• Social Media Updates You Can’t Miss: Instagram’s Longer Reels, TikTok News, and Emerging Platforms
    Jan 27 2025

    In this episode of The Social Small Talk, host Audra Brehm dives into the latest social media updates you need to know. Discover why Instagram is now favoring longer Reels, how TikTok’s future in the U.S. is evolving, and what creators and brands should know about platforms like Flip and Substack. Plus, hear about Threads’ new mobile analytics and ad tools, and learn how Meta is incentivizing TikTok creators to switch platforms. Stay ahead of the curve with actionable insights and trends to level up your marketing game. Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates!

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    8 mins
  • The TikTok Apocalypse: What Marketers Need to Know Now
    Jan 20 2025

    This week on The Social Small Talk, we dive into the whirlwind that has been TikTok’s tumultuous week—rumors of bans, Supreme Court rulings, sudden shutdowns, and surprising comebacks. What does it all mean for creators, brands, and social media marketers?

    Join host Audra Brim, CEO and founder of Brim Media, as she breaks down the chaos surrounding TikTok, shares practical tips on diversifying your digital strategy, and explores what the latest Instagram updates mean for marketers in 2025.

    From TikTok’s temporary blackout to Meta’s potential moves and Instagram’s newest features, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the ever-changing social media landscape.

    Subscribe and tune in every Monday for the latest news, strategies, and trends shaping the world of social media marketing.

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    12 mins
  • Meta’s Moderation Overhaul, TikTok’s Uncertain Future, and Instagram Best Practices
    Jan 13 2025

    This week on Social Small Talk, host Audra Brehm dives into the latest whirlwind of updates across the social media landscape. First, we explore Meta’s controversial decision to loosen content moderation by replacing fact-checkers with a community-sourced note system—what this means for user safety, misinformation, and freedom of speech. Next, we tackle the ongoing TikTok ban debate and what the Supreme Court’s deliberations could mean for creators and businesses relying on the platform. Audra shares strategic advice on diversifying your content efforts to future-proof your business.

    Finally, we break down Instagram’s latest tips for maximizing reach, including avoiding engagement bait, watermark-free content, and the power of concise reels. Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or social media enthusiast, grab your notepad and tune in for actionable insights to help you navigate these shifting digital tides.

    Have questions? Reach out to Audra at audra@bremmedia.com!

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    12 mins
  • 2025 Social Media Trends: TikTok, AI, and Organic Marketing Myths
    Jan 6 2025

    Welcome to the first episode of The Social Small Talk Podcast in 2025! This week, host Audra Brehm dives into the latest social media developments, including the ongoing debate over TikTok's future, the rising influence of AI in marketing, and why organic social media is far from dead.

    Audra shares actionable tips for leveraging AI responsibly, building authentic connections with your audience, and creating engaging, community-driven content. Plus, get insights into the top trends to watch for this year and practical advice for planning your Q1 and Q2 strategies.

    To help you stay ahead, here’s a list of AI tools mentioned in this episode that can elevate your social media game:

    • Mentionlytics – Monitor conversations in real-time to stay on top of trends and mentions.
    • Meltwater – Capture every brand mention across social platforms for comprehensive analysis.
    • Predis.ai – Analyze competitor content performance at a granular level.
    • Rival IQ – Gain deep competitor insights to inform better social media content decisions.
    • Unmetric – Benchmark your performance against competitors to improve your social strategy.
    • Canva – Create stunning social media graphics quickly and easily.
    • Let’s Enhance – Use AI-powered image enhancement for polished visuals.
    • Pictory – Generate AI-powered videos for social media content.
    • Supermeme.ai – Turn text into shareable, engaging memes.
    • Picsart – Generate high-quality GIFs using AI for dynamic posts.
    • Kapwing AI Meme Generator – Craft relatable, AI-generated memes effortlessly.

    Don’t miss this episode packed with valuable strategies to kickstart your social media marketing in 2025. Subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve.

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    8 mins
  • 20. How Sales & Marketing Coexist with Denise Shedrick
    Jul 29 2020
    Today we’re joined by Denise Shedrick, the Vice President of Sales and New Product Development for the salon professional hair care and color brands MOP, ABBA, and ColorDesign. Denise is the perfect person to discuss how sales and marketing loop together.

    The MOP brand is a perfect example, Denise set out to build a culture. It was important to connect people and for everyone to feel included like they were a part of MOP. Now with social media, there are even more ways to connect with customers and really tell your story.

    Since COVID, everyone has learned to be an online shopper, so digital marketing is very powerful right now. This is the perfect time to really share your story and give customers a way to connect to your product. Denise has really been able to connect with her consumers and stylists during this time and shares how that has benefited her.

    You won’t want to miss how her sales team has readjusted to really meet the needs of the salons during this time and hear her projection for the next big thing in beauty after COVID.

    Highlights

    – Set out to build a culture
    – Digital marketing during COVID
    – Training sales team to connect differently
    – Sensitivity training is key during COVID
    – Buy product from stylists to help them out now

    About Denise Shedrick

    Denise Shedrick has been in the beauty industry since the early 2000s. She began with her own distribution company, then moved to the manufacturing side. She is currently the VP of Sales and Product Development at Stars Creations, LLC.

    Instagram: @MOP_Hair_Product

    Web: http://www.mopproducts.com/

    The Social Small Talk
    https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/

    Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-how-sales-marketing-coexist-with-denise-shedrick
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    41 mins
  • 19. Using TikTok to Educate with Sarah Clifford from ALOA
    Jul 22 2020
    Are you on TikTok?

    Listening to Sarah Clifford’s story today should inspire you to try it out. Sarah turned her passion for health and wellness, into a skincare line, ALOA, two years ago. She already had a social media following, so her community was a great place to launch her brand. Sarah communicates with her customers and loves the relationships that can develop from TikTok. You can’t fake it on TikTok and Sarah shares about family, so followers become acquainted with her actual life.

    Sarah had been disappointed by the results from Facebook & Instagram marketing campaigns, but when she joined TikTok she was blown away by views and product sales. TikTok enables Sarah to show her products and demonstrate the most effective way to use ALOA products. Marketing can be a lot like skincare, one thing doesn’t work for everyone. We also discuss the importance of getting your followers off of social media and into an email list, so that you can stay in touch if TikTok or Facebook ever disappear. I hope you listen in today and learn from Audra’s experience and success.

    Highlights

    – Products can be healthy and effective
    – Organic products can have sleek packaging too
    – Why TikTok?
    – Education posts are always popular
    – Audra’s advice – use a giveaway to get email addresses
    – People like to buy from people

    About Sarah Clifford

    Sarah Clifford has always been known for sharing successful health and wellness strategies. She ran with the idea to start her own skincare line two years ago, and now she loves sharing natural products with the world through her TikTok videos.

    Connect:
    TikTok – aloachick
    Facebook & Instagram – @aloaskincare & @aloachick
    Web: https://aloaskincare.com/

    For more info and episodes:
    https://brehmmedia.com/19

    The Social Small Talk
    https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/

    Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/19-using-tiktok-to-educate-with-sarah-clifford-from-aloa
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    51 mins
  • 18. Engaging Your Community with Alison Alhamed
    Jul 15 2020
    Alison Alhamed started her new position as the VP of Social Media and Community at R+Co at the beginning of March, right when everything started to change for all of us. Seeing that salons needed help and a way to bring in money now, she helped launch R+Co’s affiliate program and started programs to help salons build an online presence and following. Alison considered the needs of the salons and structured the affiliate program, to help salons get the best response and be able to bring home money sooner rather than later.

    Alison knows the beauty industry loves in-person events, but that’s not an option right now. So it’s really important to be connecting with customers and using social media to build those relationships with people that are passionate about your products. Running specified giveaway campaigns can help grow your followers or your email list. Alison suggests thinking about the goals of your business, and what you want to achieve from the giveaway. Using micro-influencers can be helpful for organic growth, look for people that are already raving about your product and see how they can work with your company.

    Alison also values organic growth using engaging social media posts. She recommends you don’t get caught in the cycle of boosting posts, but focus on quality content. You won’t want to miss hearing what Alison shares today.

    Highlights

    – Good branding is what sells people
    – Using affiliate programs
    – Power of micro-influencers
    – Connecting with customers
    – How you can benefit from giveaways

    Alison Alhamed
    As Editor in Chief of professional beauty’s most respected outlet for salon professionals, Alison Alhamed was the content strategist for all of MODERN SALON Media’s digital channels, educational events, monthly print magazine, and social media platforms. Throughout her career, she has built countless stylist and salon recognition programs to shine a light on emerging talent, while connecting beauty manufacturers with the community of stylists, influencers, and iconic industry veterans. As a licensed cosmetologist, Alison has a deep understanding of the salon industry and regularly presents on how to build and strengthen social media communities and engagement. As R+Co’s Vice President of Social Media and Community, Alison will build R+Co’s community of hairdressers, leading the brand’s social media innovation, strengthening the brand’s digital and social media footprint, coordinating unique collaborations between icons and influencers, and bringing R+Co even closer to stylists and salons.

    Connect:
    https://www.instagram.com/alisonalhamed/
    https://www.instagram.com/randco/
    https://www.randco.com/

    For show notes and more episodes:
    https://brehmmedia.com/18

    The Social Small Talk
    https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/

    Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/18-engaging-your-community-with-alison-alhamed
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    52 mins
  • 17. Do What You Love with Kim Grustas
    Jul 9 2020
    Kim Grustas is the founder of Good For You Girls, a product she created when she couldn’t find acceptable skincare options for her tween daughters. Equipped with a background in advertising, she took what she had learned from helping other products create a voice to help her launch her own company.

    Now she’s found the benefits of selling with Amazon and through her website and a few other mostly online retailers. Good For You Girls has experienced natural, organic growth and that has enabled Kim to be very protective of her company.

    Kim recommends knowing what you are good at AND what you are really bad at. If you’re not good at something and don’t enjoy that aspect, find a partner that can handle that area for you. She says your passion can only be fueled if you’re being rewarded daily, and doing what you don’t enjoy will zap your passion.

    As Good For You Girls has grown organically, it was important for Kim to remember, bigger is not always better. Keep your blinders on and keep doing what you love.4

    About Kim Grustas

    Kim is the mother of two daughters who have struggled with asthma and allergies since birth. When she couldn’t find products that met her standards for her girls, she took matters into her own hands and started Good For You Girls in 2008.

    She is a veteran of the natural products industry and was on the front line of understanding the importance of replacing harsh chemicals with greener, safer options in skincare. The entire Good For You Girls line is purposefully focused on the products girls actually need at this age.

    Highlights

    The moment in Target, when Kim was shocked at ingredients in skincare for her girls.

    – Visiting with distributors to get on shelves.
    – Keep it close to home – Organic growth is good growth.
    – Amazon is like a silent partner
    – Why Kim doesn’t look at email when she first gets to work
    – Know what you’re good at and really bad at
    – Keep inventory accessible, you can’t always rely on Amazon
    – Success isn’t measured by what is in a bank account

    Contact: kim@goodforyougirls.com

    Web: https://www.goodforyougirls.com/

    More info: https://brehmmedia.com/17

    The Social Small Talk
    https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/the-social-small-talk/

    Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/17-do-what-you-love-with-kim-grustas
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    57 mins