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Cracking the Social Media Code: Strategies for Business Success
Episode 1 • 26th September 2024 • Business Ignite Podcast • Business Ignite Podcast
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Show Notes:

In this episode of the Business Ignite podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed dive into the secrets of social media success. They discuss insights from 95Visual's article on the benefits and drawbacks of social media. Topics include humanizing your brand, leveraging interactive communication, utilizing market research, and the cost-effectiveness of social media. They also address challenges such as time commitment, the importance of a targeted following, and risk management. The episode concludes with practical tips on building a balanced and adaptive social media strategy for business growth.

00:00 Welcome to the Business Ignite Podcast

00:27 Cracking the Social Media Code

01:14 Humanizing Your Brand

02:08 The Power of Interactivity

03:54 Cost-Effective Marketing Strategies

05:11 The Time Commitment Challenge

06:59 Understanding Your Audience

08:23 Mitigating Social Media Risks

11:36 Staying Ahead in a Dynamic Landscape

12:21 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Resources:

  • How Social Media Can Benefit or Hinder Your Success - Social media can be a powerful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with customers, but it also comes with risks. If not managed well or aligned with business goals, it can harm a company's reputation, making strategic planning essential for success. To truly leverage social media, businesses need to create consistent, engaging content that resonates with their target audience. Additionally, it's important to monitor performance and adjust strategies regularly to avoid pitfalls like negative feedback or missed opportunities.



Social Media:

Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Samantha Reed: Ever find yourself

scrolling through that feed and

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thinking, how in the world, like

how did they get so many followers?

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It's like everyone else has the

secret code to social media and

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we're just kind of stuck guessing.

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Totally.

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Well, today's deep dive, we're

all about cracking that code.

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Love it.

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Or at least, at least

getting a lot closer.

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Yeah.

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You guys shared an article from 95 Visual.

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It's called How Social Media Can

Benefit or Hinder Your Success.

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Okay.

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And let me tell you, it

is packed with insights.

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Yeah.

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So we're going to explore the pros, the

cons, and most importantly, how you can

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make social media work for your goals.

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Ethan Walker: And what I appreciate

about 95 Visual, you know, they

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come at this whole thing from this

visual marketing web solutions angle.

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They live and breathe this stuff.

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So their insights are super practical.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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And that's what we want for you guys.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: So let's dive into,

like, the good stuff first, right?

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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Yeah.

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Absolutely.

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Samantha Reed: The potential benefits

that might make you want to double down

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on your whole social media strategy.

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I do.

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So 95 visual kicks things off with this

whole idea of like humanizing your brand.

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Right.

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Which honestly sometimes online

feels anything but human.

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Right.

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You know.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: So how do we fix that?

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Ethan Walker: Well, I think

it boils down to trust.

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Right.

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Right.

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In a world of like faceless

corporations and all that, you

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know, people crave connection.

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And I think when you can

show the people behind.

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The logo, you know, share your

story, maybe even, you know,

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laugh at yourself a little bit.

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Sure.

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That resonates.

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Yeah.

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Like, think about those behind the scenes

glimpses you see, like on Instagram, you

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know, a local coffee roaster showing their

beans being roasted, or, uh, you know,

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a potter's hands, like molding the clay.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: It's that

realness, you know.

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Samantha Reed: It's true.

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It

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Ethan Walker: cuts through all the noise.

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Samantha Reed: It's like you're

not just buying a product, you're,

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you're becoming a part of something.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so.

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We've established genuine connection is

key, but then 95 visual also highlights

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this whole interactivity thing as a

major benefit Yeah, what's the real

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power of two way communication when

we're talking about social media?

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Ethan Walker: I think it goes back to

that to that feeling heard, you know

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Samantha Reed: Okay,

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Ethan Walker: like imagine you walk

into a store the owners right there.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah

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Ethan Walker: ready to answer your

questions they want your feedback

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like that's powerful and Social

media gives you that direct line

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Samantha Reed: It does.

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To

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Ethan Walker: your audience.

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Samantha Reed: It really does.

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Ethan Walker: You need

feedback on a new product.

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Ask.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: You want to

understand a customer pain point.

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Samantha Reed: Uh huh.

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Ethan Walker: Start a conversation.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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It's so much more valuable than

just like shouting into the void.

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Totally.

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And hoping someone's listening.

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You know?

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Right.

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It's like having a real time focus group.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: And speaking of valuable

intel, 95 visual is so valuable.

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Spot on about the market

research potential

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Ethan Walker: of social

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Samantha Reed: media.

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Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: It really is.

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Like, you've got this

treasure trove of data there.

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It's

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Samantha Reed: true.

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Ethan Walker: Just waiting

to be analyzed, right?

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Yeah.

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Like, every comment, every

share, it's giving you insights

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into what your audience is

interested in, their behaviors.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, what they respond to.

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Ethan Walker: You can track trends,

you can see what's resonating, you

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can even, like, almost anticipate

what your audience needs.

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Wow.

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Before they even, like,

articulate it, you know?

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Samantha Reed: That's amazing.

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Ethan Walker: That's powerful.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so you've

got me hooked on this whole, like,

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understanding my audience thing.

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Right.

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But let's be real.

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Sure.

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For a lot of us, budget is a huge factor.

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Oh, yeah.

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And thankfully, 95 Visual

doesn't sugarcoat that.

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Right.

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They bring up the budget.

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Cost effectiveness as a major benefit.

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Yeah.

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What are your thoughts on that,

especially for businesses with,

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you know, maybe limited resources?

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Ethan Walker: I mean, this is

where, this is where social

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media can be a game changer.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Because think about

traditional advertising costs.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: I mean, you're

talking like print ads, billboards.

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Yeah.

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Radio spots.

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Samantha Reed: Good money.

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Ethan Walker: Huge.

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Now compare that to The hyper

targeted approach you can get online.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: I mean, for

a fraction of the cost.

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Samantha Reed: Really?

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Ethan Walker: You can reach

a very specific demographic.

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Samantha Reed: Wow.

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You're

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Ethan Walker: making sure your

message is seen by the right people.

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Samantha Reed: So instead of just

like, putting it out to everybody.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: You can actually say,

okay, this is who I want to reach.

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And like, really hone in.

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Ethan Walker: You got it.

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Samantha Reed: That's incredible.

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And

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Ethan Walker: that level

of precision, I mean.

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Yeah.

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You can't, you can't touch that

with traditional marketing.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: You know, it's not even a

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Samantha Reed: whole different ball game,

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Ethan Walker: totally different.

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You're not wasting resources,

you know, on these broad strokes.

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You're putting your message right

in front of the people that are,

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that are going to be into it.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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That is all incredibly compelling,

but you know, 95 visual doesn't let us

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get too comfy with all the good vibes.

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Ethan Walker: Of course not.

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Samantha Reed: They remind us

there's some downsides, some

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potential roadblocks to consider.

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And the first one.

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Honestly, makes me want to take a nap.

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Okay.

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Time commitment.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: They even call

social media audiences fickle?

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, they are.

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Samantha Reed: What does that even mean

for someone who's like, already swamped?

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Samantha Reed: Just

running their business?

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Ethan Walker: Well, It means you can't

just like, dig your toes in the water

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and expect to, to make some waves.

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Consistency is key.

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Think about it.

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Like, you walk past the

same shop every day, right?

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But their lights are only

on like half the time.

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You'd probably be like,

are they even open?

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Samantha Reed: Are they in business?

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Yeah.

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Exactly.

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That's a good point.

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Ethan Walker: It's the same online.

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If you're posting sporadically,

disappearing for weeks.

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It erodes trust.

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Samantha Reed: Makes sense.

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Ethan Walker: Makes it hard

to build that momentum.

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Samantha Reed: Not even just posting.

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It's, it's engaging.

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Ethan Walker: Oh yeah.

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Samantha Reed: You know,

it's, it's responding.

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It's staying on top of trends.

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Ethan Walker: It's a lot.

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It

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Samantha Reed: can feel

like a full time job.

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Yeah.

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On top of your actual full time job.

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Ethan Walker: It's true.

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Samantha Reed: So how do you find

that balance, especially when you're

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like juggling a million things?

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It's

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Ethan Walker: where, yeah, that's where

having a clear strategy is so essential.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: You know, it's,

it's working smarter, not harder.

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Samantha Reed: I like that.

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Ethan Walker: So, you know,

start by defining your goals.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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What

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Ethan Walker: are you trying to achieve?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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What are we doing here?

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Is it brand awareness?

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Is it customer engagement?

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Is it sales?

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Like, once you know where you're going,

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: You can kind of, you

can map out the most efficient route.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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It's like instead of just driving

around aimlessly, you're using a GPS.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: To actually

get where you need to go.

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A

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Ethan Walker: hundred percent.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so

we're being mindful of our

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time, we're being strategic.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Samantha Reed: But then there's this

other point that 95 Visual raises, and

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it's a little bit of a reality check.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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Samantha Reed: This whole idea

of an unbalanced following.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Samantha Reed: What does that even mean?

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Ethan Walker: So it means that

having a large following doesn't

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automatically mean business success.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: You could

have thousands of followers.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: From all over the world.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: But if they're

not your target demographic.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: If they're not actually

interested in buying what you're selling.

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Right.

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It's a hollow victory.

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Samantha Reed: It's like that saying,

you can lead a horse to water.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: You can have all

the eyes on your content, but if

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they're not the right eyes, it's not

translating to, like, actual, you know,

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Ethan Walker: Results.

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It's all about, you know, it goes

back to knowing your audience,

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like really knowing who they are.

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Samantha Reed: So how do you do that?

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Like, how do you ensure that you are

reaching those potential customers?

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Ethan Walker: You gotta figure out,

like, where do they hang out online?

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What are they interested in?

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What are their pain points?

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Exactly.

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Ethan Walker: And once you have this

clear picture of who you're trying

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to reach, you can tailor everything.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so it's not just

about quantity, it's about quality.

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Ethan Walker: A hundred percent.

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Samantha Reed: Finding

your tribe, so to speak.

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Ethan Walker: Find your people.

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Samantha Reed: Which brings

us to a point that, frankly,

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gives a lot of people anxiety.

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Ethan Walker: Okay.

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Samantha Reed: The R word.

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Ethan Walker: Oh boy.

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Samantha Reed: Risk.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: What are some

of the biggest risks that

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businesses face on social media?

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Ethan Walker: Oh, man.

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And

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Samantha Reed: how can they,

like, how can they mitigate them?

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What can we do?

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Ethan Walker: Well, I think you gotta

remember the internet has a long memory.

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Samantha Reed: That's true.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so.

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What you

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Samantha Reed: put out there is out there.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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A negative review, like, a poorly handled

customer service interaction, I mean.

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Right, yeah.

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Even an innocent mistake.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Can

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Ethan Walker: spiral into a PR crisis.

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Samantha Reed: Wow.

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Ethan Walker: If you're not careful.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, it's true.

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Ethan Walker: So it's crucial

to have a plan in place.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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For

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Ethan Walker: handling negative feedback.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Addressing misinformation.

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Samantha Reed: Mm

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Ethan Walker: hmm.

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Safeguarding your accounts.

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Yeah.

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Hacking attempts.

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All of that.

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Samantha Reed: So it's not

just about putting out fires.

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It's like having, you know.

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Right.

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The right fire extinguishers in place.

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Ethan Walker: You got it.

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Samantha Reed: Before

things even get out of hand.

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Ethan Walker: Be prepared.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, that

makes a lot of sense.

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Last but not least, 95 visual

brings up a challenge that's

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becoming increasingly common.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: Difficulty targeting.

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Oh

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Ethan Walker: yeah, it's hard.

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Samantha Reed: With so much noise.

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So.

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Online.

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Yeah.

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How can businesses break through?

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Right.

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Reach new audiences, especially when

brand loyalty is like at an all time high.

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Yeah.

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It's almost like everyone's already

found their favorite coffee shop.

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And you're trying to be the new one

on the block and lure them away.

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It's a tough crowd.

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Ethan Walker: It is, it is.

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But not impossible.

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I mean, think about what makes

you try a new product or service.

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Is it a recommendation from a friend?

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An ad that just like,

really catches your eye?

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Samantha Reed: A

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Ethan Walker: discount

code you just can't resist?

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The same principles apply online.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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I

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Ethan Walker: know.

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Samantha Reed: So it's about

finding those creative ways to,

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like, to pique people's interest.

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Totally.

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Give them a reason to, like, look twice.

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, we've

covered a lot of ground here.

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Ethan Walker: We have.

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Samantha Reed: Both the, like,

exciting opportunities and the very

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real challenges of using social

media to, you know, find success.

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Right.

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But I always find that the most

valuable part of any deep dive

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is that so what moment, right?

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So what does all of this actually

mean for you, the listener?

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, that's the question.

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And

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Samantha Reed: your unique goals.

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Ethan Walker: Well, I think 95 visual.

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They nail it in their conclusion.

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They say social media should

be a piece of your strategy.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Not the whole pie.

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It's about balance.

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Samantha Reed: Don't put

all your eggs in one basket.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: And they emphasize

skilled management, which

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: Circles back to

what we were talking about before.

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Right.

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The time commitment.

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Samantha Reed: Being smart about it.

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Ethan Walker: Mitigating the risks.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: It's not

enough to just show up.

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You know?

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: You gotta

show up consistently.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Ethan Walker: Authentically.

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Samantha Reed: E real.

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Ethan Walker: And strategically.

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Samantha Reed: Have a plan.

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Ethan Walker: Have a plan.

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Samantha Reed: It's like the difference

between, you know, dabbling in

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a hobby and running a marathon.

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You've gotta have a game plan.

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Ethan Walker: You gotta train for it.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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You gotta train.

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Yeah.

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You need endurance.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: And you've also gotta

be able to adapt along the way.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Because things change.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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And what I really appreciate is

how 95 Visual, You know, they

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really encourage businesses to

think about their specific context.

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Yeah.

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What works for a global tech giant.

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It isn't going to translate to,

you know, a local bakery or, you

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know, a freelance consultant.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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And here's something else

to keep in mind, right?

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Social media,

it's constantly evolving.

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Samantha Reed: Always.

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Ethan Walker: New platforms are

popping up, like, overnight.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah, it's crazy.

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Ethan Walker: Algorithms change.

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User behavior shifts.

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Samantha Reed: It's true.

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Ethan Walker: What works today

might be old news tomorrow.

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Samantha Reed: It's like

trying to hit a moving target

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while riding a roller coaster.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: That's a good one, yeah.

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Samantha Reed: So how do you stay

ahead of the curve without getting,

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like, completely overwhelmed?

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Ethan Walker: I think it's

all about staying curious.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Experiment.

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Don't be afraid to try new things.

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Analyze the results.

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Samantha Reed: Okay.

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Ethan Walker: Adjust your approach.

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Samantha Reed: Don't be afraid

to, you know, just try something.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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And that's the beauty

of the digital world.

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Okay.

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It's so dynamic.

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Samantha Reed: Yeah.

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Ethan Walker: And that presents both

challenges and amazing opportunities.

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It

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Samantha Reed: really does.

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Ethan Walker: For growth.

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Samantha Reed: That's such a

great point to end on, you know?

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Just embracing the ever

changing nature of the beast.

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Ethan Walker: That's it.

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Samantha Reed: And you know what?

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We want to hear from you.

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Ethan Walker: Yes.

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Samantha Reed: What are your

biggest social media wins?

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Right,

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Ethan Walker: let us know.

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Samantha Reed: What

challenges are you facing?

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Ethan Walker: We want to hear it.

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Samantha Reed: Head over to our

website to share your thoughts.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, and And

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Samantha Reed: explore some of the,

the awesome resources we put together.

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Ethan Walker: Check those out.

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Samantha Reed: Until next

time, happy connecting.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.

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