Seafood Expo Global Series - Seafood is off bench and into the social media game

Whew, day three of Seafood Expo Global 2024 is in the rearview mirror and we’re feeling a surge of revived energy and excitement for what’s to come. Pop the bubbly cause this win is for the books!

After having many conversations with industry leaders we became aware of a notable tide shift at this year's conference and that is, drum roll please… the industry FINALLY seems to be recognizing social media as a valuable asset and welcoming its opportunity.

Now that we’re all on the same page, it's time to move into the next phase of this journey together. While social media remains uncharted territory for many seafood brands, it’s our second language and we’re highly fluent. We’ve been waiting patiently on the bench to show you what we’re made of so put us in the game, Coach!

So what’s next? Strategy, development and execution. If you’re just stepping out onto the field, these things can be a little intimidating. Audience segmentation, planning, quality, post cadence; it’s a lot to keep track of, and it can be daunting if you haven’t grown up with a scrolling machine firmly affixed to your hand.

But don’t run away from the challenge and keep your eye on the prize! It’s hard to ignore the staggering stats about social use. There are 5.17 billion social media users worldwide and 90% of users follow at least one brand. Even more juicy, Forbes reported 76% of social media users have made purchases based on what they viewed on social platforms. Who doesn’t love a little data-driven motivation?

These stats paint a clear picture of the shift in consumer behavior towards more direct and engaged relationships with brands. It's not just about having a presence on social media; it's about leveraging that presence to establish and maintain brand loyalty.

Today's brands are held to a higher standard than ever before, with social media raising the bar for increased accountability in real time. As noted in Forbes, this presents a huge opportunity for businesses to adopt transparent and authentic social strategies to foster strong brand-consumer bonds, and we want to help seafood get in on the action.

So how and where to start if you’re new to the game? Strategy development is key.

Posting on social media without a strategy is committing digital media suicide. It’s like the quarterback throwing the ball without knowing the play — it's likely to end up in the wrong hands headed for the opposite end zone, or dead on the ground. And no offense, but seafood ain’t heading to the social media Super Bowl anytime soon, so it’s time to get in gear and rally for some two-a-day practice sessions.

Social media strategy requires careful thought and attention. Building a playbook is essential, including considerations for target audiences, channels, messaging, content calendar planning, and content pillars.

Each post should serve a purpose, whether as part of an individual campaign or contributing to long-term brand awareness.

But what about social media management? Well, that’s something entirely different and it falls squarely into the execution category. Effective management requires not only strategic planning but also consistent monitoring, engagement, and adaptation. And that is a big fish to slay another day (which we’ll be here to help you do, so stay tuned!)

This shift towards recognizing the importance of social media was without a doubt the most promising takeaway from our experience at SEG and a massive step forward for the industry as a whole. However, it's essential to move beyond awareness and hit the field with well constructed strategy, execution and impact. So when you’re ready to hit the social game and need a serious coach to draw up the plays, we’ve got you covered.

Tell us, do you think seafood is ready to go Pro in the social media field, or does it need a serious training regimen?