Serious Social from immediate future: Recent Episodes
immediate future - breaking the social boring
Created by the straight-talking social media specialists at immediate future, this podcast will feature in-depth insights from various sectors, interviews with thought leaders, and our advice on how to break the social boring. Music licensed for use by: https://www.epidemicsound.com/download_license/DL-adv-czjb0gjy08. License ID: DL-adv-czjb0gjy08
In this episode of the Immediate Future podcast, Tom Platt is joined by Immediate Future Managing Director Colin Jacobs to explore why B2B paid social is facing more scrutiny than ever before and what marketers need to do to prove its value.
As budgets tighten and leadership teams demand clearer evidence of commercial impact, many B2B marketers are finding themselves under pressure to demonstrate how paid social contributes to pipeline growth, lead generation, and revenue. The challenge isn't that paid social is broken. The challenge is that many organisations are still measuring, reporting, and deploying it using outdated approaches.
Throughout the conversation, Colin shares why data integration has become the defining factor in paid social success. He explains how many businesses continue to rely on disconnected reporting systems that fail to capture the true influence of social media on customer journeys. From LinkedIn Insight Tags and CRM integrations to custom conversion events and end-to-end attribution, the discussion highlights the practical steps brands can take to move beyond vanity metrics and demonstrate genuine business outcomes.
The episode also tackles one of the most common misconceptions in B2B marketing: the belief that LinkedIn alone can drive immediate demand generation. Colin argues that successful paid social strategies require a broader view of audience behaviour, recognising that decision-makers spend time across multiple platforms and often need between five and nine meaningful touch points before they are ready to convert.
Whether you're struggling to demonstrate ROI, improve attribution, increase lead quality, or simply make sense of evolving platform algorithms, this episode offers practical guidance for building a more effective B2B paid social programme.
Across a lot of marketing teams, the same headache keeps turning up. People are being pushed towards follower counts, posting frequency, channel debates, and quick-win lead pressure when the bigger problem is weaker fundamentals, reduced senior experience, and too little confidence to push back.
It also builds on Immediate Future’s recent work on practical AI for marketers and social search readiness, where the same pattern keeps surfacing: more tools and more activity do not save time when decision-making is weak.
That matters because the market has got harder, not easier.
Here is the backdrop worth using in the live:
· 74% of CMOs say they are under more scrutiny to prove marketing ROI. The money is watched more closely and every line of spend is being picked over.
· Marketing budgets are flat at 7.7% of company revenue, and 59% of CMOs say they do not have enough budget to execute their strategy.
· In the GTM Confidence Index FY26, only 9% of senior B2B leaders say they are highly confident in achieving their 2026 growth targets. 44% report fragmented stacks and 34% say lack of AI skills is the main barrier to making AI effective.
· In 6sense’s 2025 buyer research, buying groups average 10+ people, journeys take nearly a year, and buyers fill most of their shortlist on day one, then buy from that shortlist 85% to 95% of the time.
· Edelman and LinkedIn found 95% of hidden buyers say compelling thought leadership makes them more open to outreach, and 79% are more likely to champion a vendor during an RFP if that vendor consistently publishes quality thought leadership.
· Forrester says 94% of B2B buyers now use AI in purchasing. In a later 2026 note, it says buyers use AI to research product information (54%) and compare products (55%).
· Metricool’s 2025 study suggests LinkedIn is still a useful attention environment for B2B, with interactions up 122%, clicks up 99%, engagement up 51%, and average impressions up 33% year on year.
Put simply, marketers are under pressure to prove value while buyers are doing more of their homework before sales ever gets near them. That means the old lazy questions are actively unhelpful.
In this episode, Katy Howell, CEO at Immediate Future, sits down with Maxine Ashbrook, Marketing Director UK at Fujitsu, for a senior, no-nonsense conversation about the messy middle of modern B2B marketing.
Today’s buyers are shortlisting without you in the room. Boards want ROI yesterday. And marketing teams are under constant pressure to deliver more with less. So what actually needs to change?
Maxine shares a perspective leaders genuinely need. Instead of trying to outwork the chaos, she reworked the system reshaping team structures, redefining operating rhythms, and changing how marketing shows up internally. The result? Less time lost to friction, rework, and internal politics and more focus on what drives impact.
Social plays a key role in this approach. It acts as the fastest, most visible signal of whether your story, proof, and internal alignment are truly landing. But at its core, this episode is about something bigger: engineering marketing to fit the reality we’re all operating in.
If you’re navigating the pressure of modern B2B and looking for a smarter way forward, this is a conversation worth your time.
Marketing has become a constant stream of interrupts, opinions, and last minute requests.Most teams are doing “work about work” all day, and still being judged on growth.We don’t have time for this is a practical, senior series that calls out the real blockers, the loops, the handovers, the approval theatre, and gives you a cleaner way to run marketing so social stays sharp, trust stays intact, and your team gets time back.You should care because the tools keep changing, the pressure keeps rising, and budgets are not expanding. If the operating model does not get tighter, AI just becomes another thing to manage.This episode with Jack Stanley keeps it principle led, and a clear path that ensures you turnAI into measurable time back.
Hi everyone, I’m Katy Howell, CEO at Immediate Future.This is the first episode of we don’t have time for this. It’s for marketers who are doing more with less, while buying decisions get messier and social, search, content, brand, comms, all of it, keeps getting judged like it’s a nice-to-have.Today’s pain is simple. You’re marketing to three generations inside one buying group and half the time you’re guessing what will land, what will be trusted, and what will get forwarded internally without you looking daft. Tejal Patel is joining me. Tejal is a customer-first marketing leader with previous senior roles across Cisco, Microsoft, and Nokia. She helps teams get clear, get aligned, and stop wasting time on work that doesn’t travel, fixing the fundamentals so innovation works Tejal’s brilliant at bringing clarity when teams are drowning in noise. We’re going to talk about trust cues, channel choices, content formats, and how you build an insight system that stops your team wasting time.
In this live session, we explored how social media and AI are reshaping the way travellers discover and book their journeys. The discussion unpacked why social is now the first stop for discovery, with AI stepping in as the finisher and what that means for visibility, traffic, and trust. We covered the messy, non-linear nature of today’s traveller journey, the rising role of AI Overviews in search, and the practical quick wins brands can implement right now to lift performance.
Discover how AI and social media are transforming brand discovery in Financial Services.
Social expert Katy Howell and Remarkable’s James Gray explore how platforms like ChatGPT and social media are reshaping how consumers search, research, and connect with brands today.
When your dashboard says nothing and your boss wants everything
You’ve got dashboards, metrics, charts galore – but none of it tells a story. Join me and Barnaby Barron from Brandwatch, as we unpack why data storytelling is the skill every marketer needs in 2025.
Whether you’re trying to justify a campaign or win a budget battle, this live is for you.
You walk away with:
• New ways to visualise your data
• A better understanding of what your stakeholders need to hear
• Clear steps to turn insights into actions
• A bit of a laugh, because marketing is messy
First-time exclusive! We're sharing the groundbreaking Brilliant and Human Report with insights that will transform your marketing. Tune in as Katy Howell and Remeny Armitage uncover why trust is the ultimate marketing tool and how to build it through consistent communication, thought leadership, and proactive strategies. Discover how 62% of clients feel their agencies react rather than lead and what you can do to change that. This is the episode that will turn your marketing into a trust-building powerhouse.
In this episode, Katy Howell sits down with Tejal Patel and Scott Stockwell to break down why fixing the fundamentals is the key to marketing success. While trends come and go, businesses that align marketing with business goals are 37% more likely to succeed, yet only 6% use customer insights effectively—and that’s where the real opportunity lies.
In this episode Katy Howell, alongside Joel Harrison, Editor in Chief at B2B Marketing dissect the major trends shaping B2B marketing as we approach 2025. From the rise of ABM and influencer marketing to the strategic use of first-party data in a cookieless world. This discussion is essential for marketers aiming to pivot and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
In this episode, we explore how AI is transforming creative workflows, from speeding up mood boards to automating repetitive tasks. Our experts discuss the balance between human creativity and AI tools, and how the right blend can unlock massive productivity gains. Whether you’re curious about AI’s role in ideation, content creation, or customer service, this is a conversation packed with insights to help your team work smarter and faster.
In this episode, we dive into the seismic shift in digital marketing as third-party cookies crumble and data privacy laws tighten. Join industry experts as they unpack the challenges and unveil innovative strategies to keep your brand ahead of the curve. If you're looking to stay sharp in the evolving landscape of social media marketing, this is the conversation you can't afford to miss!
Welcome to the Growth on Fire podcast! Katy Howell, is joined by Tejal Patel previously from Cisco, Microsoft and Nokia; and Scott Stockwell previously from IBM and PwC, two industry experts who will share their takeaways from the big B2B event of the year: B2B Ignite. If you’re a B2B marketer looking to stay ahead in a crowded and competitive market, this episode is for you.
Why do only 15% of decision-makers find thought leadership content excellent, despite its high trust among buyers? Tune in to discover the secrets behind creating truly impactful thought leadership that stands out and drives success, with expert insights from Katy Howell and Karen Cuthbert.
Have you noticed a new video tab on LinkedIn yet? Let’s talk about short-form videos on LinkedIn and how it's transforming the way businesses connect with their audience. Join us as we explore this impact on brand marketing and uncover actionable strategies. Welcome to another episode of Serious Social, where we decode the latest trends—so you don’t have to!
- Learn how to embrace this new format and reap the rewards.
- Discover the surprising statistics behind the rise of short-form video content on LinkedIn.
- Explore the dos and don'ts of creating effective short-form video content for your LinkedIn audience.
- Gain insights into the psychology behind why short-form videos are capturing the attention of B2B audiences.
- Find out how to measure the impact of your video marketing efforts and optimise your strategy for maximum results.
- Uncover insider tips on how businesses can leverage TikTok-style videos to boost brand awareness and engagement.
A whopping 50% of B2B marketers struggle to measure the ROI of their lead and demand gen efforts. Time to change the game - well for social.
In "No Fluff, Just Stuff," we're not just talking theories; we're revealing the nuts and bolts of a Social lead gen campaign that slashed CPC by 58% and doubled CTR. Cut through the clutter and get ready for take-off. 🚀
The game is changing with the rise of de-influencing. But how will this impact the way brands work with influencers? In this episode, Katy Howell and Belle Lawrence are joined by writer/performer duo Yellow Square (Bec & Sam) to discuss all your burning questions.
Get an insider's perspective on whether the de-influencing trend will topple the influencer marketing industry and discover how brands can best work with content creators and what to do when brand guidelines start to restrict creativity.
With 240M active users and the World Cup about to make a splash, is it time for brands to decide about their presence on Twitter. In this episode of Serious Social, Colin Jacobs and Katy Howell debate the ‘Musk’ debacle, the brand safety concerns, the issues over data, and the alternative social platforms for companies to consider. CJ and Katy bring 30 years of social media marketing expertise to this Serious Social session. Listen now and get advice on the direction you should be taking now, and how to plan for an unpredictable future with Twitter.
In this episode, IF CEO Katy Howel is joined by CEO Tim Williams from Onalytica to discuss the current state of the B2B industry. According to our recent poll, 79% of marketers want to engage influencers, but only 13% know how. Listen now to understand how you can benchmark, as well as ideas on getting started.
Going live on social is a critical component to establishing trust brand discovery and a high-value attributed pipeline. In this episode, CJ will explain how to deliver tangible results to your board and have them clamouring for more.
On social, everyone loves food content. To cut through, brands in the food industry need to work hard! Join Belle Lawrence with this week’s guest, Swati Deshpande from Fooditude as they dig into some tasty social media best practice.
2021 is coming to an end and it's time to get your brand's social media ready for next year. In this episode of Serious Social, Colin Jacobs, Belle Lawrence and Katy Howell review this year's successes and forecast 2022's triumphs, dissecting and debating everything that has happened this year on social media.
China is home to the world’s largest social media market, with over 931 million users. In this week's Serious Social episode, Katy Howell is joined by Domenica Di Lieto to discuss social media in China, taking a look at the opportunities, differences, and the trends that are being adopted in the west.
In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell and Zoe Gill explore how best to spin all marketing channel plates and how to optimise and create a marketing engine for growth with social as the oil in your engine! Listen now and learn how to fix your wider marketing programmes for 2022, and how social integrates to accelerate and enhance the impact to your business.
In this episode of Serious Social, designers Ollie Farnden and Chantal El Bikai discuss the importance of 'trusting the process'. Tune in to find out what it is and how not trusting it will lead to erroneous results.
In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell explores how we’re shifting back to some old school disciplines and what tactics and approaches from the past are worth revisiting. Listen now to find out some old social that can be dusted down and used again.
With over 2.6 billion downloads worldwide, TikTok has fast become the social media platform to be. But should brands be on there? And how do you achieve success? In this episode of Serious Social, Sophie Shaw and Belle Lawrence outline best practice tips for both organic and paid TikTok strategies.
How much do you know about the Apple push for privacy through iOS14 and the effects it's having on Facebook ads? If the answer is "not enough", then this podcast is for you! Tune in to hear from Belle Lawrence as she delves a bit deeper into the subject, exploring the impacts, changes and how you can handle it.
In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell explores how societal change will impact your brand approach social media as restrictions and lockdowns start to lift. Tune in now to find out what will change, the signs and trends you need to look for and how you can adapt and flex to meet expectations as we move into the new normal.
This episode of Serious Social is all about moment marketing in social media. The people and brands that capitalise in the moments are rarely being agile and doing it off cuff. It can all be done ahead of time. Join CJ and discover how to make moment marketing meaningful for your brand on social with our 5 top tips!
In this week's Serious Social Live, Belle Lawrence covers off all mistakes you can avoid making with Facebook marketing, from not setting up a Business Manager, to getting locked out of your account! Tune in and discover some of the best practices for social media and avoid putting your brand at risk.
In this week's Serious Social Live, Colin Jacob is joined by Graeme Stoker, Integrated CX Senior Campaigns Manager at NUTANIX and contributor of our CMO Outlook Report, to explore and debate the insights of the report and how it will influence our thinking and actions moving forward. Tune in to find out key takeaways about the future of B2B marketing.
To celebrate the launch of our Technology CMO outlook report, Katy Howell joins forces with co-author, Kathryn Strachan, MD at Copy House, to share highlights from interviews with technology marketers and talk about some of the trends, tactics and plans from brands including Adobe, Siemens, SAP and WorldPay.
It’s BBQ season! And we’ve uncovered some sizzling opportunities for brands who want to reach the grilling parties - from equipment to meat-free choices, Brandwatch has come through for us and we’re ready to share some with you. In this episode of Serious Social Belle Lawrence explores how to utilise data to create relevant, meaningful content for social, and why it’s so important to listen to understand what audiences want to hear.
Crafting thumb-stopping social creatives is hard, but it’s even harder if your briefs are too vague, or even worse, too prescriptive. IF Account Manager Laurens Grisel is joined by Digital Designer Ollie Farnden, taking you through the do’s and don’ts of briefing for social media, with an example of how we approach briefing as well.
Are you getting questions from the boardroom around the impact and value of social media? Are you being challenged on your reporting? Are you being pushed whether it contributes meaningfully towards business goals? If all that sounds rather too familiar then listen to Colin Jacob's latest Serious Social Podcast as he explores how to prove the value of social to your boardroom.
The way brands interact with their audiences on social media has noticeably changed. Consumers are demanding more and will no longer put up with a lack of response or engagement from brands. Whether you're scaling up your organisation or team, or just shoring up your processes, then tune in to Serious Social live this week with Belle Lawrence, and gain practical advice about engaging well on social.
Yes, we think your social customer journey is like the map in Jumanji, welcome to the jungle. In this week’s episode, Katy Howell makes no apology for drawing parallels with the hit movie to explain the complexity and shifting landscape you need to navigate, to uncover customer touchpoints across social.
In this episode of Serious Social, Colin Jacobs will be exploring how to drive sales qualified leads through better marketing qualified leads on social media. Listen now to discover what a successful demand generation campaign looks like and why demand-gen is much more sophisticated than just selling on social.
| Social has turned what was once opaque to clear glass. as employees’ tweet and snap and Tik Tok their view of your business. It means your leadership is centre stage, your practices under scrutiny and your behaviours spotlighted. And today more than ever that public sharing of your company culture cannot be wallpapered over with some nice marketing. Katy Howell's joined by the amazing, Jo Geraghty, partner at the Culture Consultancy and best-selling author to talk about how to shine on the inside and bring your employees to the fore on social.
In our latest Serious Social Live we discussed the hidden complexity of social media copywriting, covering everything from accessibility concerns to tone of voice. Belle Lawrence is joined by IF Account Manager, Laurens Grisel, and self-confessed word nerd Vanessa Souris, taking you through their top tips and what to avoid when crafting thumb-stopping social copy.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
In this week’s Serious Social Live, Colin Jacobs will be getting into the nitty-gritty of paid social media. Tune in to discover how everything from customer journeys, touch points and algorithms, will help you smash your paid social media campaigns this year.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
It seems you cannot go a day without companies making missteps on social. From inappropriate covid responses, to BLM virtue signalling – this last year has been a playbook on how to miss fire with your messaging, alienate customers and garner awareness for all the wrong reasons. No one wants to purposefully upset customers. So how can you stop being tone deaf?
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
In this week’s Serious Social Live we’ll be looking at best practice when it comes to design on social, particularly when a brand needs to change perception or communicate sustainability values.
Belle Lawrence is joined by IF Senior Designer, Chantal El Bikai and OSP Design Director, Sharon Wallace.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Right now, Clubhouse is the talk of the town - quite literally. But should brands be on there? Join Katy Howell in this week's Serious Social as she explores the value Clubhouse can bring to brands and why you should be paying attention to this new social network.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
In this episode of Serious Social, Katie Patterson, Senior Account Manager at IF, is joined by Lois Engstrand, Senior Global Marketing Manager at ClauseMatch, to discuss the challenges that start-ups face when getting their marketing off the ground.
Tune in to our latest podcast ‘Big Brand Secrets to Creating Audacious, Killer Social Content’ where Katy Howell chats to McDonald’s Director of Digital, Karl Boyce, and Auto Trader UK’s Head of Content & Social Media, Laura McNally about being bold, brave, and daring on social! Hear real stories of how an audacious approach to content creation can help your brand stand out on social! They’ll also offer advice on how to find inner-courage, squash anxiety about taking risks, and how to manage failure!
With customer trust at its lowest, your branding on social is more important than ever. In this week's Serious Social, Katy Howell is joined by Founder of Dawn Creative, David O'Hearns, sharing best practice tips and brand stories to help you set yourself apart and show you why branding on social is a must.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
A lot happened in 2020, and the same is true for the paid media landscape. In this week's Serious Social, Belle Lawrence will be looking at the latest news and updates to help you navigate your paid strategy this year, and helping you understand the priorities for paid social.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
As brands and marketers flood to social media, we're seeing too many common mistakes being made. In this week's Serious Social, CJ is going back to basics and addressing these avoidable mistakes face on. As well as revealing the tangible pathway to success and how to excel in social this year, whilst bringing audiences into the heart of your brand.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
With so many brands on social these days, there are few barriers to accessing customers on digital and brand loyalty is disappearing in a world of distraction. But it doesn't have to be this way. In this week's Serious Social, Katy Howell will be talking about how to build, long term, one to one relationships, at scale on social and make 2021 a year of growth.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
The sheen of a brand new year is fast fading, but brands can use the lessons from the last lockdown to evolve and improve social media best practice in 2021.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
If you want to succeed on social in 2021, then look no further than your social media manager. The voice of your brand. The expert of their craft. They are the key to your success. Join Katy Howell in this episode of Serious Social (the last one of 2020!) to hear how you can get the best out of your team in 2021.
We're not averse to making bold predictions at immediate future. As we look ahead to 2021 we're forecasting what creative trends will lead to social success and identifying the formats marketers should and shouldn't be using in their social content. Join Colin Jacobs in this episode of Serious Social as we predict what creatives will be a smash hit in 2021!
How not to bumble or botch social in 2021
The only thing we can predict about social in 2021, is that it will be unpredictable. So how do you plan for uncertainty? Why should you plan? Can you plan? What does a plan look like? Join Katy Howell in this episode of Serious Social are she explores how to structure your plans and smash social in 2021.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Join Belle Lawrence in this episode of Serious Social for best practice tips on tone, voice and copywriting. Discover how your brand personality online can make a lasting connecting with your audience and help you stand out amongst competitors.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Join Colin Jacobs, MD of immediate future, in this episode of Serious Social as he gets into the nitty-gritty of effectively structuring a brainstorm whilst working remotely and sharing the lessons we've learnt ourselves in the past 8 months.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Join Katy Howell and award-winning marketer Nick Watt in this episode of Serious Social as they explore the world of branded communities and discuss how brands like Adobe, Levi’s, Google and more, create thriving communities.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Over 200 brands shared their insights with us... join Belle Lawrence and Katy Howell in this episode of Serious Social, where they'll be sharing results from our very own benchmark tool, breaking down the comparisons and helping marketers prepare for 2021.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Join Colin Jacobs in this episode of Serious Social, exploring the world of digital-only events - how to promote them on social media and what you need to be doing to prove value back to business.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
In this episode of serious social, Katy Howell is joined by Ian MacArthur from Sagittarius agency to talk search and social and what insurance brands can teach us. Tune in for insight from our latest research report and learn from what’s happening in the insurance industry today.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
In this episode of Serious Social, Laurens Grisel is joined by talented film actor/voice actor Anna Rust to discuss voice and how to apply it impactfully to your creatives on social media.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Get the T in this Serious Social session, because T is for TikTok, Twitch and Triller. With the first narrowly escaping a ban in the US, the second claiming a 223% increase in the number of creators earning money from their videos, and the third doing their best to explain why their video technology is the best in the world, don't you think you need to keep up?
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Given our need to be more authentic in a world fuelled by mistrust, employee advocacy is more important than ever. Businesses need to start utilising their employee's social profiles to promote smarts and awareness.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell is joined by Milly Youngman, social media manager across multiple Travelopia brands, to discuss how Milly spins many social media plates whilst maintaining a strategic approach in the challenging travel sector.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
In this episode of serious social, Katy Howell and CJ get right under the skin of the misinformation shared about social media marketing. You’ll hear how the past is the key to unlocking value from social with old fashioned marketing practices and a slug of common sense.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
This year more than most, online communities have sprung up for all sorts of people to connect with each other. Brands are keen to get in on the action, looking to build branded communities. In this session, Katy Howell explores why so many communities fail and what steps and investment you need – and if it’s even worth the bother at all!
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Social is all about being brave. So, in this episode of Serious Social Live, Associate Director Belle Lawrence gives some examples of brand bravery, and gives away some best practice tips on avoiding mistakes!
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
The now, next and normal of social marketing was not just another webinar. Katy Howell and Suzanne Korff (Princess Cruises) took a punchy and pragmatic look at how you can prosper as networks shift and behaviours change. If you're looking for actionable direction from a marketing head full of real-world advice, you've come to the right place!
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Too many businesses start their social media marketing journey with a pre-conceived idea of the number of posts they need, the frequency with which they need to appear, and don't know what the best way to spend their social budget is. You need experienced heads who have a proven track record of creating go-to-market and go-to-business strategies in social media.
In our latest Serious Social podcast, IF Managing Director, Colin Jacobs reveals where your paid media budget should be placed to secure sustained and incremental social impact.
In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell is joined by Neville Hobson, award-winning blogger and podcaster, to discuss the challenge of building trust in innovations and the future of social.
As the world changes, everyone is reconsidering touchpoints and changing their behaviours - in both reality and virtually. Yep, marketers, you need to think about your digital touchpoints and sort out your customer journey on social.
In this episode of Serious Social, Associate Director, Belle Lawrence, explains why.
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
The B2B landscape is flush with more usable content than you may think! Businesses need to be controversial (to an extent), experiment with different types of content and front up to the current challenges faced in boardrooms today.
In this episode, MD, Colin Jacobs, explores how businesses can improve their B2B content. Listen now!
Copyright: immediate future
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Cancel culture has been around for almost two decades but, like most things, has accelerated in 2020. Businesses need to make sure they protect their reputation and adapt to changing audience behaviours. But where to start? We explore the things you need to think about to help you get started.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
If business hasn’t focussed resource on their social media marketing by either not having enough people or the right people, it can be really challenging to create content. In fact, the roles in social media these days encompass not just posting on social…but skills in copywriting, visual branding, strategy, crisis and customer service, paid ad campaigns, tracking and analytics - the list goes on!
So when it comes to what is usually the first step in many journeys to producing and posting social content - the planning, where do you start and what do you include? I’m bringing you a foolproof list you can explore...
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Myths, they surround us. Many have tried to prove or disprove the existence of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Bodmin Moor is said to have its own beast who occasionally wanders into view, and lightening supposedly doesn’t strike twice, although some scientists take issue with that claim.
The same reach can be said of marketing myths. Once cultivated from a person’s mind and shared initially from desk-to-desk, and then later computer-to-computer, and now we’re even seeing generational baton sharing is happening. The great thing about modern marketing is the data. It’s easy to prove or disprove something. Despite that, many marketers have been happy following the so-called facts laid down within marketing and not taking time to check authenticity.
For example:
-
Only short-form content performs well on Social Media
-
Blogs must be 800 words or less
-
Social Media is free marketing
Are they bonafide or BS?
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
It’s social moments and trends that let us understand audience intent. It’s rising interests and topics that enable us to align and drive brand in the category. And it’s changing behaviour that identifies triggers and motivations we can influence.
Hence, we are always looking at the data. We’re used to surprises, but never more so than when we saw Christmas was trending in summer!
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Katy -
Taking a better look, it turns out it’s not just a spike of memes or jokes across a few days. In fact, over the last 90 days in the UK, there have been 525K mentions of Christmas on social according to Brandwatch. An astonishing 1423% up on the previous 3 months – which actually includes December and Christmas last year!
Why is it that the holiday season has grabbed our attention? What is driving the conversation – surely no one is already planning the festivities?
Well, Pinterest data shows that whilst people usually start making plans in September. This year they’ve started searching and saving for Christmas much earlier. Searches on Pinterest this April jumped 77% higher than April 2019.
What does this tell us about our consumers? Is it signals to help plan Q4 or has Christmas come early and we need to move fast to capture the opportunity?
I’m going to share three findings that you can action now. But if you want all the detail then at the end, I’ll also share a link to our insights report with all the data on what Christmas in July really means!
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
The latest episode of our Serious Social podcast with our Associate Director, Belle Lawrence looked at the role of sound in social media! Listen now for a deep dive into how you can enhance your 'sound on' social formats like Stories and Videos.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
If you're not using sound in your social, you're leaving your brand on mute. This episode was recorded live on Facebook on Friday 3rd July 2020.
What have you listened to today? Music? The sound of emails landing in your inbox? Perhaps a podcast? And right now, you’re listening to me!
Within social, we’re used to tapping, swiping and watching, but do we always listen? It seems that audio is booming right now, so we’re going to explore sound in social media today.
We don’t need a physical stage to make a noise - social media is an opportunity to turn up your brand volume, and incorporating sound into your strategy can really elevate your brand resonance.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Social marketing will not make you trusted if you are not already on that path. But it will accelerate and enhance brand trust. Your strategy is to get your audiences to know you, like you and eventually, trust you.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Social is your brand voice, building trust from audiences is vital. Here are four steps to enhance brand trust. This episode was recorded live on Facebook on Friday 26th June 2020.
Katy -
Brands need to be trusted by audiences. In fact, brand trust is one of the most intangible advantages a company can have. According to Edelman Trust Barometer 2020, 81% say trust in a brand to do what’s right is a deal-breaker or deciding factor in their brand buying decision.
In the current climate, trust has been eroded further. Consumers and customers are hyper- suspicious, and even cynical. Questioning everything.
Let's be honest if you’re an untrustworthy brand, no amount of social media marketing will wallpaper over the cracks. People want to buy from trusted brands. And you cannot expect trust if the fundamentals are not in place. From companies that support employees to products that do good for society or our environment, people want more from brands.
Social is instead your opportunity to demonstrate your brand purpose - with the right messaging, it can enhance your company reputation and accelerate trust. Even for those brands striving to be better, the right communication will do a great deal to enhance trust in the brand.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
From the planning, processes creation and policy development you may need to undertake, we’re going to explore differentiating between issues management and crisis management and knowing the actions you need to take should a crisis occur.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
‘Plan for the worst and hope for the best’ is the age-old mantra. So why are so many brands hoping a crisis doesn’t ignite on social? In this episode, CJ is discussing the planning and prep you need to do but hope to never utilise. Recorded live on Facebook on Friday 19th June 2020.
CJ –
Hello and welcome - thank you for joining us. This morning, we’re going to be discussing how to manage a crisis on social media. Over the next ten minutes or so I’m going to walk you through everything from the planning, processes creation and policy development you may need to undertake, we’re going to explore differentiating between issues management and crisis management and knowing the actions you need to take should a crisis occur. This introduction to managing a crisis on social media is about helping to tee you all up to the tasks you may need to undertake to ensure the commercial impact felt when a crisis occurs is minimal.
The information I’m sharing with you has been cultivated from more than a decade of working on some of the most prominent crisis that have taken place with some of the world biggest and most prominent brands. Some of those crises you would undoubtedly be aware of as they became major cross-continent news. As is usually the case with crisis management, stringent NDAs prevent the disclosure of finite detail, but what I can tell you is I’ve worked on some of the most demanding and saddening events. Incidents that have caused loss of life. Other crisis that have prevented family members from getting home to loved ones at Christmas. Projects that have dealt with major product recalls, disruptions due to volcanic eruptions and even brands dealing with data hacks and data thefts.
But the projects we’re most pleased with are those that don’t become front page news. The incidents that would have the potential to become a media story creating detractive narratives that impact revenue. And that’s the best place to start - understanding what is and is not a crisis.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Updates on how user numbers and engagements are growing on certain channels, suggestions about getting started on TikTok and Pinterest, and recent data on sectors like food and drink and travel as the UK starts to tentatively open up again.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
If you haven’t been paying attention, and let’s face it, everyone has had a lot on their plates recently, social media use and engagement has grown hugely in the last couple of months.
Recent data showed that general engagement rates are up 61%, Twitter had its biggest-ever quarter and users climbed by 25%, and consumption of live streaming has increased by 66%... a little clue as to why we’re doing these live streams! But there are two channels that have everyone talking… TikTok and Pinterest.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
How can social media play a part in growing your business, especially in times of crisis? Katy joined Simon from Downtown, to discuss everything from reach to personality.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Simon - well I'm very pleased to be joined in the Downtown Den by Katy Howell, CEO at immediate future
Katy - well actually, last week, would you believe it, immediate future which is an independent social media agency was 16 years old! When I say that to people they go “really?” – yep, we launched the same year as Facebook, kind of, made it out onto campus, so, we have been only focused - we only focus on social media although, you know, technically it sits under the digital thing. We are really only social media, working with what I would consider challenger brands, brands who want to change the status quo, so, they're not necessarily the largest brands, they're more tier one, tier 2 to 3 or those start-ups and small businesses who really want, you know, to make a difference either through growth or a difference in society or their communities.
Simon - Yeah excellent. And I suspect that a lot of Downtown members use social media in a fairly random way, as many of us do and will really, I think from having worked with you previously, will really appreciate the sorts of issues that we're going to cover and talk about, how social media can play a part in growing a business, particularly these strange times.
Katy - yeah hopefully!
Simon – so, let's start off just tell us some of the practicalities about social media and the need to have a strategy in terms of using it, instead of having a random approach
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
As we move into recovery, consumers and customers have renewed interest in markets they have abandoned for the last few months.
In this episode, we're talking getting your recovery social media campaign ready. Immediate Future CEO, Katy Howell discusses the strategies brands should use to make sure their social media campaigns are timely, punchy and strike the right tone. Listen on...
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
I am going to talk to you a little bit about how you can gain some quick wins and accelerate market recovery by focusing on tight social campaigns that can make a really big impact in a short period of time.
So, let's start at the beginning, because consumers and customers have now begun to have a renewed interest in topics that they have abandoned in the last few months. So, we are talking about big-ticket items such as cars and property, and some recent Brandwatch data shows that apparently 63% of people who plan to buy a house pre-outbreak in 2020 still plan to do so, and of course we have goods that we could not get our hands on like during lockdown such as plants or buying furniture.
So, some behaviours from lockdown will continue, too - buying clothes online and the upsurge in DIY, apparently 63% of us plan to do large-scale home improvements. At the same time brands are grinding up the gears to accelerate marketing efforts that will push through to recovery, and the smart ones understand that there is an opportunity to grab a share of market only if they position themselves in the right place, with the right context, with the right message, and, of course, one of those places is social a place many consumers and customers have turned to whilst they are isolated at home. But you cannot just ramp up your social media output. Doubling down on the same content pre-pandemic will not cut the mustard.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Instead of pitching or even bringing in a broadcaster, become the broadcaster. Gain insight on how to make your live broadcasts rival the messaging and quality seen on BBC News, Bloomberg and more.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Building a live broadcast at your branded event costs less than the build cost of some exhibition stands - CJ reveals all in this episode, recorded live on Facebook on Friday 29th May 2020.
Today, we’re going to explore events and specifically how we transformed a key branded event through an innovation we pioneered called Brands as Broadcasters. If you can stick around for the next 10-minutes of so, you will see how we took an event with an annual attendance of just over 12,000 people and brought hundreds of thousands of C-Suite officers from around the world, to the event. I’m going to say that again, we brought hundreds of thousands of C-Suite officers to an event. In doing so, we greatly influenced the investment and return metrics. We showcased our customer as a true innovator. We hooked in new prospects to a brand story they would not otherwise have seen.
And before the cynics watching say, oh you’re going to tell us how you shot a video and got ‘millions of impressions blah, blah, blah’. I’m not. I’m going to discuss how we created a live news-style broadcast at a prominent event and produced such draw to the live content we had C-Suite officers watching the same amount of content it would take them to fly around the world fifteen times non-stop, only watching our live broadcast. We’re only going to be discussing the sanity metric of viewed time.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Now is the time to reevaluate how you are gaining social media conversions. Belle Lawrence shares how tips and strategies for how you can best use CTAs, motivation and emojis.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Persuasion is the art of convincing someone that they should change their beliefs or do something that you suggest. As brands, we should be practising this as an art, not simply shouting at the audience to try and get a reaction. So, there are many ways that we can encourage a reaction, though. So, the biggest thing to remember is that you want to evoke curiosity in your brand or product, but first, know what will motivate your audience. Don't fall into the use of clickbait-style posts or "you won't believe what will happen next" - you get it.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Why and how to be distinctive, empathetic and in tune. Away with the clichés, sad music and mentions of challenging times. Brands need to demonstrate EQ in their social content.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
So, there's been some really fantastic marketing over the last few weeks, I mean the stuff that hits you right in the heart, fills you with hope and joy and a feeling of community. People who have doing more than paying lip service to empathy and making a real difference. There's also those brands that are selling, are trying just a little bit too hard with their sad music and their "in challenging times", "in uncertain times" – the Covid clichés! Laurens is going to post a brilliant compilation in a minute which shows all of them all collated together, it's very cringe-worthy but, however good or bad the advertising has been so far, the mood on social has changed. At best the kind of Covid 19 support ads are being ignored, at worst their being ridiculed and despised, people have moved on, emotionally. We are certainly in the UK moving to recovery but we're at different stages, we've kind of had enough with you telling us, you know, brands telling us that "we're okay". So, whether you're talking consumer or b2b customers, people make and form emotional connections with brands, and they don't just buy based on features and benefits or, just because we're showing discounts, although that can be a great trigger, it's not an emotional trigger, and it's a very short-term view of marketing and a very short-term view of social content. Emotions help brands [to] be memorable.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Please, please, please stop using boring photography, go have some fun, be bold enough to do things differently and go and do things that industry hasn't done before.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Welcome to the Serious Social podcast, created by the straight-talking social media experts at immediate future.
If you’re still using overly posed shutterstock images, we’re here to tell you, you need to break the social boring. This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Thursday 7th May 2020.
CJ –
Today we're taking a closer look at content, specifically the content that rocks are more importantly that content you should drop - why is it important? Well let's start with a few key elements.
Social media is noisy opportunity if you don’t stand out you'll drown among a distracting noise and right now, thanks to Covid-19 a home working elevated social media news jumped by staggering quarter, would you believe, social media is louder than ever. Some of you are saying well okay it's so noisy why should we play in it? Well, simple because very few brands and agencies realise it doesn't take much to truly stand out on social and when you stand out you pause thumbs, the scrolling stops attention is garnered, and that attention is much needed at the moment with the economy the way it is and the limiting channels that we have access to because of the ongoing Covid-19 social media is and more than ever super important to brands, but many brands are getting it wrong. Now at immediate future we believe in giving back and helping and to prove that we're gonna pay it forward we'll look at two specific examples to help you all realise the importance of good content, why it's key to understand some insightful data and how that triggers better and more impactful content. I promise whatever the industry you work in, the examples I'm about to talk to you about, they will resonate you'll understand some fundamentals and hopefully it will make you go and do better content creation. I'm going to look at a B2B example, and I'm going to look at the B2C example.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
New to paid social, or looking to brush up – we’ve got some top tips and insight for you
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Welcome to the Serious Social podcast, created by the straight-talking social media experts at immediate future.
It’s time to get your paid social on-point. This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Friday 24th April 2020.
Today I'll be talking about paid social. So, you might be new to it and you might be considering it for the first time, because we're all in a bit of a new digital world, or you might just be looking to improve it slightly. Hopefully today you'll be able to take away a few hints and tips - because, clearly, there's been a lot of behaviour change recently.
We're all socialising, working, exercising and shopping very differently to how we used to be, and more online activity from everyone means that there's a larger pool of potential customers. Some people will be shopping less, of course, but those who do have financial stability, they have more money on their hands, and more time to go shopping online. We've seen some increases in sectors like arts and crafts, homeware, beauty, loungewear, as you can imagine, they're all in strong growth and gifting is also on the up - so we can't go and give a hug but we can send some treats or flowers or practical things, actually, to friends and family. In the last recession actually there was a trend that was talked about called the 'lipstick trend and that's where we're all spending less generally, a little bit less on most things, but actually people might be increasing their spend on the smaller little luxury items like lipstick, for example, because in times like these we do find that retail therapy really kicks in, so businesses should possibly be looking at messages that will help lift the spirits, and offers, if they can do anything to help people at the moment.
A few months ago you might have been driving intent-to-purchase through traditional media, but it might actually be unattainable to do that right now, so you should be aligning your digital strategies, really, and your social media can drive intent-to- purchase and tie into your PPC, for example, and the beauty of paid social is that we can shift strategy and optimise in real-time. So not everyone can do this but IF we do that optimising real time "stuff", so if you've had to pivot your strategy, maybe you've had to pivot away from in-store launches or activation in public spaces, for example, you might be unpicking it all and then you can dial up social.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Need a framework for creating the right content under pressure? We’re here for you. This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Friday 24th April 2020.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Katy –
So one of the things I want to talk about now is about rolling our sleeves up, I think I mentioned this last time, we want to roll our sleeves up and get on with the job now and for many of us who have decamped home, I think the biggest issue has been that we have been a bit unsettled and so repurposing content has served us really well. But now our audiences want more and we're missing the opportunity to connect, to entertain, be useful by rehashing old content that we've got, but alongside of that need for our audiences, I'm fairly aware as everybody else who works in social media that there are challenges. There are challenges in finding the resource that you need, underfunding possibly but there are also challenges in terms of the way our audiences are behaving online. They're swinging rapidly between topics.
The traditional methods we use in content marketing have changed, for instance, where we're used to a content rhythm in social media often called hygiene, hub and hero content, that rhythm has gone because everything is changing and swinging quite wildly. Some brands are meeting this by going real-time, almost, with their content, which is listening to the conversation, looking at what they can post out there and doing that almost in a live fashion. The problem is that's really resource-hungry and has a real challenge in terms of getting that stuff done in a timely fashion, and it's bloody exhausting - there's hours of it, so we have to address that element, if not we can't carry on like that... rushing content out the door, but also that the fact our audiences are being more, more scrutinising of our content a little bit more. They are kind of picking it apart a bit more which means that we need to focus on quality content, not just volume.
So, how do we speed up creativity? How do we increase the relevancy for our audiences, and how do we create a well-oiled production machine?
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Don’t wait for lockdown to lift and then start your brand planning – you’ll lose valuable H2 ground.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Don’t wait for lockdown to lift, conduct your brand planning now. This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Friday 17th April 2020.
CJ –
Stating the obvious, the first half of this year numbers have taken a bit of a kicking, through no fault of your own, the global crisis we're all facing is having a huge impact on businesses right now, it's affecting all of us - there are those that have been affected more. Our friends in the travel industry are really suffering right now, and friends have been furloughed and people that would work with have been furloughed, it's affecting many, many people right now, and hopefully the economy can bounce back very quickly so that we can get a many of those people back into work as at all possible.
I want to be talking today about how you can ready your brand for when post-lockdown lifts and it's important for a couple of reasons - one, we heard yesterday lockdown continues for another three weeks, there were those that are just pressing pause on everything right now and kind of waiting to see what happens with all of that rather than realising the planning to take a big proposition to market, and collecting that content, and shaping it, and strategically making it sound - it can take that six to eight weeks. So, the question I put to you is, do you want to be the boardroom that when the lockdown is lifted, you're at a position where you can hit go? We're starting to get out, a bit of normality and you just press a button to say go on the campaign and the content goes out and you start to avail on the opportunities that will be there in the second half of this year. The economy will come back - might take some time, but it will come back. The government are doing a lot to pull it up. Or do you want to be the business that waits for lockdown to be lifted before you start discussing any of this? And just to put into context, if you wait another, I don't know five, six weeks before you start discussing what's going on, and then you start your planning exercise you could be 12-14 weeks away from getting content out. Meanwhile, those have been on the front foot that are actually looking at ways in which they can drive forward the business now up and hit the ground running when opportunity comes, they will be capitalising on opportunities a month or two ahead of you. Really important stuff.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
How are our digital communities changing, and how can we better engage with them? This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Thursday 9th April 2020.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Belle -
It’ll come as no surprise to anyone watching that digital attention is at an all-time high
Kantar have just reported a 70% increase in web browsing
with social media engagement increasing by 61% over normal usage rates.
But it’s not just online - perhaps, like me, there’s a new sense of community in your local area such as a neighbourly WhatsApp group. We’re waving to passers-by, looking for rainbows in windows on our daily walks, and clapping in unison for the NHS heroes. We’re part of a community with a common set of values, putting our trust in leaders, but also in brands and influencers, to look after us - and our trust in them is what our survival depends on. The situation we’re in is naturally building a strong sense of community.
A key component of what constitutes a community is support, so it makes sense that in this challenging time, we’re seeking that support. The business community sprang into action with more webinars and live sessions like this one, but of course, we are all part of multiple tribes - so in any given day, you might be engaging with a video like this, followed by a catch up with your friends on Houseparty about what to cook from your store cupboard over the weekend.
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
What planning must you do for the inevitable new normal? What we know is - fundamentally the pandemic is changing some big factors in society from economy to technology. We know need to be on top of that because we need to understand where our role is as brands and it's uncertain, that play out that will happen is an uncertain future, so how do you plan for uncertainty?
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Welcome to the Serious Social podcast, created by the straight-talking social media experts at immediate future.
How to plan your social media for tomorrow, today. This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Friday 3rd April 2020.
Katy -
Hi, my name is Katy Howell, I'm CEO at immediate future, and welcome to our Serious Social live from our homes. Today I'm going to talk a little bit about something really important to do now right now, when we're busy, which is planning for tomorrow today.
We have been frantic the last couple of weeks, we have been frantic. Nearly every marketing department has decamped somewhere else - homes and other places, and of course met with a completely changing society. But things are beginning to get into a place where we're kind of balancing out. We know what we need to do - now is the time to look up look at the mid-term and long- term in marketing, to understand what is changing now, what has changed, what will change down the line, and what will stay the same.
So, I know we’re spinning plates, but now is the time to plan. What we know is – fundamentally, the pandemic is changing some big factors in society from economy to technology. We know need to be on top of that because we need to understand where our role is as brands and it's uncertain, the play out that will happen is an uncertain future, so how do you plan for uncertainty?
Well sixteen years ago, I decided to launch a social media agency before there was a thing called social media, and one of the things I've learned in 16 years is how to plan when you have no idea what the future holds! None! I had no idea whether or not Twitter would take, I didn't even know MySpace would disappear. I had to plan for a changeable environment, so I thought I'd help you guys, and help myself as well by thinking through what it is - what are the fundamentals we need to do right now to think for the future. Why is that important to us to do it now?
For full show notes, view our podcast page: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Right now, as a Social Media Marketer, the single most important thing you can do is listen. Tuning into what's going on around you, within your sector and within social conversations will ensure success during this uncertain period.
Website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Welcome to the Serious Social podcast, created by the straight-talking social media experts at immediate future.
This episode was recorded live on Facebook, on Friday 27th March 2020. CJ explores how to connect with your audience without disrespecting our current societal challenge.
CJ - Today we’re going to look at the topic of how we can stay connected with our audience without falling foul and disrespecting this horrendous situation we're currently facing as a society right now. I don't think anyone needs me to detail exactly what's going on in the world we have some amazing people. But what can you expect from this Facebook live, well we're going to help you stay connected with your audiences - it's really tough right now isn't it; we need to be respectful of what's going on with Covid-19. We absolutely need to be respectful of the amazing people that are working tirelessly to help us right now. We saw at 8 o'clock last night just how poignant it is that we thank not just the NHS workers who got the applause last night, but care workers. In fact, this morning it was bin day for me, and just seeing the bin being collected it made me realize just what a great nation of wonderful people we've got who, when it really matters, they go the extra mile and they pull together - and that's what we're seeing as a nation right now people adapting to a unique environment.
We're working from home rather than in our offices, we're faced with challenges have not necessarily had the technology or resources that we’re used to. For example, me not sure if the live was going out correctly or not – but one of the challenges we've got is how and should we continue posting content for our audiences. Well, the short answer is you absolutely should, but you need to take a fresh look and you need to take a look at the type of content that's going out.
So, for example, if you're trying to be really salesy right now, you're just going to frustrate people at a time when there's a lot of anxious individuals, there's uncertainty in the world, people are facing income challenges, health issues and worse. It's not going to take much for somebody to see a piece of content and become, justifiably, a keyboard warrior - if you're going out and trying to sell to people who don't want it, it's just going to frustrate and annoy.
For full show notes, visit our web page - http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/
Welcome to the Serious Social podcast, created by the straight-talking social media experts at immediate future.
In this episode, we’re talking data. Associate Director Belle Lawrence is joined by Managing Director Colin Jacobs as they discuss the data you should be collecting from social media and how to utilise it within your marketing mix.
Our website: http://www.immediatefuture.co.uk
Social profiles:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFTubes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImmediateFuture/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immediate-future/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iftweeter
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifinstas/
Belle - So, CJ, when we go to conferences, we hear a lot about data in social and it's being heralded often as a great hope for marketing. Is that the case?
CJ - Is it important and does it have an impactful role? Yes.
Is it this new thing? Absolutely not, it's been around for years.
Well, obviously, you don't know what you don't know, so, I don't want to sort of come across condescending, but I find it bizarre. There's a lot of agencies, too many agencies that claim to be social media agencies and they're only just opening their eyes to data, that is wholly wrong.
So yes, very important, but no, it's not this new great thing. You should have been using data for years to inform your marketing mix.
It's the great thing about social, isn't it? I mean, a number of us have worked in other disciplines whether that's traditional marketing out of home, TV, public relations. The beauty of social is there's a tangibility to it.
You know instantly the eyeballs that have seen it versus those that haven’t.
There's none of this, ‘well there's an opportunity for 200,000 people to sleepily cross the road and look at this billboard’ - there's none of that in social media, which is great.
Belle - So, what can we track in social?
CJ - Yeah, a really good question.
There's a number of metrics and there are vanity metrics and there are sanity metrics. And I'm going to split the two, because there will be a number of people watching this that will go "Woah, a like is no sort of metric in marketing!"
Well you're right, but you're also wrong. The vanity metrics, likes, engagements, video views, yes, they are a bit, "Look at us we've done some great things." But if you're not getting the vanity metrics your content's not resonating with the audience.
So, you need some of the vanity to give you the "You're doing the right thing." If none of your content is getting vanity metrics you’ve got a lot a change that you need to make pronto.
But once you're delivering that you then need to move on to the sanity metrics. Where you're starting to measure your share of voice the equity your brand's holding your position within the market and there are some sophisticated tools that you can do this with.
Some of the viewers from traditional media will know that you can go and get Nielsen reports. And they'll show you whether you've moved on from 5% market share to 6%. But within social, there's a lot that we can get organically.
... for full show notes, visit our website: http://immediatefuture.co.uk/podcasts/