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- Social Media Tip #1
  
  by Nikki Rung, CMN Social Media Manager
  
  Be Succinct!
  
  Social Media is fun but it can also be an amazing tool for engagement of your audience and potential clients. It is always a good idea to state clearly why you are making a post and to limit it to one single call to action. Let’s say you have a photo of yourself playing at an event—are you posting this to try to get similar work? If so, do not use this time to also, for example, advertise your recorded events on YouTube. You do not want the reader to get bogged down with multiple calls to action and become overwhelmed and disengaged.
  
  In summary: Draw attention to one single call to action per post!
- Social Media Tip #2
  
  by Nikki Rung, CMN Social Media Manager
  
  Engage!
  
  Creating a social media profile is not enough to promote your business. It is critical that you engage on that platform to share your profile. Think of your profile like a single tree in an enormous woods . . . how will it stand out? Find your audience, share your posts to their page, and share their posts to show your engagement. Engagement is key!
- Social Media Tip #3
  
  by Nikki Rung, CMN Social Media Manager
  
  Know Your Audience
  
  You need to understand your audience—inside and out! You should be able to pinpoint their needs, wants, and desires in order to create a successful social media strategy. Once you get a feel for who your target audience is, you’re better equipped to help them and get that next gig!
- Social Media Tip #4
  
  by Nikki Rung, CMN Social Media Manager
  
  Watch For Trends
  
  If you notice a pattern or strategy rising in popularity and it aligns with your messaging, then it’s a great idea to capitalize on it to drive engagement. Be mindful though, you never need to create a particular type of content just because you see other brands doing it.
- Social Media Tip #5
  
  by Nikki Rung, CMN Social Media Manager
  
  CHECK YOUR ANALYTICS
  
  When was the last time you took a look at your social media analytics? We’re talking about a deep dive into what’s working and what’s not in your social media marketing strategy. What content received the most likes, shares, saves, comments? You’ll quickly understand what content your audience wants more of and what you need to drop from the mix by going through this process.
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Because of Fred Rogers

It still hurts to think about Fred Rogers. It’s been seventeen years since his passing, and the thought of him still brings tears to my eyes. Thirty seconds into the Tom Hanks movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, I was a puddle. I remember my husband looked over at me as I was openly sobbing in a public theater and asked, “Are you going to be okay?” And as I sit here writing now, if my husband were to pop out to the deck and see the state I’m in, I’m sure he’d ask the same question.

It’s a really good question. I’ve been pondering that very same question for quite some time these days . . .

Are we going to be okay?

When I was a child, Mr. Rogers was a quiet, calming presence. He spoke so simply and he spoke directly to me. Even as I got older and was deemed by my older brother “too old” to watch Mr. Rogers, I still found myself drawn to him. I was too young to be able to pinpoint why that was. Even as I write this right now, I struggle to find the words to say how I feel.

Maybe that’s just it . . .

I feel.

Because of Fred Rogers, I learned it was okay to feel.

It’s okay to feel happy.
It’s okay to feel sad.
It’s okay to feel scared.
It’s okay to feel mad.
It’s okay to feel shame.
It’s okay to feel proud.
It’s okay to feel quiet.
It’s okay to feel loud.
It’s okay to feel exactly how you’re feeling today.
It’s okay to feel feelings.
You’re going to be okay.

Thank you, Fred, my Everywhere Friend. You taught me all I ever really needed to know.

Fred Rogers is the 2020 recipient of the Magic Penny Award. For more on his work and legacy, see Phil Hoose’s interview with Rogers, “The Gift of Your Honest Self,” originally published in Issue #19/20, Summer 1995, and reprinted in Issue #83, Spring 2017.