A Marketer (& Cartoonist) Talks Drawing Your Way To Social Media Success
B&T caught up with veteran marketer, cartoonist and founder of Marketoonist, Tom Fishburne (main photo), prior to his talk at this week’s Engage Bali (by Socialbakers) Social Media Summit. Here, he talks “content traps” and the dangers of chasing the “next shiny thing”.
You’re speaking at the Social Media Summit, what can the audience expect?
I’m speaking as both a cartoonist and a marketer. My topic is “everything I needed to know about social media marketing, I learned by drawing cartoons.” While working in marketing for brands like Haagen-Dazs, Yoplait, and Method. I drew a weekly cartoon about marketing, which grew in popularity largely because of social media. Along the way, some of the lessons I discovered as a weekly cartoonist made me a better marketer in my day job. Eventually, I started working with brands on custom cartoon series and ultimately transitioned to do that full-time. I realised that there are some timeless characteristics of cartoons that can help any form of social media communication.
What’s been the most exciting thing to happen in social media over the past 12 months?
We’re in the midst of a reckoning on content marketing that I think is very healthy. P&G CMO Marc Pritchard diagnosed their company’s marketing as haven fallen into a “content crap trap”. Last year, Marc raised a siren call on a number of issues in marketing, some of which included a mandate to raise the bar on creativity. I think we’re seeing an important social media shift from a firehose approach to more crafted and higher quality creative.
What works and what doesn’t?
I think that marketers frequently fall prey to “shiny object syndrome” and misjudge an exciting social media channel for a strategy. I sometimes hear marketers talk about their “Snapchat strategy”, for example, but that puts the cart before the horse. What’s of primary importance is the strategy behind the brand, and secondarily, how particular social media tactics could bring that strategy to life.
There’s a HUGE issue around trust in all forms of media at the moment. What’s your view on that in relation to social media?
Social media has long provided a litmus test for brand trust. It shifts the balance of power away from brands in how brands present themselves. Brands need to have a clear compass on what they stand for. Brand trust takes continued long-term investment to build and can be extinguished in a moment. Social media is an important tool to build that trust and can also be a catalyst to extinguish it.
How are brands still getting their social media wrong?
I think that brands invest too much focus on virality instead of continuity. I still see that bias in creative briefs. What’s more important than a piece of communication going viral is continual investment in building a relationship with an audience over time.
Where should social media fit in a brand’s overall media/marketing mix?
Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes once said that “it’s not about doing digital marketing; it’s about marketing effectively in a digital world.” I think the same is true for social media. It’s not about doing social media; it’a about marketing effectively in a social world. Social media should be integrated into all aspects of media and marketing planning and not treated as a standalone silo.
What’s your advice to CMOs confused about investing in their social media strategy?
I believe we’ve evolved beyond the question of whether to invest in social media as part of an integrated marketing plan. Given that we’re living in a social world, our customers expect to engage with our brands through social media. Yet, I also think that social media has matured enough to have a seat at the table, and that means talking about social media programs with a P&L mindset. Social media marketers need to have more of a general management mentality.
Who’s a brand (not yours) that you think is nailing its social media and why?
Betabrand is a clothing brand in San Francisco that has described itself as “1% fashion, 99% fiction.” They’ve developed a brand built on continuous sharable stories. Social media is not a bolt-on for Betabrand, but is instead in the DNA of every item of clothing that make. This allows them to compete against far bigger brands with deeper pockets.
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc – what’s your platform of choice?
Cartoons as a medium are agnostic, so I experiment with all platforms. Most of my cartoon work is designed to reach business audiences, so I’m a particularly big fan of LinkedIn. Its not only a good audience fit, I find it very well-suited for thought-leadership pieces and higher caliber engagement.
Looking deep into your crystal ball, what’s the next BIG thing coming for brands in the social media space?
My hope is that brands can ultimately move beyond always looking for the next big thing, and instead focus on maturing the programs already in place. That said, I think that increasing role of paid media versus organic reach will continue to shape how brands invest in social media.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Engage Bali Marketoonist Social Media Summit SocialBakers Tom FishburneLatest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.