Many different types of services exist to support executives and their companies — but which one is right for you? Some agencies are more social media-focused, while others are geared toward the individual and their leadership skills. In this article, we dive into the major differences between executive social media agencies, leadership coaches, and PR firms. Keep reading to learn which one may be the most suitable for your needs.   Executive Social Media Agencies Primary purpose: Strategically build an executive online presence through social media Leverage an executive’s social media content to drive towards business objectives Suitable for:  Companies that want to complement their existing digital marketing program with a more authentic presence Executives who want to be positioned as a thought leader within their industry Executive social media agencies function similarly to digital marketing agencies. These agencies work with their clients to support their...

Brian Chesky is the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, an online marketplace where users can list or rent homes for travel purposes. On social media, Chesky has positioned himself as a compassionate and effective leader. He shares his business expertise, personal interests, and shows his support for his company.  Continue reading as we analyze Chesky’s Instagram and Twitter content to show how executives can create an effective social media presence by being business-oriented on Twitter and more casual on Instagram.    A Strong Leader on Twitter Chesky is very active on Twitter and this shows in the number of followers he has on this platform with over 481,000. On Twitter, he has positioned himself well as a thought leader in his industry by showcasing his leadership skills and sharing relevant company content. This type of positive first impression is extremely valuable and is what...

What is #TeamTrees?   On October 25th, two YouTubers, Mark Rober and Jimmy Donaldson—better known by their channel name MrBeast—launched an initiative they call #TeamTrees. Each dollar donated means one tree will be planted with the goal of planting 20 million trees by 2020. The donations go directly to Arbor Day Foundation, who will be responsible for facilitating the planting. The trees will begin being planted globally at the start of 2020, with the process starting in areas with a warmer climate.  Raising over $8 million within the first week, the donated amount has since grown to $15,387,233 at the time of writing. #TeamTrees first went viral among the YouTube creator community due to other popular YouTubers making large donations, such as $69,420 from PewDiePie, $33,333 from TheOdd1sOut, and $20,000 from Jacksepticeye. However, when looking at the Top Donors list on Teamtrees.org, it is not...

John Legere is not the type of executive that wears a suit and tie–at least, not unless it's magenta in color. The CEO of T-Mobile, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the U.S., is anything but your typical executive. He has cultivated 6.49 million followers on Twitter, over 75,000 followers on Instagram, and over 390,000 followers on Facebook.    John Legere is Mr. Magenta   If you do not recognize the name John Legere, you may be more familiar with his nickname: Mr. Magenta. It is a catchy phrase that perfectly describes Legere. On social media, he is often wearing the color, whether it is a t-shirt, sneakers, or even magenta hair for #NationalHairDay. This color choice is no accident as it is the same iconic magenta of T-Mobile's logo. It is a smart and subtle way of indirectly calling attention to the...

Known for growing his family’s wine business from $3M to $60M in just 5 years, Gary Vaynerchuk was named the top CEO in the digital marketing space in 2018 by Brand24. Now, Gary is the CEO of his own digital marketing and communications company Vayner Media, as well as sports agency Vayner Sports. Additionally, he is a “prolific angel investor and venture capitalist," investing in companies ranging from Facebook to Uber, a highly sought-after public speaker, and best-selling author.  Gary, also known as Gary Vee, has no plans on slowing down. On top of all that, you may have seen him on your Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube feed, where he has a combined following of over 11 million people, whom he provides with “wake-up call” advice. Often calling himself a purebred entrepreneur, Gary’s work-hard, play-hard attitude, and hunger for success are what...

By now we know that influential executives garner higher overall engagements on social media than the brands they work for. On top of that, though, they can also be used to convey a company’s corporate social responsibility in a more authentic light. Since becoming the CEO of Walmart 5 years ago, Doug McMillon’s social profile has become a platform to promote Walmart’s acts of social good, such as eliminating abuses through the supply chain. On his Facebook and Instagram profiles especially, he is no stranger to group pictures and heartwarming captions. In the month of June, Walmart was all about creating a community space between associates, shareholders, and the public. McMillon leveraged his social presence by participating in branded hashtags and telling touching stories in order to promote his company’s social good and positive community. If you're interested, you can check...

Yes, executives drive more engagement on average than their respective companies on social media, and yes, your company should absolutely be leveraging its leaders (maybe that leader is you!) to support marketing objectives. If you’re ready to take the plunge and launch an executive social media presence for yourself or the executives at your company, congratulations on the sound decision, and check out our introductory guidebook if you haven’t already! Now, though, it’s time to start thinking about why leaders outperform brands and how to create effective social media branding that will ultimately resonate with your target audience and drive measurable results.  Research suggests that 84 percent of consumers trust recommendations from people they know. This may not seem groundbreaking in and of itself, but it’s particularly telling when combined with the fact that only 15 percent of those same respondents...