17 Jul

Posted on July 17, 2020 in Guide

Social media is essential for today’s business founders and executives to build their reputation. Online reputation management requires a long-term and thoughtful strategy, similar to how brand building is accomplished at a company. In this article, we will discuss how business leaders can use social media to help establish their personal branding and set them up for the future.   How Social Media Impacts Online Reputation Management   Unlike a brand's social media account, executives' accounts are directly tied to the individual, which of course, makes it more personal. Some business leaders focus on brand-related content, such as Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly. Other executives may utilize a completely different social media strategy emphasizing more of their personal interests, like Anand Mahindra. Whichever strategy an executive uses, social media platforms are public and offer executives an effective way to connect with their audience. Because it is...

10 Jul

Posted on July 10, 2020 in Front Page Execs

In part one of “Executives Supporting #BlackLivesMatter,” we discussed executives that openly and actively voiced their opinions in the fight against systemic racism. Here are some examples of executives who are showcasing entrepreneurial leadership by being specific with their action and simultaneously using their personal social media platforms to reinforce the process....

03 Jul

Posted on July 3, 2020 in CEO Insights by Elissa Liu

The 2020 Social Media Industry Benchmark Report is an in-depth study analyzing engagement rates, posting frequency, and hashtag usage on social media across various industries. Our research shows that on LinkedIn in particular executives achieve significantly more engagement than brands. That being said, by using the updated 2020 engagement rates as a benchmark, executives across different industries can set appropriate KPIs for their social media program. The study looked at 14 different industries but this article will examine four select industries: fashion, financial services, food and beverage, and retail. Based on the findings across all industries, these are the key takeaways for executives looking to establish a strong online presence: Post up to once per day and at least three times per weekday (at least in the beginning). This is an effective baseline for executives to start with since posting more times per...

26 Jun

Posted on June 26, 2020 in Executive Spotlight

From text-only posts, to videos, to third-party articles, executives have a variety of content types to choose from when posting on social media. In this article, we put the spotlight on Jo Ann Jenkins, the CEO of AARP. Based in the U.S., AARP is the largest nonprofit organization in the country and provides benefits for citizens over 50 years old. Using social media profiles on both LinkedIn and Twitter, Jenkins has developed a strong brand voice across her social media content.   LinkedIn: Potential to Grow Personal Branding    Starting with LinkedIn, Jenkin's About section on her profile is effective, covering key points in her career. We always recommend that executives start off with their most recent position, which Jenkins has done. The About section is also a good way to optimize for relevant keywords related to the executive and their industry, which can...

19 Jun

Posted on June 19, 2020 in Articles, Guide

When it comes to building an executive's online presence, there are many advantages and disadvantages of social media. The risks of being on social media include not developing a strong personal branding strategy or not appearing communicative enough. These obstacles are easily overcome, either by carefully understanding the challenges beforehand, or working with a knowledgeable digital marketing team that handles content marketing on the executive's behalf. What is clear is that successful executives are the ones that understand the unique benefits social media has to offer, particularly as a digital marketing tool. Previously, we looked at KPIs (key performance indicators) in our article, How to Set Social Media KPIs for your Executive’s Personal Brand. In today's article, we will focus more on the actual goals and how personal branding on social media can help achieve business and personal objectives.   1. Increase Brand Awareness   A...

29 May

Posted on May 29, 2020 in Executive Spotlight

In this Executive Spotlight, we will be looking at Gene Kelly’s LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. As the chairman and CEO of Southwest Airlines, his company has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus and governments setting restrictions on travel. As we will discuss in this article, Kelly has used his online presence to promote a sense of optimism by focusing on positive company initiatives....

22 May

Posted on May 22, 2020 in Guide

The benefits of social media for businesses does not end at the brand’s presence, but can also extend to include its leadership team. Whether handled by an in-house marketing team or an outside digital marketing agency, more executives are establishing a stronger online presence through popular platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. When executives use social media to establish their personal branding, this has been proven to be a highly effective way to complement a brand's existing social media strategy. When establishing your executive social media program, one important step is to set key performance indicators, or KPIs. As the name suggests, KPIs help measure the performance of your campaign. It is helpful to think of it as a measurable goal that can be set before the social media campaign begins. Throughout an executive's social media program, these numbers can be...

01 May

Posted on May 1, 2020 in Front Page Execs

Leaders have the power to make real social and global change, which is why it is important that executives relay any impactful company announcements and information to the public. Social media is an effective way to disseminate information to users across the globe and to stay connected, making it an ideal tool to get messages across more quickly and efficiently. Thus, social media is an effective channel to encourage others to join the battle against climate change. ...