Using Social Media For Good- Brands that are using social media to spread body positivity

In the age of social media, people and their lives have a tendency to look perfect. This kind of perfection (be it real or reconstructed) constantly at your fingertips has taken a deafening toll on society, and in particular, young women. The quest to be Instagram perfect can lead to serious body image and self-esteem issues.

Many brands choose to focus on that seemingly impossible perfection, but there are a couple of brands that have caught my eye on social media that are doing the opposite. The two of them are: Aerie and Dove.

Many of you may already be familiar with the Dove brand (it’s been around for decades). A particular social media campaign I admired was their #SpeakBeautiful campaign which encouraged social media users to be kinder to themselves with their words. The campaign involved Twitter technology identifying negative tweets about beauty and body image posted during the 2015 Academy Awards pre-show, and having the Dove account responding to those tweets suggesting users to be more positive.

Another brand I admire for their body positivity social media stance is Aerie. Some may be unfamiliar with Aerie, but they are a clothing store (bathing suits, undergarments, beach clothes) for women that is owned by American Eagle. They vowed to never retouch their models in any social media promotion posts or in any traditional marketing. Such a great example of using social media to bring body positivity to young, impressionable women.

I have mentioned before that I find social media to be a double-edged sword. With the increase in accessibility to strangers lives, many users, particularly women, find themselves constantly comparing their lives, bodies, and relationships to those who wouldn’t even recognize their own lives on social media. Always remember that social media is not always an accurate portrayal of someone’s life. Be cautious and enjoy social media, but try to avoid comparing your life to the seemingly perfect models (trust me, I’m sure they have their issues too).

Facebook: Using social media for good. Brands that are using social media to spread body positivity. https://bit.ly/2OTHSuz

Twitter: Here are some brands that are using social media for good and spreading #bodypositivity: https://bit.ly/2OTHSuz #bodypositivity #aeriereal #speakbeautiful #beyou

The Intrigue of the Instagram Influencer – COM0011

It is certainly one of the most intriguing social media concepts to me both personally and professionally. An Instagram influencer. What in the world is that? Do people actually make a living off of promoting products you likely don’t need and boasting lavish lifestyles you likely can’t afford? Well, yes. Yes, they do. This week I’m diving into why brands are increasingly using Instagram influencers to market their products and what it takes to become a successful influencer (besides a brief stint on the Bachelor or Bachelorette franchise).

First off on your influencer journey, you have to have followers. Not only do you have to have followers, but you have to have engaged followers. Unlike celebrities, who brands often turn to, to promote a product, these influencers seem far more relatable and reachable. They must be real-life consumers who are trusted by their followers and who has an opinion the follower trusts. This trust can be leveraged by the brand they are advocating for. Developing this kind of loyal following takes time, patience, and engagement.

Next step – create intriguing and visually appealing content. No one will be influenced to buy a bottle of Rose or Sugar Bear hair vitamins by an unkept looking person in a dark picture in a messy apartment. Bright, visually appealing promotion posts are essential to becoming an influencer that brands want to promote their products.

Are brands really focusing their time and investing their marketing dollars into influencers? Absolutely. In fact, 80% of marketers agree that influencer marketing is effective and 71% of them agree that the traffic garnered from these influencers is of superior quality. While working with an Instagram influencer is something that I have not professionally pursued in my current role, there is no denying that it is a fast growing trend that gets results. https://shanebarker.com/blog/rise-of-influencer-marketing/

Would you ever use an Instagram influencer to promote your brand? Why or why not? Are there any influencers that you are personally a fan of? Below is a list of the top influencers currently on social media. Any of your favourites make the list? https://influencermarketinghub.com/top-25-instagram-influencers/

Facebook Post: Thinking of becoming an Instagram influencer? Better read this post about what it takes and why brands are increasingly using influencers to promote their products. https://bit.ly/2ZB4Jf

Twitter Post: Are Instagram influencers the future of brand promotion? Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2ZB4Jf #Instagram #influencers #socialmedia

The Ghosts of Social Media Networking Sites Past

Of course, there are the usual suspects. The “Big Three” as I like to call them. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But more often than not, social media sites seem to come and go almost as often as the seasons. One day, you’re hearing all about the newest and coolest social networking app or site, the next day it’s heading straight back to the Silicon Valley start-up it came from. I thought my blog post this week could be dedicated to a few major social media networking sites that are no longer around, but that still had a significant impact on the current social media landscape we now know.

First up, Google +. Google has consistently struggled with their attempt to create a rival for Facebook (looking at you Google Wave). They launched Google Plus in the summer of 2011. You could upload a profile photo, post status updates, include your work/family history, and follow your friends. Sounds familiar, right? Unlike Facebook, Google + proved to be not very user-friendly and provided nothing new and was met with limited interest from the general public. After it was announced that there was a serious software design flaw that put members private information at risk, the site saw a huge decline in their already dwindling members. Google + officially shut down on April 2, 2019.

Google + had such high hopes of being the rival to Facebook.

Up next, Vine. Vine was launched in 2013 after it had been acquired from it’s original developed by Twitter. Vine enabled users to be able to upload and share 6-second video clips on a loop. At it’s peak, Vine was the most downloaded free app. However, its success didn’t last very long. With new competitors like Instagram video and, most notably, Snapchat, Vine declined in popularity. By 2016, Vine was no more, but it left behind plenty of funny videos for us to peruse when we’re bored or nostalgic. This proves that is essential for social media apps to stay on top of trends to be at the top of the heap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHl7jMIFDpU

Last, but certainly not least, the social networking site that started it all. Myspace. Okay, okay. “Technically” speaking Myspace is still around and even has an office and employees and a mandate. However, it is not the Myspace we all once knew and loved. Who can forget streaming your favourite songs and picking your top 10 “best friends” for the week. What nostalgia.

Myspace brings back all the nostalgia for early 2000’s teens

What do you think makes a great social media networking site? What social media networking sites do you miss the most? What is your favourite one now? Leave your answers in the comments below!

What social media networking sites do you miss the most? Take a look at the “ghosts of social networking sites past” here: http://bit.ly/2JTsR7m

The ghosts of social networking sites past. Which ones do you miss the most? http://bit.ly/2JTsR7m #throwbackThursday #socialnetworking

COM0011- Social Media Campaigns That Struck Gold

Hey everyone!

My name is Desiree and I’m a Marketing Coordinator for a large property management company in Ottawa, Ontario. I’m also now apparently a blogger (but bear with me- I’m new to this).

I wanted to shed some light on a couple of genius social media campaigns that have caught my eye over the past few years and why I think they are important.

The Curious Case of IHOB. I’ll admit it. This campaign both irritated me and commanded some serious admiration. In case you missed it, the classic American breakfast franchise, IHOP, claimed to be rebranding and changing their name to IHOB. They asked the public to take a crack at guessing what the new and mysterious “B” stood for. From burgers to breakfast, the social media universe was alive. More than 30,000 users responded with their guesses and their burger sales quadrupled from the year previously.

https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/burger-sales-quadrupled-after-ihop-became-ihob/

One great prank – what does the “B” stand for?

Of course, in the end, it was all just a giant prank, but that certainly didn’t make the level of brand exposure they received any less real. Way to go, IHOP (or IHOB…whatever your name is). You got me. Well played.

Next up – your favourite childhood dunking cookie, Oreo. This is a prime example of staying on top of your toes and maximizing your social media exposure. Brands often use major events, such as the sporting events or holidays, and develop social media campaigns around them.

During Super Bowl XXLVII, there was a blackout that lasted close to 35 minutes. Within ten minutes of that blackout, Oreo’s social media team released a simplistic ad with the catchy and all-too-fitting for the moment tagline , “You Can Still Dunk in the Dark”. Simple, effective, modern, and time-sensitive. Proof that responding to social media trends in a quick manner is essential. Had they waited even another 20 minutes, the impressiveness of the ad would have been non-existent. Simply genius. Now where can I get my hands on some Oreos to dunk?

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/07/10/marketing-moment-101-oreo-wins-super-bowl-dunk-dark-tweet

You can still dunk in the dark.

With all of the advancements in marketing and digital communication, it has never been more important to stay up-to-date on current communication trends. What social media campaigns/advertisements (good or bad) that have caught your eye? Leave your responses in the comments below!