The Core Rule of Nostalgia Marketing: Don't Recreate the Memory. Extend It.

Nostalgia is everywhere in marketing right now.

Brands are bringing back old products. Shows are getting rebooted. Y2K aesthetics have returned. Characters we haven't seen in decades are suddenly appearing on our feeds again. We know, we are supporting one of these very high profile nostalgia clients! And there's a reason it works. Nostalgia gives people an immediate emotional connection to content before they've even finished watching it. But there's also a problem:

"Remember this?" isn't much of a content strategy. Through our work launching and growing Best of Both Our Worlds, the official unofficial Hannah Montana podcast, we've learned something much more interesting about how nostalgia performs on social media.

The strongest nostalgic content doesn't simply remind people of something they loved. It makes the memory feel alive again.

Nostalgia Gets Attention. Newness Gets the Share.

When we launched BOBOW (our acronym), we had access to something incredibly powerful: 20 years of affection for Hannah Montana. Millions of people already knew the characters, jokes, songs, relationships, and iconic moments from the show. We could have simply talked about them. Instead, some of our biggest viral moments have happened when we've found ways to extend them.

One of our earliest examples came from Jason Earles and a piece of Hannah Montana history that fans immediately recognize: Cheese jerky. Jason filmed what we called the "BOBOW Bite," essentially reviewing cheese jerky he made at home in character. It took something fans remembered and gave them something they had never seen before. The response was huge.

Later, we revisited that world again with Mitchel Musso and the iconic cheese jerky sign. Again, audiences responded. Not because we were showing them a clip they'd already watched. Because it felt like someone had uncovered an extra scene.

The Deleted Scene Test

That response has helped shape a creative test we've found particularly useful for nostalgic content: Does this feel like a deleted scene from something the audience already loves? That's different from recreating a scene.

If Jason simply reenacted an old episode exactly as it originally aired, people might enjoy seeing it. But they already have the original. What they don't have is Jackson Stewart somehow continuing the cheese jerky bit 20 years later. That's where nostalgia becomes something more powerful. You're giving the audience the emotional familiarity of the original while introducing the unpredictability of something new. They know the world. They understand the reference.

But they don't know what's going to happen next. That's incredibly valuable in short-form video.

Don't Just Repost the Memory

There is absolutely a place for archival content. Old photos, clips, behind-the-scenes footage, anniversaries, and throwbacks can all perform well. But if nostalgia is going to become a meaningful part of a broader content strategy, brands should think beyond the archive.

Ask:

What happened next?

What would this character say today?

What happens when two people associated with an iconic moment reunite?

What joke could continue 20 years later?

What object, line, costume, location, or piece of pop culture carries enough meaning that the audience will understand the reference before you explain it?

That's where nostalgia becomes creative rather than retrospective.

The Audience Wants to Feel Smart

There's another reason these moments work. People love getting the reference. When someone sees cheese jerky appear in BOBOW content and immediately understands why it's there, there's a tiny reward built into the experience. I know what this is. That's powerful community behavior.

The reference becomes a signal between the brand and the audience that says: We're fans too. We know why this matters. And because the audience understands the reference, they're more likely to participate. They quote the original scene in the comments. They tag the friend who watched it with them. They add another reference. They ask for another character or cast member to participate.

Suddenly, one piece of content has created a much larger conversation.

Nostalgia Should Be Specific

One of the biggest mistakes brands can make with nostalgia is making it too broad. A generic "2000s kids will remember this" post might generate recognition. Specificity generates connection. The details matter.

• A prop.

• A line.

• A costume.

• A very particular joke.

• A piece of set dressing that only the real fans remember.

• Cheese jerky works precisely because it isn't generic Hannah Montana nostalgia.

It's specific. The more culturally fluent your brand is, the deeper you can go. And sometimes the smaller reference generates the bigger reaction because the audience feels like the content was made specifically for them.

Original Talent Changes the Equation

BOBOW also has an advantage that many nostalgia campaigns don't: access to the people who were actually there.

Jason Earles isn't someone referencing Jackson Stewart. He is Jackson Stewart. Mitchel Musso isn't a creator doing a Hannah Montana bit. He's part of the reason the reference exists in the first place. That authenticity creates opportunities that should be treated carefully. The temptation could be to constantly ask talent to recreate the greatest hits. But there's more creative potential in asking:

What can we make today that could only exist because of what happened then? That's the sweet spot. Use the history as creative material rather than treating it like a museum exhibit.

Nostalgia Can Be the Hook Without Becoming the Whole Brand

This has also been important as we've grown BOBOW. The podcast is inherently nostalgic, but it isn't exclusively about nostalgia. A conversation might begin with Hannah Montana and become a fascinating discussion about television writing. A former cast member might tell a story that reveals something about being a working actor. A crew member might explain how television production worked at the time.

Listening to the podcast goes beyond nostalgia and references and feels more like going to dinner with the cast and crew of Hannah Montana, that is the magic of this podcast.

The nostalgia gets someone through the door. The new story keeps them listening. The same principle applies to social content. Recognition can earn the first second of attention. Originality has to earn everything after it.

What We've Learned From BOBOW

Since launching in March 2026, BOBOW has grown from zero to more than 95,000 followers and subscribers across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. We've had viral moments, welcomed familiar faces back into the conversation, and watched fans enthusiastically tell us what they want to see next.

And one of the clearest creative lessons has been surprisingly simple: Don't just give people the thing they remember. Give them more of the feeling they remember.

There's a difference. The goal isn't to manufacture nostalgia. It's to understand what made the original meaningful enough that people still care about it decades later, and then find a way to honor that connection while creating something that belongs in the present.

For BOBOW, sometimes that means an in-depth conversation about making television. Sometimes it means bringing someone back who fans haven't heard from in years. And apparently, sometimes it means cheese jerky. Twenty years later, the audience is still in on the joke. Our job is to give them a new reason that the joke is funny.

The Hidden Algorithm Signal For Increased Content Distribution

There are the social media metrics everyone watches…

Followers. Likes. Shares. Saves. Comments. Reach.

And then there are the signals that are much harder to see.

Lately, we've been noticing something interesting across the brands we manage at Beloved Social. Accounts with increasingly active ecosystems around them seem to be experiencing stronger overall distribution, even when the performance of their individual owned posts hasn't dramatically changed.

The difference? More people are talking about them. Guests are tagging the hotel from their rooms. Creators are posting dinner at the restaurant. Someone shares their spa experience. A visitor posts a Reel from the lobby. Friends send those posts back and forth while planning where they want to go next.

Not all of that content is published as a collaboration with the brand. Much of it will never appear in the brand's feed at all. And yet, something is happening. We call it The Beloved Afterglow.

The Beloved Afterglow is what happens when an experience continues to create social signals long after the brand's own post, campaign, dinner, stay or activation is over. It's the collection of guest content, creator posts, tags, shares, saves, conversations and interactions that continue building around a brand beyond its owned social channels. Think of it as the digital memory of an experience after the experience itself. And while Instagram doesn't give us an "Afterglow" metric in Insights, we're increasingly interested in the relationship between this surrounding activity and the overall health and distribution of a brand's owned content.

Your Social Media Account Is Bigger Than Your Feed

When brands evaluate social media performance, there is a tendency to look inward.

• How did our Reel perform?

• How many people saved our carousel?

• How many profile visits did our content generate?

Those metrics matter. But they don't tell us everything happening around a brand.

Instagram's recommendation technology is extraordinarily sophisticated. Meta has publicly explained that Explore uses machine learning to understand users' interests and interaction histories, including content they have liked, saved and shared, and to retrieve other content that may be similar or relevant to them.

Instagram has also explained that recommendations across Explore, Reels and Feed personalize over time based on the content and accounts someone interacts with. That distinction is important. Social platforms aren't simply evaluating individual posts. They're continuously learning relationships between people, content, interests and accounts. So consider what happens when a luxury hotel suddenly has dozens of guests and creators producing content about it.

One person watches a Reel about the hotel's rooftop. Another saves a creator's post from the spa. Someone sends a room-tour Reel to the friend they're traveling with. Another guest tags the hotel from dinner. Instagram now has more opportunities to understand the type of person interested in that property. That doesn't mean Instagram has confirmed that guest tags automatically increase the reach of a hotel's next Reel. They haven't. But it does mean that looking exclusively at owned-content engagement will give marketers an incomplete picture of how recommendation ecosystems actually work.

The Metric We're Starting to Watch Differently

This is where we've noticed an interesting pattern. Sometimes, an account's owned content hasn't suddenly started receiving hundreds more likes. Profile visits aren't necessarily skyrocketing. Follower growth may be steady rather than explosive. But overall content views are steadily climbing.

The account is simply being seen more. For marketers accustomed to diagnosing social performance one post at a time, this can be easy to miss. We think there is value in asking a different question: How much activity is happening around the brand, not just on the brand's account? That means paying attention to tagged content, creator content, guest Stories, mentions, messages, organic recommendations, location-based content and the broader volume of people creating social touchpoints connected to the brand.

We think of this as an account-health indicator. Not because Instagram has given marketers an "account score" somewhere inside Insights, but because the recommendation ecosystem increasingly depends on understanding relationships and interests. A brand people continuously interacting with users across Instagram is creating far more signals than a brand publishing into a vacuum.

Why Experiential Brands Have an Advantage

This becomes particularly interesting for hotels, resorts, restaurants, spas, festivals and other luxury or experiential brands.

Your product is naturally content-worthy. The martini arriving at the table is content. The first look at the suite is content. The pool at sunset is content. The tablescape at dinner is content. The robe, the room service breakfast, the architecture, the spa treatment, the lobby flowers and the view from the balcony can all become individual social moments.

That means your social media strategy shouldn't end with what your social team publishes. The experience itself is part of your distribution strategy. A beautiful physical environment gives guests a reason to photograph it. Exceptional hospitality gives them a reason to talk about it. A recognizable point of view gives creators something to build a story around.

Suddenly, your 15 monthly owned posts aren't your only pieces of content. There may be hundreds of pieces of content reinforcing the same brand throughout the month. That creates brand awareness humans can recognize immediately. And, increasingly, sophisticated recommendation systems can recognize relationships between people, content and interests too.

UGC Isn't Just Content You Can Repost

For years, brands have largely discussed user-generated content as an asset. Someone creates a beautiful photo. The brand asks permission. The brand reposts it. Great. But that is an incredibly narrow understanding of UGC.

The greater value may be the ecosystem it creates. Every guest sharing your property introduces the experience to their own audience. Every creator covering your restaurant provides another potential discovery point. Every person sending that content to a friend creates another expression of interest. And those interactions can continue whether or not your brand ever reposts the original piece of content.

This is particularly significant in hospitality, where social content doesn't just create awareness. It can influence consideration. Research published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management in 2026 examined how user-generated food photography influences tourists' intentions to visit restaurants, reinforcing something hospitality marketers have intuitively understood for decades: people use other people's experiences to decide which experiences they want for themselves. This is not new to social media. This is human nature.

The social proof has value.

The content has value.

And the activity surrounding the brand may have value beyond what we can neatly attribute inside a monthly analytics report.

Stop Treating Creator Strategy as a Separate Marketing Channel

This is also why we believe creator relations, influencer marketing, community management, experiential marketing and owned social strategy should not operate as completely separate disciplines. They feed each other. A creator dinner isn't successful only because the invited creators generated 200,000 impressions. A hotel stay isn't successful only because an influencer's Reel received 50,000 views. The more interesting question is what happens to the brand ecosystem afterward.

• Did new people begin talking about the property in the comments?

• Did those posts generate shares and saves?

• Did new people interact with content connected to the brand?

• Did branded search increase?

• Did the brand's own content begin reaching more non-followers?

• Did total account views increase even if engagement rate remained relatively stable?

That's a much more sophisticated way to evaluate experiential social media.

Build a Brand People Want to Put on Their Own Feed

There is a practical takeaway here, especially for luxury brands. Don't just create social media content.

Create an experience that creates social media content.

Give guests visual moments worth capturing. Build creator relationships consistently rather than activating influencers only for major launches. Make your location easy to tag and identify. Engage meaningfully with the people posting from your property. Pay attention to organic advocates. Create experiences with enough personality that guests naturally want to tell someone else they were there.

And then measure the ripple effect.

At Beloved Social, we're increasingly interested in what happens beyond the boundaries of an individual post because that's how people actually experience brands online. They see your Reel. Then their friend posts from your restaurant. Then a creator they follow stays at your hotel. Then they save a spa treatment for an upcoming trip to your location. Then Instagram serves them another piece of your content. By the time they finally follow you, click to your website and make a reservation, they may have encountered your brand a dozen times. And that goes back to one of marketings oldest theories: The Rule of Seven.

No individual Instagram metric will tell that entire story of a guest’s journey. But the ecosystem of content will.

And for experiential brands, building and valuing that ecosystem may be one of the most Important opportunities in social media strategy right now.

Because the strongest experiential brands don't disappear from someone's world when the experience ends.

They leave an Afterglow.

From Zero to 100,000+: Building Best of Both Our Worlds From the Ground Up

What can happen when social media strategy has a seat at the table from the very beginning?

In February 2026, Best of Both Our Worlds had a name, two filmed episodes, an initial piece of AI-generated artwork, and a big idea. Less than a month later, the podcast was live with a full brand built around it. Five months later, the brand had built an audience of more than 100,000 followers and subscribers across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, starting from zero on every platform. For Beloved Social, it has become one of our favorite examples of what social media can accomplish when it isn't treated as the final step of launching something new. Instead, it becomes part of building the brand itself.

The Official Unofficial Hannah Montana Podcast

Best of Both Our Worlds began with Jason Earles, Douglas Danger Lieblein, and Shannon Flynn wanting to create something special around the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana for the fans. The result was Best of Both Our Worlds, the "official unofficial Hannah Montana podcast," where the people who were actually there can tell the stories behind one of Disney Channel's most defining shows.

It isn't a traditional rewatch podcast. It feels more like going to dinner with the people who made the show and finally getting to ask all the questions you've had for 20 years. The conversations start with Hannah Montana, but they regularly become something bigger: conversations about Hollywood, television production, writing, acting, directing, Disney Channel, and what actually went into creating television during that era. That's what made the opportunity particularly exciting from a brand perspective. There was already an enormous fandom. Our job was to help create something new for that fandom to belong to.

Three Weeks to Build the Digital Brand

Jason Earles initially approached Beloved Social at the end of February to help develop the social media strategy for the podcast. At that point, the team had already filmed two episodes and established the Best of Both Our Worlds name. There was an initial AI-generated direction for the branding, but the broader digital ecosystem still needed to be built. And we had weeks, not months, to do it. What started as social media startup support quickly expanded.

Beloved guided and launched the podcast's social presence from scratch, developed its ongoing social strategy, advised on the larger brand, and built bestofbothourworlds.com. Every social account began at zero. On March 17, 2026, Best of Both Our Worlds officially launched.

One week later, on March 24, the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special premiered on Disney+. The timing was intentional, and it gave us an incredible opportunity to introduce something new while millions of people were already thinking, talking, posting, and reminiscing about Hannah Montana. But a cultural moment can introduce people to a brand. It can't make them stay. That became the next challenge.

From Zero to More Than 100,000

Since launching, the Best of Both Our Worlds audience has grown to:

51,000 TikTok followers

19,000 Facebook followers

18,000 Instagram followers

7,000+ YouTube subscribers

PLUS ALL THE PODCAST PLATFORM SUBSCRIBERS

Totaling more than 100,000 followers and subscribers across all platforms in approximately five months, all from accounts that started at zero. The accounts have also reached the necessary milestones to be approved for monetization across TikTok, YouTube, and Meta. But the strategy was never simply about accumulating followers. We needed to give Hannah Montana fans a reason to follow a new brand when they already had a full television series worth of content.

The answer became original content.

Nostalgia Gets Attention. New Content Builds the Audience.

One of the most important things we've learned while building Best of Both Our Worlds is that nostalgia becomes considerably more powerful when you don't simply recreate the past. You extend it.

Some of our earliest viral success came from Jason Earles filming the "BOBOW Bite," essentially stepping back into the world of Jackson Stewart for a cheese jerky review filmed at home. Fans loved it. More recently, we've seen that same response with original content featuring Mitchel Musso and the iconic cheese jerky sign.

The common denominator isn't simply that people remember cheese jerky. It's that the content feels like discovering something new from a world you thought you'd already seen in its entirety. A deleted scene. An inside joke that somehow continued for another 20 years. A character you loved as a child suddenly appearing on your For You Page in 2026.

Those moments have helped us understand what this audience wants and shape the content strategy accordingly.

Read more about Marketing with nostalgia.

Building a Content Engine Around the Podcast

Of course, viral moments are only one part of building a sustainable audience. Every Tuesday, a new episode of Best of Both Our Worlds premieres, with a sneak peek beginning the conversation on Monday. Throughout the week, we're publishing at least three pieces of vertical video content across Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, often more depending on the episode, guest, and conversations happening within the community. Guests primarily include former Hannah Montana cast and crew, while the show has also begun welcoming people from the larger Disney Channel universe who have their own connection to the series.

That creates a continuous content ecosystem. The podcast fuels social. Social creates new conversations. Those conversations help us understand what the audience wants more of. And that information can influence what comes next.

Community Management Isn't an Afterthought

Publishing is only half of social media management. Every day, we're in the notifications. We're liking comments, responding when fans say something funny, answering DMs, watching what people are talking about, and engaging beyond our own accounts. That includes intentionally interacting with creators and conversations throughout the larger Disney ecosystem, from Hannah Montana and Disney Channel nostalgia to Disneyland and the broader Disney fandom. Because if you're trying to build a community, you have to actually participate in it.

That philosophy is now beginning to make its way into the podcast itself. True Friend Friday is the newest iteration of bringing the people who have supported this show into the content, creating another opportunity to make the relationship between the hosts and their audience feel genuinely two-way.

Social Strategy Became Brand Strategy

Beloved's role has also continued to evolve alongside the show. What began as social media strategy and launch support has grown to include ongoing social media management, website development, partnership outreach, audience development, and broader strategic involvement with the brand. The podcast has already secured a partnership with Vinted and signed with Audioboom for its audio representation, giving our team the opportunity to navigate the differences between traditional social partnerships and the podcast advertising ecosystem. And none of this happens in a vacuum.

Best of Both Our Worlds has been an enormous collaborative effort. Executive Producer Renee Colvert has been integral to bringing the show to life, alongside Jeff Murphy and Gina Murphy of Quest Pacifica, whose work across filming, editing, production, and graphic design makes the podcast itself possible. And at the center are Jason, Douglas, and Shannon, whose chemistry, stories, and willingness to genuinely let fans into their world give us something worth marketing in the first place.

The Bigger Lesson

There are a lot of podcasts about television shows. What makes Best of Both Our Worlds interesting is that it demonstrates what the format can become when you move beyond the rewatch. You don't necessarily need to watch an episode of Hannah Montana before listening.

Instead, you might hear how a particular joke made it from a writers' room onto television. You might learn something about working as a young actor. You might hear how television production worked in the 2000s. And occasionally, you'll get the story behind something wonderfully ridiculous, like cheese jerky. It's nostalgia, but it's also an oral history of making television.

From a Beloved Social perspective, that's what makes the growth of this brand particularly meaningful. We didn't start with 100,000 people. We started with zero. We had a cultural moment, recognizable talent, an incredibly passionate existing fandom, and a very small window to build something worthy of their attention. Then we kept showing up.

We listened to what the audience responded to. We created original content around those insights. We participated in the fandom instead of simply marketing to it. We built the infrastructure around the show. And when something worked, we learned from it rather than simply celebrating the views.

Five months later, more than 100,000 people have chosen to come along for the ride. And we're still building.

How Amasa Gained 1,000 Instagram Followers in One Month

What happens when social media growth stops being the goal and starts becoming the result?

In one month, Amasa gained more than 1,000 new Instagram followers. For a restaurant building its presence in one of the most competitive dining markets in the country, that milestone matters. But at Beloved Social, the follower count isn't actually the most interesting part of the story. There wasn't one viral Reel that suddenly changed everything. There wasn't a giveaway that quickly grew the audience. And we didn't build the strategy around chasing followers.

Instead, we built the strategy around the high-end content creation the client was after to reflect the luxurious but hospitable experience one has at Amasa. We focused on making Amasa's social presence better: better storytelling, better short-form video, better creator relationships, and better conversations with the community already paying attention. The 1,000 new followers followed.

Building a Reel Strategy Around the Brand

Reels became a core part of Amasa's broader content strategy this quarter, but simply "posting more video" wasn't the strategy. We focused on developing a recognizable approach to short-form content that actually reflected the experience of Amasa and Bar Amasa. That meant experimenting with pacing, editing, hooks, storytelling, lighting, atmosphere, and the small details that make someone stop scrolling and want to know more. Most importantly, we wanted the content to feel like Amasa, not like a restaurant trying to replicate whatever happened to be trending in the New York food landscape that week.

As we found the right balance and aesthetic, consistency followed. And from that consistency came stronger reach, impressions, discovery, and ultimately, audience growth. The lesson wasn't that Reels magically create followers. It was that strong, consistent short-form storytelling gives more people an opportunity to discover a brand worth following.

Finding Food Creators Who Could Tell the Right Story

Influencer strategy was another major piece of Amasa's growth, but here, too, reach wasn't our first filter. Alignment was. Amasa is a restaurant where the food deserves to be taken seriously. We wanted creators who understood that. Rather than broadly pursuing New York creators based primarily on follower counts, we concentrated on developing relationships with food-focused creators whose content already demonstrated an appreciation for high-quality cuisine, thoughtful preparation, and the stories behind what they're eating. The guests that will appreciate Amasa, appreciate this angle of storytelling.

We wanted the steak to shine. We wanted the ingredients to be honored. We wanted the Latin roots of the menu to come through authentically. And we wanted creators who could communicate that to their audiences without reducing the experience to another trendy restaurant visit. That intentional approach helped put Amasa in front of communities that were already primed to care about what the restaurant was doing. New audience awareness became a natural byproduct of the relationships, but the strategy started with finding the right people, not simply the largest audiences.

Community Management Is Essential To Growth Strategy

The third piece is considerably less flashy, but just as important: showing up every day. Consistent community management has been a pivotal part of our approach to developing Amasa's social presence.

Comments get responses. Stories create opportunities for conversation. Messages aren't treated like an afterthought. When guests and creators share their experiences, there is an actual brand on the other side engaging with them. That responsiveness helps transform an Instagram account from a publishing channel into a concierge-serviced community.

It also creates continuity between moments of higher visibility. A Reel may introduce someone to Amasa. A creator collaboration may inspire them to visit. But the everyday interactions surrounding that content are part of what makes the account feel active, relevant, and worth continuing to follow. Over time, those seemingly small interactions contribute to stronger engagement, healthier account activity, and a more connected audience.

1,000 New Followers Was the Result, Not the Strategy

It's easy to look at social media growth and work backward from the number.

How do we get 1,000 new followers in a month? We'd rather ask a different question:

How do we build a social presence that 1,000 more people genuinely want to follow? For Amasa, the answer wasn't a single tactic. It was the combination of intentional Reel storytelling, carefully selected creator relationships, and consistent community management, all rooted in a clear understanding of the brand itself.

More than 1,000 people joining the audience in a month is an exciting milestone. But it's also validation of something we believe deeply at Beloved Social: sustainable social growth happens when you build the brand first.

The Market That Keeps Getting Merrier

How Strategic Social & Community-First Marketing Made for Meaningful Growth at the Minneapolis Christkindl Market.

The Minneapolis Christkindl Market returned for its second season bigger, brighter, and more beloved than ever! And the growth we saw over the course of the season told a powerful story.

Building on the momentum of the previous year, the goal for year two was to expand awareness, deepen community engagement, and position the Market as a can’t-miss holiday tradition for both locals and visitors alike. Through a thoughtful mix of influencer strategy, community management, and intentional partnerships, the Minneapolis Christkindl Market didn’t just grow…it flourished!

Let the Holiday Buzz Begin

To gain the most awareness possible at the start of the market, we leaned into a strategic influencer approach by hosting a festive Media Night, inviting local creators to experience the Market at its most magical. The focus was on collaborative, feel-good content that captured the twinkling lights, cozy bites, and festive energy guests love. This strategy paid off in a big way over the course of the season, generating over 428,187 impressions from influencer collaborations alone and creating online excitement that carried throughout the entirety of the 2025 Market’s run.

Community Management That Makes an Impact

Community management played an essential role in the success of the Market’s second season. Social media became a place to show off their personality as a festive, welcoming experience that is deeply rooted in local pride.

By actively resharing guest-generated content, spotlighting local vendors, artists, and performers, and keeping conversations flowing through thoughtful replies and giveaways, the Market’s channels felt dynamic and alive throughout the entirety of the season. This consistent, authentic engagement encouraged guests to join the conversation, share their own experiences, and come back for more, helping the Market achieve a milestone of 10,000 Instagram followers (and counting!)

Partnerships with a Purpose

Fostering strategic partnerships is something we at Beloved Social find deeply valuable to experienced-based brands like this. They allow us to expand reach and awareness for clients while staying rooted in community and shared values.

For the 2025 Market, we managed collaborations like the Viking River Cruise Giveaway to grow excitement and expand our reach to new audiences. We also put on events such as Dog Day with Ruff Start Rescue that reinforced the Market’s inclusive, family-friendly spirit. These partnerships felt natural to the brand and celebratory of the season, enhancing the guest experience while strengthening the Market’s role as a gathering place for the Minneapolis community.

A Season of Meaningful Growth

The Minneapolis Christkindl Market’s second season was one marked by growth. Not just in size, but in impact. Physically, the Market expanded it’s footprint by 20%, creating room for more vendors, more experiences, and more opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. That on-site growth was matched by digital momentum, with the Market reaching 10,000 followers on Instagram and continuing to climb. Online performance followed suit over the course of the season, generating over 3 million organic impressions and over 75,000 organic moments of engagement throughout the season.

This growth didn’t happen by accident. Beloved Social’s work focused on building genuine excitement before opening day, maintaining consistent storytelling throughout the season, and amplifying what makes the Market special. By pairing influencer-led moments with community-driven content and strategic partnerships, the Market maintained a consistent presence while still feeling authentic and accessible. The result was growth that felt natural, sustained, and meaningful, turning seasonal visitors into returning guests and reinforcing the Minneapolis Christkindl Market as a holiday tradition that continues to grow year after year!

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Photo credit: Kaylee LaMoine

Client Success Story: Launching Stock & Bond

How we helped turn a brand launch into a Minneapolis steakhouse staple.

When Stock & Bond opened its doors, the mission was clear: this wasn’t just about filling tables for a night. The goal was to establish the restaurant as a premier dining destination in Minneapolis, create lasting brand loyalty, and deliver an experience that resonates long after the last course is served. Social media was a huge part of that strategy, but not in the “let’s post pretty pics” kind of way. This was all about real results.

The Secret Ingredient: Strategy

We kicked things off by working with the client and their partners to create a rock-solid strategy for launching the Stock & Bond brand. From the very beginning, every element, from high-quality content to paid ads and traditional PR, was designed to work together to get people talking and coming through the door. Every post had a clear purpose, every partnership was intentional, and every campaign focused on driving real results.

Once the restaurant opened, we used a strong influencer presence to help amplify the excitement. In just six months, influencers who collaborated with the brand generated over 750,000 impressions, extending the buzz and keeping Stock & Bond top-of-mind for diners across Minneapolis.

But the content wasn’t just eye candy. Every organic post told a story about Stock & Bond’s elevated yet approachable vibe. We made sure to balance branded content with UGC, so their feed felt authentic, not staged. The results? Over 1 million impressions from our owned content channels and nearly 7,500 moments of engagement. Proof that people weren’t just scrolling, they were interacting.

Community Management: Your Digital Concierge

At Stock & Bond, social media isn’t just marketing… it’s service. Think of it as a digital host stand that’s always on, ready to help guests with everything from reservations to menu questions. Our team aimed to respond to comments, messages, and tags within 24 hours, giving guests quick answers and a personal touch that made them feel seen and valued.

We also made sure to reshare guest content regularly. Photos and videos from diners didn’t just fill the feed, they built community! Every Story share gave people a sense of inclusion and showed off the authentic vibe of Stock & Bond. With over 68,000 video views, it’s clear that guests were actively engaging with the Stock & Bond experience.

But we didn’t stop there. Engaging with the local scene, such as liking, commenting, and connecting with nearby businesses and creators, helped Stock & Bond feel approachable and genuinely part of the Minneapolis community.

Going Beyond The Dinner Table

At Beloved Social, we’re not just about filling a restaurant for one night. We help build brands that stick. By combining intentional content, influencer partnerships, community engagement, and a little bit of fun, Stock & Bond was established as not only a new restaurant, but a Minneapolis destination.

At the end of the day, we’re proud not just to book a table, but to fuel a brand for lasting success.

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Photo credit: Natalie Tyler

The Theory Behind Threads

Are you on Threads? Are you feeling Overwhelmed by the choices of social media apps available to use and want to know what’s best for your business? Let's cut the bs and talk all about it!

Unraveling Threads…

Threads is an app created by Meta. Some say it's similar to X, the app formerly known as Twitter, but we think it's BETTER. Not only because it isn’t owned by Elon (bonus!), but we love it for its integrations within Instagram. And with over 3 billion Instagram users globally - that’s a big deal! By being connected to one of the strongest, most influential social media platforms in America, it offers Threads users a new avenue to be brought into the feed on Instagram, helping to 👏🏼 STOP 👏🏼 THAT 👏🏼 SCROLL. 👏🏼

What can you post?

That's right, Threads is designed to integrate seamlessly with Instagram, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to engage with their audience. The app gives you the ability to post and share text, images, and videos, as well as interact with other users' posts through replies, reposts, and likes.

With Threads, you can:

• Create a closer community by sharing exclusive content with your top followers.

• Stay on brand with customizable themes and colors that match your business identity.

• Send direct messages quickly to respond to customer inquiries or to share special offers.

But what really sets Threads apart is its focus on privacy and intimate sharing. You can choose exactly who sees your content, which is perfect for creating special offers for your most loyal customers. Plus, the Auto Status feature updates your status based on your location, movement, and phone battery level – keeping your closest connections informed without lifting a finger.

Here are a few tips on how to use Threads for your business:

1. Launch new products with sneak peeks or behind-the-scenes looks exclusively on Threads.

2. Offer discounts to your Threads circle to encourage loyalty and repeat business.

3. Gather feedback with polls and questions in a more personal space than your public Instagram feed.

4. Cross Post. Simple. Effective. Do more with less, easily.

Remember, while Threads is an excellent tool for building deeper relationships with your customers, it's also important to maintain a balance. Don't forget to keep your main Instagram account active with broader content that appeals to all your followers.

Now, stop scrolling and get back to business.

A Year of Building, Becoming, and Big Wins at Beloved Social

Some years feel busy.
Others feel defining.

This one felt like both.

As we look back on the last year at Beloved Social, it is clear that growth did not just happen on paper. It happened in our structure, in our people, in the trust we cultivate, and in the kind of work we are proud to put our name on.

These wins are not about checking boxes. They are about building something that lasts.

Here is what that looked like…

Growing Up as a Business

We officially transitioned from an LLC to an S-Corp, a behind-the-scenes shift that marked a new level of intention, accountability, and long-term vision for the agency. Not flashy, but foundational.

We also evolved our brand kit at the beginning of the year, introducing new colors and refining our visual language to better reflect who we are now and where we are headed. Brands evolve when the business does. Ours needed to catch up to the room we had already grown into.

Investing in People We Believe In

This year, we hired Emilie on full time as our Senior Social Media Manager. Building a team that feels aligned, trusted, and genuinely excited about the work is one of the most meaningful milestones an agency can hit.

We also brought Tayah onto the team in September and she is so fabulous that we have plans to transition her into a full-time role in 2026 as a Social Media Manager.

Growth without people is just noise. Growth with the right people is momentum.

Clients That Choose to Stay

We gained nine new clients this year. Eight of them chose to stay on beyond their initial contract period. That matters. That type of retention is what partnership dreams are made of.

It tells us the work is landing.
It tells us the relationships are strong.
It tells us we are building partnerships, not projects. Exactly what we want to invest our time in.

And we generated countless referrals to boot! If our clients are talking about us when we are not in the room, we take that as the biggest compliment. Thank you to every client reading this who has referred us to others - words can’t express our gratitude.

And we also gave that referral love right back - referring our clients back to opportunities that feed their business in other ways! Making vendor connections - getting them sourced in stores - partnering up with our favorite photographers, web developers, designers and more!

Expanding the Beloved Ecosystem

We launched Dearly Beloved Social, officially stepping into the wedding and event space with the same intentional, story-driven approach that defines our agency work. This launch felt especially aligned, blending love, celebration, and strategy in a way that feels deeply on brand.

At the same time, Sincerely Shelby Stahl grew with four ongoing content partners, allowing that arm of the business to deepen its creative and collaborative impact while also remaining values aligned and not salesy (in our opinion.)

And somewhere in the middle of all of this, the CEO got married. A reminder that businesses are built by humans, and life milestones deserve a seat at the table too.

Amanda Hancer and Shelby Stahl

August 2, 2025

Photographed by Vanessa Lee

Results That Speak for Themselves

We helped grow a brand-new account to 6,000 followers in just four months. More importantly, they are now booked out for weeks with reservations. Visibility is great. Conversion is better.

We hit 10,000 followers for the Minneapolis Christkindl Market, a milestone that reflects not just growth, but sustained community interest and engagement. We are a staple in people’s holiday traditions and that means more than a “like” ever could.

We also went international with our projects, expanding our reach beyond borders and proving that thoughtful social strategy travels well.

Shelby Stahl on her first work trip to

Sandals Grenada

Client: Creative Travel Brands

What This Season Taught Us…

Growth does not always look loud. Sometimes it looks like better systems, stronger teams, clients who stay, and work that feels aligned instead of rushed.

This year was about becoming more rooted in who we are as an agency while giving ourselves permission to expand.

Into new offerings. New markets. New chapters.

If you have been part of this season with us, as a client, collaborator, partner, or supporter, thank you. We are just getting started, and the next chapter already feels even more intentional.

-Shelby Stahl

CEO of Beloved Social

How Events Drive Social Media Engagement

Events Aren’t Just Fun Weekend Plans — They’re Social Media Gold!

Last Saturday, Beloved Social had the honor of hosting a one-of-a-kind event on behalf of our client at Anda Spa and Hotel Ivy. This dance wellness experience, led by the inspiring Leslie Fhima, brought together movement, luxury, and community in a way that showcased what we’re all about. Open to the public and featuring a curated guest list of local social media influencers, the event was a perfect blend of accessibility and exclusivity. 🕺

From the elegance of the facilities to the energy of the event, every detail created opportunities for meaningful engagement. Content creators captured the luxury setting and authentic moments, while members of the local community connected with the brand in real life.

The Secret Magic of Events

Here’s the thing: events like this don’t just end when the last guest leaves. They spark authentic conversations, amplify brand visibility, and create a ripple effect of content that resonates far beyond the event itself. Stories, reels, and posts keep the momentum alive, connecting your brand to audiences you might not otherwise reach.

But here’s the best part: by inviting the public alongside social media personalities, the event feels REAL. Authenticity matters, and people see right through private, exclusive media days that don’t resonate with their lives. Combining influencers with a public-facing event ensures a win-win situation: genuine content creation and real-world brand engagement.

Why It Works (and How We Do It)

At Beloved Social, we’ve fine-tuned the art of hosting events that are not just fun but strategically designed to drive results. We know how to:

• Curate the perfect mix of guests. Influencers, community members, and brand fans all play unique roles in telling your story.

• Design experiences that inspire content creation. From Instagram-worthy decor to moments that beg to be shared, we think of it all.

• Keep it authentic. By inviting the public, we ensure events feel inclusive and relatable, building deeper trust with your audience.

Introducing Our Event Hosting Services

We’ve been quietly helping our clients host content-driven events for over six years, and now we’re ready to make it official. If you or a local business you know wants to elevate brand visibility with media events designed for authentic engagement and content creation, we’re here to help.

This is just the beginning of what we’re launching in 2024, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this service to new and existing clients. Let’s create events that aren’t just moments—they’re movements. Reach out to learn more!

Mastering Social Media Customer Service: A Guide for Brands

your social channels are customer service powerhouses. Because let's face it, in today's world, your DMs are the new hotline. cue hotline bling

Why Social Media Customer Service Matters:

First things first: 67% of consumers have used social media for customer service issues. That's right, more than two-thirds of your customers expect you to be there, ready to solve their problems in a customized way, fit for their every need. Today, consumers simply expect more!

But here's the kicker - you run a whole-ass business! You got a million things to do and handling customer service inquires on social media can feel like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle. On fire. In a hurricane. That's where a well-equipped social media manager comes in.

So, you've hired a social media wizard. Great! Now, let's turn them into a customer service superhero with the ultimate FAQ kit. The FAQ Superhero Kit if you will.

Here's how:

Develop Your FAQ Arsenal

Create a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about your products or services. You know what you get asked. Don’t expect someone outside of your organization to learn all your quirks. Just show them the skeletons in the closet to begin with and save everybody the headache! Think of it as your social media manager's utility belt - packed with all the tools they need to save the day. And make it possible for you to turn your phone on “Do Not Disturb.”

Craft Your Canned Responses

Now, don't just copy-paste your website FAQs. Tailor these responses to fit your brand's voice in a conversational way on social. Are you sassy? Professional? Quirky? Whatever your flavor, make sure your canned responses taste just right.

Train for Tone and Voice Consistency

Your social media manager needs to embody your brand. Train them to maintain your brand's tone and voice, whether they're handling a product query or an unhappy customer.

Prepare for the Unexpected

No FAQ list can cover everything. Prepare your social media manager to handle curveballs by providing guidelines on when to escalate issues and how to personalize responses.

Handling the Heat: Dealing with Unhappy Customers

Let's face it, not every customer is going to be singing your praises. Here's how to equip your social media manager to handle the tough stuff:

The HEAT Method

• Hear them out: Let the customer vent without interruption.

• Empathize: Show that you understand their frustration.

• Apologize: Even if it's not your fault, apologize for their experience.

• Take action: Provide a solution or escalate to someone who can.

Take it Offline

For complex issues, train your social media manager to move the conversation to a private channel. A simple "We're so sorry to hear about this. Could you DM us with more details so we can help?" works wonders to get the heat off of a post.

Follow Up

Always follow up after resolving an issue. A simple "How did we do?" can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

Remember, social media customer service isn't just about solving problems - it's about building relationships. With the right tools and training, your social media manager can turn your channels into customer service superstars.

At Beloved Social, we're all about taking the stress out of social media management. Need help turning your social channels into customer service champions? We've got your back. Let's chat about how we can make your social media work harder for your business, and you, well, less hard managing this stuff.

Now, stop scrolling and get back to business.

If Engagement is QUEEN, consistency and quality are the evil stepsisters

We know you've heard the buzz about engagement being the queen of the social media castle. But let's talk about her two most important advisors: consistency and quality.

These two might seem like the evil stepsisters of the social media world (time-consuming, unclear, and hard to please), but trust us, they're the key to making your social media presence shine.

Now, we know what you're thinking. "One person's trash is another person's treasure, right?" Well, the same goes for social media. What works for one brand or influencer might be a total flop for another. That's because social media is a world of gray areas (more on that later).

Recent studies show that brands that consistently post high-quality content experience a 70% higher engagement rate over time than those that don't.

First things first: let's talk about consistency.

According to a study by HubSpot, brands that post on social media at least once per day see a 43% increase in engagement compared to those that post less frequently. But here's the catch—you need to find a posting schedule that works for you and your audience. Whether it's once a day or a few times a week, the key is to stick to a consistent rhythm that keeps your followers coming back for more.

Now, let's dive into quality.

A whopping 90% of consumers say that authenticity is important when deciding which brands to support. That means your content needs to be on-brand, visually appealing, and genuinely engaging. No more white background product shots or poorly lit Reels! Invest in high-quality visuals that showcase your unique personality and value proposition. Key word: invest. Making good quality content takes time, high quality tools, and an eye for lighting/color.

With all that said, we know creating top-notch content on a regular basis can feel like a daunting task. In fact, 60% of marketers cite creating engaging content as their biggest challenge. And the imposter syndrome around creation can be paralyzing too! We've all heard the well-meaning but misguided advice from friends and family when starting out on social media: "It's probably so easy to just post a photo or video and write a caption."

If only it were that simple! If you are feeling the imposter syndrome creep in, you are not alone - we know it’s not that simple and slapping up content without a strategy is a surefire way to get crickets instead of engagement.

Before you can even think about engagement, you need to focus on creating amazing content. And that means being consistent (posting as often as your mental health and growth goals allow) and delivering high-quality posts (clear, well-thought-out, properly sized, on-brand, and featuring your gorgeous face, product or offering). When you nail these elements, you're in business.

Let's talk about a couple of examples.

Imagine visiting a small business's page only to find dark, grainy product shots. Not a great look, right? Or how about an influencer's feed that's nothing but sponsored posts? It's hard to trust someone who seems to love everything equally.

But what about those gray areas of social media? You know, the ones where you're not quite sure what to post or how to strike the right balance? Well, consider this: 71% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that aligns with their values. So don't be afraid to take a stand on issues that matter to you and your audience. Know what you are about and who you are for, like attracts like.

Authentic storytelling is the name of the game.

1. Write down your vision for your ideal social media presence. It's okay to take inspiration from your favorite creators or brands. If you're not sure where to start to achieving that look and feel, that's where we come in!

2. Determine a realistic and consistent posting schedule. Write it down, set reminders, or do whatever it takes to stay on track. Or, you know, just hire us. We will recommend a level of content quantity that is right for engagement. 😉

3. No camera? Or have one that's gathering dust because you never figured out how to use it? Let us help, or simply stick to using your phone's front camera. But please make sure you have a newish phone, remember, it’s a write off! Good quality content is an investment.

4. Above all, don't let your mental health suffer. Obsessing over whether your content is getting enough engagement or not is part of the "living in the gray" mentality. Because social media is gray! Even a great post can flop at times - don’t get disheartened when you don’t “go viral.”

Remember, consistency and quality are crucial, but like everything in social media, they take time and effort. Take it one day at a time, do what you can, and when in doubt, you know where to find us!

When Doing It All Becomes Too Much: The Benefits of Hiring a Social Media Agency

Picture this: you're a small business owner, juggling a million tasks, and trying to maintain a strong online presence. You know social media is crucial for your brand's success, but finding the time and energy to create engaging content, post consistently, and interact with your audience feels like an uphill battle.

That's where a social media agency comes in – your ultimate cheerleader, ready to save the day (and your sanity)! At Beloved Social, we understand the struggles of managing social media on top of running a business. It's like trying to cook a gourmet meal while simultaneously doing your taxes and learning how to juggle. WHAT…!?!?!?!?

Fear not, we've got your back! Our team of social media experts is here to take the stress out of managing your online presence and help you shine like the diamond you are.

Let's break down the benefits of hiring us:

Consistency

Consistency is key in the world of social media. It's like showing up to a party – if you only make an appearance once every few months, people will forget you exist. But if you're there every weekend, mingling and making connections, you'll become the life of the party!

It is a good thing we are also side-hustle experts at throwing the best parties. We'll make sure your social media accounts are consistently active, engaging, and on-brand. No more sporadic posts or crickets chirping in the comments section.

Quality

Let's face it – not everyone is a natural-born copywriter, video editor or graphic designer. And that's okay! Just like you wouldn't trust a plumber to do your taxes, you don't have to be a social media expert to run a successful business - as long as you know the right people to call.

Saving Time

Time is money, and as a small business owner, you probably don't have a lot of either to spare.

When you hire us, you're not just getting a social media manager – you're getting back countless hours that you can now dedicate to growing your business, developing new products, or even (gasp) taking a well-deserved break!

We'll handle the content creation, posting, and engagement, so you can focus on what you do best – being the boss!

Broad Social Media Knowledge

Social media is like a constantly evolving puzzle – just when you think you've figured it out, a new platform emerges, or the trend changes, and you're back to square one.

We know the difference between a hashtag and a hunk of junk in the caption, and we can navigate the social media landscape with our eyes closed (but we won't, because that would be irresponsible).

Cost-Effectiveness

Hiring an in-house social media manager can be expensive, especially for small businesses. Not to mention all the software fees (that are constantly going up), equipment fees and studio fees. This is not an inexpensive endeavor when done consistently, at a high-quality level. When you consider the potential return on investment of hiring an agency that knows what they are doing (us) you can expect to see increased brand awareness, website traffic, and customer engagement – it's like getting a buy-one-get-one-free deal on your social media success!

Strategy Development and Execution

Social media isn't just about posting pretty pictures and witty captions (although that's certainly part of it). It's about developing a comprehensive strategy that aligns with your business goals and target audience.

We're not just here to post content – we're here to help you build a community of fans!

Collaboration

We believe that the best social media campaigns are born from collaboration. When our clients come to us with ideas, it's like adding a secret ingredient to a recipe – it takes the dish from good to great!

So bring on the brainstorming sessions, the crazy ideas, and the "what if we tried this?" moments. We're ready to collaborate and make magic happen!

Goal Achievement

At the end of the day, social media is a means to an end. Whether your goal is to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, generate leads, or build a loyal community, we're here to help you achieve it.

We don't just post content and hope for the best – we track, analyze, and optimize your social media performance to ensure that you're getting the most bang for your buck.

With Beloved Social, you're not just getting a social media manager – you're getting a partner in your success.

How to Deal with Bots without the BS

View your social media pages like your HOME. YOUR HOUSE, YOUR RULES. Don't like a follower or comment? YOU have the power to delete, hide, and block. Or - Use it to your advantage in the engagement game.

When it comes to comments that aren't malicious or inappropriate, let's take a minute to look at it as engagement 🧐 (wait, what?!).

Hear me out. When a random brand comments on a post, "DM us to collaborate," or a random page says, "Promote this on ______," you can respond with an emoji or a "thank you for the idea." By doing so, you just got two more comments on your post, and if you recall our last blog post, engagement is a big factor in your social media strategy. You used it to your advantage that they chose your page to comment on. Just don’t actually DM them to collaborate unless you KNOW that brand. Most of the time, it’s a scam.

When it comes to troll and bot followers, I have a personal strategy: I don't care about dropping my follower count if it consists of accounts that will never engage on my page.

This is a personal decision; some people love a high follower count, which is fine if that's your goal. My personal goal and the goal for my clients is to have a genuine community made up of real people and businesses who want to share, network, and engage with one another.

So, once every few months, I'll spend a little time and removing followers. You might be wondering how to spot an inactive, bot, or troll account. I actually tap into their page—yes, again, like engagement, it's time-consuming. But quality is built with time.

Here are my criteria for removing followers:

• If they are an Amazon seller or are pushing Crypto, I remove them.

• If they have content that is not aligned with my personal values (or are creepy), I remove them.

• If they have 0 posts, I remove them.

If a troll comments on my post with something malicious or inappropriate, I see if they follow me, and if not, I just block them. I do this because it's my house.

Remember, your social media pages are an extension of your brand and your personal space. You have the right and the power to curate your audience and protect your online environment. By strategically managing your followers and comments, you can foster a genuine, engaged community that aligns with your goals and values.

Benefits of a Clean, Engaged Community:

Maintaining a clean and engaged community on your social media pages isn't just about aesthetics or vanity metrics. It has tangible benefits for your brand, your content, and your overall social media presence. Here are some of the key advantages:

Increased trust and credibility

When your followers see that you have a genuine, active community that interacts positively with your content, they're more likely to trust your brand and perceive you as a credible authority in your niche. This trust can lead to higher conversion rates, loyal customers, and valuable word-of-mouth recommendations.

Higher engagement rates

A clean, engaged community is more likely to interact with your posts, leave meaningful comments, and share your content with their own networks. This algorithmic engagement signals to social media platforms that your content is valuable and relevant, which can lead to increased reach and visibility for your posts.

More meaningful interactions

When you cultivate a community of genuinely interested and invested followers, you open the door to more meaningful interactions and relationships. These followers are more likely to provide valuable feedback, share their experiences, and engage in constructive conversations that can help you improve your products, services, and content.

Better insights and feedback

An engaged community is a goldmine for insights and feedback. By listening to your followers and analyzing their interactions with your content, you can gain a deeper understanding of their needs, preferences, and pain points. This information can help you refine your social media strategy, develop targeted content, and make data-driven decisions for your brand.

Our Favorite Tools for Seamless Social Media Management and Content Creation

At Beloved Social, we're all about sharing the love. That's why we're excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the tools that keep us (mostly) sane and help us deliver top-notch social media services to our awesome clients.

We're all about creating seamless content that captivates, engages, and converts. But what exactly does "seamless content" mean? In a nutshell, it's content that flows effortlessly across all platforms, maintaining a consistent brand voice, visual identity, and quality standard. Seamless content is carefully crafted to resonate with your target audience, building trust and fostering genuine connections.

Achieving this level of consistency and quality requires more than just creativity and skill—it also demands the right tools and processes. That's why we're excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the tools that keep us (mostly) sane and help us deliver top-notch social media services to our awesome clients.

From project management to content creation, to inspiration, these are the tools Beloved Social can't live without.

Toggl Track

Time is money, and Toggl Track helps us make the most of every minute. This intuitive time tracking tool allows us to monitor how much time we spend on each task, project, and client.

With detailed reports and insights, we can optimize our workflows and ensure that we're always delivering maximum value.

Tip: Use Toggl Track's browser extension to quickly start and stop timers without navigating away from your work.

ClickUp

Staying organized is key to success in the fast-paced world of social media. That's where ClickUp comes in. This versatile project management tool helps us keep track of tasks, deadlines, and collaborations all in one place. With features like custom statuses, assignees, and priorities, we can streamline our processes and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Trick: Create custom templates for recurring tasks to save time and maintain consistency.

Sprout Social

As a social media agency, we need a powerful platform to manage multiple clients and accounts. Sprout Social is our go-to choice for social media management. With its intuitive interface, robust analytics, and cutting edge optimization features, we can easily plan, execute, and measure our social media strategies across various platforms.

Tip: Use Sprout Social’s post optimization tool to learn what times are best to post for each individual account.

Little Clip-On Phone Light

Good lighting is essential for creating high-quality content, but we don't always have access to a professional studio setup. That's why we love our trusty little clip-on phone lights. These portable, adjustable lights attach directly to our phones, allowing us to capture well-lit photos and videos on the go.

Trick: Use a diffuser or bounce the light off a white surface to create softer, more flattering lighting.

DJI Pocket 3

Shaky footage is a big no-no in the world of social media. To ensure that our videos are always stable and professional-looking, we rely on our tall standing tripods. These sturdy supports hold our phones or cameras securely in place, giving us the freedom to get creative with our shots without worrying about wobbles.

Tip: Invest in a tripod with a fluid head for smooth panning and tilting movements.

Canva

Not everyone on our team is a graphic design pro, but with Canva, we don't need to be. This user-friendly design platform makes it easy to create stunning graphics, logos, and social media assets. With a vast library of templates, elements, and fonts, we can whip up eye-catching visuals in no time.

Tip: Create a brand kit in Canva to store your logos, colors, and fonts for quick and consistent access.

InShot Video

is king on social media, and InShot helps us create scroll-stopping content that keeps our clients' audiences engaged. This intuitive video editing app offers a range of powerful features, from basic trimming and splitting to advanced effects and filters. With InShot, we can turn raw footage into polished, professional-grade videos in just a few taps.

Trick: Use InShot's keyframe animation tool to add dynamic motion to your text and elements.

At Beloved Social, we're passionate about helping our clients succeed on social media. By leveraging these essential tools, we can work more efficiently, create higher-quality content, and deliver results that exceed expectations. Want to see what we can do for your brand? Let's chat!

Sharing Love on Instagram

Engagement (aka sharing love) is an integral part of your business Strategy

Whether you are an individual just getting started with your business’s social media page, an influencer growing a personal brand or an established business that has a team managing your social media presence, engagement (aka sharing love) is an integral part of the strategy for growth, for not only community development but community trust and respect. It is not just about the engagement you GET but the engagement you GIVE. Social media is supposed to be SOCIAL and love is a two-way street.

Picture this: You drop a new post, you spent a lot of time planning the photo or video shoot and then spent time writing the caption. You post it (wahoo!) and get 10 / 20 / 100 comments and respond to just one or two. What do you think that says to those who spent the time liking, commenting, and sharing your work!? I know if I spent time commenting daily on my favorite bloggers page and they never responded to me I’d be a little off put.

Like a Valentine’s Day card - the homemade ones are always the best.

Now, keeping in mind what your goal is for social media - we still know (and it has been a proven strategy on clients time and again) that responding to E V E R Y comment, no matter how small, is so important keep your social media community building momentum, just as important as consistency and quality (we’ll talk about these in upcoming blogs).

Yes, responding to comments is time consuming, but it shows that you care and appreciate the time someone has taken to “show you love”! At Beloved Social we include community management as a part of our packages but there is no replacement for the small business owner hopping in to respond to comments as well and offer that personal touch! Like a Valentine’s Day card - the homemade ones are always the best.

A tip we have to make responding to comments a cinch is using “talk to text” to get through them quickly!

Love is a two-way street and so is engagement on Instagram.

Consistent Branding and Content

Regardless of the social media platform engagement is QUEEN. That also means if you see something YOU like, be sure to like, share, comment as it’s much more likely you’ll receive a follow and/or reciprocal engagement on your page.

Many people ask:

“What is most important - a comment, a like or a share?”

“How many words should I comment?”

etc…

We believe that all hold value and its important to keep your mental health, time constraints and goals in mind. Do what you can, when you can but be sure to protect time on your calendar for it and do it authentically. We would love to see at least 15 minutes a day dedicated to engagement from our clients! If you can’t manage that, talk to Beloved Social - we can help fill those holes in the “engagement heart.”

Now it is your turn!

So what are you waiting for, drop a comment or a question for us on our Instagram page and then hop on your own social channels and start engaging with your community!

If you really wanna share the love, share this blog to your Facebook Page, Instagram Stories or on LinkedIn and tag us!

And stay tuned for our next blog post discussing troll/bot comments and/or follows.