Starling Social

The holidays are a whirlwind, but don’t forget to add rest to your list. Enjoy moments with loved ones, reduce the stress that comes with busy schedules, and keep your energy up for the things that matter. While none of our clients will see an interruption in service, our offices will be closed from December 24 to January 3. Have a happy holiday season, and give yourself permission to pause. [ID: Make rest a priority this holiday season. Closed December 24-January 2. A purple starry night in the background]

As you’re thinking ahead to next year, it’s a great idea to plot out your 2025 marketing needs in a calendar if you haven’t already.🗓️ At our quarterly meeting with the Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba Inc. this December, we discussed the organization’s major events, campaigns, and plans for 2025. With this knowledge, we can work backward, ensuring we have enough lead-up time and creativity to execute successful and strategic social posts! Start your planning now to make sure 2025 is your most successful year yet! [ID: Plot out your 2025 marketing needs in a calendar - a woman in front of a large calendar] #WinnipegBusiness #SocialMediaStrategy #MarketingStrategy #BusinessTips

The holidays are often a time of joy and special moments, but they can feel heavy and overwhelming for those navigating grief. Acknowledging your feelings is an important first step. Here are some tips from Shared Health-Soins Communs: 1️⃣Be open about your needs: Let others know if gatherings may be difficult and plan strategies for tough moments, like stepping outside or seeking support. 2️⃣Set boundaries: Say no to invitations or tasks that feel overwhelming, and take breaks when needed. 3️⃣Modify traditions: Consider starting new traditions to honour your loved one’s memory while creating space for joy and sadness. 4️⃣Prioritize self-care: Small acts like taking a walk, enjoying a favourite song, or sticking to a sleep routine can help improve your mood. Be kind to yourself and others who may also be grieving, and access mental health resources if needed for extra support. [ID: Monochromatic background with a close-up of a tattooed arm resting on a surface near a laptop. Overlaid in the foreground is a white rectangular box containing the Starling Social logo at the top, followed by the title text, "Grieving During the Holiday Season"] #NavigatingGrief #HolidayWellness #MentalHealthMatters #SelfCareTips #GriefSupport

We are welcoming a new Director to the team: Luke Thiessen. Luke is a longtime friend and collaborator who has been involved with Starling since its founding. A graduate of the Creative Communications program at Red River, he has spent more than a decade creating content, directing communications strategy and leading teams across a variety of industries and sectors. He is taking over leadership of the Starling Social team and looks forward to working with our clients as we enter this next chapter for the agency. Our team wholeheartedly agrees that Luke is the natural fit to continue growing Starling. His skillset and experience complements our team, and as Alyson’s close friend, he knows and supports the direction and goals of the company. 💜We feel good knowing another person with a big heart, and the same values, is continuing her legacy. Read more about him in our blog: https://lnkd.in/gUMRdXgs

The University of Winnipeg has set up the Alyson Shane Memorial Award in Rhetoric. Their goal is to raise $35,000. A gift of any size will honour Alyson’s memory and support underrepresented students studying Rhetoric, Writing and Communications at The University of Winnipeg. Give online or return a pledge form by email to development.uwf@uwinnipeg.ca, or call The University of Winnipeg Foundation at (204) 786-9995. All donations are tax-deductible. 💜Give here: https://lnkd.in/g8ufrStJ [ID: Alyson Shane memorial award in rhetoric - Alyson Shane on a purple and green background] #Scholarship #EducationMatters #StudentSupport #CommunitySupport #GivingBack

You’re about to see Starling Social content pop up on your feed again. Just like a murmuration of Starlings, Alyson Shane built a team that moves in sync, adjusts to each other's actions and stays aligned with the bigger picture. Her bigger picture was to support good businesses and non-profits doing great work in their communities. Having a person with a big heart at the head of Starling is what made it so successful. Our team all genuinely loves what we do and wanted to continue to do great work for our clients. That part was an easy yes. Alyson always valued transparency, and that hasn’t changed. If you have a question about Starling Social, send us a DM or leave a comment below. We know you have questions, and we’ve got (some) answers. Read our latest blog post to find out more: https://buff.ly/4ffEQri

Celebration of Life  📍Robert A Steen Community Club, 980 Palmerston Ave 🗓Saturday, November 16 🕐2:00 PM Alyson loved this city. She embraced the art, food, entertainment, and local shops that make it thrive. Because of this love, Starling Social helped elevate the presence of many businesses here — and internationally. Her big laugh, entrepreneurial spirit and smart mouth 😜 will be greatly missed in the networking spaces, craft breweries, across the internet and by everyone who had the chance to get to know her. She sponsored events and donated her time to organizations, including SPARK!, Manitoba Music, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Vote Open Winnipeg, Winnipeg Women's Community, The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and more. In 2021, Alyson was awarded Volunteer Manitoba's "SPARK Pro Bono Consultant Award." She was also a finalist for several awards, including the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and Spirit of Winnipeg. Alyson Shane was a unique and brilliant light and energy in this world who lit up every room. We send our condolences to her husband, John Luxford II; parents, Alan and Deborah Shane; brothers, Alex and Michael; grandma, Mary; aunt Lori (Russell); sisters-in-law, Amanda, Lauren and Emily; nephew Zach; and niece, Alita. Alyson was predeceased by her niece, Sienna. She will be greatly missed - whether you knew her personally or knew of her, Alyson will not soon be forgotten. 👉Donations to the Main Street Project Inc. are appreciated: https://lnkd.in/g7tD_cQf

Last chance to register for Volunteer Manitoba's Content Creation Workshop: Unlocking the Power of Strategic Content with Alyson Shane. Learning Objectives: ➢ Why is content important and how can it help you achieve your goals ➢ Content types overview (eg: website content, blogs, email marketing, social media, etc.) ➢ Content differences by platforms and place (eg: what works on LinkedIn vs. what works on Instagram) ➢ How to develop "content pillars" for your NPO ➢ How to think strategically about creating content ➢ How to develop a content calendar to stay on track Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/gf6_fmwS #professionaldevelopment #nonprofit #winnipegnonprofits #socialmediastrategy #winnipeg [ID: Content Creation Workshop: Unlocking the Power of Strategic Content - Nov 7 - Photo of Alyson Shane on her phone and computer on a purple background] 

Do you have a succession plan for your marketing team? If you don't have an appropriate plan to safeguard your accounts, you could lose access to: ➵ Your accounts ➵ Admin settings ➵ Running Ads ➵ Billing information ➵ Other It's a pain. To help combat that do these few things: 1️⃣ Have all of your passwords are stored in a secure location, accessible to your team. Document all of your admin roles 2️⃣ If a team member leaves, make sure they have assigned and trained another person to fulfill their duties 3️⃣ Make sure that your organization owns your accounts Do you have questions? We have answers. #SuccessionPlan #MarketingStrategy #MarketingDigital #Winnipeg

Alyson never imagined herself as a person who would thrive as a manager, but her team helped her build a company culture that she’s very proud of, where we all feel heard, supported, and can collaborate on any kind of project. Read our blog post to learn more about Alyson Shane, what she does for fun, how Starling started, and how she worked through the challenges of growing a business: https://lnkd.in/e_-hb3Hk [Image description: A quote from Alyson Shane about how proud she is to work with a unique and talented team. Alyson is talking on the phone and smiling in the background] #CompanyCulture #WorkplaceCulture #SmallBusinessWinnipeg #SocialMediaManagement