Pivot, iterate, adapt. Marketers all around the world have had to embrace these actions as they learn about what’s next for their brands and careers.
And while the future is uncertain, there’s one thing we know to be true: we’re stronger when we work together. That sentiment is what our Sprout Sessions event series is all about.
We planned Sprout Sessions as a multi-city series of live events, but we too had to pivot, iterate and adapt. For 2020, Sprout Sessions became a digital event that we could organize remotely, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! More than 3,200 social marketers spent a full day connecting and learning from one another about the power of social data, trends and tactics to propel their strategies, and careers, forward.
Couldn’t attend the event? Keep reading for an exclusive look at our top 10 takeaways and how to access each session on demand for more learning. Or, find our on-demand videos here:
Watch Sprout Sessions 2020
1. Approach limitation as an avenue for innovation
With the rise of social distancing and shelter in place laws, people are seeking out new ways to connect. Those who’ve been successful at facilitating this connection are able to view this limitation as an opportunity to get creative.
Speakers throughout the day, including Sprout’s CMO, Jamie Gilpin, and BCW’s SVP of Digital Innovation, Matt Kelly, agree that success comes from finding creative ways to differentiate your brand from the rest. Times of uncertainty provide room for innovation and it’s important to view your limitations, no matter how big or small, as challenges that can be worked through by finding other means to create connection.
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2. Use social listening to better understand your audience
If you attended Sprout Sessions Digital, this takeaway will come as no surprise. Session after session we heard first-hand from brands about the critical role social listening plays in informing your strategy. While many businesses have closed their physical doors to the public, there’s one door that remains open: social media.
While monitoring is a great way to keep track of mentions and messages to your brand, social listening allows you to go one step further by keeping a pulse on the broader conversations at hand. Understanding how people feel about your product, service or industry allows you to stay ahead of trends and give your audiences what they need before they have to ask for it.
Don’t ask: “how do we talk about this?” Ask: “how do consumers talk about this?” 👂#SproutSessions
— Caitlin Ryan, APR (@caitrryan) May 13, 2020
