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Inner Sircle
By Adam Brown
Strategies, tactics and insights for the Inner Sircle at Sircle Media
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IHOB- Very Smart Marketing Play
Inner Sircle
By Adam Brown
Jun 25, 2018
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LinkedIn offers the most upside of any social network right now.
On this episode, I talk abut how LinkedIn offers the most upside of any social network right now.
January 13, 2020
POV: Approach to content in 2020
On this episode, I reiterate my POV on content on social. Should be a quality over quantity approach, a created and curated mix and remember that organic is dead and you need to invest dollars in paid social.
January 6, 2020
POV: Supporting Retail velocity with influencers
On this episode, I talk about supporting Retail velocity with influencers. If you have a brand with retail as a primary channel, you need to support velocity in strategic and meaningful ways. An excellent way to do so is through influencers and visits to key locations The benefits are: 1- You send actual, influential foot traffic into your partner's stores which the buyers will love. 2- You paint the actual picture for potential consumers of the exact experience and how to locate and find your products. 3- You get tastemakers to grab your product and take it home, which creates a behavior pattern for them and their audience. 4- You get great content to use in your social efforts 5- You are establishing an army of WOM marketers
December 16, 2019
Social Media Predictions for 2020
On this episode, I talk about an article from socialmediatoday.com that makes some predictions for 2020 that we are very aligned with. 1. IGTV will be the next TV. 2. Subscribe, rate, and download (more) podcasts. 3. TikTok will be the next big social media platform. 4. Sea changes for influencer partnerships.
December 9, 2019
ATTN: Retailer Buyers- Instagram Follower counts DO NOT MATTER
On this episode, I talk more about why Instagram follower counts are irrelevant. Buyers should care more about your content, influencer and paid social plan to support velocity, in their stores.
December 3, 2019
POV: Some social media recommendations for Q1 2020
CONTENT 1- More, real assets made by fans and/or micro-influencers. 2- Less is more and aim for 2 PFC/DTP (1 of each or 2 of either) posts per week 3- Awareness is the play and not sales or even engagement metrics. 4- Show off the label more. 5- Highlight retailers more. ENGAGEMENT 1- Tag retailers in most, if not all PFC Instagram posts. 2- Send fans and influencers into stores to post and then engage heavily. 3- Curate feeds of retailers and be active in their comments. 4- Remain highly active (and for a longer period of time) in comments on influencer and brand collaboration posts. 5- Use more surprise + delights (coupons, discount on the website) to bring someone down the funnel more INFLUENCE 1- Organic influencers/advocates make a world of sense and they can be harvested nicely through direct DM outreach and Facebook Group development. 2-Going small with micro-influencers toes the line between organic and paid and finding those right partners who are authentic and jazzed up about working with the brand and who can create compelling enough content to share at least in Stories is a very smart play. 3- Some partners are good for influence and others are good for content and it is ok and smart to maybe engage some for both or either. 4- Bigger influencers are often overpriced and provide decreased value so we tend to stay away from them. 5- Developing long term/long tail relationships can pay dividends for a brand. Getting real, truly passionate partners for your brand that can help you create content, develop products and offer real feedback and usage cases (I.e. recipes) pack a greater punch than just one and done photo poser/posters. PAID SOCIAL 1- Instagram Story Ads for awareness, with low CPMs and creative derivatives, are a must. 2- Boosting strategic, PFC and DTP content is mandatory. 3- Retailer support to help cultivate velocity is something all brands need to be doing if retail is a primary channel. 4- CBO on key content (especially video) makes a lot of sense and should be experimented with. 5- Clicks/conversion campaigns are only worthwhile if adequately funded. We suggest at least $5000 p/m
December 2, 2019
POV: Influencer strategy update as we approach 2020
On this episode, I talk about an influencer strategy update as we approach 2020. I reference this article and some stats from it: - Only 4% of people now trust what influencers say online - 79% of people say that user-generated content (UGC) highly impacts their purchasing decisions, while only 8% say influencer-created content would do the same. - People are 9.8x more likely to make a purchase after seeing a peer's social post, as opposed to that of a traditional social media influencer
November 25, 2019
POV: What matters when it comes to social media...
On this episode, I provide a gut check on what matters when it comes to social media...
November 18, 2019
POV: On Instagram starting to hide likes on posts.
Instagram announced that it is going to be hiding likes in the US starting this week. I think this is a good thing in general.
November 11, 2019
POV: Paid Social (Nov 2019)
On this episode, I talk about paid social. Specifically, where to focus and why I am not a big fan of supporting acquisition marketing with small budgets. Many brands are underfunding this effort and it might not be worth it, to be honest. LMK your thoughts.
November 6, 2019
POV: Big believer in email and text.
On this episode, I talk about why I am a big believer in both email and text as we roll into 2020. You should be thinking long and hard about both as you create your roadmap for the coming months.
November 4, 2019
POV On Twitter and Facebook's positions on political ads
On this episode, I talk about Twitter and Facebook's current position on political ads. Some references: https://www.businessinsider.com/sheryl-sandberg-political-ads-small-part-of-facebooks-revenue-2019-10 https://twitter.com/jack/status/1189634360472829952
November 4, 2019
FTC Rules Selling Fake Followers and Engagement is Illegal
On this episode, I talk about how the FTC has ruled that selling fake followers and engagement is Illegal and this is a good thing. I reference this article.
October 28, 2019
FTC coming down on Sunday Riley for writing fake reviews.
On this episode, I talk about Sunday Riley getting in trouble with the FTC for writing fake reviews. Here is the source I reference and it is worth a read.
October 23, 2019
POV: Facebook's new Stories templates for businesses.
On this episode, I talk about Facebook's new Stories templates for businesses. I reference this article that breaks it down. Very easy to do it and below is a step by step to help guide you. Create your image ad at the Ads level Choose 'Select a placement to customize' then select Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories or Messenger Stories A pop up will open (you can also reach the pop up by choosing the Edit button above Ad Preview) Choose 'Change Template' to choose a template. Preview your ad on the right.
October 21, 2019
POV: Instagram Giveaways.
On this episode, I share my POV on Instagram giveaways and why I think brands should be all in.
October 8, 2019
Instagram Killing The Following Tab
On this episode, I talk about Instagram dropping the following tab from the platform. More on that topic here.
October 8, 2019
Most important component of social media is...
On this episode, I share why I think the engagements are the most important element of social media. Most people sleep on it and to me it is everything!
October 7, 2019
Creating a Community With Facebook Groups
Facebook Group Best Practices Give your group a catchy and effective name Choosing the right name is one of the most important steps when creating your Facebook Group. Make sure your group name reflects the people who will be engaging with it every day. Define the What and the Who of your group. What is it?: A community? A hangout? A support group? Who is it for?: Fitness experts? Personal trainers? Dietitians? Make sure to include keywords geared towards your niche audience, because Facebook acts almost like a search engine with this. For Rethink, we decided to name their group Project MOM-entum that would be a place for moms to come and share content and stories about their favorite topic, their kids! Understand your target audience What are they passionate about? What do they have in common? What are their goals, dreams, and aspirations? What would make them feel like they're part of a community? Knowing all of this early on will help guide you when posting and engaging with your group members. Make them feel like the group is about THEM. Engage as frequently as possible It's not enough to just know who your audience is, but you also need to give them attention and show that you care. Answer customer questions, generate feedback and improve the customer experience every day. Post your best content Yes, a Facebook Group is a community, but it can also be a visual platform. Not only should you post your own "best-of" content to start a discussion, but you can also collect user-generated content from your group members and share, share, share. Push the community agenda Make sure that your customers, influencers, brand ambassadors and even new prospects know about the group. Don't be shy about spreading the word and then make sure to add value to your members so they feel compelled to do the same. You want people to want to be insiders and then partake as much as possible. The goal is here is more about depth than width. Meaning you want to harvest real loyalists, more than just focusing on boosting vanity metrics. It isn't about maximum members, but more about highly engaged members.
October 3, 2019
POV: Social Media in q4 2019 and Beyond
On this episode, I rant about social media and where it stands in q4 2019 and beyond. 1- Organic is dead. 2- Paid social is a must. 3- Always be experimenting and have experts in your corner. 4- Dont be half committed, be all in. 5 Need a LinkedIn and TikTok Strategy
October 1, 2019
Some love for Daily Carnage and be careful with Third Party Platforms on IG
On this episode, I talk about my love for Daily Carnage and some conversations in their Facebook Group around Instagram shutting down some accounts (even if only temporarily) because of third party platforms. Be mindful when using a platform like Later for your scheduling and activity on IG.
September 23, 2019
Facebook rolls out new video tools, plus Instagram and IGTV scheduling feature
On this episode, I talk about some new features coming from Facebook/Instagram that are compelling. I reference this article in TechCrunch Improvements were made on: Facebook Live Watch Party Video and Analytics in the Creator studio AND Scheduling IG Feed and IGTV content for up to 6 months, natively on the platform.
September 17, 2019
New Study Looks at How Emojis, Videos and Caption Lengths Impact Instagram Post Performance
On this episode, I talk about a report put out by Quintly and posted and broken down on Socialmediatoday.com that breaks down How Emojis, Videos and Caption Lengths Impact Instagram Post Performance. I also quickly reference this piece from Social Insider that touches on Hashtag tactics that improve performance.
September 16, 2019
Supporting your Retailer relationships
On this episode, I talk about supporting your Retailers with blocking and tackling social media work. Content posting and Ads are obvious ones but less obvious, is comments, DMs and engagement with posts or tagged photos. As well as sending influencers physically into a store to support the relationship. Lean in!
September 9, 2019
New Study Examines How Brand Engagement on Social Influences Purchase Behavior
On this episode, I talk about: A New Study Examines How Brand Engagement on Social Influences Purchase Behavior. 1. Use Social Media to Connect with Consumers and Other Businesses 2. Interact With People on Social Media to Establish Rapport 3. Know That Men and Women May Be Drawn to Different Platforms, but Don't Base Your Whole Strategy on Generalization 4. Know What Ages Your Social Media Advertisements Will Influence the Most 5. Choose Your Social Media Platforms Carefully 6. Embrace Social Media as a Tool for Two-Way Communication 7. People Want to Buy from Brands that they Follow on Social Media
September 3, 2019
Will Instagram Business Profile Reach Follow the Same Path as Facebook Pages?
On this episode, I answer that question. Here is an article that I reference.
August 26, 2019
POV: Facebook Ads more badges to pages...
On this episode, I talk about Facebook adding badges for users/followers to pages that should help boost engagement and foster community. You can read more about it here.
August 26, 2019
POV: Twitter Updates and Platform Focus
On this episode, I talk about Twitter and some new and noteworthy updates that are on the horizon. I reference this article and specifically: 1. Topic Lists 2. Subscribing to Conversations 3. Re-Order Attached Images 4. Support for Live Photos 5. DM Search
August 26, 2019
IGTV Tips Based on the Success of Thrillist
On this episode, I talk about IGTV Tips Based on the Success of Thrillist. You can learn more about this here.
August 22, 2019
POV: Kroger + TikTok E-commerce Partnership
On this episode, I talk about TikTok and Kroger partnering with their new E-commerce feature. More on it here!
August 22, 2019
POV: On Instagram Hashtag Strategy.
On this episode, I talk about being more thoughtful about your Instagram Hashtag Strategy. Here is a good reference on the topic that was put out on the Later.com blog.
August 12, 2019
TikTok and GIPHY Integration
On this episode, I talk about the TikTok and GIPHY integrating so you can use GIFs on the platform. I also encourage brands to consider creating their own account and custom GIFs so they can create, deploy and track analytics. Let us know if we can create some for you!
August 6, 2019
POV: Barney's filing for bankruptcy
On this episode, I talk about Barney's filing for bankruptcy and closing some stores.
August 6, 2019
POV: Paid social is your ticket to social media success...
On this episode, I rant a little about brands not doing apples to apples comparisons when assessing their own social media success against other brands in the space. The biggest mistake is centered around paid social. Some brands invest heavily and reap the benefits while others do not invest and then wonder why their accounts seem dormant. If you want to improve your social media results, then you need to invest more time and money into Facebook and Instagram Ads.
August 5, 2019
POV: Influencer Pricing and Market.
On this episode, I talk about influencer pricing and the market in general. This piece on socialmediatoday.com lists out the prices some macro influencers and celebrities are earning and it is worth checking out. Very impressive numbers for sure! Kinda nutty!
July 29, 2019
On this episode, I break down this piece put out by Open Sponsorship. It breaks down 3 kets to crushing Influencer Marketing and I couldn't agree with them more. They are: 1. #DitchThePost 2. Introduce The Boost 3. Represent With Content Enjoy...
July 25, 2019
On Followers and Twitter Search
On this episode, I talk about follower count not being the metric for success AND the value of using Twitter Search to get involved in conversations on the platform.
July 22, 2019
On Competitor Analysis
On this episode, I talk about doing some competitor analysis to help you make some decisions for your social media strategy. If you are on the fence about certain topics or tactics, look at what some industry leaders are doing and then follow suit. I reference some ideas mentioned in this Social Media Today article. Here are some top suggestions: 1. Sign up to receive email updates 2. Analyze video content 3. Track social media presence 4. Review top-performing content 7. Monitor changes to a competitor's site
July 22, 2019
Standing Out From The Clutter On Instagram
On this episode, I talk about the importance of standing out from the clutter on IG. To that end, I like this piece on the Later Blog because it breaks down Overlay stickers and treatments that a layman can add to images to make them pop and be more memorable.
July 15, 2019
Instagram Engagement is DOWN
On this episode, I talk about how engagement rates on Instagram are way down. I have been saying it for a long time, but now Andrew Hutchinson published a piece on Socialmediatoday.com that supports it. Hopefully now, more brands will listen.
July 11, 2019
Instagram Stories and hacks for more strategic consumption.
On this episode, I talk Instagram Stories and hacks for increasing consumption. 1- Ask simple either/or questions 2- Add a Tap for More Prompt 3- Increase Time Spent on a Story With Hold to Read 4- Build Text via Consecutive Posts 5- Tap for more -- leading users to your Instagram feed or giveaway.
July 1, 2019
Put more content out with your packaging in it!
On this episode, I talk about the importance of putting your packaging (SKUs, logo, etc.) front and center more in your content. If you want to facilitate consideration and trial at retail, you need to make it easier for the consumer to remember and find you!
July 1, 2019
POV: 8 Social Media stats you shouldn't ignore
On this episode I break down an article from Socialmediatoday.com that talks about some compelling stats on social you shouldnt ignore: 1- "47% of social media marketers say that developing strategies which support business goals is their top challenge" 2- "71% of social media marketers say that they are able to provide consumer insights from social media channels to other departments" 3- "77% of consumers say they are more likely to buy from a brand they follow on social media over one they do not" 4- "67% of consumers say that they are more likely to increase their spending with a brand they follow on social media" 5- "50% of consumers follow brands on social to learn about new products or services" 6- "45% of consumers are more likely to research a product or service when a brand's employees post about that product or service" 7- "63% of social media marketers believe listening will become more important over the upcoming year" 8- The most Important one in my eyes: "40% of social media marketers believe private community groups, like Facebook and LinkedIn Groups, will become more important"
June 25, 2019
Pinterest is back?
On this episode, I talk about Pinterest and how it might be worth exploring for some of your social media marketing efforts. We have focused a little bit less on this social network in the past year or so but now that the company has gone public and the social network is showing some promise, especially with influencers - I think it is worth investigating for brands looking for exposure.
June 17, 2019
Instagram: Branded Content Ads
On this episode, I talk about Instagram rolling out branded content ads. Now you can use the great content made by influencers in your own advertising as long as they go into the advanced settings on their account and allow your brand to run their content as ads. Take advantage!
June 10, 2019
POV: Engagement on social platforms
On this episode, I talk about how engagement is the most important element when it comes to your social media strategy. Many brands, social media managers and influencers just don't get it. Stand out from the pack and lean in heavily on engaging with users.
June 3, 2019
POV: Make sure your digital touch points are not broken!
On this episode, I talk about the importance of not sending potential customer words backwards in the sales journey. You need to do an audit and make sure that your website, your Amazon listings, your store locator and all of your social platforms are up-to-date and working as they should. Don't allow a user to land on any of these and think that you're closed for business or just sloppy, which will allow for attrition.
May 28, 2019
POV: Supporting your main sales channel
On this episode, I talk about the importance of supporting your main sales channel. Whether it is retail, e-commerce or Amazon you must have a digital support plan in place if you want to succeed.
May 28, 2019
POV: Facebook Ad Library
On this episode I talk about the Facebook ad library and your ability to go in there and poke around to see what your competition is doing with ads. You can also look at industry leaders and forward thinking brands to get some ideas and inspiration that you could apply on your own account. Definitely a very useful tool for advertisers.
May 23, 2019
Influencer Marketing Stats and Tactics
On this episode, I talk about some compelling stats around influencer marketing. The bottom line is if you are a brand of selling products or services you need to be investing time and funds into influencer marketing. And once you're in the game we would recommend working with more micro influencers that you can develop deeper more tactical relationships with.
May 22, 2019
POV: Influencer Plan of Attack
On this episode, I talk about having a smart plan of attack for your influencer relationships. First off, you have to be in the game. Then, once in the game, you need to reverse engineer what you want to have happen and then be very smart and tactical about how you go about getting there. My opinion is that whether you use an agency like Sircle Media or an internal person it should be high touch, granular and personal. Don't overpay a PR firm or Influencer Agency to do the work you should be doing.
May 21, 2019
POV: @shop on Instagram
On this episode I give a quick heartache on the new @shop feature on Instagram. As they continue to push into E-commerce consumers and brands should pay attention.
May 13, 2019
Hack to get Amazon and Retail customers to your website.
On this episode I talk about a hack to get your Amazon and/or retail customers through your domain so then you can start to create a direct marketing relationship with them. It's a simple step, that can have profound results.
May 10, 2019
POV: Some mistakes brands are making right now.
Only selling on Amazon? Overthinking content based on what you want and not what the consumer wants? Not using paid social AND influencers? Not getting out there and listening to clients? You are doing it wrong.
May 10, 2019
POV: Where you should and should not be investing your time.
On this episode, I talk once again about where you should and should not be investing your time with your social media efforts. You should be investing in paid social as well as influencer collaborations AND you should not be overthinking your content so much. You should invest in really good content, but you should have a balance of created and curated content so you don't have all the pressure of being the original song writer for everything. Also, remember that the audience dictates the quality of the content more than you. Create and distribute rather than spending too much time being too critical at the creation phase.
May 6, 2019
POV: Facebook F8 and the platform in general.
On this episode I give a hot take on Facebook as a platform and some of the updates that were announced at their F8 conference this week. I strongly encourage brands as well as users to not sleep on Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg.
May 2, 2019
POV: Influencers - May 2019
On this episode I talk about my current POV on influencers. The bottom line is influencers need to be part of your marketing mix, their primary use should be targeted reach and awareness at scale and you should engage them and then let them do what they do best. Don't try to over control the narrative and compromise your results.
April 29, 2019
POV: Changing landscape of Instagram
On this episode, I talk about my point of view on the changing landscape of Instagram. I reference an article put out on the Atlantic that talks about the Instagram aesthetic being over and how some influencers and even brands are shifting or need to shift with it. I also just talk about the concept of not being romantic about what got you here, investing heavily in what is relevant and of interest now and always keeping an eye on what's in the future so you can be early rather than late.
April 25, 2019
POV: Instagram decreasing prominence of likes- a good thing!
On this episode I talk about Instagram potentially decreasing the prominence or value of the likes on their platform and why that is a good thing. I revisit the topic of followers not mattering as well as likes and engagement, at least not anywhere close to as what most people think. Instagram, Facebook and influencers All provide fantastic vehicles for exposure to niche audience is. Stop sweating vanity metrics and start thinking about how best to allocate your dollars for delivery of your messages to the right eyeballs.
April 22, 2019
Context is king.
On this episode, I talk about how context is King with social media even more than just content. Don't write off any social network until you have a holistic understanding of how each works in the now. They all have value if you think about context first.
April 15, 2019
POV: Instagram adds Poll Stickers to Story Ads
On this episode, I talk about Instagram adding poll stickers to their story ads. For the brands that were involved in the beta they saw a nice increase in three second video views showing that these are effective in getting users to stay for a bit and consume. With 500 million active daily users, under priced advertising and real consumption this is very compelling from a marketing point of view.
April 8, 2019
Q2 2019: Sircle Media Recommendations
On this episode, I talk about Sircle Media's overriding themes for Q2 2019 when it comes to your approach to social media. 1-Include your social media manager in more conversations. 2- Seek out more integrated influencer relationships over one time transactions, 3- Deploy most of your time on what's hot and some of your time tasting and experimenting with other platforms. 4- Don't overthink your social content and be more nimble and put out more and see what happens. 5- Continue to push out content marketing in all forms, especially video content.
April 1, 2019
POV: Instagram's "About This Account" update
On this episode, I talk about the new "about this account" feature on Instagram. It is a great way to get Intel on what your competitors and/or the market is doing when it comes to Instagram ads and more importantly you can see the type of engagement they are getting which can help inform your decisions and your roll out for your own ads. I also talk about boosting Instagram content and taking advantage of the engagement metrics that will show up right in your feed.
March 27, 2019
Hot take: LinkedIn Right Now
On this episode, I talk about LinkedIn right now and how I think it's like Facebook three or four years ago. Organic reach is very high, people are engaged and it is a great place to share your journey and to let people behind the kimono. Use it wisely and take advantage while the going is good.
March 25, 2019
POV: Checkout on Instagram
On this episode, I just give me a quick take on Checkout from Instagram. I love that they are removing some of the friction and allowing you to transact right on the platform I believe this is going to be a big deal and lead to a lot of revenue and a lot of upside for both brands of consumers.
March 20, 2019
POV: Supporting Retail with paid media
On this episode, I talk about supporting retail relationships with paid media. If you want to help massage velocity, then you need to be spending money on Facebook and Instagram advertising as well as smart, integrated influencer collaborations.
March 11, 2019
POV: Some new Instagram updates
On this episode, I talk about some updates coming out from Instagram. Specifically their branded content ads, a potential rollout of Creator profiles and their ongoing commitment to purging fake accounts and shady activity.
March 7, 2019
POV: Stop overthinking social content so much.
On this episode, I give a quick POV on why brands shouldn't overthink their social media content. Let the audience and the data tell you what performs, be fast and be willing to be in nimble. This is especially true with Instagram Story content. They should be in the moment experimental and fun. Not over thought, super stylized or too structured!
March 6, 2019
POV: Is content marketing actual advertising?
On this episode, I talk about whether or not content marketing is actual advertising. I reference a piece from socialmediatoday.com but more specifically just go into my thoughts on content marketing and context marketing in general.
March 4, 2019
Instagram updates to IGTV and Collections?
On this episode, I talk about some early Intel on some improvements to IGTV as well as potentially rolling public collections the Instagram platform. Keep a close eye on both as Instagram leans more toward IGTV visibility and E-commerce!
February 25, 2019
POV: Upping your Instagram Story Game
On this episode, a reference an article from socialmediaExaminer.com that talks about some ways to improve your Instagram Story engagement.
February 25, 2019
Do's and Don'ts of Social Media in 2019
On this episode, I break down an article from socialmediatoday.com that talks about some of the do's and don'ts of social media in 2019. I give my perspective based on our agency's view and approach and I hope you find it helpful.
February 20, 2019
Instagram Purge: Don't sweat it!
On this episode, I talk about the Instagram fake account purged that happened on February 12. Instagram wants to continue to clean up his platform and from time to time it will clean out these fake and fraudulent users. Brands should not sweat it as these numbers do not matter.
February 13, 2019
IGTV: Teasers in the main Instagram feed
On this episode, I talk about how Instagram rolled out IGTV promotions in the main feed. Now you can publish your IGTV videos directly to your Instagram feed and tease users to come back and watch the full video on IGTV. Brands should be experimenting with this for sure.
February 11, 2019
Rant: Include your Social Media Manager in more convos
On this episode, I talk about including your social media manager in more conversations about all aspects of your business. Too many brands put their social media manager in a silo and don't allow them to really dig deep into other components of their day-to-day activities. By including your social media manager more they can be a more affective head of comms for your business.
February 11, 2019
POV: Break your bad social media habits.
On this episode, I talk about an article in on socialmediatoday.com that breaks down bad social media marketing habits and how to break them. I talk about not following vanity metrics, a lack of storytelling, weak analytics, siloed social media, and neglecting paid social.
February 11, 2019
Instagram Stories: Links and Expanded Promotion Tools
Instagram Stories just rolled out the ability to link to the story and improved upon their promotion tools for Story content. These are compelling updates to help get more out of the content you create specifically for Stories.
January 30, 2019
Rant: How much should you spend on paid social?
As much as you can...
January 29, 2019
Rant: Video is mandatory and you need to get with it...
Brands want video but say they can't afford it. We argue they cannot afford to not be in the video content game.
January 28, 2019
POV: Klear Report on Instagram Sponsored Posts
On this episode, I talk a little bit about a report put out by Klear and specifically how brands should be focused on Instagram Stories and leveraging nano and micro influencers to help them in this area.
January 22, 2019
POV: Instagram Story Highlights
On this episode, I talk about Instagram Story highlights and some tips for how to use them better. I reference an article on socialmediatoday written by Phoebe Bain and give a little bit of my own spin on it too. This is top billing real estate that you should be using for your brand.
January 14, 2019
POV: Don't dismiss a social network without all of the facts
On this episode, I talk about how you shouldn't dismiss a social network and decide it is not a viable platform for your business until you have done some homework. It is not so binary and you have to take into account who your target audience is and what your messages are before you decide which platform to leverage for marketing your business.
January 10, 2019
Facebook Adds CTA Stickers to Stories
On this episode, I talk about Facebook adding CTA stickers to their Stories and why brands should be paying attention. 300 million users are checking out Stories on a daily basis and that represents a lot of eyeballs. Not only is this now a good place to be focusing from a branding point of view but now there are some direct response features that make it even more attractive.
January 7, 2019
POV: Paid Social in 2019 (Higher CPMs and content at scale)
On this episode, I talk paid social in 2019 and why you need to embrace higher CPMs and content at scale.
January 7, 2019
POV: Paid Social for 2019
On this episode, I go a little bit deeper on my thoughts about paid social in 2019. First, I think brands should find any funds that they can to invest in Instagram and Facebook advertising. Wherever they net out, they then need to look at their total budget and all of their main KPI's and then make sure that they properly invest in the most important ones and don't dilute their spend and under invest in too many initiatives. Take your budget and if it's less than it needs to be tighten up where and how you spend it.
December 12, 2018
POV: Think science before art when making content.
On this episode, I talk about thinking science before art, when making content. For CPG and beverage brands, we think the most important messages are PFC- Product Front and Center, DTP-Describe The Product and RCO- Retailer (or any distribution) Call Out. Don't just make tons of content for the hell of it. Get a little more tactical in 2019!
December 10, 2018
POV: Social platform usage in "the now"...
On this episode, I talk about understanding how to use the right social media platforms in the current environment. I encourage brands not to get too romantic about what got you here and not try to overthink the future. Understand what you want to do now and invest the time and energy in the right places, while also leaving just a little bit of attention on what is coming down the road...
December 10, 2018
Q1 2019: Tactic Recommendations
On this episode, I break down some of our Q1 2019 tactical recommendations for social media. The big takeaways are a "less is more" approach to content aiming for about 16 posts per month. Boosting of content and making sure you're putting more money behind less posts so as to give your best content increased chances for exposure and finally rethinking paid social and breaking it into three categories 1- Content Boosting for key message exposure 2- Short term campaigns to support specific initiatives such as retailer support or e-commerce promotions 3- Acquisition campaigns, but with deeper budgets.
December 3, 2018
POV: Devaluing Twitter "Followers"
On this episode, I talk about the Twitter platform devaluing followers and decreasing the real estate that your follower count takes up on the platform. Twitter is doing this as part of their cleanup process for their network, but we have been saying for a long time that your Twitter follower account is not the goal. It is about getting involved in the conversation, sharing information and communicating with other users. Don't sweat follower growth at all!
November 30, 2018
POV: Why social media engagement doesn't matter that much.
On this episode, I talk about why social media engagement is not the right KPI for measuring your performance on social media. Pam Moore wrote an article for socialmediatoday.com backing up the idea that a lot of your core target demographic is on social and is probably consuming content they just aren't going so far as engaging with that content via likes shares clicks etc. It is not about those engagement metrics (or at least not only for sure) it is about delivering branded messages to targeted audiences and having the data to support that delivery.
November 30, 2018
POV: Quintly report on Instagram best practices
On this episode, I talk about the Quintly report that breaks down Instagram best practices and was published by Andrew Hutchinson on Social Media Today. The key takeaways are: 1- videos generate up to 21% more interaction then static posts. 2- bigger profiles are more likely to utilize video 3- longer captions are more common but shorter descriptions see more engagement 4- fewer hashtags is better 5-EMOJIS can spark response and 6- weekends see higher engagement.
November 28, 2018
Rant: Visual content and how to measure the value
On this episode, I talk about creating content and having that be the fuel for your marketing efforts. Measuring the success of content comes down to your visual opinion and whether or not it elevates the brand or create awareness around key messages. It is not on the performance of the content especially if you're not providing paid support for that content. I apologize for the audio, but I wanted to sneak it in before I got to the office.
November 28, 2018
POV: Where to invest time and money in 2019
On this episode, I talk about where to invest your time and money if you want to be successful with your social media efforts in 2019. Specifically I talk about video, longform content, investing in third-party tools to help you better understand your audience and as always, paid social and influencer collaborations.
November 26, 2018
POV: Think science before art, when creating content.
On this episode, I talk about thinking about the science of your content and message before spending so much time on the art. Think about who you want to target and what you want to say and then create assets to back that up. Don't just create pretty looking assets and then think about how you might want to market then. It's a subtle difference but an important one.
November 20, 2018
Instagram Update: Reducing inauthentic activity
On this episode, I talk about the update that was put out on Instagram's info center regarding the steps they are taking to reduce in authentic activity on their platform. There's a lot of tools out there to cheat the system and it causes a lot of headaches and really adds no value to anyone. I am really happy to see this proactive change and I hope it has a positive impact and changes the point of view that so many brands have on this topic.
November 19, 2018
Rant: Diversify and don't just focus on Instagram
On this episode, I talk about how brands are too overly reliant on Instagram right now. It is important to diversify and always be tasting new or other things.
November 19, 2018
POV- Invest in email marketing
On this episode, I give a quick pov on email marketing and the importance of it. You have to capture emails, have an email sequence plan, and deploy promotional and content laden emails too.
November 12, 2018
Amazon tests search based retargeting
On this episode, I talk about Amazon testing a search based retargeting which would allow you to use the Amazon DSP and then follow users based on their search queries outside of the Amazon walls for the first time. There's a very attractive product that marketers should be paying close attention to.
November 6, 2018
POV: Three types of paid social.
On this episode, I talk about my point of you on paid social and how there are really three categories. First is revenue generating ROI focused advertising. The second is reach and awareness around key marketing messages, audience segmentation and in the case of most of our clients retailer support. And the last is guaranteeing delivery for your "organic" content to select audiences.
November 5, 2018
Rant: Investing more in Instagram Stories
On this episode, I talk about investing time and effort into Instagram Stories. You should be looking at Instagram Story swipe up ads, creative video and just experimenting with the platform as much as possible. Don't wait, get involved now!
November 3, 2018
POV: YouTube Premieres
On this episode, I talk about YouTube premieres and why I think this is a great idea from the platform and for brands. It brings users back to the old TV model where they are expected to tune in for some unique piece of content that they can only see at that time (at least for the first time it is viewers). It is a great idea to experiment a little bit here and get in early to gainsome learnings and see if you can get some attention from users experimenting with this.
October 23, 2018
Rant: STOP sleeping on Facebook
On this episode, I go on a rant encouraging people to start showing more respect to Facebook. It is such an important part of your marketing plan and you should not be shortchanging your efforts there or disrespecting the social network. If you are, you are leaving opportunity on the table.
October 23, 2018
POV: Where you need to invest your social media dollars.
On this episode, I talk about where brands need to invest their dollars and time when it comes to social media and 2019. Every brand needs a social media manager, or a social media management team. They also need to invest in paid social as well as influencer collaborations and marketing.
October 22, 2018
Rant: Optimizing your brand's Amazon experience
On the episode, I talk about really understanding how to optimize your brand's Amazon experience and setting yourself up to win.
October 17, 2018
Rant: Social Media Manager is hard to pull off with one person
On this episode, I go on a little rant after losing a prospect. They decided to go with an internal hire only because they thought they get more value because they get that person 100% as opposed to hiring Sircle Media and getting us while also sharing us with other brands. You don't need one community manager 100% of the time but you do need different skill sets and different personnel to round out a social media strategy. For this reason it makes a world of sense to have an agency partner who can provide the different skill sets. Going internal and thinking you get all of the necessary talent rolled into one person is just not the case.
October 17, 2018
Rant: Underestimating and under investing in Amazon
On this episode, I talk about Amazon and it's importance for brands looking to sell product online. You should be leveraging the platform and it's reach and hacking the platform with marketing dollars and expertise to give yourself a better chance to win. Don't just sit back and hope it works, because it won't unless you invest the time and effort.
October 15, 2018
POV: Instagram Lessons From Smarties Brand
On this episode, I talk about an article from socialmediatoday.com that highlights three Instagram growth lessons from how Smarties has re-designed its on platform image on Instagram. Don't sweat followers, and remember that most people visiting your profile are not even followers and are probably discovering you for the first time. Convey your personality, have content that stands out from the clutter, share third-party content and not just your own and leverage Instagram Stories, especially highlights for some more in depth messaging around your brand or products.
October 10, 2018
11 Important Facebook Updates For 2019
On this episode, I run through an article from socialmediatoday.com written by Nathan Mendenhall titled 11 Facebook updates you need to know for 2019.
October 8, 2018
POV - Instagram's Nametag Feature
On this episode, I talk about Instagram's new name tag feature. It is getting a lot of buzz and certainly worth checking out. Instagram is where all the attention is at and I encourage people and businesses to be very well versed in all aspects of the platform.
October 4, 2018
POV: Instagram Shoppable Story Stickers
On this episode, I talk about Instagram Shoppable Story Stickers and why this is very exciting for E-commerce brands on the platform.
October 4, 2018
POV- Facebook Relevance Score
On this episode, I talk about the Facebook relevance score and some findings we had based on our own client's Facebook creative.
October 3, 2018
POV- Facebook Groups for brands and businesses
On this episode, I talk about Facebook groups and some specifics that were broken down in a recent socialmediatoday.com article
October 1, 2018
POV- Tips for gaming algorithms
On this episode, I talk about tips for gaming social network algorithms, as broken down in a recent Socialmediatoday.com article.
October 1, 2018
Q4- Quick POV on where attention is
On this episode I offer up a quick POV on where attention is. I like Instagram, (ads, video and IGTV) I like LinkedIn and I like podcasts.
October 1, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: Pinterest
On this episode, I talk about my POV on Pinterest, their user count and their new shop the look pins. If you have e-commerce objectives then you should be paying closer attention to Pinterest going forward.
September 24, 2018
POV: Secretly using bots and buying followers
On this episode, I talk about agencies or even employees using bots and or buying followers to boost Instagram numbers. You can see it from the outside in when you see a massive and quick increase in follower count and a ton of likes with very few comments on the Instagram posts. That usually indicates some sort of cheat to get there.
September 20, 2018
POV: Facebook pages being able to join Facebook groups
On this episode, I talk about Facebook fan page is being able to join private groups on Facebook. I think this opens up an excellent opportunity for brands with a position, who can be thought leaders around specific messaging.
September 20, 2018
POV: Working with influencers with depth
On this episode, I talk about the importance of working with influencers but encourage brands to find those who have actual depth. There's a lot of fakers in the influencer market and I think it's important to find the right ones who actually have true influence.
September 17, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: Facebook
On this episode, I give my POV on Facebook in Q4 2018
September 14, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: Instagram
On this episode, I give my POV on Instagram for Q4 2018.
September 14, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: WPROMOTE - Mid Year 2018 Report
On this episode I give my POV on Q4 2018 advertising strategy And specifically derived from some of the information in WPROMOTE's midyear advertising report. It's a good read put out by a solid company.
September 14, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: IGTV
On this episode, I give my POV about IGTV and how to approach it during Q4 of 2018.
September 14, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: Twitter
On this episode, I talk about my POV on how to approach a Twitter during Q4 of 2018.
September 14, 2018
Q4 2018 Strategy: Content
On this episode I talk about my POV on content and how brand should approach it during Q4 of 2018.
September 14, 2018
Rant: Why you shouldn't sweat Instagram Likes
On this episode, I talk about not looking at Instagram likes or comments on a posy as the measure (or at least the only measure) of whether or not the content was worthwhile. Followers and like count are much less relevant these days and sometimes branding and storytelling should trump metrics. The art can be more important than the science!
September 6, 2018
Rant: Brand and Agency conversations in 2018
On this episode, I talk about how brands and agencies are having the wrong conversations in this market. They are still looking at earned media vs paid, organic social vs paid AND gross impressions and followers. The reality is that paid social offers you excellent targeting at very low pricing and guaranteed delivery. It should be looked at as an amazing improvement and innovation, over the reach and awareness marketing of the past. Don't get romantic about things being organic, when you can spend some dollars and facilitate the conversation yourself. That is smart marketing and the right POV in today's market.
September 4, 2018
POV: Facebook Ad Targeting
On this episode, I talk about changes to Facebook Ad targeting and why they shouldn't really matter. Of course decreasing targeting capabilities is not ideal and you will need to figure out how to navigate that, but that should not lead to people abandoning Facebook advertising. It is so powerful and provides reach and consumption at scale. Brands need to have a plan on how they will approach it moving forward, and that plan should not be to sleep on Facebook.
August 27, 2018
POV: Facebook Story Highlights
On this episode, I talk about Facebook Story highlights and why I think plans should get involved.
August 22, 2018
POV: Instagram's new recommendations feature
On this episode I talk about Instagram's new recommendations feature. The audio gets snipped at the end so if you find any results and make progress with gaming the tool, let me know!
August 22, 2018
POV: News and online content consumption trends
On this episode, I talk a bit about trends in news consumption and content in general online and more importantly on the go. We are living in a mobile device first world and people value their time more than anything. Of course online news and content consumption are increasing as people choose to control for what they read and when they read it.
August 22, 2018
Interviews - with hires and clients should be 2-sided
On this episode, I talk about how interviews should be two-sided. Both when hiring staff and when agencies and clients are considering working together.
August 20, 2018
POV- On the value Sircle Media brings
On this episode, I talk about a conversation I had with an old friend about social media and it being a fad. The economy is great now but when it takes a turn for the worse I believe that our products and offerings add even more value than they do in this current fruitful economy. Social media is no fad, it is the new Internet and businesses can't sleep on it if they want to win online!
August 20, 2018
POV: Facebook and Instagram Advertising
On this episode, I talk about the importance of treating at least some of your Facebook and Instagram advertising as if it were TV and rooted in reach and awareness rather than DR and conversions. Some of it should be art and top of funnel and not only science and down funnel for sales.
August 15, 2018
Don't sleep on August
On this episode, I talk about the importance of being proactive in August and putting in the work while others sleep. It doesn't mean you can't kick back and enjoy the month, it just means you should not be shutting down the engines completely. And in the hours that you do work you should be more strategic and you should really be setting up the latter part of the year to win.
August 13, 2018
Instagram DM- For sales prospecting
On this episode, I talk about using the Instagram DM feature as a sales tool to find leads for your business, regardless of your vertical.
August 6, 2018
POV- Social Media Agencies
On this episode, I talk about different types of social media agencies and why their approach is flawed. I think our secret sauce is what sets us apart.
August 2, 2018
Social Media is not just a marketing vertical
On this episode, I talk about how social media is not just in marketing vertical and is more of a horizontal element for a brand. It truly touches all aspects of your business. When you are deploying real marketing efforts then of course social media metrics and performance matter. You just have to understand when that is and then have a game plan to execute effectively.
July 30, 2018
Social media metrics don't matter
On this episode, I talk about why social media metrics don't always matter. We are all about measurement and results here at Sircle Media, but I think brands get lost in the weeds on the wrong measurements when it comes to understanding their social media efforts. Sometimes you are just looking for reach and awareness, and not engagement and likes. Sometimes you just want to present a message or maybe show off new packaging or a new SKU and aren't really looking for a response. Don't plan hard and then pivot because your comments and likes were low. Many times that doesn't even matter!
July 30, 2018
POV - Video Content is a must
On this episode, I talk about why video is mission-critical and I encourage brands to get off the sidelines and start producing more video content.
July 30, 2018
Sircle Media: Works
On this episode, I talk about what Sircle Media does and why it works so well.
July 27, 2018
The 3 Pillars: Content, Engagement and Growth
On this episode, I talk about content engagement and growth and how you need to be focused heavily on all three if you want to win on social media.
July 25, 2018
IGTV: Compelling Content Resource
In this episode I talk about IGTV as a compelling new vehicle for IG to gain new users.
July 23, 2018
Influencer Marketing: Think before you select your partners.
On this episode, I share my thoughts about selecting the right influencers to partner with for your influencer marketing efforts.
July 16, 2018
Hot Take: Influencer Engagement Plan
On this episode I give my POV on how to approach working with micro influencers. You can't punt and you need to put in the work.
July 3, 2018
Hot Take: Info and Ads Section on Facebook
On this episode, I talk about the benefit to brands being able to look at the Info and Ads being run by other brands across Facebook, Messenger and Instagram.
July 2, 2018
Instagram Video Chat
On this episode I give my POV on Instagram video chat. Not so much a deep dive as a perspective on Instagram and their constant commitment to diversifying and adding new products.
July 2, 2018
Q3 2018 Recommendations: Facebook
On this episode I break down my Facebook recommendations for Q3 2018
June 27, 2018
Q3 2018 Recommendations: YouTube and LinkedIn
On this episode I talk about my thoughts on YouTube and LinkedIn in Q3 2018.
June 27, 2018
Q3 2018 Recommendations: Twitter
On this episode a breakdown of my Twitter suggestions for the third quarter of 2018
June 27, 2018
Q3 2018 Recommendations: Instagram
On this episode we break down how to approach Instagram in the third quarter of 2018
June 27, 2018
Q3 2018 Recommendations: Quality over Quantity with content
On this episode, we talk about quality over quantity and not over posting on social platforms. Going forward we are recommending less posts, and more thought behind your posts.
June 27, 2018
IHOB- Very Smart Marketing Play
On this episode, I break down the genius behind the IHOB play from IHOP.
June 25, 2018
Harry's: Another brand doing things right.
On the episode I throw some love to Harry's, a brand that I think is doing things right.
June 24, 2018
Hot Take: Facebook's Brand Collabs Manager
On this episode we talk about Facebook's Brand Collabs Manager and why it will be a powerful tool for both influencers and brands.
June 21, 2018
Hot Take: IGTV
On this episode we talk about IGTV and how Instagram is making a real power move into the creator and advertising worlds.
June 20, 2018
Greats- Another brand doing digital right
On this episode, Chris Heller breaks down the brand Greats and explains the many different ways they are just doing things right when it comes to social and digital media.
June 15, 2018
On Podcasts and the potential...
On this episode, Chris Heller talks about an article from Recode that says podcasts are teeny tiny, and the potential of the podcast space.
June 15, 2018
Outerknown: A brand doing digital right.
On this episode, I talk about the brand Outerknown and how I think they are doing digital the right way. I am very impressed with them from beginning to end, and I encourage you to check them out!
June 12, 2018
Mobile first, should be your mentality.
On this episode I talk about how much attention is being paid to mobile devices, and marketers should think about ways to get in front of consumers on their mobile device. If Facebook marketing is becoming more expensive then I would argue you should look for other ways to hit people in the phones, before overspending on traditional mediums. If you can afford to do the mall, then by all means go for it. I just think that most can't invest the necessary dollars into traditional mediums to make it ROI positive.
June 11, 2018
Breaking up with clients who then change their ways...
On this episode I rant a little bit about breaking up with clients over fundamental differences of opinion and then seeing them post break up completely change their ways and actually adopt our recommended strategy. Super frustrating and unnecessary in my opinion. Just communicate better, be transparent and be open-minded and relationships can continue on and flourish
June 6, 2018
What the Instagram Algorithm takes into consideration
On this episode I talk a little bit about the Instagram algorithm and what factors they weigh in assessing what to show users.
June 4, 2018
Don't get lost in the metrics to determine success
On this episode I talk about not getting lost in the weeds on the metrics for success to determine whether or not something is right for your brand. Especially when it comes down to conveying a brands message, tone or aesthetic.
June 4, 2018
On attacking influencers on 3 fronts
On this episode I talk about the importance of working with influencers that have large followings, micro influencers with highly engaged niche followings and influencers who can take beautiful photos for you from the content only POV without necessarily leveraging their audience.
May 31, 2018
On respecting and experimenting with voice
On this episode I talk about voice and recommend that people taste it, experiment with it and really give it a try to get a feel for how voice really works. This is another way to distribute content and it is where consumers and businesses are going for sure. Don't be late to the party!
May 29, 2018
Tactics for getting more value from brand collaborations
On this episode I talk about some tactics you can deploy to glean more value out of your brand collaborations on Instagram
May 24, 2018
Deploy better tactics with your large influencer partners
On this episode I talk about being a little bit more tactical when you work with large influencers. Don't trust overpay for the collaboration, figure out ways you can glean more value on the backend and make the whole transaction make more sense for your business.
May 24, 2018
Anchor transcription bugs
On this episode I talk about a bug when I try to transcribe one of my Anchor recordings. Very frustrating!
May 24, 2018
Voice: What I learned at VoiceCon
On this episode I talk about voice and the things I learned after attending VoiceCon, put on by Garyvee and VaynerExperience yesterday in New York City. Bottom line- this is real, coming fast and you don't want to miss the party!
May 23, 2018
Social content can be more natural and less forced.
On this episode I talk about being more natural and real with your social content rather than trying to be too cute or careful and overthinking each piece of content too much.
May 21, 2018
On being grateful
On this episode and I just reflect a little bit on how important it is to be grateful and to have a gratitude mindset.
May 21, 2018
Pinterest POV: May 2018
On this episode I share my point of you on Pinterest for business in May 2018. I am a fan as a consumer but not super sold on the platform for most businesses as it stands today.
May 14, 2018
Support Retail Relationships with social media.
On this episode I talk about the importance of having a real social media game plan in place for your retail partnerships, especially to support your first order.
May 9, 2018
Don't over post on social media to hit a quota.
On this episode I talk about over posting on social media and how the data supports that more quantity is not necessarily better. Putting out better quality is the right play.
April 30, 2018
Are Instagram pods or bots a good idea?
On this episode I talk about Instagram pods and bots and my point of view on whether or not they add value to your account
April 30, 2018
LinkedIn Hack
On this episode I talk about putting our content on LinkedIn and then paying close attention to the analytics to see who is reading, watching or engaging with that content. Then if you can figure out who it was you can go in for the close when you were trying to sell to that person.
April 23, 2018
Facebook fans are not the goal.
On this episode I talk about why Facebook fans are irrelevant and in fact even if you had a lot of fans, that is not what you would spend your time and money on with marketing messages. When you target very specific niche audiences on Facebook, they typically perform much better and so if you want to be able to show that you can target audiences with a specific message do so with paid efforts that market other groups not your fans.
April 19, 2018
Use Twitter Search and reap the benefits.
On this episode I talk about using the search feature on Twitter putting in the work and reaping the benefits of your efforts. It sounds super basic but it's become forgotten tool and my strong recommendation is to get involved and to do so right away.
April 17, 2018
Facebook advertising is very strong in April 2018!
On this episode talk about the favorable Facebook advertising market right now and how I love Targeting users based on the engagement with your Instagram account as well as video view campaigns that leverage short but catchy videos as creative.
April 16, 2018
Communication and Level Setting with your agency
On this episode I talk about the importance of setting the stage between clients and agencies on not only your wants and needs but also your communication style and the type of communication style you want from your agency partner. If you can articulate that upfront and continue to advocate for that ongoing, then your relationships with your agencies will improve and so too will the results.
April 11, 2018
Trust your trainer and follow their regimen to win...
In this episode I talk about how I feel like a trainer sometimes and how brands, when hiring a social media agency can look at things that way too. They should state beforehand what they want to have happen, hire a partner to help them get there with a proven track record and then follow almost blindly until they get there.
April 10, 2018
Being good to your employees is key.
In this episode I talk about the importance of being good to your employees and giving them an opportunity to be successful. Happy employees in happy organizations produce better results. I see it over and over…
April 9, 2018
Instagram Influencer hack
In this episode I talk about the simple hack to help ensure better reach and potential engagement when working with micro influencers on Instagram. Have a deeper business conversation with them and be a little bit more tactical and you can see some improved results. I apologize for the poor audio, I was walking on the streets of Manhattan.
April 5, 2018
Contradictions will hurt your social media efforts.
In this episode we talk about how contradictions can really hurt your results when it comes to your social media efforts. Brands are often not fully committed or hedging and as a result they are compromising the results.
April 4, 2018
Instagram POV at end of Q1
In this episode I give my hot take on where Instagram is as we end the first quarter of 2018. Organic reach is way down, stories are the hot ticket and you should be all over paid IG campaigns that include video.
March 26, 2018
Undervaluing the Social Media Manager role
In this episode I rant a little bit about feeling underappreciated for all the hard work we do for our clients. A Social Media Manager has to cover a lot of ground and we put in hard work and dedication day in and day out. Clients typically are blown away with it early on and then become so accustomed to it that they start to undervalue it and begin to sweat the wrong details. I wish they would take a second to sit and reflect about all that we do for them more.
March 16, 2018
Hardest part of running a client services agency.
In this episode I talk about the hardest part of running a client services agency, at least from my point of you. Businesses have been burned by agencies so many times in the past that it is a constant uphill battle to show them why you were different. I wish my clients looked at me more like an employee and saw how I I'll performed some of the best they have ever had. Instead I get put in the agency bucket and constantly have to prove that I add value in an even deeper way than any employee ever would.
March 12, 2018
Social media helps you sell.
In this episode I talk about the power of social media in selling. If you have a business or sell a product and want to be successful these days you need to be leveraging social media, plain and simple.
March 12, 2018
Don't sleep on Community Management
On this episode I talk about the value of community management and why it is something you should enjoy and engage in and not just dismiss. It is the whole point of social media.
March 12, 2018
Experiment on social media
On this episode I talk about just getting out there and doing. So much time is wasted thinking about it why social media doesn't work and if you put the time into just experimenting I think you will find the reasons why it does.
March 12, 2018
Instagram Stories POV
In this episode I talk about Instagram Stories and some of the compelling stats behind them. Brands need to really change their point of view on this platform and start to invest more time and energy into producing Stories. This is where the consumer attention is and therefore this is where the brands should be.
March 8, 2018
Business drives social media and not the other way around.
In this episode we talk about how the business objectives should drive social media and not the other way around. Social networks will help you accomplish your goals faster and more efficiently, but first the business needs to define those goals and put the tools in place accomplish them.
March 5, 2018
On Social Media Management
Don't pigeonhole your social media efforts. Your social media manager should touch all aspects of your business.
March 5, 2018
Vero: Hero or Zero
On the episode i give my quick hot take on the Vero app and I apologize for the sound - i was on the move walking to work and I just wanted to get some thoughts down before I step into a really busy day. Bottom line is I think it's a little too early to tell but people should get in there and mess around and form your own opinions!
February 27, 2018
Art and Science.
In this episode we talk about why you need to balance the art and science of your messaging plan if you want to win with your social media strategy.
February 26, 2018
KPIs of social media (Ext)
In this episode we take the KPI's of social media conversation a bit deeper to better explain our position as an agency.
February 20, 2018
KPI's from social media.
In this episode we talk about the KPI conversation and why it really comes from the business first and not something that is generated from the social media firm or any marketing partner for that matter. Once a brand or a business has articulated what they want to have happen then their partners should create plans that specifically focus on those outcomes.
February 20, 2018
PR Firms don't do social well.
On this episode we explain why PR firms are not built for social media management and why they are the one higher for that role. PR firms are mission critical partners when it comes to awareness and exposure and for a brand seeking those there are many great partners out there to choose from. Those are not the right partners for day-to-day social however.
February 16, 2018
Instagram POV - deeper dive
In this episode Adam dives a bit deeper into his Instagram point of view and how to better explain it to retailers, partners or investors who might be less in the know and need some guidance and education.
February 14, 2018
Websites are important.
On this episode I talk about why websites are in mission critical component of your digital game plan, even if you don't focus on e-commerce.
February 12, 2018
Social Media Manager Role
In this episode I talk about why I created Sircle Media and the social media manager role
February 12, 2018
Video Content POV
Don't just make more video for the sake of making video. Double down on good assets and get more value out of the winners.
February 9, 2018
Over analyzing social content.
On this episode we talk about why brands, especially small businesses should not be spending so much time sweating the micro details on social media content.
February 6, 2018
Instagram Ads Work
Instagram Ads, video view ads, and promoted posts all work and are super under priced. Get in now while the market is so good!
February 5, 2018
Instagram: what matters in '18
In this episode I talk about what matters on Instagram right now and where to focus your time and attention.
January 29, 2018
On working with good people..
I reached a point in my career but I only want to work with good and reasonable people. We can argue, we can debate and we can even disagree. I just don't want to work with people who disrespect and disregard. So I just thought I would share my point of view on a topic.
January 24, 2018
How I use social networks now.
A breakdown of how I am leveraging social networks today for business.
January 17, 2018
Do not under invest in social
Brands need to understand that social media is a full time thing and they need to make the proper financial and time investment if they want to be successful.
January 16, 2018
POV on IG, Jan 2018
Two anchor posts about the right POV and approach to IG in Jan, 2018.
January 12, 2018
POV on how to use Instagram
Brands shouldn't be looking at followers or engagement as their metric for success of their Instagram efforts. Content should be for storytelling, stories for deeper engagement/ views and ads for performance.
January 12, 2018
POV on Instagram Followers
Here is Sircle Media's take on the decreased importance of Instagram Follower growth in 2018.
January 4, 2018


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Comments on: Massive Takata Airbag Recall: Everything You Need to Know, Including Full List of Affected Vehicles
Comments on: Massive Takata Airbag Recall: Everything You Need to Know, Including Full List of Affected Vehicles
More than 29 million vehicles from 35 brands have potentially dangerous airbags. See all affected models and follow the story at Car and Driver.
And this wasn't discovered for 12 years spread across the biggest nameplates in the industry. Incredible.16 Replies
To be fair, it's not like they get back reports of defective airbags until one explodes in someone's face. How do you pre-test an airbag?
You "pre-test" by regularly testing random samples of air bags coming off the line, which I'm sure they did.
What surprises me is that 60-80 defects per million opportunities is a five sigma level of quality, and I would expect most car companies demand a six sigma level of quality from their suppliers. 12 years is a long time for car companies to put up with a supplier that is not up to snuff.
Nope, it's 5 sigma, or a Cpk of 1.67 and 1 part per million process fallout for most suppliers on critical characteristics; not sure what airbag requirements are though but 60-80 ppm is rather high... 4 sigma level actually.
Just read an article that said Takata hid the results of a 2004 test showing their airbags were defective.
Honda reported 1729 injuries and deaths since 2003 and failed to recall the airbags.
It was reported that both Honda and Takata knew about the defect and covered it up for 12 years.
I'm sure the air bags production runs had samples tested immediately after assembly that passed all the required tests - and worked properly in the real world for the first decade or so (depending on local climate conditions). Do you expect the manufacturer to keep an inventory of air bags to continue testing for a 5 or 10 year period? If the 10 year old samples pass all tests because they were kept in an air conditioned storage area, what then? You are back to "they get back reports of defective airbags when one explodes in someone's face."
Yes and Honda was the car company discovered it and covered it up for 12 years. The worst recall ever.
The same way they pre-test condoms..... LOL you don't wanna know buddy, you don't wanna know... LOL just kidding
Great point... Consider the fact that the NHTSA has published information that clearly indicated the primay cause for thse defects happens to be High Absolute Humidity" which after effects can ony occur years after the airbags has been tested and installed and long after the car had been sold.
They deterorate over time. They were good when they came off the line.
And the NHTSA is allowing the cars companies to continue to use the deadly Takata airbags after discovering the deadly defect with the Takata airbags? How could that happen?
They were never good Invander they were defective becase of the unstable chemical.
BS they used an unstable cheaper deadly chemical to beat the other airbags companies out of business and they have gotten away with it for the last 16 years thanks to our NHTSA excutives being hired by Takata to continue the cover up.
Hey Joe, did you notice that YOUR FORMER EMPLOYER, Chrysler, recalled 5.6+ million vehicles using Takata airbags? I noticed you didn't make any comments on that. Interesting.
>chewing gum found inside inflator Okay, I won't lie: I laughed when I read that.
>Nissan/Infiniti (437,712): 2001–2003 Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder, and Infiniti I30/I35; I should be safe (my I30 is a 00). Should.
In any case, this is gonna make the GM ignition switch recall look small as hell.8 Replies
Oh you're good, the 2000 I30 has airbags that may contain boogers, which have been proven to actually soften the impact in a collision.
Child labor at its best.
Takata CEO: "What can we do with these snot-nosed kids? Ooh, I have an idea!"
Oh wait, they're based out of Japan, not China.
Same here. I don't see the 03-04 M45 coming up on any lists. *fingers crossed*
Yeah but minus the ability to pinpoint GM and have people latch onto the bailout argument this may not get the press in the US.
29,000,000 is still pretty big
In comparing this to the GM recall, and when it comes to nymber of vehicles recalled and or cost to replace defective parts, I might tend to agree that this one covers a much ;arger scae. The only numbers that should count though are number of injuies and number of deaths. It looks like GM has only admitted to 124 deaths and 274injuries... Far lower than the actual numbers reported via NHTSA comlaints. But still, certainly much higher than what this recall has allegely caused (11 deaths thus far).
I agree with your base, but here we are almost 2 years later and its still coming up.
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Those who would do so are a little "slow" so you're going to have to wait a little bit.
The defect no it's 15 years old the cover up yes! The NHTSA is still allowinag the Japanese car companies to sell these defective cars today knowingly.
It was collusion between the Russians and car companies to undermine our safety and democracy..
Major Daily News3 Replies
[I don't know whose Major Daily, but I'll rush to Vote down this guy...]
It isn't a who; it's a what. (Thanks for asking, b'ro.) I think there ought to be a law: If it gets sufficient airtime in the major dailies [and Consumer Reports], then it doesn't belong in the pages of this magazine, either the not-ready-for-primetime or the (monthly) print edition. [Pat Bedard might not agree.]
When American Honda was dealing with the Takata seat belt fiasco, a list was published detailing by occurrence what was found inside the buckle assembly. It makes for interesting reading if one can find a copy of the document.13 Replies
It's for sure I don't trust Honda since the Honda/Takata defective airbag cover up. The worst recall in our time.
How many times are you going to post the same thing in different phrasing (sometimes not even that)? We get it.
Does Honda and Toyota and all the Japanese cars selling their death trap cars in the US get it? How about the NHTSA do you think they got it yet? I will keep on until they find the root cause for the defective airbags and unintended acceleration.
The root cause has been determined to be the use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant.
...and the foolhardiness of placing live explosives in close proximity to humans.
That steering column doesnt seem so dangerous now, does it?
Get over yourself with the hyperbole. 10 deaths over millions of cars means that they are "death trap cars"? Really? Give me a break.
Furthermore, you completely ignore the fact that there are a dozen other manufacturers affected by this from around the globe (US, German, etc.). Why are you on such a vendetta here?
Takata has not found the root cause or admitted what the root cause is. NHTSA decid to outlaw ammonium nitrate.
Takaya will not admit the root cause and has obfuscated any attempt to divine it. Ammonium nitrate is inherently unstable and ill-suited to the purpose in which Takata is using it. Its great for blowing up ships and buildings however.
The Japanese selling ther death traps have accounted for 1/10 of the number of deaths caused by the Americans (GM) selling their death traps (124 death and 275 injuries caused by GM's defective ignition switch). So lighten up... Better yet, get over yourself!
As long as the NHTSA continues to cover up for the deadly Takata airbags defects gtolio.
Can't get over it Omar because the death trap airbags are still killing Americans maybe you should join the cause.
I guess I didn't post it enough gtolio se the car companies are still using the deadly defective airbags in their new cars.
Until the NHTSA forces Takata out of business!
Right, because posting in the comments section of a car magazine will definitely force the NHTSA to do that. You're probably only like 5 posts away from making them give in to your every demand, Joe. Keep up the good work!
Ford GT owners must be pleased to know their supercar has components in common with a lowly Ranger or worse, Mitsubishi Lancer.
Did the chewing gum lose its flavor in the air bag over (many) nights?
This whole fiasco would be funny if it wasn't killing people. The 'fearless leaders' of Takata need to do the perp walk for malfeasance fraud and theft.
yay! a recall my cobalt doesn't apply to
Seems Honda is just as bad as GM.....where's all the cries for justice?19 Replies
Honda was accused of hiding two deaths from regulators and for being "late" to root cause the issues. The first one is concerning yes, the second one is a dubious accusation.
The difference in this case is that Honda did not design the airbag, only sources it the same way every other automaker does. GM designed their ignition switch, the engineer in charge deliberately hid the change (by not documenting it through official change notification processes), lied when asked if he had made any changes, and nobody at GM did anything about it for a decade. In fact it took a change suggested by the supplier's engineering staff to "fix" the issue... which was done quietly and not documented.
Honda is really put under the scope because they were the first to report the issue, although if they were found to actually hide the 2 deaths deliberately that would be a pretty big blow to their reputation.
I mostly agree with this, except for the 'deliberately hid the change' part. I didn't get that vibe when going through the transcripts. Only vibe I got was one of simple failure to follow normal industry protocol, which could be chalked up to simple human error. At worst, it was incompetence, which is not deliberate.
*dons flame suit*
No, he deliberately hid the change. The only documentation that was signed by him that indicated any sort of change was when the plant ran the final process signoff.
At no point was this simple "human error".The Big 3 uses a change management system for keeping track of all changes as well as PPAP for actual production- this includes a description of the change, all associated test documents (DVP&R, DFMEA), part number change, cost and timing from the supplier as well as a giant approval list from management.
There is absolutely NO WAY you can go outside the system without doing so intentionally, as this basically the be-all end-all of initiating any engineer change. On top of that, the engineer did not change the part number, part number revision, or even a part drawing change indicator. He then told the feds when interviewed that he did not make any changes to the ignition switch.
The ONLY way to process a change is to go through the Configuration Change Process, which involves submitting the change for approval to a board, having it reviewed/signed by/for correctness, integration, logistics, manufacturing, quality, supply-chain, etc. . .then it is approved/disapproved and implemented if approved. There is NO WAY to change a drawing and implement that change without going through that process. Period. Teamcenter is the software GM uses to manage their design/drawing release/change process, albeit a modified version for them. The drawing revisions are CONTROLLED in that software. Only certain people can roll the drawing revision, etc... Their is NO WAY possible for the change to be done in a vacuum.
Worse of all is Toyota/Lexus sudden unintended acceleration. Over 2000 people have been killed and injured and Toyota has paid over $5 billion in fine, lawsuits and ongoing lawsuits, but sudden unintended acceleration remains in Toyota and Lexus which is causing death everyday.
What about Toyota and the rest?
Mercedes is about the only manufacturer not on this list. Volvo as well. Count GM too if the ignition switch thing is actually safer if you think about using just 1 key and no key chain, etc, just comparing one to another. Both are safety events.
The best part about that event is, I talked to the Canadian Toyota VP (Steven Beattie) 2 years ago at the Canadian International (Toronto) Autoshow and asked if the Japanese supplier (i.e. Hybrids and Prius made in Japan and exported to North America and Japan models were NOT affected by the recall and it was apparently a North American supplier issue as I dug out of him. Simple fix then would be, take Camry Hybrid throttle/pedal and swap into US made Camry/related models, bc Japan made part apparently isn't affected by recall.
They were, but then they fixed it with a software update that allows the brake to override acceleration. It should have been done faster and sooner, like GM's ignition and sad that Toyota did such. We finally got another Toyota after having a 2005 Solara, we got a 15 Venza, that acceleration flaw (even if it didn't affect us, shows how a company regards it customers or lack thereof).
Sure there is ;-). Call up Mercedes-Benz' supplier or VW or Hyundai's and see what they have done right with their airbags, consult and make changes.
Honda owns part of Takata airbag company and Honda engineering department approved Takata switching to the unstable chemical Amonium Nitrate. Part manufacturing companies build parts to car companies specifications. Honda was reported for a cover up in 2004 for this defect. Honda amitted to the cover up. Please don't try to make it sound like Honda was the innocent bystander.
People forgot that Honda does own a controlling interest/shares in Takata, like Nissan does in Jatco, or Toyota in Aisin.
Anyways, unsuprirsingly, I read somewhere that Honda was suing Takata for misrepreentation and negilgence.
Honda covered it up for years and then kept using the defective Takata airbag years after the recall and still using the defective airbags in the cars they are selling today along with the rest of the Japanese car companies knowingly. They still don't have a root cause and have unindended accerleration without a root cause putting their customers in death trap cars.
If Honda did not design the airbag, then why is it that air bags are manufacturer specific? Meaning (as an example) you could not fit a Buick Air Bag in a Honda Steering wheel? While it may be true that Takata sources its own parts to each manufacturer's air bag, Takata builds air bags based on each manufacturer's design specs. Including but not linited to materials used and defect rate. And as such, each manufacturer is responsble forapproving or disapproving Takata's use ofe certain components.
If Honda (and each individual manufacturer) did not design their own airbags then why is it that Honda (and each individual manufacturer) is being held partly responsble for this fiasco?
And now you're contradicting yourself...In one comment you say: "Part manufacturing companies build parts to car companies specifications." (suggesting that Takata builds parts to Honda's design specification) and in another post you say: "The difference in this case is that Honda did not design the airbag, only sources it the same way every other automaker does."
Can you make up your mind?
Honda still using the deadly Takata airbags 16 years later. Honda does not care for their customers only the money. Now the worst recall in auto history.
You internet lawyers, I don't give a s**t about all the comparisons. The question was, "where are all the cries for justice!!!" Faulty airbags are as bad as ignition switch failures. I can still control a car when the ignition switch fails. However, when the airbag does go off or sends crap into my face, I have no control on my injuries.
Much worse Bryan this is the worst recall in auto history.
That's right Azar but add this deadly recall to Toyotas and this becomes the worst recall in auto history.
Point being Honda and Takata was guilty in the 2004 cover up of the deadly defective airbags and failed to report it to the NHTSA. No need to Perry Mason this point. Now that the NHTSA knew and failed to do their job of keeping American drivers safe by not shutting down Takata becomes a mystery creating the worst recall in auto history.
it is kind of funny how much people used to hate Ralph Nader. Without him there wouldn't be any safety devices at all installed in automobiles!
I guess the Japanese didn't know that you're supposed to stick your chewing gum under tables.1 Reply
My E46 3 Series is affected.
Not a happy camper right now. I live in Canada so its not humid, reducing the risk of injury, but to think I was driving something not intrinsically safe because a supplier messed up is pissing me off.2 Replies
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I just got a new BMW too, mine is a matchbox ...1 Reply
the gum could have been used as an insulator.......
Blame the airbag maker, not GM or Toyota, just like the Firestone incident, dont blame Ford for it4 Replies
That issue was MOST DEFINITELY Ford's responsibility. Against Firestone's direct advice, they spec'ed a too-low tire pressure, the tires overheated under certain conditions, and blew up? How the F is that Firestone's fault?
Firestone took the hit because Ford was/is bigger, richer and more powerful. Every tire guy I've talked to has to told me said it was the low air pressure that Ford recommend and not the fault of the tire. I never heard of any problems with these tires on any other vehicles. I had a set on a 4Runner with no problems but I kept the pressure at 34 psi.
Blame the Japanese culture that protected the Japanese companies like Takata.
Try to get Ford to fix it? See what happens.
This is the first i've seen to include the 2005 vibe, others have all been thru 2004
I thought there were some gm cars on the list?6 Replies
The only GM vehicle that I have heard about so far is the Pontiac Vibe.
Car and Driver
NHTSA had originally included a large number of GM vehicles on its list, but they're actually subject to a different, non-Takata-related airbag recall.
I had seen Chevy Trailblazer, too.
The 9-2x is a Subaru derivative, but I guess GM will cover the replacement. Talk about kicking Saab owners when they're downn.
So my "Service Airbag" light on my 2009 HHR SS is just another custom feature like the auto-eject key removal system? I have the build sheet and I don't see those features listed.
How can it be that the 04 Infiniti FX airbags are different from the 04 Nissan Murano? Same goes for the Corolla and Scion Xa & Xb?3 Replies
The murano and fx are built on different platforms. The fx is built on the same FM platform as the g35 and 350z and is rwd based. The murano is fwd based and has more in common with maximas and altimas.
Same goes for the Corolla and xa/xb, they are not all that similar. The xa and xb have more in common with the echo/Yaris.
^^What he said.
Plus, different interior design layouts likely require different airbags, even if cars are platform mates. Airbag design likely depends on the shape of the dashboard, seating position relative to the dashboard, other dimensions like windshield rake, interior width and headroom... it's not just a plug-n-play deal with a generic airbag.
If it's Japanese it's a Takata.
"According to the Times, Honda and Takata allegedly have known about the faulty inflators since 2004 but failed to notify NHTSA in previous recall filings (which began in 2008) that the affected airbags had actually ruptured or were linked to injuries and deaths."
I wonder if Honda will receive the similar wrath of the press & public that GM received over the ignition switch debacle.3 Replies
Why would I need to put a sticker on the dash that says "Do Not Sit Here?" I, or my passengers, sit in seats, not on the dashboard.
"According to the Times, Honda and Takata allegedly have known about the faulty inflators since 2004 but failed to notify NHTSA in previous recall filings." Hmm, it may be that even those venerable brands, that all the critics say America = cheap crap and Japan = top shelf quality, conspire with suppliers to hide defects they have known about for a decade. GM may have been guilty of a culture of incompetence, but Honda knowingly and willingly entered a conspiracy at the highest possible level of leadership. Well, I wonder how this will play out.7 Replies
Honda still selling cars 2-3-16 with same defective airbags.
Worst recall in auto history.
Worst page stalking and repetitive commenting in history
Thank you I should have stalked more since the car companies still using the deadly defective Takata airbags.
I'm sure the entire industry will change due to your continuous, repetitive bias B.S
It's turning out to be the worst recall in auto history happy. How's that for success?
And how exactly have YOU helped?
whew... BOTH my previous cars (Accord and CR-V) were on the list... But not the NEW Honda...1 Reply
So what happens when you have a vibe but neither GM nor Toyota will touch your car?1 Reply
does the 2003–2008 Dodge Ram 1500 include the SRT10?
Don't need to check the list. Neither of my cars has airbags. My wife's 04 Chrysler isn't on it either.5 Replies
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All I want to know is how many pounds of shrapnel has Consumer Reports and the Insurance safety regulators accumulated in all these years of crash tests? HuH?1 Reply

subset: commoncrawl


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Soybeans held the most strength for the second day in a row. March beans were up 3 cents and settled at $12.55. March corn fell 5 cents to settle at $6.33 ½, and March wheat fell 6 ¼ to settle at $6.35.
Soybeans continue to gain on corn. We have finally started to do some soybean export business. The market has started forcing people out of their bear spread soybean positions as well as the short beans long corn spreads. We talked in yesterday's letter about the market trying to buy bean acres as well. So between the short covering and "bidding" for acres they have been able to keep beans more supported than corn recently. We also have wheat the same price of corn which is a factor keeping corn resisted. The fact that we have tons of wheat in the world and Australia just came out with a better wheat weather forecast. We have heard more stories of ethanol plants slowing and/or closing down production on poor ethanol margins and record ethanol stocks. We will have to see what the weekly report says tomorrow for production.
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The Chinese trade delegation is in town. The fact that they usually buy a large chunk of their soybean imports during this week has given the bean market a lot of optimism. This is usually a "buy rumor – sell the fact" type scenario and we will to see just how much they purchase.
South America is expected to get some needed rains next week, so I would expect the bean rally to start fizzling out this week without another catalyst. They've already priced in the demand, and the downside of the Brazilian crop. They have already priced in the corn gaining acres on beans. This is most of what the market likely needs to price in for now. This is the first time in several months that we feel new crop beans have as much downside risk as new crop corn does. Look to start hedging new crop beans at these levels as we are getting much closer to fair value. If you haven't done much for new crop beans please give us a call, we have some strategies we can look at.
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