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As we turn the corner into June our co-CEO Ashley Cooksley spoke with MediaPost about considerations when planning a Pride social media campaign to ensure that brands are making social better and positively impacting the LGBTQ+ community. Full article in the comments and our top tips: 1. Year-Round Commitment - Ensure your support for LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion is consistent throughout the year, not just during Pride Month. Maintain a history of support and allyship that can be tracked and verified by consumers. 2. Long-Term Partnerships - Prioritize long-term partnerships with influencers for more authentic and successful content. 3. Authentic Influencers - Consider working with micro- and nano-influencers who are more relatable and respected within the LGBTQ+ community. 4. Inclusive Decision-Making - Involve LGBTQ+ voices in the planning stages to create genuine and bias-free campaigns, and to include real stories and experiences. 5. Response Plan - Have a strategy to address any negative feedback, ensuring responses are consistent with your brand’s values. If you would like to discuss your brand’s social plans around Pride then please reach out. #makesocialbetter #socialmediaagency #socialmediamarketing #pridemonth

Authentic LGBTQ+ representation in advertising isn't just about inclusivity, it's about connecting with a diverse audience, building brand loyalty, and reflecting the real world we live in. Partnering with organizations like GLAAD can help brands create impactful campaigns that resonate with the LGBTQ+ community, driving growth and positive social change. Learn more on how you can ensure your ads are inclusive → https://goo.gle/4cA6j65

First Pride issue of the Aura Creative newsletter out now!! Learn how brands can actually support the LGBTQ+ community, sing along to camp classics, and get inspired by the full saturated spectrum. Click below to read!

In LGBTQ+ marketing, where and how a brand shows up is just as important as the message because we "seek brands that seek us." Partnering with LGBTQ+ media and engaging with queer creators via social is one of the best ways to make that clear. Check out some more news-you-can-use below.

We love spending time with queer marketing thought-leaders. Recently, T10 president Matt Tumminello was joined by Devon Christopher Johnson, Kaylyn Blackmore, Scott Gatz and Todd Murray to discuss the potential of LGBTQ+ media and queer content creators to reach LGBTQ+ consumers at the ANA AIMM's 2nd annual media upfront for diverse-owned media. ICYMI 👇 • 20% of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ+. For a brand to connect with Gen Z, it must connect with queer consumers. • We “seek brands that seek us.” Partnering with LGBTQ+ media shows an intentionality that contextual targeting does not. • Queer content wins with queer consumers. • The road to queer authenticity is through LGBTQ+ media, content, creators and events. • Queer cultural competence is often not found at general market agencies. • Brand success stories are growing. Panelists discussed brand collaborations and how they are achieving growth beyond expectations. Thanks to this fantastic set of leaders and their respective companies: Q.Digital equalpride BleuLife Media Gaybors Agency

In recent years, LGBTQ+ influencers like Alysse Dalessandro have relied on Pride Month for brand sponsorships. However, there's been a noticeable decline in sponsorships this year, attributed to brands' reluctance stemming from anti-LGBTQ+ pressure. Target's scaled-back Pride offerings reflect this trend. While some companies are still celebrating Pride, they are doing so more quietly and cautiously. Despite this, marketing budgets remain strong, prompting concerns that brands may miss out on a sizable LGBTQ+ consumer base if they don't engage with the community. Queer-identifying Americans represent $1.4 trillion in U.S. spending power, according to investment advisor LGBT Capital. Despite concerns about missing out on LGBTQ+ consumer spending, there's a shift towards year-round support over relying solely on Pride Month merchandising. Some brands, such as Target, highlight ongoing LGBTQ+ support, but this is seen as a minority effort. Overall, consultants note no widespread retreat from LGBTQ+ support among brands, with some even increasing their efforts, recognizing the importance of engaging with this community. Source: Modern Retail #PrideMonth #InfluencerMarketing #MarketingStrategy #ConsumerSpending

Young LGBTQ+ individuals are some of the most active users on social media, clocking in an average of five hours daily on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Reddit. Social media is more than just a connection tool for LGBTQ+ young people—it's a powerful influence on their lifestyle and purchasing decisions, especially in fashion. 🔍 Key Insights: 📈 LGBTQ+ youth are not only consuming content but creating it. 56% of LGBTQ+ youth create their own content for a broader audience beyond friends and family, compared to 44% of non-LGBTQ+ youth. 🤝 72% of LGBTQ+ youth have friends on social media they've never met in real life, highlighting the importance of these digital spaces for building communities. 🎭 While social media offers inspiration and connection, it's a double-edged sword. LGBTQ+ youth are +6 points more likely to say social media has a negative impact on them personally (40% LGBTQ+ vs 34% of non-LGBTQ+). Creating positive online spaces for self-expression and community building is crucial. Understanding these dynamics can help brands and organizations better connect with and support LGBTQ+ youth. Dive deeper into youth culture by becoming a subscriber to our weekly trend and behavioral reports, with specific filters for gamers and LGBTQ+ youth. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gahMexNq #PrideMonth #LGBTQYouth #SocialMediaTrends #YouthCulture #YPulseInsights #DigitalCommunity #ContentCreation

Too many people underestimate the power of the queer community. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 I see it time and time again from social media and influencer marketing managers. They put out content that caters to the LGBTQ+ community and see record-high engagement and results and they're surprised?! I'm not. Because I know the power of my community. Last week, I saw a post from Alex Ighalo making the point that LGBTQ+ creators often have higher levels of engagement, and attention. It was so good to see someone else in this industry talking about this because I'm so tired of seeing my community celebrated during pride month and then disregarded the other 11 months of the year. Not only is that disrespectful to us, it's also going to have an impact on your work. If you have a product/business that could cater to the LGBTQ+ community and you're not working with a queer strategist to get your content onto our feeds? Or, if you're running an influencer marketing campaign and not seeking our LGBTQ+ creators in your niche? You're missing out on high engagement and a high ROI. Our community is not only highly engaged, we're also very willing to spend our money with people and business who take the time to really understand us and our culture, you just have to make that effort. P.S - If you're exclusively working with white LGBTQ+ creators that's not something to be proud of, it's embarrassing. Especially since it's queer creators of colour that have the most authentically engaged audiences!!

Despite a quieter Pride Month this year, LGBTQ+ inclusion in year-round marketing has become more mainstream, says Michael Wilke, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at Stony Brook University. Wilke, a former reporter at Ad Age in the 1990s, tracks companies incorporating LGBTQ+ inclusivity into their marketing. He observed numerous inclusive ads from national and regional advertisers during the recent Super Bowl. For instance, brands like Volkswagen Group and Intuit TurboTax featured gay and lesbian couples, while Homes.com and #Hellmann’s hired LGBTQ+ actors Daniel Levy and Kate McKinnon. Wilke highlights the difference between ads that solely target the LGBTQ+ community and those that inclusively represent them. “Some marketers may have pulled back for June ‘rah rah’ for Pride, which arguably is the more limited approach anyway when you look at the big picture—gay people are there all year so it shouldn’t just be limited to the one month,” he said. “To be authentic, you don’t just go into the month of whoever to be inclusive, you do it year-round.” The growing trend towards continuous, genuine representation underscores the importance of integrating LGBTQ+ inclusivity into marketing strategies throughout the year, not just during Pride Month. This approach ensures that brands resonate authentically with the LGBTQ+ community and align with evolving consumer expectations. Source: Ad Age Full article: https://bit.ly/3Kpfb2p #DiversityAndInclusion #AuthenticBranding #InclusiveAdvertising #NextGenConsumers #LGBTQInclusion #MarketingStrategy #PrideMonth

It's almost that time of year! 🌈 Before you join the Pride Month buzz, ask yourself: has your brand really supported the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year, both internally and in the broader world? 🤔 If not, focus on creating real impact, not just seasonal visibility. Remember, genuine support for the LGBTQ+ community is key. If your actions don’t back it up, your brand shouldn’t be profiting from Pride engagement. 🏳️🌈 So, how can you promote Pride this June? 1. Educate your team and followers 2. Share your company's DEI wins (or goals!) 3. Align with who you are as a brand 4. Show support year-round 5. Collaborate with LGBTQ+ content creators 6. Amplify LGBTQ+ organizations 7. Live stream an event with LGBTQ+ speakers and activists There’s still time to make a difference! Check out our blog for 7 tips on crafting truly impactful #PrideMonth posts: https://lnkd.in/gBQmc4aV ✨