https://www.socialday.live/the-sauce Latest news and insights from SocialDay - Your hub for social media marketing, community insights, and industry trends. en-us Sun, 03 May 2026 08:08:59 GMT https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-get-your-team-to-start-creating-content-on-linkedin-without-forcing-them https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-get-your-team-to-start-creating-content-on-linkedin-without-forcing-them Employee-generated content helps you activate your team's voices and network to support your brand, but how does it practically work? Where do you even start? Here are some tips to consider. Sat, 02 May 2026 08:46:02 GMT Tereza Litsa https://www.socialday.live/features/pinterest-wants-you-to-close-the-app-the-campaign-thats-making-a-case-for-inspiration-that-actually-leads-somewhere https://www.socialday.live/features/pinterest-wants-you-to-close-the-app-the-campaign-thats-making-a-case-for-inspiration-that-actually-leads-somewhere Pinterest has launched a campaign built around an idea that most social platforms would never say out loud: the best thing an app can do is give you a reason to close it and go and live your life. The rollout began on 1 May across TV, cinema, out-of-home and digital, and Pinterest is positioning it as its most ambitious paid media campaign to date. Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-job-titles-why-every-door-has-a-different-name https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-job-titles-why-every-door-has-a-different-name Most social media professionals at SocialDay Social Media Fest 2026 carry a job title nobody else in the room shares. Here is what that means for hiring, salary benchmarking, and the case for a social media career ladder. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/i-just-figured-it-out-myself-what-social-media-professionals-are-really-telling-us https://www.socialday.live/features/i-just-figured-it-out-myself-what-social-media-professionals-are-really-telling-us We asked social media professionals across the UK and beyond to tell us the truth about their careers: the jumps, the blockers, the things nobody warned them about. What’s coming back isn’t a tidy picture. It’s honest, a little raw, and it’s pointing to some patterns the industry needs to take seriously. Here’s what we’re hearing so far. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-psychology-behind-the-scroll-theories-that-shape-social-media-success https://www.socialday.live/features/the-psychology-behind-the-scroll-theories-that-shape-social-media-success What drives people to stop scrolling and engage with your content? In this post, Luan Wise explores 11 psychology theories that can shape social media success. Drawing on her book with Dr Tom Bowden-Green, Marketing and Understanding Customer Behaviour with the ABC Approach, Luan explains how understanding human behaviour can transform your campaign planning, content creation, and community management. Watch the webinar replay and put the theory into practice. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:38:35 GMT Luan Wise https://www.socialday.live/features/the-social-media-career-ladder-what-weve-learned-so-far https://www.socialday.live/features/the-social-media-career-ladder-what-weve-learned-so-far I've wanted to do this research for a long time. Social media as a profession has grown from nothing to enormous in about fifteen years, and it's done that without any of the infrastructure that other professions take for granted. No agreed career progression. No standard job titles. No salary benchmarks. What I've heard from six brilliant people so far is too important to sit on. Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:32:08 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/nobody-is-teaching-social-media-professionals-how-business-actually-works-heres-the-gap https://www.socialday.live/features/nobody-is-teaching-social-media-professionals-how-business-actually-works-heres-the-gap Ask a room full of social media managers what their biggest skills gap is, and you probably won't hear "content creation." You won't hear "platform knowledge" or "community management" either. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:28:34 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/what-the-best-creators-and-best-leaders-have-in-common https://www.socialday.live/features/what-the-best-creators-and-best-leaders-have-in-common The best leaders I've worked with share something with the best creators I've seen build communities online. They put the spotlight on the people around them rather than keeping it on themselves, and they care far more about the growth of others than their own visibility. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:38:28 GMT Erica L Somer https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-is-still-being-called-womens-work-and-its-costing-the-whole-industry https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-is-still-being-called-womens-work-and-its-costing-the-whole-industry There's a word that keeps coming up when social media professionals talk about how their role is perceived. Not respected. Not valued. Not taken seriously. The word is: girls. Social media girls. Marketing girlies. The person who does the "pretty pink content." Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:01:11 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/ai-is-eating-the-entry-level-heres-why-that-should-worry-all-of-us https://www.socialday.live/features/ai-is-eating-the-entry-level-heres-why-that-should-worry-all-of-us AI is compressing entry-level social media roles fast. We spoke to industry experts about what this means for career progression and what junior talent needs to do now. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/hackademy-awards https://www.socialday.live/features/hackademy-awards Spikerz’s Hackademy Awards report reveals how social media has become a major attack surface for Hollywood, driving $600M in annual losses through account takeovers, deepfakes, scams, and online abuse. High-profile cases show how easily trust is exploited, turning fan engagement into fraud and reputational damage. Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Elior Doani https://www.socialday.live/features/will-ai-wipe-out-first-rung-social-media-career-ladder https://www.socialday.live/features/will-ai-wipe-out-first-rung-social-media-career-ladder A data-led look at how AI and automation are squeezing entry-level social media roles, what it means for the talent pipeline, and how the industry can redesign the first rung instead of letting it break. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:25:26 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/8-must-have-resources-social-media-marketers-2026 https://www.socialday.live/features/8-must-have-resources-social-media-marketers-2026 The eight free resources every social media professional needs in 2026, from ROI frameworks and KPI guides to audit templates and content calendars. All built by the SocialDay community. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:13:26 GMT Guides Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-updates-march-14-2026 https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-updates-march-14-2026 Instagram's non-follower push is intensifying, Meta is tweaking Advantage+ ads, LinkedIn has shifted its feed weighting, and TikTok is leaning harder into search-led content. Here's what social media managers need to know this week. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Platform Updates Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/understanding-the-sauce-framework-social-media-career https://www.socialday.live/features/understanding-the-sauce-framework-social-media-career Early-career social media marketers often struggle to understand how roles evolve in the industry. SocialDay’s Framework provides a clear roadmap from entry-level roles to strategic leadership ladder, while highlighting the skills needed to grow in a global and culturally diverse digital landscape. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:53:01 GMT Saumya Singh https://www.socialday.live/features/is-posting-less-the-new-more-why-sharing-less-is-the-new-trend https://www.socialday.live/features/is-posting-less-the-new-more-why-sharing-less-is-the-new-trend I started posting on LinkedIn every day because everyone says consistency is the key. The engagement was okay, but the content? Honestly, pretty meh. I burned out fast and realized I was posting just to post. So I switched things up: fewer posts, clearer content pillars, and only sharing when I actually had something useful to say. Ironically, that’s when things started working better. Turns out, consistency matters, but being remembered for quality matters a lot more. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:21:58 GMT Jelena Burcer https://www.socialday.live/features/the-ultimate-survival-kit-for-a-marketing-warrior https://www.socialday.live/features/the-ultimate-survival-kit-for-a-marketing-warrior Why read this blog? Because you are a marketing warrior! Oh no jokes apart, marketing can sometimes feel like trying to keep up with a conversation that keeps changing every five minutes. This blog is a quick, honest (and awfully written) look at what’s actually changing in marketing and what surprisingly isn’t. You just need 3 things to rule the world of MARKETING! 👑 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:21:36 GMT Raina Das https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-build-a-content-strategy-aligned-with-your-brand-values https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-build-a-content-strategy-aligned-with-your-brand-values A strong content strategy shouldn’t just support your brand, it should embody it. When your posts reflect your values, voice, and vision, your content stops feeling like noise and starts building real connection. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:11:55 GMT Kamya Marwah https://www.socialday.live/features/cozy-aesthetic-rebellion-against-attention-economy https://www.socialday.live/features/cozy-aesthetic-rebellion-against-attention-economy The internet spent years chasing louder, faster, and more stimulating content. But a quieter trend is emerging. From journaling videos to cozy morning routines, audiences are gravitating toward slower, more human content. This shift toward “cozy aesthetics” reflects a deeper cultural response to digital fatigue and offers a powerful lesson for brands competing for attention. Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Saumya Singh https://www.socialday.live/features/b2b-marketing-isnt-boring https://www.socialday.live/features/b2b-marketing-isnt-boring B2B marketing isn’t boring. Most brands just haven’t learned how to make it interesting. Behind every screen is still a human: scrolling, laughing at memes, and ignoring anything that sounds like software documentation. In this piece, I break down how I turn “boring” product updates into content people actually want to engage with. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Victoria I. https://www.socialday.live/features/from-social-media-manager-to-cmo-the-career-moves-nobody-talks-about https://www.socialday.live/features/from-social-media-manager-to-cmo-the-career-moves-nobody-talks-about At SocialDay, we are building the definitive Social Media Career Ladder, a research-backed framework that maps what progression actually looks like at every level. We have already started talking to some of the most experienced people in the industry, and some things are coming through clearly, even this early. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-salary-report-2026 https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-salary-report-2026 SocialDay's Social Media Salary & Trend Report 2026 reveals what UK social media professionals are really earning, managing and experiencing. Data from 100 industry professionals across in-house, agency and freelance roles. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trends & Insights Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-hidden-cost-of-social-what-metricools-2026-wellbeing-report-means-for-your-career https://www.socialday.live/features/the-hidden-cost-of-social-what-metricools-2026-wellbeing-report-means-for-your-career Metricool asked more than 900 social media professionals how they are really doing in 2026. The answers are a snapshot of burnout, blurred roles and stalled progression, and a starting point for fixing how social careers work. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/how-social-media-became-womens-work https://www.socialday.live/features/how-social-media-became-womens-work Social media is one of the few parts of marketing where women are everywhere, from the person posting daily to the CMO signing off the budget. At the same time, social and community roles are still underpaid, emotionally heavy and often treated as support work rather than strategic leadership. For International Women’s Day, this piece looks at how social media became women’s work. Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/for-the-social-media-people-who-cant-look-away-this-week https://www.socialday.live/features/for-the-social-media-people-who-cant-look-away-this-week When people say “log off, stop watching the news, take a break from social,” it never seems to include the social media people, does it. Everyone else is told to close the apps for their own sanity, and you are still expected to be in the comments, in the inbox, watching the feed so your brand does not miss anything or post something tone‑deaf. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-industry-news-roundup-the-biggest-platform-updates-this-week https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-industry-news-roundup-the-biggest-platform-updates-this-week This week in social media industry news: YouTube outlines its 2026 strategy, Meta strengthens its AI infrastructure with NVIDIA and AMD, TikTok reveals its Discover List creators, LinkedIn highlights the fastest-growing marketing skills, and new data shows TikTok brand growth rising as Instagram organic reach slows. Here’s what social media marketers need to know. Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT Mags D'Amato https://www.socialday.live/features/should-social-media-marketers-be-building-personal-brands https://www.socialday.live/features/should-social-media-marketers-be-building-personal-brands Some people just want to do their job properly, look after the brands they are paid to look after, close the laptop and not have to think about filming a “day in the life” to prove they are real and committed to marketing. Both camps exist, and both are valid, but the way the industry talks about “personal branding” makes it sound like homework, and if you are not doing it you are somehow less serious about your career. Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:42:49 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-content-youre-not-posting-is-the-content-thats-costing-you https://www.socialday.live/features/the-content-youre-not-posting-is-the-content-thats-costing-you Most of us in this industry could write a whole strategy deck on the importance of showing up consistently online, and yet somehow our own content is the thing that keeps getting pushed to tomorrow. It's begs the question as to why content paralysis isn't really about ideas or time, it's about the mindset we bring to creating, and what shifts when you finally stop waiting for the perfect moment to post. Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Erica L Somer https://www.socialday.live/features/how-social-media-optimisation-really-works-in-2026 https://www.socialday.live/features/how-social-media-optimisation-really-works-in-2026 Learn how social media optimisation works across TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube in 2026, and how to apply search‑led best practice as a social media professional. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:46:36 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-prove-social-media-roi-without-turning-into-a-fulltime-analyst https://www.socialday.live/features/how-to-prove-social-media-roi-without-turning-into-a-fulltime-analyst Proving social media ROI does not mean you need to become a data scientist or spend your life buried in spreadsheets. It means you need a clear, repeatable way to connect what you do on social to the decisions your stakeholders are trying to make, using numbers they recognise and language they already use elsewhere in the business. Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/boundaries-for-social-media-roles-what-good-looks-like-at-each-level https://www.socialday.live/features/boundaries-for-social-media-roles-what-good-looks-like-at-each-level Most social media roles are sold as “own the socials”, which sounds tidy on a job description but, in reality, often translates into being on call, being in every inbox, being in every meeting and feeling like you have to say yes to anything that might, even loosely, touch a platform. The gap between the neat line in the JD and the mess of the day to day is where a lot of people in social start to feel tired, stressed and worried about how long they can actually keep doing this work. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:54:35 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-career-opportunities-how-to-use-the-career-ladder-to-plan-your-next-move https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-career-opportunities-how-to-use-the-career-ladder-to-plan-your-next-move When people talk about “social media career opportunities”, they often picture a very small set of roles. Coordinator. Manager. Maybe head of social if the company is feeling bold. The reality in 2026 is much broader than that, but from the inside it can still feel like you are on one long, chaotic rung called “doing everything for socials”. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/talk-about-your-social-media-role-so-people-take-it-seriously https://www.socialday.live/features/talk-about-your-social-media-role-so-people-take-it-seriously Most people still think social media means posting and replying. You know it is planning, insight, brand, customers, crisis, and reporting. The problem is that the language people most often use to describe social work hides that reality. This piece is about giving you language that reflects the actual weight of your role so colleagues, hiring managers and leaders can see the real scope of what you do. Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:14:11 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/what-is-a-content-refresh-and-why-it-matters https://www.socialday.live/features/what-is-a-content-refresh-and-why-it-matters Your content doesn’t need a full rewrite to perform better. Sometimes it just needs a glow-up. A content refresh helps you update what already exists so it actually reflects today’s reality (and today’s SEO). Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Kamya Marwah https://www.socialday.live/features/the-unwritten-rules-of-social-media-career-progression https://www.socialday.live/features/the-unwritten-rules-of-social-media-career-progression Social media careers get confusing around the three to five year mark. Your craft is strong, but progression feels vague and other people seem to know “how it works” in a way you do not. In this article, Lucy Hall shares the unwritten rules of social media career progression, from politics and visibility to sideways moves and getting closer to money and decision making, using the Social Media Career Ladder as a guide. Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:25:50 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/no-social-media-managers-are-not-automatically-the-next-cmos https://www.socialday.live/features/no-social-media-managers-are-not-automatically-the-next-cmos Social media managers touch almost every part of the marketing funnel, but that does not mean they are automatically the next CMOs. In this article, Lucy Hall uses the Social Media Career Ladder to unpack the real gap between practitioner and leadership, the extra skills needed to move beyond “running social” and why organisations must change how they think about social careers if they want senior talent to stay. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:42:46 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/creating-excitement-momentum-and-ugc-how-we-design-experiences-people-want-to-share https://www.socialday.live/features/creating-excitement-momentum-and-ugc-how-we-design-experiences-people-want-to-share Events do not start when people arrive or end when they leave. In this article, Lucy Hall pulls back the curtain on how SocialDay designs Social Media Fest as an experience, not just a conference, using a simple “before, during, after” framework to create excitement, momentum and UGC that turns everyday attendees into storytellers. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:40:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-rise-of-moltbook-why-an-ai-only-social-network-is-the-ultimate-industry-rorschach-test https://www.socialday.live/features/the-rise-of-moltbook-why-an-ai-only-social-network-is-the-ultimate-industry-rorschach-test Moltbook has reached 1.6 million AI agents, but what does a human-free social network mean for the $200 billion digital marketing industry? Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:54:57 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-complete-legal-setup-for-influencers-a-practical-guide https://www.socialday.live/features/the-complete-legal-setup-for-influencers-a-practical-guide Influencing is a business, so you need a basic legal setup. This checklist covers the essentials: the right entity, core contracts, IP protection, disclosures, taxes, and the risks creators get sued for. Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:35:54 GMT Alexandra Tokareva https://www.socialday.live/features/i-use-an-adapted-version-of-cpe-and-maybe-you-should-too https://www.socialday.live/features/i-use-an-adapted-version-of-cpe-and-maybe-you-should-too Cost per Engagement can be a little….. misleading. Why? Well it treats all engagements as the same - when they’re not. This article proposes an adapted formula that you could be using instead. Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:30:31 GMT Brithney Daley https://www.socialday.live/features/ai-will-not-steal-your-social-media-job-but-these-skills-will-decide-who-thrives https://www.socialday.live/features/ai-will-not-steal-your-social-media-job-but-these-skills-will-decide-who-thrives An in depth guide for social media marketers worried about AI and their careers. It plugs into the Social Media Career Ladder framework and shows how AI changes the skills needed at each level, from entry to head of social. Skills are grouped into three buckets craft, commercial and meta and the article explains which tasks AI can support and which always need human judgment. Ideal for in house, agency and freelance social pros who want to stay relevant and move up without burning out. Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:16:09 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/what-skills-do-you-actually-need-to-be-a-social-media-marketing-specialist https://www.socialday.live/features/what-skills-do-you-actually-need-to-be-a-social-media-marketing-specialist Learn about the key skills that matter most at social media specialist level, using the same simple framework from the Sauce's career ladder: craft, commercial and meta skills Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-influencer-contract-checklist-avoid-red-flags-in-brand-agreements https://www.socialday.live/features/the-influencer-contract-checklist-avoid-red-flags-in-brand-agreements A “standard” influencer contract can still hide terms that shift risk onto you. Here's a quick checklist of the clauses that matter most: scope, approvals, usage rights, payment, and more. So, you don’t sign away time, money, or control. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Alexandra Tokareva https://www.socialday.live/features/from-cv-graveyard-to-creator-playground-linkedins-identity-shift https://www.socialday.live/features/from-cv-graveyard-to-creator-playground-linkedins-identity-shift LinkedIn didn’t suddenly become “cool”, work itself changed, and the platform evolved with it. As careers became less linear and more visible, professionals started sharing real experiences: pivots, growth, doubt, and lessons in motion. That human layer transformed LinkedIn from a digital CV into a space for professional identity, voice, and influence. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT Nefise Tasdelen https://www.socialday.live/features/the-best-content-strategy https://www.socialday.live/features/the-best-content-strategy LinkedIn Articles are quietly becoming one of the most powerful ways to build credibility. They help your ideas travel further, grow a loyal subscriber base, and shape how AI systems understand who you are and what you stand for. In 2026, reputation is built through clear thinking, consistently shared. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:37:42 GMT Andy Lambert https://www.socialday.live/features/the-social-media-career-ladder-part-2-how-you-actually-move-up https://www.socialday.live/features/the-social-media-career-ladder-part-2-how-you-actually-move-up The first version of the Social Media Career Ladder laid out the rungs: entry level, exec/manager, senior, head of social and beyond. This follow‑up is about what really gets you from one rung to the next, the skills, behaviours and mindset shifts that don’t fit neatly in a job description. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:19:11 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/the-mosseri-memo-decoding-instagrams-massive-feature-wave-and-what-it-means-for-your-strategy https://www.socialday.live/features/the-mosseri-memo-decoding-instagrams-massive-feature-wave-and-what-it-means-for-your-strategy Instagram is pivoting from follower counts to 'Sends' and long-form Reels. Here is everything you need to know about Adam Mosseri's latest updates. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:32:31 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-giants-face-landmark-addiction-trial https://www.socialday.live/features/social-media-giants-face-landmark-addiction-trial Meta and YouTube face a historic trial over claims that platform design features like infinite scroll cause youth mental health harm. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:03:32 GMT Lydia Woellwarth https://www.socialday.live/features/tiktok-exodus-us-deletions-surge-150percent-following-usds-launch-and-terms-of-service-backlash https://www.socialday.live/features/tiktok-exodus-us-deletions-surge-150percent-following-usds-launch-and-terms-of-service-backlash TikTok faces a crisis as U.S. deletions jump 150% following a controversial joint venture launch and privacy concerns. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:45:32 GMT Lucy Hall https://www.socialday.live/features/metas-new-subscription-play-what-the-premium-shift-means-for-social-strategy https://www.socialday.live/features/metas-new-subscription-play-what-the-premium-shift-means-for-social-strategy Meta is testing premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Here is what social pros need to know about the shift to paid features. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT Lucy Hall