SocialMinds - A Social Media Marketing Podcast (SocialChain)

Mob Kitchen – famous for its accessible cookbooks and Instagram recipe videos – remains one of the most popular food pages on social. Considering how many food creators and how much recipe content currently sits online, that says a lot. So how does Mob differentiate itself from all the rest? In this episode we’re joined by Jake Gauntlett, Mob’s head of content, to learn: the tips and tricks behind a believable creator-led approach, what cultivating a community *actually* looks like (not just saying the word) and how Mob has managed to migrate its budgeting fanbase to new subscription service, Mob+, as the publisher looks for alternative revenue streams to traditional brand deals.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

This week on Social in Six, we discuss TikTok’s new Friends tab - which is replacing the Discover page - new ad placements for Twitter in Tweet replies, and the arrival of new YouTube Shorts ads. We also talk about the updated Instagram profile grids still in testing, Instagram’s new lead generation tool, and LinkedIn’s algorithm change that will see engagement bait down-ranked.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Only a decade ago, social platforms were purely that: social. But what started out as places for people to connect and catch up with family and friends has now become an altogether different space.  

Nowhere is this transformation more evident than TikTok. From entertainment to discovery to search to sale, the explosion of social commerce means TikTok has effectively become a microcosm of the customer journey, launching its ecommerce platform TikTok Shop in 2021.  

Hear more tips from Jackie, Hannah and Gareth as they took to the SocialMinds LIVE stage to prepare your brand for the future of social commerce.  

Click below to watch the full session with insights including: 

• How to diversify your digital footprint cost-effectively through testing 
• Why listing your products on TikTok could be enough to get you started 
• The benefits of letting influencers work across your sale funnel

Download our key takeaways report from SocialMinds LIVE now.

The #BlackLivesMatter movement and the events of 2020 have shone more light on the issue of inequality within business. So how can companies make sweeping changes from entry-level to C-suite and how do we all promote inclusion and representation without box-ticking or indirect discrimination? This week we learn from Scott Morrison, a mentor, founder of The Boom, and advertising alumn for names such as Diesel, Levi Strauss & co and Saatchi and Saatchi. Plus we’re joined by Arooj Aftab, the Diversity Campaigns Executive at Brand Advance at the time of recording, winner of the Asian media awards in 2019 and founder of #DoneWithDiversity. In this, we learn why diversity is the wrong word to use, why hiring different nationalities doesn’t solve anything and how this generation is hustling to benefit the next.

On this week’s Social in Six, we talk about Elon Musk’s plans to make Twitter an “everything app”, LinkedIn’s new algorithmic home feed, and research that shows how TikTok users feel about your ads. We also discuss how to optimise your B2B LinkedIn ads, how to reach specific TikTok communities, and what advice Meta’s new expert panel has for brands on its new video series, Ask An Expert.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com. 

As a global platform used by businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs (and everybody in-between), Canva must create content that not only showcases its capabilities but also connects with diverse international markets, each using the platform for different reasons. Joining us today to discuss Canva's 'Truly Local' strategy is Lachlan Stewart, Social Lead at Canva. He shares insights into the challenges, investments, and successes that have come from the brand's commitment to localised social over the past year – offering valuable lessons from Canva’s journey.

Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com. Plus make sure you register for SocialMinds LIVE in Manchester while you can, as places are limited! Just head to socialchain.com/event.

Liquid Death only launched in 2019 and has already cemented its place in consumer’s hearts and creatives’ bucket lists. It’s taken the simplest commodity - water - and built a rich universe of personality, creativity and credibility around it, that’s turned a product into an entertainment property.

In this episode we’re joined by Liquid Death’s VP of creative, Andy Pearson, who shares with us the creative decisions, crazy brainstorms, and love for comedy which made Liquid Death the third most-followed beverage brand in the world on social. Forget everything you know about advertising. This is a masterclass in redefining what brands can achieve when you throw out the rule book.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Download your copy of our latest white paper here.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Riverside.fm. Click here to try it for yourself, and use the code socialminds to get 15% off any available plan.

Sidemen was eight years into their YouTube journey when Arcade Media stepped in to manage the operation. As if they weren’t already, since then, the group has surpassed heights that most creators only dream of. In this episode, we’re joined by Arcade co-founder and manager of Sidemen, Jordan Schwarzenberger, to find out how the magic happens. Expect to learn the number of staff working every day to ensure the boys don’t get burnout, why Jordan’s team sat down last year and agreed to put brand building before brand deals, and what Covid really did to the creator landscape - as the industry wrestles to catch up with the consequences. This is the side of Sidemen you don’t hear about, and is a must-listen for anyone interested in influencer-dom.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

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73% of Reddit users follow the guidance of recommendations they receive on the platform - more than an influencer’s recommendation, a TV ad, or a celebrity endorsement. Our guest this week, Reddit’s head of international marketing Yvonne Quinn, says that’s because there’s simply more appetite for - and trust in - peer-to-peer recommendations. The type of recommendations that are happening every day, in over 100,000 communities, on Reddit. In this episode, we discuss how brands can benefit from peer recommendations, why segmentating by demographic is getting less effective, and how online communities are supplementing our offline peer groups.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

The brain requires idle time to develop, but our constantly connected world seldom allows for boredom. Attention is now currency; aggressive marketing tactics and intensive social media use has earned the industry a reputation for its contribution to mental health issues. But our guest for episode 027 of Social Minds, Dr Fjola Helgadottir, has research which proves otherwise. What’s more, her online CBT programme demonstrates how digital media can actually be used to cure the very illnesses it can contribute to.

Warning, themes of a sensitive nature (suicide, self-harm, eating disorders): Social platforms face enormous pressure to improve their policies on suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. But pointing the finger at Facebook might be the most dangerous move of all. In the same week that the UK government sparked outrage among people recovering from an eating disorder, we spoke to one of Facebook’s advisory board members, Dr Ysabel Gerrard, whose job it is to make sure Facebook isn’t also adding to a problem that pre-dates its existence. In this episode she reveals exactly how policies are implemented at Facebook Inc and what matters to the company right now. We also discuss the other social platforms posing an equally problematic risk. Importantly, Ysabel reveals the issue with governments and press using Facebook as a scapegoat for mental health, and how everyone from parents to fashion brands has a role to play. Ysabel specialises in the psychology of eating disorders and tells us that anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any other mental illness. Its online communities are among the most impenetrable and private. And that is presenting researchers and platform moderators with an unprecedented ethical and logistical dilemma: should we be trying to moderate recovery?

From the death of the News Feed to social-first CRM and a departure from social networking, December has seen an influx of marketers making their predictions for 2019. In our final episode of 2018, Social Chain strategy director, Mike Blake-Crawford, makes his return to Social Minds in order to pave the way for brands in 2019. In this, we cover his top 5 predictions, including WhatsApp’s advent as a business tool and what Instagram’s leadership under Adam Mosseri will bring in the new year.

This week on Social in Six, Theo and Eve take a first look at Instagram’s redesign, which puts Reels and shopping front and centre, reveal what WhatsApp’s new shopping button means for social commerce and messaging payments, and speak to what Spotify’s latest acquisition means for podcasters. Plus we cover the benefits of new public subscriber counts on Snapchat, Twitter’s expansion of Fleets and Carousel Ads, and what could go wrong if Facebook introduces downvotes on comments. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

Everyone’s heard the phrase ‘a Starbucks on every corner’. But what does that kind of exposure look like in the digital landscape? In this episode, find out how to leverage multiple channels to stay top-of-mind.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

In September, Social Minds goes from studio to stage. That’s right - we’re coming to a theatre near you. And this episode is your invitation to our very first live, in-person event.

Meet and hear from your favourite guests including those from Ryanair, Pinterest, Monzo, and more - all under one roof. The best part? It’s free. Listen for more info on the event and how to attend, and then click this link: www.socialchain.com/uk/event

Theo and Eve are back this week with Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. In this episode we cover several new updates from Twitter, including the launch of its Stories product Fleets and the return of the infamous blue ticks; we talk about Instagram’s latest change to Stories, which alters the UI to double the number of Stories on your screen; and we discuss Facebook’s new engagement analytics for measuring the effect of comments on reach, including what that means for refining performance. Also this week, we reveal new research that shows the average usage of TikTok among 4-15 year olds has caught up to YouTube, and what that means for both platforms. Finally, we discuss changes to Reddit’s board as co-founder Alexis Ohanian’s request to replace him with a Black man is honoured in the appointment of Michael Seibel. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

This week on Social in Six, Theo and Eve announce the long-awaited launch of Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct’s integration, explaining what it means for both brands and users. We also cover stories from Snapchat, LinkedIn and Pinterest, as Snap expands its video ad offering and LinkedIn and Pinterest both roll out their versions of the popular Stories format. Finally we discuss what Reddit’s move to the UK means for advertisers in the region and how Facebook’s update to Rights Manager will affect what images you post on Facebook and Instagram. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

Social has irreversibly changed the way news is broken; publishers now rely on user-generated content for on-the-ground video and photo reporting. But what does that mean for the health of information and the content we consume? In episode 042 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Jon Cornwell, co-founder and CEO of Newsflare—a company which licenses viral and breaking news videos to media and news organisations globally. In this, we discuss Facebook’s treatment of publishers, the democratisation of editorial video as well as what the future has in store for different video formats such as LIVE and long-form episodic content. We also cover the EU’s new directive, Articles 13 and 11, also known as the meme ban and link tax respectively, and what these new laws will mean for aggregators of social-first video content.

ROI is most likely your main campaign metric, but ROI goes down the more you grow. That’s why you have to consider smarter ways to measure your performance and learn how to avoid relying on ROI, which we answer in this episode.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

This week on Social in Six, Theo and Eve explain Twitter’s newly-launched Tip Jar feature, Snapchat’s new Creator Marketplace and Instagram’s decision to include pronouns in profiles. Plus we discuss TikTok’s new native shopping tab, which is being tested among a small group of accounts, and Pinterest’s first foray into live streaming with its virtual event taking place the end of this month. Finally we discuss YouTube’s $100M Shorts fund for creators and how this compares to similar features on Snapchat and TikTok. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Contact us at social.minds@socialchain.com.

The general perception of the Army is that being a government organisation, it’s traditional. That’s why this conversation with the British Army was so surprising and so valuable. In this episode, we’re chatting to Alex Schillemore, the British Army’s head of digital and content. We’re also joined by Sarah Hiorns, the social media content manager for Capita, which handles recruitment for the British Army. In this, we discuss the crucial role that social plays for the Army, the Navy and the RAF, how the Army uses live streams to attract new recruits, and why even members of the Foreign Office benefit from building a personal brand on Twitter. Plus we discuss the many ways social is helping the Army to change perceptions and how Alex and Sarah have been able to turn a centuries-old organisation onto the power of new digital media.

This week on Social in Six, we’re talking about Twitter’s new CoTweet feature after its first rollout stage, YouTube’s expansion of tagged products in creator videos, and an update that lets TikTok users choose the ads they want to see. We also discuss LinkedIn’s public beta launch of Business Manager, the new ability to boost Instagram Reels, and Pinterest’s latest shopping tools for brands and retailers.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

This week on Social in Six, we’re talking TikTok’s solution to business accounts and trending audios, YouTube’s answer to the demand for 9:16 ads, and Twitter’s continued push to get more people using Communities. We also cover Instagram’s badge for popular businesses, Meta’s new Collaborative Ads, and possible branded AR effects on Instagram Reels.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Even the world’s most powerful brand finds value in social. For LEGO, it means appealing to all ages through innovative content and pulling off UGC on an epic scale. In this episode, we’re joined by the LEGO Group’s digital creative director for the Americas, James Gregson. He talks to us all about creativity, adapting to constant change, and always staying true to your brand. In this, find out why testing and learning is crucial when you’re a globally recognised brand, how to decide which trends are worth your time, and how not to get swept up in platform fads. This episode is a crash course in creating inclusive content that never fails to resonate with people from all walks of life.

And just like that, 2019 is over. We entered the year bursting with questions about influencer fraud, meaningful engagement and political ad meddling. Though that last one is yet to be resolved, 2020 presents new questions about private payments, brand safety and digital wellbeing - among other things. In our final episode of the year, Theo and Eve break the latest news from each of our favourite platforms, critique this year’s Christmas ads and present our predictions for the coming year. Plus, we answer your burning questions. That’s a wrap for 2019. See you in the new year!

In this week’s episode of Social in Six, we talk about Instagram’s latest tests - which include an emphasis on suggested posts, Fan Club Stories, and NFT-style collectables. Plus we discuss the arrival of Instagram desktop posting. We also cover TikTok’s new brand uplift ad polls along with its new Jumps feature, Twitter’s new sharing options, the application process for Super Follows and Ticketed Spaces, and Facebook’s launch of Live Audio Rooms and podcasts. Finally, we’re going over the new ecommerce additions to Facebook’s family of apps, including WhatsApp Shops. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Contact us at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Social in Six is a breakdown of the top social media stories and what you need to know. This week, Theo and Eve discuss the launch of Snapchat Sounds, a new audio browser for Reels, shoppable IGTV videos and Facebook’s ban on political ads until after the US Presidential Election. We also talk about what will happen if Instagram turns into Facebook entirely, the new update from Wordpress which lets users publish their entire blogs as Twitter threads, and Spotify’s latest attempt to lure podcast creators away from Youtube and Apple - by releasing a new audio format that blends spoken word with streaming. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

For our first episode of 2020, we’re joined by Mark Asquith - aka ‘that British podcast guy’. Mark’s years of experience as founder of Rebel Base Media give him unrivalled authority to advise on podcast ideation, production, growth and distribution. Forget the myths you’ve heard about chart-climbing. Find out if your brand suits a slick show or a chilled chat. Plus learn the importance of retention rates, varied content streams, repurposing and bonus content. This episode is a must-listen for brands, influencers and individuals who want to grow or launch a successful podcast.

Yorkshire Tea is a well-loved social-first brand leading its category in market share – hard to believe when you consider it was once the underdog amongst its multinational competitors. So how did the brand flip the script? By leaning into what made them different: their Northern-ness.

In this episode, Dom Dwight, strategy and innovation director at Taylor’s of Harrogate, breaks down Yorkshire Tea’s approach to social and brand building. Expect insights on the power of consistency, how social went from a novelty to a central part of the brand’s media planning, and how Yorkshire Tea is trying to get more Gen Zers popping the kettle on. 

Since Apple’s iOS 14.5 update, 96% of US users have opted out of ad tracking - and we can assume the trend is similar in the UK. In this episode, find out what data your brand is losing and how to build your strategy back better.

Have a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

Social in Six is back and reporting on what’s been a mega month in social - from the fall of Larry the bird to the rise of X and Threads. In this, we’re talking about TikTok’s new Commercial Content Library and its text posts feature, Twitter’s phased rebrand to X, and what Meta wants you to do with Threads. We also cover Instagram Collab posts’ expansion, and YouTube’s new TikTok-like video keyword search bar. Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast?

Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Oatly’s punk reputation needs no introduction, but its new media plan does. The brand is scaling up and growing up. So how can Oatly’s provocative ads and content stay that way, while it steps into this next, more mature, phase? In this episode we’re joined by its Global Media Director, Sarah Sutton, to reveal when brands are over-strategising, why Oatly still won’t write TOV guidelines (I know, I know) and how they’re approaching social reactive and creator partnerships after watching the rest of us do it first. 

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Facebook’s end goal has always been to eliminate its competition, whether that's through acquisition or a 'clone and destroy' strategy. Except it’s not working. In fact, recently other tech firms have been showing Facebook how’s it’s done. In our first LIVE episode of Social Minds, Theo and Eve discuss social’s latest headlines and get candid about the state of Facebook. While Facebook says it can’t fact-check political ads — but absolutely can ban popular emojis used in a sexual context — Twitter has banned political ads altogether, Snapchat Discover is giving publishers the ad revenue that Facebook won’t provide, and TikTok hasn’t even flinched at Facebook’s clone efforts. Instead, it’s expanding further still by introducing its own advertising platform. In this, we reveal the new features coming to Twitter in 2020, the surprising year-on-year growth of Snapchat Discover, TikTok’s agency pitch deck and Facebook’s real motive for introducing the world to the new but not that improved FACEBOOK.

Deliveroo isn’t limited by age demographic, so how does its social team create content and campaigns that appeal to everyone, from a mother of three to a student?

In this episode, we’re joined by Sophie Headlam, the global head of brand marketing at Deliveroo. In this, she reveals how to reach mass audiences at a local level, which platforms and features are best used for location-based marketing, and how to craft messaging that alienates no one. Plus we discuss the role of influencer marketing in convenience and how selling food has evolved over the last few years.

If you saw Jeremy Allen White’s Calvin Klein ad, count yourself lucky. It was shared without ALT text, so blind and partially sighted people couldn’t join the fun. That was until RNIB schooled us all. Behind every sassy, creative, and inventive post from the Royal National Institute of Blind People is an important message: People with sight loss exist. Social media content manager and previous copywriter for Specsavers’ agency, Helen Dutson, and RNIB’s social media officer Holly Tuke, who’s registered blind are on a mission to show social media that accessible content is achievable, necessary, and rich ground for creativity. In this episode we got a lesson in what scrolling through social is like for someone with sight loss, how to make truly accessible content, who’s doing it well, and how platforms can improve their features.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Online communities are more prevalent today than ever before - and that has only accelerated since the pandemic. Few companies are better placed to speak on this shift than Reddit, which joins us for a second time in this episode. This time, we’re speaking to Jack Koch, who is Reddit’s global head of marketing sciences. Throughout this conversation, Jack reveals their learnings from Reddit’s partnership with GlobalWebIndex to explore community-first social media, why today’s consumers are more interested in we-centric messaging than me-centric messaging, and the tangible factors brands can use to predict what their target audience will look for next. Plus we hear about Reddit’s plans for growth in 2021 after the platform reached the highest peak of traffic in its history this February.

Organic reach is dead. Heard that one before? One business that has the numbers to prove the opposite is Thursday - a new dating app whose LinkedIn and PR-centric launch got the whole of London talking (and dating). In this episode, we’re joined by its co-founder and COO, Matthew McNeill Love, to find out how you can still win big with organic in 2022. Learn the role of the anti-personal brand, when performance marketing and OOH are best deployed, and what makes an epic PR stunt, plus much more.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

On this episode of Social in Six, Mil and Eve cover two updates from Instagram: a Trials update for Reels, and its latest new features for Broadcast Channels. They also discuss what Australia’s social media ban means for brands, how TikTok is allegedly hoping to boost shopping with TikTok Mini apps, and YouTube’s latest slate of updates to facilitate brand and creator partnerships on platform with BrandConnect. Finally, they cover an ads update from Meta that gives your Traffic campaigns increased flexibility.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Solving social media can sometimes feel like everyone is in on the secret but you. But for Media Chain head of innovation, George MacGill, growth hacking is not only about having the answers but asking the right questions. Whether it’s cracking YouTube discoverability, Facebook’s hidden crypto conspiracy or the new app dominating Chinese social media, in Episode 013 of Social Minds, George proves that once you know where to look, there’s no shift you can’t decode.

Social-first creative and online experiences make sense for consumer-facing brands, where product complexity and purchase consideration are generally low. Can the same be said for business customers? In this episode, we spoke to Jason Maldonado, director of social media at Survey Monkey, and previously the head of social media marketing at MailChimp. We discuss why B2B brands should compare themselves to aspirational B2C brands, how to balance strategic-led thinking with the speed of social, and how marketers can use deep data and insights to tell stories, both during the pitching process and in the end campaign.

Every week Theo and Eve bring you Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. This week we address how coronavirus is impacting the money that YouTubers make as well as what brands should and shouldn’t say, according to Twitter. We also walk you through the new Lens Web Builder on Snapchat, which lets brands and advertisers build their own branded custom lens for the first time. Also on our agenda are stories from Facebook’s growing relationship with Instagram, Reddit’s change of heart on advertising and big taxes for big tech. Want to be on Social Minds? Every Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

Reddit was once a relatively niche forum website. Today it sits alongside behemoths like Facebook and Instagram, and even overtakes Twitter and Pinterest in daily active users. With its growth has come increased opportunities for brands and advertisers, which we hear all about in this episode from Harold Klaje, Reddit’s VP and president of global advertising, previously of Pinterest and Google. In this, we discuss the unique qualities of Reddit’s audience that can’t be reached elsewhere, the importance of using Reddit to trend-spot for brands and the rewards available from its many ad product offerings. Harold also reveals what motivated the company to open its first HQ in London recently and the truth about brand safety concerns on the platform, including how they’ve tackled it since 2017.

$500 billion was spent on digital advertising in 2018 alone. Now imagine if that money could be funnelled into life-changing causes. That’s the vision of our guest for episode 026 of Social Minds, Amy Williams—founder of ad tech platform, Good-Loop, which aims to make digital advertising ethical again by donating half of its revenue to charity. In this, we speak to her about the future of cause marketing, the epidemic of young ad-blockers and social media’s crucial role in fixing both.

Our first panel at SocialMinds LIVE in London asked one simple question: how can brands bin the buzzword and build a genuine community? Answering our question was Leah Silverlock, global director of social media at American Express GBT; Jake Gauntlett, head of content at MOB; and Tom Bellamy, SocialChain’s executive creator director. But here’s the catch: how we define community and how the wider industry defines it, is wildly disconnected. Through this discussion and the following Q&A, we set the record straight and set brands on the right path.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

SocialChain has had a makeover. Following our first-ever SocialMinds LIVE event, Overcoming the Disconnect, we sit down with our CEO Pete Metcalfe, group strategy director Ric Hayes, and executive creator director Tom Bellamy to learn about the biggest industry shifts behind our latest evolution. Expect to learn how brands can better connect with their people, why it takes a creator mindset to succeed in 2023, and our thoughts after hearing from the likes of Ryanair, Monzo, Specsavers, Pinterest and Sidemen last week.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

In episode 048 of Social Minds we return for another Breaking Social segment, in which Theo and Eve translate the biggest social media stories to break over the last month—and July 2019 was not short of material. The last 31 days have seen Snapchat take its naysayers by surprise with impressive second-quarter results; the platform gained 13 million new users. Also new at Snap Inc. was Snapchat’s first major ad campaign, Real Friends, which reveals its USP and strategy against long-time rival, Instagram. Twitter was the second social networking site which had a campaign to share; its Me On Twitter user-generated ads are the latest in a shift towards a new and humanised tone of voice. Both campaigns hold important lessons for brands and hint at the most noticeable and cost-effective marketing opportunity right now. As well as this, we talked all things Facebook, following the FTC’s largest fine in its history, how Facebook widgets are falling foul of GDPR and the release of Netflix’s Cambridge Analytica exposé, The Great Hack. These setbacks come at a crucial time for Facebook as the data implications of its new Neurolink-style tech and Project Libra are under scrutiny. Finally we are thrilled to share the details of Social Chain Data’s official launch—a new dedicated service giving brands access to 80 million super fans, consumer trends and unprecedented marketing insights.

Sprout Social’s annual Index is popular in the States, but for the first time new data this year explores the state of social for British and Irish brands - and there’s plenty of opportunity to gauge from it. To talk us through the report, we’re joined by Cat Anderson, Sprout Social’s head of marketing for EMEA. In this, we learn which platform most consumers are on but marketers aren’t, why the pandemic has led to social teams restructuring, and why British and Irish consumers want to see more distinctive assets and less societal issues from brands on social.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Every time you order a Domino’s pizza, you’re interfacing with countless data-driven touchpoints – whether it’s suggested items or Dom the Pizza Tracker telling you your Pepperoni Passion is in the oven. In this episode, Nick Bamber, digital and data director at Domino’s, unpacks why the brand sees itself as a data company first and a pizza business second. He reveals how leveraging smart data and AI resulted in 10 million app users, the learnings from Domino’s’ journey to become “the Netflix of pizza”, and the future of food delivery in an increasingly digital world. 

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Today’s Social in Six covers several strategy-changing updates – including a new LinkedIn algorithm that doesn’t care when you published your post, only what you’re talking about; a direct Instagram competitor app from TikTok called TikTok Photos (👀); and a TikTok AI tool that automatically identifies products and generates native Shop links. 

We also have to talk about Instagram’s Creator Marketplace getting a global rollout, all the new ad tools with Meta’s Advantage+ update, and Elon Musk’s plan to hide likes, replies and reposts from view in the feed.

Keep listening until the end of the episode to hear our news about SocialMinds Live returning for 2024, or click here for more information on how to register.

Click here to sign up to RiversideFM with our promo code socialminds -  https://creators.riverside.fm/SocialMindsPodcast 

Weetabix is a staple household brand with 1000 employees and prompted awareness of 97% - and it’s one of the brands for which traditional TV advertising remains highly lucrative. So what is it doing on social? In this episode, we’re joined by Weetabix head of marketing Gareth Turner, to talk about the brand’s social objectives and successes. We cover the optimum channel mix for a campaign, Weetabix’s approach to social TOV and reactivity, and how the heritage brand is embracing new channels to adapt for modern audiences. Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

In June 2006 Yahoo tried to buy Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg ignored advice to reject the offer. That September, Facebook launched News Feed, once again against strong advice. Now, Zuckerberg has been conditioned to believe he knows best. In episode 063 of Social Minds, The Guardian’s UK tech editor, Alex Hern, joins us to discuss Facebook’s growing power and the repercussions of that. Alex says that, while Zuckerberg is skilled at making the right decision for Facebook’s business model, those decisions are rarely best for everybody else. In this episode, we learn the heavy responsibility of a tech reporter today. Plus we get the insider account of Snapchat’s dossier, the dark life of content moderators and the crucial role of the whistleblower.

Earlier this year we collaborated with Buffer on its annual State of Social report, which enables marketers to form an informed strategy through social-first data. In episode 037 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Buffer’s editorial director, Ash Read, to unearth the learnings which have come to light since then, discuss how to strike the balance between research and creative instinct, and reveal when to use data to outsmart the platforms’ ever-changing landscape.

Every major social platform has been improving their creator offering over the last 12 months. The difference now is that creators know their worth, have agency over which brands they choose to work with, and are an asset no brand or platform can afford to lose. In this episode we’re joined by Meridith Rojas, the global head of entertainment and creator marketing at Logitech.

We discuss why brands should invest in and develop talent, when to collaborate before a star’s rise to fame, and how to vet talent for your campaigns. We also cover the factors driving the creator boom and the expectations on brands now creators are the ones calling the shots.

Have a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

We’re back for 2023 with Social In Six, and on this episode’s syllabus are Instagram’s new Broadcast Channels, changes to Twitter’s ad targeting, and TikTok removing its watermark for repurposed content. We also talk expansions to TikTok’s Commercial Music Library, YouTube’s new podcast feature, how Pinterest mitigates stress, and your brand’s Instagram engagement rate.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com. 

Has Instagram left itself vulnerable to vertical-first competitors? In episode 040 of Social Minds: Breaking Social, Theo and Eve are back to translate the biggest social media stories to break in May. We discuss Facebook’s latest algorithm update and its effect on publishers, and share the first-look reaction from our own Pages; Twitter’s update which places emphasis on direct messages, as a wider shift towards private sharing continues; Snapchat’s recent licensing deals, which put music front and centre of the platform; and what brands should make of IGTV now after Instagram wobbles, surrendering to creators and sacrificing the USP of its long-form experiment.

When marketing a club night where the venue, the DJ and the drinks deals are all the same, how does one ensure their night out is the place to be? In Episode 003 of Social Minds, we speak to the managing director of student events company Voodoo Events and host of the Modern Wisdom podcast, Chris Williamson. In this, we gain a candid account of social equity, selling the student night out and how championing students’ emboldened sense of self is in an events marketer’s best interest - if they hope to survive in this unforgiving industry.

Last Summer, Kopparberg decided they needed to win back the favour of customers who’ve turned to trends like craft beer and chicken wine. To do so the brand made an unexpected but genius collaboration with Melanoma Fund, tapping into audiences’ interest in skincare and health at peak summer (Kopparberg’s time to shine).

In this episode, Nancy Dales, brand manager at Kopparberg breaks down the case study of that Summer campaign – what worked, what didn’t, and what brands inside and outside of the drinks category can learn from it. Expect to hear the value of physical PR, strategically ignoring social trends, and enabling constant communication amongst your agencies.

This week on Social in Six, we’re talking about Instagram’s expansion of its Remix feature, Newsletters for LinkedIn Company Pages, and TikTok’s new landing page option for ads - Instant Page. We also cover Twitter’s new cookie policy for UK and EU users, including how this will affect advertisers. And we’re discussing Instagram’s test to hide follower lists for some business accounts, as well as TikTok’s plans for its own Stories feature.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

In a time where consumers have been confined to their homes and social contact has been limited; influence has been pulling to the forefront of our increasingly virtual reality. Where other channels have been on the back foot, unable to activate amongst social distancing, influence has found itself in a unique position. In this episode of Social Minds, we’re joined by head of influence at Ogilvy, Rahul Titus, to find out how brands and agencies can future proof the influencer marketing landscape when it is needed more than ever, and new platforms like TikTok are changing how we interact with and discover talent. Challenges such as brand safety, engagement fraud and consumer mistrust still plague influencer marketing, and Rahul says it’s up to us to address these issues as influencers will become ever more important to their brand partners. In this, expect to hear why the ASA is crucial, the opportunities for influencers now and the measures brands can put in place to ensure real ROI from their influencer campaigns.

AI is the hot topic on everyone’s lips. One which, if you ask most creatives, will be spoken of with some level of selfish scepticism. But what do you do when a company built on the good of tech has their own department of creatives? This conversation is full of honest questions, thought-provoking answers, and candid discussions on how Ai is actually impacting creativity inside and outside of our studios, Don’t expect another narrative on how “AI is coming for our jobs” (it might yet) but come away feeling educated on how to make it work for you. 

Every week Theo and Eve bring you Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. Undeterred by the pandemic, we hosted our first-ever remote recording to bring you news on LinkedIn’s new ad format and why Instagram is temporarily putting a hold on new AR filters. This week’s episode also takes a first look at WhatsApp’s self-destructing messages, Facebook’s proposed quiet mode and a preview of our Social Chain webinar series on the opportunities available to our industry in times of crisis. You can sign up by following the links in our recent LinkedIn and Twitter posts. Want to be on Social Minds? Every Monday we're answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

1.3 billion people in the world live with disability. Just 0.6% of adverts represent them. In episode 055 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Marianne Waite. Marianne is director at Omnicom's The Valuable 500 - the global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda, whose Diversish campaign took home a Cannes Lions award earlier this year. Disability is seen as a charity or government issue, but Marianne stresses that it is brands and corporations that have the scale, power and money to make real change. In this episode, we expose the fear, bias and ignorance that is taking place across our industry and preventing the fair and accurate representation of a large group with equal spending power.

Ryanair wants to be the most talked about brand on social - and it’s well on its way. Its distinctive irreverence on social has recently been backed up by a solid social media strategy, courtesy of this week’s guest, Michael Corcoran - the airline’s head of social media. In this episode we find out how the brand earned 111m organic impressions in a month through low-fi TikTok memes and reactive Twitter gags, how it keeps the integrity of its snarky TOV when dealing with angry customers, and how far a brand can push it before the backlash gets too big.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

“Have you had your Weetabix?” is an iconic ad slogan as any. But post-pandemic, though Weetabix had become part of online conversations, it wasn’t necessarily translating to consumers’ shopping baskets. In this episode, Lorraine Rothwell, head of marketing at Weetabix, shares the story of how the brand reconnected with its core demographic while remaining relevant to younger audiences. Discover how social informed ad creative, the power of nostalgia in marketing, and how Weetabix continues to surprise and delight without losing its heritage roots. 

This time on Social in Six, we’re breaking down a new default TikTok Ads setting, the most recent advice from YouTube on Shorts, and X (Twitter)’s foray into in-app jobs listings. We also discuss Reddit’s new ad measurement tools and its increase of 66 interest targeting options to 152, LinkedIn’s algorithm change and what it means for your engagement, and how to track creator campaigns in Meta’s Ads Library.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

Would you pay £330 for Snap’s latest Spectacles? We’re debating Snapchat’s parent company and its bold push into augmented reality and much more from Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in our latest edition of Breaking Social, where Theo and Eve walk you through the last month of online activity. This month, that includes several key platform updates and brands’ best and worst campaigns - a crash course in how to take care with controversy. Expect to hear why advertisers should care that there are now 1.5 million more over 60s than teens on Facebook, why influencers are using Instagram to promote their tweets, and why everyone is talking about NARS and Adidas. Plus we provide a first look at Instagram’s new messaging app, Threads, and invite you to join our brand new Facebook Group for Social Minds. To speak to Social Minds guests, send your topic suggestions and keep up to date with all of our latest episodes, head to this link: https://sochn.co/2kML64E

Every week Theo and Eve bring you Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. This week we reveal the status of Facebook’s Libra, WhatsApp’s dark mode and Twitter’s version of Stories - Fleets. We also reveal how much money Byte (aka Vine 2.0) will be paying its creators, cover YouTube’s policy on coronavirus content and discuss Instagram’s latest change to IGTV - which TikTok fans will likely recognise. Want to be on Social Minds? Every Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

In this week’s episode of Social in Six, find out which feature Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok now all share, what LinkedIn’s latest test tells us about the future of social-first audio, and what YouTube’s new product detection tool means for brands and creators. Plus we discuss the possibility of Twitter adding emoji reactions and downvotes to tweets, the benefits of Instagram adding drafts to Stories, and the arrival of IGTV ads in the UK and Australia. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Contact us at social.minds@socialchain.com

Recess Therapy host Julian Shapiro-barnum (the creator behind the viral Corn Kid video) didn’t achieve his success solo. Behind him, and a portfolio of several other creators in the industry’s top 10%, sits management, a media consultant, and business partner all rolled into one.

Today’s guest, Scott Dunn of Doing Things Media, joins us to demystify the ever-important and changing creator economy - and where brands fit in this brave new world. One key point we address: what would motivate creators to promote a brand’s product or business, when they can build their own? In this, expect insight on how to work within new creator expectations, what tips the scale between another average influencer and the next big thing, and what led to one kid’s autotuned outburst shifting the global corn market. 

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com. 

The AI apocalypse is a recurring theme in tabloid newspapers, but journalists have bigger concerns than bots cloning the newsroom. Copywriters are less optimistic, however, and their fears haven’t been quashed by the arrival of Phrasee – a tool that uses AI to produce millions of email subjects and social media captions in seconds. In episode 14 of Social Minds, Parry Malm, Phrasee’s CEO and co-founder, calls BS on claims that AI will kill copywriting and explains why he wants to liberate wordsmiths, not replace them.

Boosting posts can be a simple advertising solution for small businesses with limited skill and budget, but we’ve seen boosted posts contribute between just 3 and 7% to their KPIs compared to over 90% for dark ads. In this episode, Pollyanna explains how the two advertising tools compare and which is right for your brand.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

eBay, Mastercard, VISA and Paypal are four of the world’s most powerful companies. Along with Stripe, a Californian financial software company, they are also the first early backers to leave Facebook’s Libra project. But is Facebook’s plan to launch a cryptocurrency doomed or will it push through regulation to help create the world’s biggest bank? In episode 060 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Social Chain’s instant messaging lead, Dilen Pattni, and Josh Riddett, the CEO of Easy Crypto Hunter. Both have a comprehensive knowledge of blockchain technology and a deeper interest than most in what Mark Zuckerberg is up to. They discuss blockchain, bitcoin and why not every international government is averse to Facebook’s plans, even if the G7 are.

For episode 030 of Social Minds, Theo and Eve cover the biggest social media stories to break in March. On our list is Instagram’s new Checkout button, including what it means for social commerce and e-tail websites; Article 13, the EU’s controversial copyright law amendment and so-called meme ban; and the future of linear TV following Apple TV+ and the news that online subscriptions have overtaken cable for the first time. Finally, we answer your questions about the world of social media marketing.

People are primed to purchase on Pinterest. 98% of Pinners report trying new things they find on the platform. So why aren’t more brands taking it seriously? In this episode, we’re joined by Yulia Aleksandrova, global social media manager at MADE.com and Jackie Klimes, retail partnerships manager at Pinterest - previously of LinkedIn. Pinterest is an instrumental element of MADE.com’s marketing and their activity is the perfect case study of how powerful Pinterest can be, both organically and for paid campaigns. In this episode, we find out the differences in visual search versus social media strategies, how Pinterest caters for both long-consideration and impulse buys, and the content types that provide brands with the highest ROI on the platform.

Students are a key demographic for all B2C brands. But this generation of freshers is different from their predecessors; the internet was up and running before they learned how to speak. That means their formative years were spent on Facebook, and they’ve spent the last decade being targeted by Instagram ads. In episode 050 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Social Chain social media director Roxanne Parker. Freshers Week is just around the corner but, formerly of UNiDAYS and the National Union of Students, Roxanne stresses the importance of student marketing all year round. In this episode, she reveals how social-first data can aid understanding current student behaviour, which events in the student calendar to note and how to think outside the Facebook bubble to reach more students. We also discuss the crucial difference between practical and aspirational student marketing and how to find where your brand fits into the mix.

On social, views are counted by the number of people who have watched the first three seconds of your ad - not the full thing. In this episode, Pollyanna reveals how to increase ad recall from your paid social by carefully selecting what to show in that window.

Have a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com

This week on Social in Six, we’re covering TikTok’s 10-minute uploads update, as well as its new Agency Centre for creators. At Twitter, a podcasts feature has been spotted in testing, and at Instagram, replies on sponsored posts have been, too. We also discuss LinkedIn’s latest acquisition of marketing platform Oribi, and Reddit’s new Discover tab.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com. 

On this week’s instalment of Social in Six, Theo and Eve discuss the possibility of paying for some Twitter features, Instagram’s plans to launch collaborative LIVEs with up to four people, and the job advertisement spotted on LinkedIn that suggests a focus on creator partnerships. Plus we talk about Twitter’s ongoing foray into audio with the addition of voice-based DMs, YouTube Shorts’ latest usage stats following plans to launch it in the US this March, and the new education initiative from TikTok: Seller University - which is dedicated to educating brands and creators on how best to collaborate on ecommerce-driven campaigns. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

Every week Theo and Eve bring you Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. This week we address TikTok’s messaging ban on under 16s, Facebook’s $5.7 bn investment and the return of Project Libra. We also discuss what can be deduced from Snapchat’s Q1 earnings report, as well as reveal new features from Facebook and Instagram, including a gaming app from Facebook that hopes to rival Twitch and YouTube, and a simulcast option that will finally enable brands and influencers to maximise their engagement on one stream across two audiences. Finally, we want to update you on our new schedule for Social Minds, and report what Instagram chief Adam Mosseri had to say to our CEO Steven Bartlett on capped Instagram Story views. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

Big brands are forgetting what their founders set out to do; when you’ve been in the business for decades, you can lose touch with your roots. This week, we speak to Social Chain’s new creative director, Tim Donald. He reveals the challenge facing brands to simultaneously adapt and to rediscover their purpose. And brand purpose to Tim doesn’t mean cause marketing - not every purposeful piece of content has to reflect an environmental mission. It’s also not about product pushing. In this episode, Tim explains what brands need to do to reconnect with themselves, and their audience.

Theo and Eve are back with Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. This week, we discuss the updates to Messenger that are seeing SMEs and users through lockdown, including livestreams from Messenger Rooms and a new ecommerce and customer service plugin. We also discuss the latest from Twitter’s proposed paid subscription model, and reveal the features you could soon be asked to shell out for. Next we talk Snapchat as its latest feature is the last in a long line of music licensing deals for all the major social media players, but it’s not necessarily the attack on TikTok that most headlines assume. And finally, on TikTok, we discuss the latest in its campaign against Facebook’s monopoly - a pledge to open its algorithm and moderation processes for evaluation. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

How many brands have said ‘we want to sound like Innocent?’ For Innocent Drinks, while others’ replication tactics are flattering, they have a tone of voice and personality to preserve. In this episode we’re joined by its social media manager, Marcus Dean, to hear about the three content pillars, rigorous writer training, and ethos’ that keep Innocent one step ahead of its brand fanbase. We find out how to make your visual assets look like how your tone of voice sounds, how Twitter jokes translates to in-store purchases for Innocent, and whether or not that smoothie was actually blue.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

What should we, as brands, be doing to make our campaigns more engaging and, ultimately, more effective? There’s no one better to ask than those who write the rules of engagement – the platforms themselves.

At SocialMinds LIVE 2024 we put three of the major social players around the same table to find out – algorithm be damned - what formats, campaigns and ad solutions really drive engagement on their respective channels. Hear from Tobi Demuren, head of advocacy marketing at LinkedIn; Matthew Siberry, head of home at Pinterest UK; and Molly Rajanathan; agency solutions at Meta.

Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

This week on Social in Six, we’re talking about Reddit enabling anonymous native sharing cross-platform, three new TikTok ad solutions, and Twitter possibly replacing Pinned tweets with an Instagram Highlights dupe. We also discuss Instagram’s new Shops feature that puts UGC on the product page, AI-powered ad tools coming to Meta, and YouTube Music’s new plan to help you reach Gen Z.

Got a question or a suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

As one of the most prestigious advertising magazines in the world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking Adweek’s writers only care for a specific type of ad. But just as creativity has moved on from eye-wateringly expensive masterpieces and ten-minute short films, so too has Adweek’s definition of what makes a memorable campaign. In this episode, we’re joined by Adweek’s creative and innovation editor, David Griner, who reveals he and other industry insiders would rather see great ideas executed swiftly and in a way that’s culturally-relevant than flawless ideas that come late. That’s welcome news for anyone working in social, where speed and reactivity often trump indulgent artistry. So is it possible to penetrate Adweek’s pages with a well-timed tweet or TikTok trend? From creative effectiveness to award show politics, tune in to hear what the top writers in advertising are looking for from brands today.

Every new business wants to create the ideal working environment. Challenger bank, Monzo, is no different. In episode 038 of Social Minds, Social Chain COO Dom McGregor is joined by Monzo COO, Tom Foster-Carter. In this, we discuss how core values, an intuition for what young people want and determination to do things differently is the only way to create a successful business in a time where the average lifespan of a company is just 15 years.

Creative professionals come with an ego attached. That’s usually their downfall. In episode 067 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Joe Glover, founder of The Marketing Meetup. In this episode, he explains why empathy is the trait to be proud of and a skill that everyone can develop. Joe says empathy doesn’t just mean being nice. Empathy is the ability to become the person you’re trying to reach. To take on their problems in order to provide their solutions. But it’s not not being nice. In this episode, find out why humanity is the best strategy for long-term business success.

In all forms of marketing, misunderstanding your target audience means missing the mark. But why are so many brands failing to resonate with their audience on social media when the tools available to them are so sophisticated? In episode 041 of Social Minds, we’re joined by Social Chain UK managing director Katy Leeson, to discuss how social-first data capabilities are revolutionising our understanding of modern consumers and what lessons can be transferred from traditional media targeting. Intuitive targeting means knowing that customers’ offline actions don’t always marry with their online thoughts, or that effective youth marketing means not falling for the stereotypes associated with millennials and Gen Z. In this, Katy reveals how brands can succeed by understanding who is talking about your brand, where they’re talking and what those conversations really say about you.

In one year OceanX’s audience grew from over 2.M to more than 6.6M followers. That’s down to the organisation’s ability to translate scientific subjects into content that can be understood by and resonate with anybody. Today’s guest Shannon Forrey, director of social and digital media at OceanX, reveals in this episode what shoots look like underwater in the Red Sea, how to create editorial media with social in mind, and what the key is to making people care deeply about a topic they didn’t previously understand, through igniting their curiosity.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at social.minds@socialchain.com.

​​This week on Social in Six, we reveal what LinkedIn’s latest acquisition promises to do for your video content on LinkedIn, why Instagram is testing a way to recommend Reels on the main Facebook app, and all the details on Twitter’s Shop Module pilot which will let users shop products from brands in the app. We also discuss TikTok’s experiment to include ephemeral Stories in its offering, the death of Twitter Fleets, Instagram’s vertical feed for Explore, and Pinterest’s two new features: product tagging and paid partnerships.

Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Contact us at social.minds@socialchain.com

Is storytelling a realistic goal on social media, or just another of marketers’ favourite buzzwords? In episode 018 of Social Minds, we sit down with Alex Ayin, commercial director at Media Chain, to find out exactly how brands can overcome platform limitations to drive a powerful narrative home - in 15 seconds or less.

Every week Theo and Eve bring you Social in Six - a breakdown of the top social media headlines and what you need to know. This week we break down the key updates from Facebook in response to the coronavirus, including a new Messenger desktop app and a Stay Home reaction button, and explain what Messenger’s new Auto-Status feature means for privacy. Also in our top stories this week is YouTube’s TikTok clone, Snapchat’s surge in usage and the reason a newly popular app, Houseparty, is offering a $1,000,000 bounty. Want to be on Social Minds? Every Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.

And just like that, Social Minds has wrapped for 2020. But before we part, we wanted to look back on our highlights from what has been a year of incredible guests and insightful conversations. In this episode, Theo and Eve share their favourite moments from the podcast this year, sharing times when our guests took us by surprise and taught us all something new and the trends that have stood out the most in hindsight. Catch up on moments you might have missed, relive your favourite episodes and listen out for our top tips for 2021. Thank you all for your continued support of the show and we’ll see you in the new year.

Experiential marketing is broken. That is the opinion of Lee Benecke, head of digital engagement and our guest for episode 019 of Social Minds. In this episode, Lee gives a sobering account of the state of online/offline activations and blames brand naivety for the thoughtless addition of social media to OOH campaigns. With screen time increasing and marketers constantly competing, we ask: have social media marketers stopped living in the real world?

It’s been a busy fortnight packed with updates to every social platform. This week on Social in Six, Theo and Eve are discussing the global rollout of Instagram Guides and the opportunities for brands, Twitter’s plan to bring back verification in 2021 and the details of Snapchat Spotlight - its answer to TikTok which is promising a share of $1M dollars to the creators of its most viral videos. Plus we reveal how your brand can use Pinterest's new online events feature, where ByteDance’s TikTok battle with Trump is up to, and why YouTube’s changes to monetisation have proven so controversial. Want to be on Social Minds? Every other Monday we’re answering your questions about the social landscape. Send in your voice recordings to social.minds@socialchain.com.