Don't follow all the advice

I’m tired. I’ve only been back for a week and we are two months from SCA Expo (prime planning & panic time). As such, my brain is fried and I don’t have a fresh new blog post for you. Please do still enjoy the updates and links, though.

– Jenn

You don’t need to follow all of the advice. There’s plenty of it out there for digital marketing. It tells you when the best time is to post on Instagram and why you should have a Google page and a Yelp page and a TripAdvisor page (you get the idea).

But I think my best advice (take it or leave it) is to take on one new piece of advice at a time and let it go if it doesn’t work for your business. For example, you could read that 3 pm is a great time to post on Instagram. But with the algorithm, your followers might not see it until tomorrow. It’s also possible that 3 pm is good for Thursday but not Saturday. The only way you know what works is through trial and error & looking at your analytics. Read Buffer’s advice on this.

In short, don’t take marketing advice at face value. Test it out and check it against other sources.

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Reminder that I’ve categorized my most helpful posts on my Resources page. I always welcome topic ideas or burning questions- hit reply and I’ll see it.

Instagram is adding DMs to their desktop display, so no more frantically typing fingers getting cramped. The network also launched new creative tools for Black History Month. It’s working on a “Donation” sticker for fundraising, much like Facebook’s own Donate button. And finally, if you haven’t noticed already, it is pushing more IGTV previews into your feed.

Twitter is testing a new camera called “News Camera” where you can add text and location overlays to your media.

5 Keys To Understanding Your Brand's Competition

“As a brand strategist, a favorite part of any presentation I give to clients is a section on their brand’s competitors. What’s surprising though is how Competitive analysis in all of its forms is an honest self-assessment of who and what are the alternatives to the value you are creating.”

If You Give a Community a Cookie … How to Create a Great Digital Neighborhood

Design your brand’s community as a neighborhood where your audience wants to live, learn, and engage – some inspiration inside!

11 Reasons Your Website Speed Is Killing Your Social Media Marketing

70% of online shoppers say that page load speed has influence on how likely they are to make a purchase.

The secret history of midcentury modern design–as Cold War propaganda

Before midcentury was a household name, the State Department used MoMA’s “Good Design” exhibitions to sell the American vision of consumerism abroad.

Survey: What Diversity and Inclusion Policies Do Employees Actually Want?

If organizations want to make progress, they need to invest in the right areas.

New York City's CBD Crackdown Is Only the Beginning

In New York City and beyond, health departments are stopping restaurants from dosing customers with cannabidiol. This article is here because I’ve seen cafes offer CBD as an additive to their drinks.