of Clarity® the previous month at a conference I had spoken at. As soon as I met her, I immediately gravitated towards her energy and there was this instant nudge in my heart that I needed more of her in my life. I had heard stories of methods she had created and tools that were helpful for leaders, but I was not exactly sure what to expect.

Walking into this day, I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. We had been on the road for about five months, living out of suitcases, so we could raise more support for our projects in Kenya. At the same time, I was juggling little to no sleep with a newborn and constantly fighting overwhelm with my workload from my doctoral program.

I was also frustrated with the growth of Imani Collective and felt stagnation in my vision. The growth was gradual, organic and at many times, agonizing. I was lost in how to lead my team well and felt drained when trying to create any type of strategy. I was questioning my purpose daily and in constant doubt, worry and anxiety.

I came into the Clarity® center withdrawn, resistant and a bit suspicious of these “tools” that I would be engaging with that day, but as I stepped into the center, I immediately felt light. There was something about the place that gave me an inner peace and reminded me of the feeling I get every time I step off the plane when I am back in Kenya. It is a feeling of complete alignment and an energy that just feels right.

Cathy welcomed me in and began to share with me the Get Clarity™ SHIFT tool. She explained to me that neuroscience had proven that we all have patterns of thought – negative and positive; and patterns can be changed. She assured me that SHIFT was the tool to use for consistent change. I learned that in order to lead well, feel balanced, and gain my vision back – I had to begin with rewiring my brain.

Over the course of the day, she walked me through how to check in with myself and make sure that I was setting intentions and gratitude for the day that would shift my mindset to a positive light. She guided me in understanding my personal energy and what I could control – my thoughts, my body, my health, my spirit and my creativity. She showed me that with thought alone, I held the power to shift my spirit to liven and had the

ability to stay energetically alive, conscious, and 'lights-on' throughout my day. That I could hold that field, create that energy, and ground this newfound knowledge in my faith.

That day, I was given the tools to understand that by intentionally choosing positive thoughts, could change everything. This newfound positivity and energy could be used as a guide in everything I do. I could create energy and from that human energy would come outcomes. I left that day feeling excited, energized, curious and ‘lights on!’

Over the years, I have learned to cognitively refocus my thought patterns, so that the behaviors that keep me ‘lights on’ grow to become habits. This retraining of the brain takes practice and repetition. To be able to take a negative thought and reframe it to a positive one requires intentionality and focus. As I have led our team at Imani Collective, I have seen firsthand that energy is what shapes culture. It is a vital piece of how a workplace can be transformed and we have the daily choice to live in our passion and create action from our thoughts. We truly have the power to transform a culture through our ripple effect.

I still experience hard days, even after implementing Clarity® into my daily life, but my awareness of these shifts in my body, mind and spirit has been heightened with this practice. I know that to live a vibrant, ‘lights on’ life, I must take care of myself before anything else. Clarity® describes this as sacred selfishness – where you must serve yourself and your vision, before serving others. This took me years to grasp because I was always taught to give, serve, sacrifice. From a young age, it had been pounded into my thought pattern that if I was not in service then I was not representing humility, grace, or love. Year after year, I continued to experience burnout, which led me straight to Cathy. I quickly learned that being a martyr serves no one. That if I am not protecting my energy then I will only be serving out of a drained spirit and an empty vessel. I had to learn how to cultivate sacred selfishness so that I could live a life of vitality and show up fully for others. I could not be generous with my time, energy and deep love unless I first learned how to give that to myself.

Cathy reignited my vision for the endless possibilities of what could be and was a catalyst to keeping my wild spirit awakened."

- Jenny Nuccio

Black Friday, & everything

Love it or hate it, Black Friday through Cyber Monday (BFCM) is one of the most impactful sales seasons of the year. Be prepared!

10 Tips

Start Early - whether it’s your planning, your preparation or your promotions, starting early will allow you to compete and win for your audience’s attention. Last year, big brand Target started doing smaller promotions and sales 4 weeks prior to BFCM. (Scan the QR code to read more about all of the tactics they used). Many small businesses choose to start promotions Wednesday night before BFCM giving people plenty of time to shop at their leisure throughout the weekend.

Do a giveaway 2-3 weeks before BFCM! Giveaways help reach new audiences, re-engage current followers and grab attention before social media gets noisy with promotions.

How low can you go? While small businesses can’t compete with big box discounting data shows that the discount matters - the bigger the sale, the quicker the click to purchase. If you are participating in BFCM, it’s NOT the time to run your “usual” discounts.

Utilize AI - Chat GPT should be your best friend for helping determine your promotions and assist you with writing the affiliated headlines and copy. Work smarter, not harder this holiday season.

Look for simplicity in your email sequences - a simple letter from the founder, clear promotion and promotion end date can drive a ton of sales. Don’t overdo it with design if it’s not needed.

Recycle high performing content - did you notice anything in your marketing mix that performed well, or even exact pieces of content that crushed it from last year? Bring it back! Use it as a base to start from, make a few tweaks and put it back to work this year!

Connect with an influencer and plan a promotion. Options for content include joint posting, having them create a “talking head” video over your sales page, a product testimonial video and so much more. BFCM is a great time to invest in creators and influencers as a part of your paid social strategy. Pro Tipreach out ASAP to get this going. Many people have their campaigns fully booked weeks in advance.

Cyber Monday in between.

GAP

This is a great example of how to engage a popular influencer as a part of your organic and paid BFCM social strategies. Most small businesses don’t have the baller budget that gigantic brands do, but that does not mean that these strategies are out of reach. Many micro-influencers and creators accept $50++ for these posts, depending on their audience reach and engagement data. Brands should expect to pay more depending on the reach and engagement of the influencer. Brands should manage this budget similarly to a paid advertising budget.

Creators and Brands - Take Action Now:

Brainstorm: Who is one brand or creator who would benefit from partnering with you like this? ______________

Commit: When will you reach out to them? _________________

Connect: How will you reach out to them? __________________

Compensate: How much do you think this paid partnership would be? What is your minimum and maximum budget? ____________________

best buy

What can we learn from this mega brand’s content? A lot! Here’s what we notice:

Simple copy that pushes urgency

High contrast color designs

Strategic use of red when talking about when the sale ends

What do you notice? ______________________

target

Another big a$$ budget brand using a tactic we can easily be inspired by. The “talking head” concept is simple to replicate on Instagram Reels or TikTok. You can screen record your website on your phone, film your promo inside the app, add the screen recording and viola! A great piece of content within 20 minutes.

Scan this QR code to see Target’s video for inspiration.

By adriana anderson

welcome to hispanic Hola! heritage month

Welcome to Hispanic Heritage Month! Celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the Independence Day celebrations for Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua and is an opportunity to acknowledge the impact Hispanics have made on our country and the world.

My favorite part about this month is how it reminds us of how rich and diverse Hispanic/Latino history is in the United States. Immigrants, refugees and other Spanish-speaking or Indigenous have been living in the US for centuries--many before the US was even recognized as a nation! I’m always humbled by this reality because I also migrated to the US in the 2000s, however, like so many others, my personal experience in this country began even before I was born.

During World War II, my abuelo joined the Bracero Program, America's biggest guest-worker initiative created to avoid labor shortages during the war. The program was conceived from necessity, as the federal government worried that America’s entry into World War II would rob the Southwest of its farm labor. For close to two decades, my grandpa worked on vegetable, fruit and nut farms. I take pride knowing that grandpa’s hard work was an important contribution to both the Allied victory and the growth and prosperity of our nation.

My abuelo’s legacy has taught me to be proud of my heritage. It gives me a different cultural, social and economic perspective on life, which is why I try to be open and transparent about my background and hope that it will promote understanding of others. Especially during Hispanic Heritage Month!

Read on to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanics in the US, and how social media supports Hispanic community engagement and representation.

Un VIstazo - A Quick Breakdown

Hispanics can be immigrants or US-born. People call us Hispanics, Latinos, Latinas, Latinx, Latino Millennials, U.S. Hispanics. In reality, we are a diverse group of over 62 million people living in the United States. We are a uniquely American community, connected through language, values, struggles and success stories.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

Hispanic Heritage Month provides a platform to acknowledge the role that Hispanics play in shaping the future of our country and the world. It also gives us the opportunity to celebrate as employees, suppliers, consumers and a whole colorful community.

This year, the Hispanic Star, a platform to advance Hispanics in the US, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by promoting the themes of prosperity, power and progress:

Prosperity to acknowledge the growth and economic power of the Hispanic community. Power to recognize the fact that our community is making waves in every sector, and we are gaining influence in politics, entertainment, technology, sports, music, art, culture, science, businesses and beyond.

Progress because Latinos are advancing and driving American progress in areas from innovating education to fighting income disparity. And that is great for all because Hispanic Progress is American Progress.

Sí se puede!

We all have a role to play and a unique opportunity to contribute to Hispanic progress. As individual contributors, we can leverage our skills, expertise and influence to create positive change within our organizations and communities. Leading by example, we can help drive the success of our community and our country as a whole.

Organizations can advocate for diversity and inclusion, mentoring and supporting Hispanics. Recognizing and appreciating different perspectives help shape a better understanding and contribute to achieving goals. Organizations that value different insights and diverse perspectives benefit from a rich experience.

As social media marketers, we can use our platforms, privilege and influence to advance our communities and create an environment of better representation.

Audiences today seek out content that highlights people who resemble them and experiences that reflect their own. Social media marketers can create authentic content that resonates with the Hispanic community. When connecting with the Latino community on social media, strive to reflect their preferences, belief systems, individual boundaries, relationships, values and faith.

Make conscious efforts to use social media platforms’ influence to:

Empathize: Reach Latinos offering meaningful content that matters to them, where their identity group is represented. Make them feel seen, heard and validated. Encourage: Advocate for causes that are important to this community. Engage: Understand their aspirations, predispositions and concerns. Tell stories with Latinos playing the starring role.

Educate: Teach about cultural heritage and traditions.

Entertain: Use relevant references to make an emotional connection with Latinos. This includes images, memes, influencers, jingles and public figures to whom Latinos relate .

Hispanics in America are making significant progress and are driving the country's prosperity forward. Our community is thriving, quickly becoming a powerful force in the United States. Let’s celebrate Hispanic prosperity, power and progress in a unified way and recognize the contributions of Hispanic employees, consumers, and community members yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER

National Suicide Prevention Month

National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

World Alzheimer's Disease Month

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)

4th: Labor Day

6th: Read A Book Day

7th: National Beer Lovers Day

10th: World Suicide Prevention Day

10th: National Grandparents Day

11th: Remembrance Day

OCTOBER

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

LGBTQ+ History Month

ADHD Awareness Month

Depression Awareness Month

4th: Improve Your Office Day

5th: World Teachers Day

5th: Do Something Nice Day

6th: World Smile Day

9th: Columbus Day

NOVEMBER

Native American Heritage Month

Diabetes Awareness Month

Epilepsy Awareness Month

National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

1st: Extra Mile Day

2nd: Día de los Muertos

2nd: International Stress Awareness Day

5th: Daylight Savings Day

5th: National Football Day

7th: Election Day

9th: World Freedom Day

12th: National Day of Encouragement

14th: Live Creative Day

18th: International Equal Pay Day

21st: World Gratitude Day

22nd: Native American Day

23rd: First Day of Fall

26th: National Family Day

29th: National Coffee Day

30th: International Podcast Day

10th: World Mental Health Day

17th: National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day

18th: KSMS Event

19th: National New Friends Day

23rd: National iPod Day

24th: World Food Day

26th: Get to Know Your Customers Day

28th: Make a Difference Day

29th: World Internet Day

31st: Halloween

11th: Veteran’s Day

12th: National Happy Hour Day

13th: World Kindness Day

15th: National Recycling Day

17th: Pink Friday

19th: Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

23rd: Thanksgiving

24th: Black Friday

25th: Small Business Saturday

27th: Cyber Monday

28th: Giving Tuesday

29th: Electronic Greetings Day

DONE READING? HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT:

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Yes, we do that. Photo + Video is a critical part of your content strategy. Consider KSMS for your next creative project. Reach out to connect@keepsocialmediasocial.com for a discovery call and quote.