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Can Your Brand Survive Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover?

By now we’ve all heard about Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, and there’s been no shortage of speculation about how this will change the way people use the platform. While some are leaving Twitter, afraid of what may follow, others are looking forward to watching how Musk switches things up. Of course, with this promise of free speech comes a flurry of new concerns for brands and creators – especially with the recent announcement of Musk potentially charging a fee for commercial and government use of the site.

If you use Twitter to communicate with customers and fans, your approach to the platform may need to be updated as Musk takes over and grows the platform to suit his vision. Here are three things you may want to consider as a brand in the new age of Twitter:

  1. Set clear community guidelines. While Musk says the platform will allow all speech protected under the first amendment, you still have some control over what happens in your community. Lay out community guidelines that detail what types of interactions are and are not welcome, and make this guide accessible for your audience. You’ll need a clear and actionable plan for upholding these rules, and how you’ll proceed should they be violated.
  2. Step up your community management. Community management is probably already a key part of your social media strategy, but it will become even more important as guidelines for the use of social platforms like Twitter evolve. Community managers may need more time to manage questions and comments, especially if political and social issues are a key part of your brand identity. This is a good time to reevaluate your standard responses to be sure that they are clear and in alignment with your brand values. It’s also a good time to emphasize your brand’s commitment to open communication – it won’t be easy to shy away from difficult questions.
  3. Reevaluate your presence on the platform. A presence across multiple social networks is a great way to solidify your brand voice and reach new audiences, but it isn’t necessary to exist on every platform. If you feel your target audience has moved away from twitter, you’re being overrun by trolls, or it’s taking up too much time, it may be time to step away. You can then dedicate those hours and resources to growing your presence on other platforms that are better aligned with your brand and your message.

The digital landscape changes daily, and being able to evaluate and adapt quickly is the key to lasting success. If you ‘re looking to create a strategy that can grow alongside you, send an email to info@ruckusdigital.ca to learn how we can help!

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Young Asia lady fashion designer using mobile phone receiving purchase order and showing clothes recording video live streaming online at shop.

10 Minute Videos Are Coming To TikTok – Is Your Brand Ready?

Long-form videos might be the future of digital marketing. In an exciting new development, TikTok has extended their maximum video length from 3 minutes to 10 minutes. Videos are becoming a top tool for marketers, and TikTok is catching up with platforms like Instagram and YouTube for long-form video creators. Consumers are watching more videos on social media than ever before, and with algorithms tuning to display longer videos, creating long-form content is a good strategy to get more eyes on you. Read on and find out how brands are using long-form content, how it can benefit your brand, and 5 ideas for exciting and engaging long-form videos.

How are brands using long-form content?

Storytelling

Long-form videos are perfect for telling your brand’s unique story and building stronger relationships with consumers. Maximize the format with an engaging and memorable narrative and show consumers who you are, without time limits.

Raising awareness and engagement

Brands are using long-form videos to raise awareness and increase engagement, particularly around causes. If your brand already has an advocacy element, long-form videos are perfect for sharing this important work with consumers by fostering engagement with an emotional element. Want to learn more about integrating brand advocacy into your strategy? Check out this blog post!

Repurposing content

Creating high-quality, engaging videos takes time and resources, but once they’re done you have significantly more content to share that’s already in-line with your current strategy. Simplify your content creation process by breaking long-form videos down into shorter clips for repurposing across social channels.

How will long-form content benefit your brand?

Building brand affinity

Because of the personal, storytelling nature of long-form videos, there is an opportunity to increase brand affinity and build stronger relationships with your target audience.

Engaging SEO

Google shows video results before anything else; long-form video content will not only increase traffic to your website but keep consumers on the page for longer, leading to more inclusion in targeted searches.

Turning views into business

Video content has some of the highest view rates, and the most effective conversion rates for brands. Invest in long-form content to maximize ROI for your social content.

What kind of long-form content can your brand create?

Right now, the main forms of long-term video content are mini-docs and original series. These concepts can be customized to suit your brand, but there are other ways to utilize long-form video as well:

Demos and tutorials

Long-form videos are ideal for demos, tutorials, explainers for new and existing products, and to promote upcoming releases.

Q&As and interviews

Use long-form videos for Q&As and interviews, particularly with company founders, for a more personal look into your brand.

Behind-the-scenes

Consumers love behind-the-scenes content, and long-form video is perfect for sharing what your brand is up to, whether on-site or at the office.

Highlight and promote events

Create long-form videos to highlight past events and promote upcoming events.

Consumer participation

Get consumers involved in your long-form content strategy with customer reviews and testimonial videos.

Long-form video is one of the biggest digital marketing trends for 2022, so don’t wait to integrate it into your strategy! Use long-form videos to build stronger and more personal relationships with consumers with engaging storytelling, improve your SEO, and maximize ROI on social content through repurposing.

Still not sure how to create long-form content that benefits your brand? Email info@ruckusdigital.ca to find out how we can help!

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nowhiring

Account Director, Digital

At ruckus Digital we are small, but mighty with amazing talent and clients! Ruckus Digital is one
of Canada’s fastest growing digital agencies with clients such as Levis, Husqvarna, Door Dash,
Roku and Walmart to name a few – due in large part to our team’s track record for creating
exciting, disruptive, and results focused market-leading work. We specialize in Social Media,
Digital, Media Buying, Video development, Content Creation and issues and social reputation
management.
Our “agency within an agency” structure with our parent firm APEX PR allows every member of
our team the complete flexibility to work collaboratively and cross-train between each of our
core disciplines. Ruckus has been named IABC/Toronto Boutique Agency of the year and
CPRS Best in Show Award winner. APEX/ruckus was named one of the Globe & Mail’s 300
fastest growing independent companies in 2019.
These achievements are a strong reinforcement of the work we do for our clients, but it is our
unwavering commitment to our team – the people who create our award-winning content and ae
on the front lines with clients – that has positioned ruckus as one of the most interesting places
to work.
Are you the kind of entrepreneurial, creative, dynamic and just generally awesome person we’re
looking for? If so, it’s time to MAKE A RUCKUS!


Position Responsibilities
• Very strong client communications and account management
• New business experience is a must
• Proficient in social media and digital space
• Experience with social and digital advertising (strategy development is a must; executional
experience is an asset)
• Developing and implementing strategic social media & digital plans to grow client online
presence and impact that map back to program KPIs and business goals
• Leading strategies around customer service-related issues to enhance Brand community
experience
• Building social advertising strategies to support client campaigns; able to place and track ads
across social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Google AdWords for video)
• Understanding of how to improve Brand search ranking, and extending the reach of client
content in a meaningful way
• Participating in forecasting and managing budgets for a specific set of client accounts;
focused on organic growth of existing client base
• Proficiency in insight gathering and analytics; ability to implement an effective reporting
strategy on the metrics that matter to measure content performance and make timely
suggestions on how to optimize
• Strong social writing; ability to write effective and thumb-stopping social content
• Leading the strategic direction of visual brand content based on client objectives (including
video and short format content) • Ongoing tracking and implementation of industry & brand
best practices
• Coaching, developing and mentoring junior team members
• Ability to foster strong relationships with Integrated Agency Team partners


What do you need to succeed?
• 8+ years professional experience required in leading digital and creative projects and
processes
• Genuine curiosity about how technology and innovation affects how we communicate and
evolves social behaviors
• Bachelor’s & post-graduate degree in Communications, Advertising, Media Studies or a related
field
• Passionately committed to collaboration
• Excellent cross-functional leadership, presentation and communication skills; dynamic team
player
• Shows strong initiative as an entrepreneurial thinker taking independent actions and calculated
risks
• Superior time management and organizational abilities
• Strong proficiency in social platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest,
Snapchat, etc) and effective measurement frameworks for social programs
• Experience in running social advertising campaigns
• Experience leading complex and highly strategic digital engagements
• Strong interpersonal abilities to effectively manage all internal and external relationships,
vendors and agency partners
• Ability to be flexible in a changing work environment and work well under pressure
• Skilled at analyzing data, deriving insights and building creative output to meet client objectives
• Refined understanding of community management
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects and competing
deadlines, exercising attention to detail and strong project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage differing viewpoints so the final product
remains true to the objective
• Experience in retail and/or financial services helpful, not mandatory
We want to meet great people who are interested in working in an organization where
culture matters, and curiosity is valued. Send your resume to: info@ruckusdigital.ca


ACCOMMODATIONS:
ruckus welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the
selection process. If you require accommodation to participate in this recruitment, please
contact info@ruckusdigital.ca

Continue Reading “Account Director, Digital”

Digital Coordinator, Community Management & Copywriting

APEX Public Relations/ruckus Digital is seeking a Digital Coordinator, Community Management & Copywriting to join a vibrant and independent communications agency. As the Digital Coordinator, Community Management & Copywriting you will be responsible for helping us tell develop content for our amazing clients through engaging copy and monitoring/managing brand social channels. The role will include calendar management/development (writing social post captions and selecting relevant post visuals), content scheduling and publishing, content monitoring/engagement (responding to inquiries and engaging within comments), and strategic social listening.

What you’ll do:

• Bring Social Media Playbook and content calendars to life in collaboration with the ruckus Digital Team

• Plan out relevant content and topics based on client campaigns/activities and timely events

• Adopt brand language and tone of voice, and represent brands across all public-facing channels (including but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)

• Write compelling and on-strategy copy for always-on social channels

• Manage communities across multiple accounts concurrently

• Schedule, monitor and respond to social media posts and the community, escalating issues to the appropriate stakeholders as needed

• Assist with report development to help guide how to adjust content to optimize for strong results

• Keep informed on social platform updates and changes and their applications

• Identify and respond to ad hoc content and engagement opportunities

• Schedule and publish social media posts

• Create campaign pulse reports/hindsight decks

• Challenge the status quo by consistently identifying areas for improvement, diagnosing issues and working to resolve them • Celebrate diversity of thought and have an open mindset

• Take an active role in fostering a culture of continual learning, taking risks without the fear of making mistakes


What we are looking for:

• 1- 2 years writing and community management experience; strong writing portfolio preferred • Journalism, Communications, or related field
• Knowledge of digital marketing tactics, including SEO, web analytics and social media with community building experience

• Experience drafting social posts, working with editorial and content calendars

• Agility and adaptability to pivot priorities—no two working days are the same

• Proficiency of social media listening and publishing tools such as Hootsuite, Later, and Sprout Social

• Demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm to learn and solve problems

• Demonstrated knowledge of cultural trends and brands on social

• Ability to understand and uphold rules and regs for community management

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

• Strong attention to detail and accountability

• Desire to keep informed on changing technologies and their applications

• Innate desire to share knowledge to help others grow (peers, community)

• Bilingualism in English and French considered an asset

Compensation:

APEX PR/ruckus Digital is committed to offering competitive pay for the role and experience that the candidate brings. This is an opportunity to work with the best PR teams in the business. We offer learning, development and mentorship so that our team can grow, and we can promote from within where possible. We offer comprehensive health and dental benefits. COVID has been a difficult time for all small businesses. We have prioritized taking care of our team through transparency, virtual team days, continued learning and a company-wide bonus structure.

Location:

The health and wellbeing of our employees is a priority. We currently work remotely with a plan to return to office when healthcare authorities feel that it is safe to do so.


To apply, please e-mail your résumé to hr@apexpr.com. We thank all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. APEX Public Relations is dedicated to employment equity and welcomes diversity in the workplace. We recognize that the best candidate may not meet all of the criteria listed above. We encourage all those interested and with relevant experience to apply even if they don’t match the job posting perfectly. We welcome diverse, out-of-the-box thinking, and we strive to provide an environment for learning, growth and innovation.

If you require any accommodation during the recruitment process, please reach out to hr@apexpr.com.

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instagram engagement

3 Reasons You May Be Noticing Low Instagram Engagement – And What You Can Do About It

Are you noticing a frustrating drop in your Instagram engagement recently? You’re not the only one. As Instagram moves more and more towards a pay-to-play model, generating organic reach is becoming increasingly difficult. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to low engagement on the app, but here are a few things that may be holding you back – and what you can do to combat them.

3 reasons you might be noticing lower reach and engagement:

  1. Changes to the feed:

You may have noticed that recently Instagram has changed the way they display posts in your feed; now, dispersed among the posts from accounts you’re following are “suggested posts”. These suggestions are based on the type of content you interact with, much like the explore page. Before this update Instagram claimed that users typically saw only 30% of what the accounts they followed were posting. Now with extra posts on the feed, it’s likely that number has decreased even further.

  • Sensitive content:

Recently, Instagram put a new default setting in place intended to protect users from “sensitive content” by blocking it from your feed. Sensitive content is anything that can be deemed inappropriate or offensive. However, since this distinction is made by an algorithm there are times where the app may flag content that is not truly sensitive.

  • Bot behaviour:

In the last year Instagram has started cracking down on bots and spam accounts. Much like with sensitive content, the algorithm flags behaviour that it deems to be spam. If you are using software to engage with accounts, or are doing things like using the same comments or hashtags over and over, your account may be flagged and your posts may be deprioritized in the feed.

So… how can you get your engagement back?

There is no surefire way to pinpoint which of these things could be responsible for your falling engagement, but there are actions you can take to help!

  • Show fewer “discover” posts

On the top right of the new “discover” posts are three dots; click these and select “not interested”. While you can’t permanently turn off this feature, you can opt out of them for 30 days. It may be worth sharing this tip with your audience as well – the fewer discover posts they see in their feed, the more likely they are to see your content instead.

  • Change “sensitive content” settings

Much like the discover posts, censoring sensitive content is Instagram’s default setting. However, it is possible to turn the feature off. Go to your account, select the three bars in the top right corner, and click “account”. From here you can select “sensitive content control” and change your settings to “allow”. Again, this will only affect how you view content in your feed, but by sharing this tip to your account, you may prompt your audience to follow suit and in turn get your content back in front of your followers.

  • Be human.

There is no shortcut here; if you’ve been automating your engagement processes, it’s time to bring the human touch back. First, we recommend taking a break from Instagram – a few days should help. If you continue with the same level of engagement, even if the nature of it is different, Instagram may still assume that the activity is not authentic. After two or three days, begin engaging with your audience in a real and meaningful way. Leave thoughtful comments, and only follow accounts that you’re genuinely interested in!

  • Create content which encourages engagement.

Finally, if your followers aren’t responding to the type of content you’re posting, it may be time to try out something new! Try to create content with engagement in mind – ask questions and have your followers respond in the comments, or create a resource that they are likely to save. All of these actions boost your engagement rate and tell Instagram that your followers want your content prioritized in their feeds.

Of course, the most important tip when it comes to social media is always to create engaging content that brings value to your audience. If you can combine the above steps with excellent posts it’s only a matter of time before your account takes off! For more tips on creating engaging content, check out this blog post.

Building your audience and increasing engagement takes time, skill, and strategy. If you’d like help reaching your dream audience, send us an email: info@ruckusdigital.ca

Continue Reading “3 Reasons You May Be Noticing Low Instagram Engagement – And What You Can Do About It”
Light Bulbs Concept

RUCKUS DIGITAL IS SEEKING A DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR AND WRITER

Digital Content Creator and Writer

Position Overview and Responsibilities

As the Digital Content Creator, you understand the nuances and complexities of social media marketing. You’re equal parts marketing strategist and opportunist. You’re able to take marketing strategies and translate them into executable tactics that make sense in a social environment.

You’ll be responsible for taking a client’s business goals and realizing them through content and online engagement via their social media channels. You’ll help curate brand loyalty by taking on different brands’ personas, monitor online conversations for engagement opportunities and flag any potential issues. You will also oversee the development of editorial calendars and work with our design team to build visual assets. As paid media is a vital part of social media success, you have a strong understanding of the paid offerings for each of the major social media platforms and have experience running paid media campaigns for clients.  Lastly, it is important you understand how social media fits into the broader communications mix and can make and execute on recommendations that tie into a larger marketing strategy.

Summary of Responsibilities:

  • Working closely with the digital team, you will create compelling and informative visual and digital content for various client’s digital and social media channels
  • Writing blog posts and news items that tell various client’s story
  • Script writing and storyboard development
  • Researching and pitching new story ideas, both independently and collaboratively with digital strategists and communications team members
  • Interviewing story and video/audio subjects
  • The ability to identify trending stories and find the client angle
  • Planning and executing digital marketing campaigns, including web, SEO/SEM, email, social media and display advertising
  • Work with account teams and clients to develop media and platform strategies to best reach target audiences
  • Demonstrate an expertise in the various digital platforms and ad formats to communicate to audiences
  • Work with communications and creative teams to implement owned, earned and paid activations and ensure it stays on strategy
  • Working with various influencers on different platforms
  • Monitor campaigns to escalate opportunities and insights to the account and client teams
  • Has a strong analytical and reporting skillset to help guide social strategy and content recommendations and optimizations

Key Qualifications:

  • 3+ years’ experience working in a fast-paced social media environment
  • Strong communication skills and experience including writing, editing, proofreading, and presentation
  • Sophisticated knowledge – theory and practice — of digital advertising, particularly on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube
  • Experience detecting, communicating and mitigating potential negative or crisis situations
  • Experience ideating and developing content, campaigns and programs
  • Ability to integrate website content into online communications, with an understanding of SEO strategy  
  • Comfortable multi-tasking and able to deliver results under pressure and tight deadlines
  • Vigilant attention to detail
  • Ability to create and adhere to timelines and schedules
  • Experience managing advertising budgets
  • Ability to report on social/digital KPIs, as they relate to clients’ business objectives
  • Experience with Sprout Social, Hootsuite or back-end of social platforms for campaign management
  • Bilingualism is an asset

We want to meet great people who are interested in working in a start-up environment where culture matters and curiosity is valued.  Send your resume to: info@ruckusdigital.ca

Continue Reading “RUCKUS DIGITAL IS SEEKING A DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR AND WRITER”
Happy woman working on computer.

#DailyDive: My go-to sources for creativity and inspiration

Curiosity and ongoing learning are key requirements at our agency. Studies show that people who continue to learn as professionals are better problem-solvers, more creative and tend to enjoy their jobs more ̶ so that’s a bonus. This month we are sharing our go-to professional resources at APEX PR and ruckus Digital.

As a designer, I try and dive into creativity and design inspiration as much as possible. Each morning as part of my routine, I spend some time browsing through a few resources. These resources help me mentally charge myself creatively for the day. They also allow me to keep up with what is going on in the industry. Here are some of these resources:

  • Fast Company – CO. Design: Fast Company is one of the world’s leading business media brand with its editorial focus on innovation in different areas such as technology, creativity, leadership and design. The section you will find me on most of the time is CO. Design.  This particular section is great because it covers the most up-to-date news around the work on the different types of design from graphic to industrial. It also shares the business side of design and how design can impact the world and the environment.
  • Inside Design by Invision: “Good design is good for business,” according to Invision. Invision is a digital design platform that allows designers all around the world the opportunity to create great and empowering user experiences. One of its featured blog topics is Inside by Design, which I’m a huge fan of. It covers many different topics from design resources to lifestyle articles specifically for designers.
  • Behance: If you want creativity, Behance is the place to find it. This is a place where designers all around the world showcase their portfolios including both personal or professional work. It’s an amazing place for me to get inspired for any project I work on.

Vanessa Cuartas is an integrated media designer at ruckus Digital. Need help with your social media approach? Drop us a line.

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Podcast studio

#DailyDive: Streaming podcasts and collaborating on LinkedIn

Curiosity and ongoing learning are key requirements at our agency. Studies show that people who continue to learn as professionals are better problem-solvers, more creative and tend to enjoy their jobs more ̶ so that’s a bonus. This month we are sharing our go-to professional resources at APEX PR and ruckus Digital.

When you work in social and digital media, learning is never-ending. Every day, Facebook or Google are making changes to their platforms that impact customer behaviours or programming for our clients. Keeping up can be a challenge – especially as our own attention spans decline. However, daily I’m either streaming a marketing podcast or collaborating with colleagues on LinkedIn.

Podcast addict:

As someone always on-the-go and a frequent podcast binger, I love a good podcast to learn about new trends from credible marketing experts. Consuming content through audio let’s me multitask on my commute to work or while burning calories at the gym. Here are some of my favourites:

  • Social Media Marketing Talkshow with Michael Stelzner – Leveraging interviews with platform and marketing experts this podcast focuses on new platform features (such as the TikTok self-service ads) or updates to existing platforms (like the recent LinkedIn Updates Pages and algorithm).
  • Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly digs into the history and evolution of advertising and marketing by exploring industries and marketing tactics. Although, the podcast has been re-releasing archived episodes I just listened to the history of lawsuit advertising and it was very interesting to see how the industry evolved over time.
  • Smart Agency Masterclass – Host Jason Swenk interviews marketing agency leaders from across North America to chat through strategies they’ve undertook to grow or evolve their business. Episodes are roughly 30 mins – perfect for my commute to work!

LinkedIn:

I’ve become obsessed with LinkedIn. I’ve curated a strong list of professionals, old colleagues and experts who I admire that I can learn from and share my perspective with. The platform has expanded their capabilities and algorithm so I can share links, videos or full blog posts. Below are some of my go-to professionals or hashtags to follow:

  • Jed Schneiderman – After visiting our office for a presentation about EQ Works, I was impressed by Jed and how he approached data and the marketing opportunities. Jed is always sharing interesting articles and providing innovative perspectives on the industry.
  • #marketing – It’s a simple hashtag, but it helps me discover trending articles within the industry to keep myself updated on the latest news or trends that I need to be aware of.
  • Sherrilynne Starkie – As a grad of the Algonquin PR program, you learn a lot about the grads that came before you. I’ve followed Sherri online for many years throughout her PR and marketing journey and look forward to seeing her posts.

Katie Boland is an account director at APEX Public Relations and ruckus Digital. Check out more of our #DailyDive and see what others are looking at for professional inspiration.

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Crystal Ball 2019: The significance of word of mouth in the era of information overload.

With 2019 ramping up, expect new trends throughout the news, social media, technology and more. At APEX and ruckus digital we will be sharing our predictions on some of these trends that we think will define 2019 (or at least part of it).

Vy Do, Digital & Creative Content intern, shares her view on how people are influenced and the power of word of mouth in 2019.

Bookstores are the main place where I learn about which books are most popular, which genres they belong to, which ones are staff picks; but, ironically, none of this information contributes to my purchase decision.

I have heard about “Educated,” “Becoming,” and “Small Fry” – all of them are from notable women, but I didn’t really pay attention to the praises they received on social media and in the newspaper.

Instead, I was influenced by a stranger on a subway who devoured “educated” in the early commuting hours.

I was influenced by my friend on “Goodreads,” the world’s largest site for book recommendations, who gave the book five stars.

I rely on these people because they have nothing to gain from suggesting a book.

When presented with so many choices, people seek advice from those they trust because it is too risky to listen to someone who may have received incentives for promoting something.

People are influenced by their friends of friends, too. Something like “I haven’t tried it but my friend Bobby said that…” may be just enough to be taken into consideration. Word-of-mouth is the oldest, yet most effective form of marketing.

We are bombarded with too much information daily, including fake news, so I believe people will turn back to people they know for advice.

Social content and paid ads may raise awareness for a product/service, but user-generated content and communities/forums are where consumers will test what they see and read.

So what is the implication for advertisers?

Care about what your audience may think and feel about your product. Spending money promoting something is not enough, think about how anyone your audience comes into contact with could influence your customer’s ultimate purchase. 

Vy Do is a Digital & Creative Content intern at APEX Public Relations. Learn more about what influences consumer’s purchase decision by visiting our website or emailing us at

bigger@apexpr.com. 

Check out more of our Crystal Ball series to know what other trends to expect in 2019.

Continue Reading “Crystal Ball 2019: The significance of word of mouth in the era of information overload.”
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3 improv lessons that made me a better community manager

With brands like Wendy’s constantly “winning the internet” with clever social content and humourous banter with users, it’s becoming increasingly important for community managers to bring a level of wit and quick thinking to the job.

To sharpen my wit and perfect my ability to create content that resonates with target audiences, I spent 6 weeks taking improv classes, and I think anyone in the creative industry should do the same.

In case the idea of attempting to entertain a room full of strangers triggers your anxiety, here are 3 key takeaways I can share for anyone to apply to their day jobs.

  1. Let go and commit

In improv, the best performances are the ones where the actor fully goes for it. Hesitation or insecurity is obvious to the audience and can hinder the performance. As a creative thinker, when working on your next big idea, it’s best to stay away from the “but” and focus on the “yes, and” (a rule-of-thumb for improv).  When you don’t focus on potential limitations or obstacles, it’s easier to elevate your ideas.

  1. Act naturally

On the first day of class they say, “don’t try to be funny.” It may sound counterproductive, but it makes a lot of sense. It’s a lesson in being natural. Consumers can often tell when a brand is trying too hard to be “relevant”; the best content fits naturally into a brand’s voice.

  1. On the other side of panic is somewhere you really want to be

Just like improv, the creative industry is a fast-paced, ever-changing environment that can get overwhelming. Feelings of panic can impact the way you perform – but if you can ride the waves, push through the panic, and give your best effort without fear, the outcome is worth a standing ovation.

 

Amanda Carreiro is a community manager at ruckus Digital. Need help with your social media approach? Drop us a line. 

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