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Tag: social media

Meet Conrad Navarro

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Transcend Ideas graphic featuring new team member and image of Conrad Navarro, copywriter.

Meet Conrad Navarro! He’s been copywriting for about 7 years and has been good for about 6. Born and raised in the Indiana part of Chicago, he did a bit of everything before landing at Transcend to be their Swiss Army writer. Get to know him a little more from the Q&A below!

What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?

I love working on new things; anytime I get to explore a new topic I get excited. That being said, any client/account that lets me be funny or use puns is 10/10. Professionally, I just want to keep wearing more and more hats, move up the creative ladder, get more experience and eventually run a team.

Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?

Anywhere I can get it. I watch a ton of movies, shows, read books, etc. I’ll also troll Pinterest or Ads of the World; you never know what might spark sometimes.

Picture of Conrad and his cat

What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?

More world travel! I had big international plans at the beginning of 2020. You’ll never guess what put them off.

What small object in your house means the most to you and why?

I’m a big tchotchke collector, so I have a ton. A few tops would be the Buddha statue my grandpa got from Japan when he was stationed there, my grandma’s bolo tie (that lives in my car), and the ceramic cat jar my girlfriend made — among the tons of other things littering my shelves.

what advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their
messaging and brand?

Find what sets you apart, find the audience looking for that exact thing, and lean into that heavily. If you try to appeal to everyone all the time, you’re gonna have a bad time.

Transcend Ideas graphic that reads: "What advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand? Find what sets you apart, find the audience looking for that exact thing and lean into that heavily. If you try to appeal to everyone all the time, you're gonna have a bad time."

How do you like to spend your free time?

Besides hanging with my cat, I love watching movies. I also play in a few bands on the side for fun, so playing music.

Who keeps you inspired and why?

My grandma, she had the craziest work ethic and kept her positivity through some really hard times. Also my girlfriend, she’s a teacher and a super talented artist in so many mediums.

Image of Conrad when he was young, in a devil costume for Halloween

What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?

Things will almost never work out how you plan. Be willing to adapt and roll with the punches, because there will be punches.

What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?

I’m grateful for my family for always supporting me and my friends for being ride or dies. I don’t think I’d be where I am without those systems.

What are you proud of right now?


About a year ago I was part of a pretty big layoff from an agency, but I was able to rely on my freelance chops to keep my head above water.

Also, my band just finished recording an EP I’ve been excited about for years. Each song is devoted to our favorite Chicago dives.

Image of Conrad playing in a band

Want to work with Conrad for your next fundraising project? Schedule a time to meet with Heather and discuss how Conrad can help your organization reach their marketing goals!

Meet Johanna Denmark

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Transcend Ideas braned graphic titled: "Johanna Denmark, content creator" with image of Jojo and her dog.

Meet Johanna Denmark—better known as Jojo—the newest member of the Transcend Ideas team! We’re thrilled to welcome her as a designer and copywriter. Jojo brings a fresh, local perspective to content creation and design, giving her valuable insight into how our clients can best connect with their audiences.

She also brings several years of experience supporting nonprofits, including Integrated Waste & Recycling in Jackson. Living on the Idaho side of the Tetons, Jojo loves spending time outdoors exploring our beautiful communities and trail systems with her dog, Archie. Get to know her better in the Q&A below.

What are your favorite projects to work on and how do you want to grow professionally?

I love creating things from scratch, and having general creative freedom. I want to continue to develop my graphic design skills!

Where do you pull inspiration from for creative work?

My everyday life! I also love looking at what other people I admire are creating, and getting inspiration from that.

Jojo in Pinedale

What’s a bucket list item you’ve held off on completing for years and when do you hope to complete it?

Going to the Basque Region of Spain, but we’re going to go in the Spring of 2026!

What small object in your house means the most to you and why?

Hmm, this isn’t an object, but my most favorite thing about my house is that my dog Archie lives there. He makes life so much fun!

what advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their
messaging and brand?

Lean into the fun side of things. Be unapologetic about taking up space in an original
way.

Graphic for new team member, Jojo. "What advice do you have for small businesses looking to amplify their messaging and brand? Lean into the fun side of things, be unapologetic about taking up space in an original way.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Generally outside, or with a good book. Or both. I just really enjoy spending my free time around people I love!

Who keeps you inspired and why?

Loads of people keep me inspired, including my closest friends and family.

What’s your favorite life lesson you’ve ever learned and held on to?

Never stop learning.

What are you grateful for? What are you hopeful for?

I’m grateful for the opportunity to do the things I love, both professionally and personally. I am always hopeful for the future!

What are you proud of right now?

I’m really proud of myself for following my heart and pursuing a career that brings me joy & fulfillment.

Want to work on Jojo for your next project? Schedule a time to meet with Heather and discuss how Jojo can help fit the role for your organization’s marketing goals!

Building a Content Strategy for Social Media

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Developing a content strategy for your business’s social media can be intimidating. With a packed schedule, setting aside time for social media strategy might seem challenging. However, an intentional social media strategy is essential. It not only saves you time but also enhances the quality and value of your brand.

Let’s break down our recommended approach and keep it simple for you.

Step 1: Define Goals

Begin by aligning your social media marketing goals with your business objectives. Review your business objectives and consider how social media can help achieve these long-term goals.

Step 2: Identify Your Audience

Ask crucial questions about your target audience. Is the content tailored to their preferences? Which social media platforms are most effective in reaching them? It’s not necessary to post across all channels; find the ones that work best for your brand.

Step 3: Content Audit + Determine Content Pillars

Once you’ve defined your goals and identified your target audience, proceed with a content audit. Analyze the analytics of your past posts to find common qualities. This analysis forms the basis for determining your content pillars — the primary topics your business consistently addresses. Maintaining a focus on these pillars ensures your content remains organized, relevant, and authoritative.

Step 4: Organize & Plan Content

With these defined content pillars, you’re primed to initiate the content creation process. Kick things off by brainstorming a comprehensive list of content ideas, utilizing your content pillars as a guiding framework. This list will serve as an archive for your ideas, proving valuable when you find yourself in need of inspiration.

Simultaneously, establish a content calendar to strategically plan when your content will be published. This ensures your social media plan remains organized and consistently engages your audience. For an added layer of efficiency, contemplate integrating a social media scheduling platform into your workflow. While several options are available, at Transcend Ideas, we like Loomy!

Step 5: Analyze and Measure Performance

Dive into analytics to gauge content performance. Business profiles on social channels often have accessible analytics. Enhance insights using tools like Hootsuite or Semrush for a deeper analysis. 

Step 6: Keep Churning out Content

Once a strategy is established, maintain consistency. On a monthly basis, allocate dedicated time to strategize and plan your upcoming content. Being intentional with your social media will save you time in the long run.

Feeling overwhelmed? Transcend Ideas has helped numerous brands and organizations develop social media content strategies. Let us assist you, too.

Social Media Building a Content Strategy for Social Media. "Feeling overwhelmed with social media? Let's get coffee" graphic.

Hashtags Banned vs Allowed

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Did you know that Instagram has taken a stand against certain hashtags? Yep, they’ve implemented a ban to make sure those hashtags don’t get associated with any flagged content. It’s all about protecting users and businesses from potentially harmful or inappropriate stuff. So, if you want to keep your social media game strong, stick to using only approved hashtags.

Now, let’s talk about the power of hashtags!

Hashtags play a significant role in social media, allowing individuals to express themselves and explore new ideas. They enable users to share their experiences, perspectives, and achievements, connecting with people and places they may have never reached before. By simply clicking on a hashtag, you can discover a world that relates to your interests, location, and hobbies. Hashtags bring humanity to the internet, injecting emotion into an otherwise flat digital landscape.

Where does the problem lie?

However, the power of storytelling through hashtags can also attract negative elements. Some individuals and accounts exploit the platform for their own gain, providing no value to users. To combat this, Instagram has banned certain hashtags that have been flagged by the community for various reasons. By using a banned hashtag, you risk connecting with inappropriate or objectionable content.

Meta hashtags now offer a tool to check if a hashtag is banned. This tool allows you to verify whether the content you are sharing or connecting with is acceptable and approved by Instagram’s community standards. Banned hashtags include those that feature obscene phrases, explicit or violent material, and those associated with spam or bot accounts. Using banned hashtags repeatedly may result in a shadow ban, temporarily limiting engagement on your Instagram account until the issue is resolved.

Here are a few banned hashtag you should avoid using all together:

#valentinesday
#single
#nasty
#besties
#alone
#adulting
#dating
#humpday
#mustfollow
#parties
#workflow
#thought

Hashtags that connect to proven spam or bot accounts and other content that directly violates Instagram’s community standards will be banned, as well. If you are found repeatedly using banned hashtags, a shadow ban may be placed on any Instagram account. A shadow ban is a temporary limit to any account, they bring your engagement to low or none until there is a resolution to the problem.

Find the complete list of banned hashtags, access the list via desktop or on the Instagram app with the most recent additions. Make sure you stay up to date with what content is being nixed on Instagram so you don’t lose quality engagement from your viewers!

Keep Telling Your Story!

Despite these precautions, it’s crucial to keep sharing your story on Instagram. By maintaining high standards and adhering to community guidelines, you contribute to a positive online environment. At Transcend Ideas, we are eager to connect with you, discover your story, and help amplify your message to those seeking the services you offer. Join us on the bright side of Instagram!

Let Transcend Ideas help find the perfect balance of social media to use in your marketing campaigns and strategy. Let’s get coffee today!