Digital Buzz: August 2024 Insights & Thoughts

As August comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to share some of the key insights and discussions we’ve been talking about at Killer Bee. We’ve covered a lot! From the ongoing debate between personal and business branding to the ethics of AI. In this month’s Digital Buzz we’ll look at some of those topics. If you want to hear more about a certain topic, just click the play button below each section.

Personal vs. Business Brands: What’s More Effective?

Have you ever wondered about the value of personal branding versus building a business brand? Each has their own strategy and benefit, but which is more effective? I have! My friend Kacy Maxwell did a test which revealed some interesting results. Yes, personal brands often outperform company brands, even on platforms like LinkedIn. Despite having fewer followers, his test showed that personal posts got more engagement and reach than their company profile.

🧠 Think About This: People connect with people, not companies. Does this mean you should shut down your business brand? No, but you should definitely consider ways to take advantage of the power behind your personal brands. If you’re torn between choosing which one, consider your available resources, time, and how impactful your personal voice can be. I’ve seen it—when you put yourself out there, the connections you make are stronger and more meaningful.

ManyChat’s Auto Responder: Efficiency Without Losing That Personal Touch

Automation tools like ManyChat could be a game-changer when it comes to managing social media interactions. Olivia shared with us how it can save time by automating responses. But could it replace authentic engagement? It is important that you don’t let efficiency come at the cost of creating meaningful connections.

🧠 Think About This:  Automation is great, but we need to use it wisely. Come up with ways to use these tools to handle routine tasks, but never forget the importance of personal follow-ups and real conversations. That genuine connection is irreplaceable.

The Right to Disconnect: Why Boundaries Matter

We can probably all agree that we live in a world that’s always “on,” which can take a toll on a person. Shawna and our team talked about France’s “right to disconnect” law and why disconnecting is so crucial for our mental and physical well-being. We also shared some of the thoughts that came in through our fan mail.

🧠 Think About This:  Disconnecting isn’t about being lazy or unproductive—it’s about taking care of yourself. Whether it’s turning off notifications or using wellness apps, finding that balance can make a huge difference in you or your team’s creativity and overall well-being. I’ve been more intentional about setting boundaries with my tech use, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Bridging Generational Gaps: Understanding Digital Differences

Have you ever noticed generational discrimination? Whether it’s the way we communicate, the platforms we use, or our attitudes toward technology or each other. These barriers hold us back from evolving together. I believe it’s crucial we recognize that each generation has something valuable to offer. Wisdom and experience from older generations, and fresh perspectives and innovation from younger ones. Our team discussed why we need to become more intentional about tearing down these walls.

🧠 Think About This:  Tearing down generational walls allows us to combine strengths, fostering innovation and wisdom in so many areas of our lives and the work we do every day.

Social Media During an Election Year: Staying Sane in the Chaos

The election season is here and social media is getting intense! Olivia raises an important point about using social media platforms to broadcast a brand’s political stance. Are we feeding the chaos? With social media platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn overflowing with political posts, it’s a challenge to avoid it all.

🧠 Think About This:  Social media can be a powerful tool for staying informed, but it can also be a minefield. Let’s all commit to verifying what we share and don’t lose focus of your mission and purpose across these platforms.

AI Ethics: Navigating the Grey Areas

AI is incredible, but it’s not without its ethical dilemmas. 🎀 Maggi Thorne, our guest co-host and American Ninja / Tech Warrior, joined us to discuss AI ethics. I also covered 7 Problems AI Solved for Business Owners & Concerns in an earlier discussion.

🧠 Think About This: As we integrate AI into more aspects of our work and lives, we must do so responsibly. AI is an incredible tool that can help serve people and improve processes. I see AI as a means to give us back one of life’s most valuable resources: time. However, it’s up to each one of us to be mindful of how we use that reclaimed time. Spend it in ways that are meaningful and purposeful.

Social Media Metric Shifts: What You Need to Know

I shined a light on Facebook and Instagram’s video metrics change. The shift to remove plays and combine everything under views could really change how you measure your videos effectiveness.  It’s crucial you understand what this change means. Plays was a metric that represented how someone chose to watch your video by clicking play. Views represent a video played for 3 seconds. When you take into account Reels are forced plays that autoplay, that number isn’t as meaningful.

🧠 Think About This:  It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics, but what really counts is meaningful engagement. As these platforms change, we need to stay focused on those quality metrics that represent meaningful interactions.

Let’s Wrap This Up

August has been a month of learning, reflecting, and adapting. As we head into fall, let’s keep pushing ourselves to stay informed, stay ethical, and most importantly, create meaningful connections.

Be sure to follow our business podcast called “Mindful Bytes” to stay informed. You can also text us your thoughts using the “Text Us” link, which you’ll find in all our podcast show notes. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Until next time, stay mindful and keep creating buzz that impacts more lives.