What you can learn from 3 execs crushing it on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn
Plus C2C creators you need to know about, the art of taking a break and tools to refine your digital strategy.
Hello! Welcome to the M.T. Deco newsletter where we’re sharing digital & social media tools, insights, guest essays and more for entrepreneurs, creators and working professionals.
If you’d like to share an idea or have a specific question, email hello@mtdecoagency.com.
Thank you for being here and enjoy!⚡️
Melissa
Breaking down 3 exec digital strategies
We’re introducing you to three incredible creators who also just happen to have, you know, jobs. Here are our top takeaways from each:
Eva Chen on Instagram
Eva’s day job is Director of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram, so it’s not really a surprise that she knows the ins and outs of the platform so well, but she started building a following before she actually worked there. Notes on Eva:
Work your digital strategy into your day: Eva’s signature franchise is the #EvaChenPose. The snaps have become iconic to Eva’s followers: a photo of her shoes, next to her bag and a piece of fruit, in the back of a New York City cab.
Show your face: If Instagram is your chosen platform, posting images of you will almost always perform better.
Post to Stories daily: Eva posts a lot of her day-to-day life, especially with her husband and kids, which is a great way to build interest for another audience that is important to her since she’s now the author of several children’s books.
Erika Kullberg on TikTok
Erika is an attorney who has taken off on social media, especially on TikTok where she has 9.1 million followers. Notes on Erika:
Repurpose what works: Erika has had a lot of success with her videos about travel hacks and loopholes, and will repurpose those videos to get even more out of them.
Don’t try too hard: Although plenty of research goes into Erika’s videos, they still feel like a low-lift production-wise.
Title your videos: Almost all of Erika’s content is evergreen, and she uses the text-on-screen option to add short titles to her thumbnails for easy reference.
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Austin Belcak on LinkedIn
Austin started his career with a job he hated, and when he tried to pivot, he realized he’d have to get creative when going after jobs in new industries. Eventually, he landed a job at Microsoft and, on the side, started sharing what he learned from an exhaustive job search. Notes on Austin:
Perfect your hook: In the Creative Elements podcast, Austin talks about how he tracks the performance of all of his posts, and says the most important element is the hook, which is those first few lines before you have to click “...see more” to read the rest of the post.
Batch content: Posting multiple times a week like Austin can be a daunting task, but he has a secret we love and practice at MTD: batch writing, which he explained last year on the Creative Elements podcast.
Mix in newsworthy content: Evergreen content is great, but it’s important to not let relevant trends pass you by.
🤓 study up on the MTD blog
ones to watch: the C2C economy
Curated by Megan Collins, Gen Z expert and Cultural Insights Analyst.
We’re taking an ongoing look at all types of creators in this current ‘creator economy’ era, starting with three that are leading the charge in entrepreneurship:
Taylor Loren
When it comes to Instagram strategy, Taylor is always one step ahead of the curve:
You may know her as “Taylor from Later.” Luckily I stumbled across her IG and found she’s a great resource for up-to-the-minute updates on IG with tips, tricks, templates & courses for creating content whether you’re an “influencer” or just work & create in the space.
Colin & Samir
My go-to source for cutting edge YouTuber & creator perspectives:
These YouTubers are at the forefront of the C2C economy and they know it. With 1.11M subscribers on YouTube and 50k on Twitter, they are a go-to source for a well-versed view into the business of being a creator via their The Publish Press newsletter & podcast.
Keke Palmer
As a longtime Keke Palmer fan, I’m living for her meteoric rise:
Child star turned Emmy winning actress and entertainment mogul, Keke Palmer is a force. In addition to starring in Jordan Peele’s hit blockbuster Nope, she also launched a digital network KeyTV. No stranger to the workings of the internet & the business, the meme queen is uniquely poised to guide “a new generation of creators.”
more from Megan on the MTD blog
#foryou
the art of taking a break
Throughout my career, I’ve often learned the most from those working right alongside me. Jamie Finn is one of those people, and even more so now as she navigates the aftershocks of a terrifying parenting experience that happened over the holidays. In a recent guest essay, she graciously shares her story and opens a provocative convo about the many nuances of ‘taking a break.’
I’m proud to share Jamie’s message with you and to support her in this chapter. Head to the MTD Blog to read her full essay - I’d love to hear what you think.
Melissa
connect with Jamie here and here
what is GEN Z up-to?
Here’s 4 of the latest Get Z apps if you want to know what the kids are up to and whether you should hop on the bandwagon → CapCut, Kiwi, Shuffles, BeReal
for an in-depth look at each app, head here
inspo
Notes from Melissa Blum, M.T. Deco Founder & CEO
As we settle into 2023, I’m feeling focused, optimistic and energized. Last year, we hit a lot of major milestones and this year is about applying what we learned. Simplicity, creativity and premium quality is my new mantra. To that end, here’s a look at what I’ve been up to and things that caught my eye:
My family and I explored the Diego Rivera’s America exhibit at the SF MOMA and I particularly enjoyed revisiting his controversial work that was chiseled off the wall in Rockefeller Center in 1934 -as a former NBC Page, it’s a commonly asked portion on the studio tours:
Anyone who knows me, knows I love a to-do list - especially for new habits. Emma Marshall whipped up an MTD branded habit tracker that I’m happily using - download it below 💌
for more - including a podcast rec, a must-follow pr / crisis communications creator, and the vibe we all need rn - head here