Social Minds

Show your support! Vote for Eve, your SocialMinds host, to win Creative Trailblazer in the Prolific North Creative Awards here: https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/creative-awards-cast-your-vote/  This week, SocialChain strategist Chelsea Noronha joins Mil in the studio to unpack the latest, greatest, and up-and-coming social media features you need to know about. That includes an update to TikTok Ads and its new moderation feature, native reposts on Instagram, and new creator collaboration tools on YouTube. We also cover one LinkedIn feature brought back from the dead, and Pinterest’s latest foray into AI with a smart recommendations-based shopping feature. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.  

Platforms change, trends come and go. Brand fundamentals must remain. That’s the opinion of this week’s guest, Kathryn Swallow - worldwide head of Unilever’s deodorants category, previously the global VP for Rexona (Sure) and Dove. Among all of Unilever’s brands, the deodorant category stands out thanks to the global success of those brands as well as Lynx (Axe), and their success is owed in part, Kathryn says, to a deep understanding and respect for a brand’s positioning, purpose and and proposition.   In this, we ask how brands can stay true to their core - and communicate that - among fast-moving tech, endless data, modernising audiences and, of course, social media. And we find out how Unilever’s deodorant brands approach the above to ensure they don’t just stay relevant, but are revered.   Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com  

In a space where failure is hidden from a wider audience, Surreal embrace the imperfect. A challenger brand within the staid world of cereal marketing, Surreal have emerged as a distinct voice. John Thornton, Senior creative at Surreal breaks down the process of embracing your marketing bluffs and peeling back the veneer of the social economy.  

SocialChain strategy and innovation director Gareth Harrison joins Mil to unpack this month’s Social in Six updates. This time, that’s an update on TikTok’s ban in the US, which has been extended again; a handful of updates from Meta to improve social SEO and make creator partnerships easier; and LinkedIn’s new Trends page that curates videos based on trending workplace topics. Elsewhere, Snapchat has launched a new ad format in Sponsored AI Lenses, while YouTube Shorts has changed the way it measures views.   Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.    

“Have you had your Weetabix?” is an iconic ad slogan as any. But post-pandemic, though Weetabix had become part of online conversations, it wasn’t necessarily translating to consumers’ shopping baskets. In this episode, Lorraine Rothwell, head of marketing at Weetabix, shares the story of how the brand reconnected with its core demographic while remaining relevant to younger audiences. Discover how social informed ad creative, the power of nostalgia in marketing, and how Weetabix continues to surprise and delight without losing its heritage roots. 

AI is the hot topic on everyone’s lips. One which, if you ask most creatives, will be spoken of with some level of selfish scepticism. But what do you do when a company built on the good of tech has their own department of creatives? This conversation is full of honest questions, thought-provoking answers, and candid discussions on how Ai is actually impacting creativity inside and outside of our studios, Don’t expect another narrative on how “AI is coming for our jobs” (it might yet) but come away feeling educated on how to make it work for you. 

Social is changing the face of search and, with that, the impact on how brands and products are discovered has also shifted. Reddit is among the platforms capitalising on this - tapping into consumer habits of adding ‘Reddit’ to the end of every search term, making the brand name the 6th most-Googled term in the US. In this episode with Hannah Walker, Reddit’s Head of Mid-Market for the UK, we find out why platforms are leaning on AI to elevate their search offerings, how brands can benefit from Reddit’s curious community through both paid and organic, and what their behaviour tells us about what Redditors want from the brands they buy from. Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com

Every time you order a Domino’s pizza, you’re interfacing with countless data-driven touchpoints – whether it’s suggested items or Dom the Pizza Tracker telling you your Pepperoni Passion is in the oven. In this episode, Nick Bamber, digital and data director at Domino’s, unpacks why the brand sees itself as a data company first and a pizza business second. He reveals how leveraging smart data and AI resulted in 10 million app users, the learnings from Domino’s’ journey to become “the Netflix of pizza”, and the future of food delivery in an increasingly digital world. 

TikTok Shop has taken over everyone’s For You Page in the last 12 months, and that’s in no small part down to the commerce ambitions of the business. Layer onto that the way TikTok has (and continues to) change the creator economy, and you’re left with an extremely actionable conversation for brands and marketers that will leave you empowered and educated to perform on your commerce objectives whilst still prioritising creativity and content – crucially, how the two must work together if brands are to compete in 2025 and beyond. 

For years, Primark thrived without an online presence, but post-pandemic, that had to change. In this episode, Kymberley Thomson, senior global social media and community manager at Primark, takes us through the retailer’s social evolution - from having no ecommerce channel to building an engaged digital audience. Find out how to adapt a bricks and mortar retail strategy for online conversations, why community isn’t just a nice-to-have, and the role social plays in new product development and overarching campaigns. If you want to understand how retail brands can win on social without selling online, this one’s for you.

On this episode of Social in Six, Mil is joined by Callum Woodbridge, senior creative at SocialChain. Together they cover all the headlines you need to know from the world of social, including TikTok Shop’s new feature to get you buying top products, LinkedIn rolling out comment impressions and Pinterest’s plan to stop AI images taking over the feed. Plus, two updates from Instagram, including a possible new standalone Reels app and testimonials for Partnership Ads. Finally, they give you the lowdown on a new study that says TikTok is the top media channel for short-term ROI.  Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Retail media is booming, and Very Media Group is making big moves to stay ahead. In this episode, Laura Jones, head of Very Media Group, breaks down how the brand is moving beyond its catalogue roots to create scroll-stopping content, data-driven insights, and collaborations with over 2000 brand partners. Expect to hear about how social slots into the full marketing funnel, why balancing brand and performance is crucial, and what’s next for retail media.

Creator-led brands are on the rise, and heritage brands with decades of equity are finding themselves threatened and losing market share. In this episode, social-born brand Tonic Health speaks on the value of using only social, how being an entrepreneur-fronted brand impacts your approach to transparency, and what most brands don’t realise they’re doing wrong. Expect plenty of candour on what real audiences want, and a welcome reality check on how we can all work to improve and compete with our new competitors.

Last Summer, Kopparberg decided they needed to win back the favour of customers who’ve turned to trends like craft beer and chicken wine. To do so the brand made an unexpected but genius collaboration with Melanoma Fund, tapping into audiences’ interest in skincare and health at peak summer (Kopparberg’s time to shine). In this episode, Nancy Dales, brand manager at Kopparberg breaks down the case study of that Summer campaign – what worked, what didn’t, and what brands inside and outside of the drinks category can learn from it. Expect to hear the value of physical PR, strategically ignoring social trends, and enabling constant communication amongst your agencies.

Yorkshire Tea is a well-loved social-first brand leading its category in market share – hard to believe when you consider it was once the underdog amongst its multinational competitors. So how did the brand flip the script? By leaning into what made them different: their Northern-ness. In this episode, Dom Dwight, strategy and innovation director at Taylor’s of Harrogate, breaks down Yorkshire Tea’s approach to social and brand building. Expect insights on the power of consistency, how social went from a novelty to a central part of the brand’s media planning, and how Yorkshire Tea is trying to get more Gen Zers popping the kettle on. 

On this episode of Social in Six, SocialChain strategist Chelsea Noronha joins Mil to break down the latest headlines from social. This time that includes: an update on TikTok US, LinkedIn’s new video features for desktop users, and YouTube’s latest partnership to get you posting Shorts.  Chelsea and Mil also cover two updates from Instagram, including the platform’s CapCut clone and some changes to the grid. Finally, they break down how Meta’s fact checking program, set to launch next month, will work.  Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Football clubs’ social output is a different ball game to traditional B2C brands. As one of the world’s most beloved, Manchester City must both use its channels to please die-hard fans whilst enticing the emerging. In this episode, City’s head of social media and international content, Paul Handler, tells us what makes their fans tick and how their strategy facilitates that. Expect to learn how to convert passion into engagement, why leveraging your content archive is crucial, and how to proactively keep a reactive mindset.    Got a question or a suggestion for the SocialMinds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.  

On a special episode of Social in Six, Mil and our creative director Jake are talking all about TikTok’s imminent ban in the US. They cover everything that’s happened so far, what the short- and long-term impacts of a nationwide ban would be, and what that could mean for the future of social. Plus, they’re ensuring your social strategy is prepared for every possible scenario come Monday with some actionable advice for brands. Download our free fact guide for brands here: https://www.socialchain.com/social-minds/industry/the-tiktok-us-ban-everything-you-need-to-know/     Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.

Pinterest Predicts is the not-yet-trending report that fuels brands and marketers’ plans - and consumers’ wildest imaginations – every year. And, every year, we sit down with Pinterest’s director of marketing for Europe, Louise Richardson, to learn how these trends to be will shape what we wear, eat, dress, decorate with, plan, drive, and experience throughout the next 12 months. No matter your job title, no matter your brand’s category, no matter your personal passions – this report is a non-negotiable for you to sink your teeth into. If you want to start and stay ahead of the curve, that is.  You can find Pinterest Predicts 2025 here: https://business.pinterest.com/en-gb/pinterest-predicts/  And access and track Pinterest’s wealth of search data and insights all year round right here: https://trends.pinterest.com/

On this episode of Social in Six, Mil and Eve cover two updates from Instagram: a Trials update for Reels, and its latest new features for Broadcast Channels. They also discuss what Australia’s social media ban means for brands, how TikTok is allegedly hoping to boost shopping with TikTok Mini apps, and YouTube’s latest slate of updates to facilitate brand and creator partnerships on platform with BrandConnect. Finally, they cover an ads update from Meta that gives your Traffic campaigns increased flexibility. Got a question or suggestion for the Social Minds podcast? Get in touch at socialminds@socialchain.com.