Josselyn Haldeman is Upswept Creative’s in-house Social Media Maven, an expert in taking advantage of the internet’s social spaces, using them to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to stores and websites, and share an organization’s stories to connect with the internet on a personal level.
What do you enjoy about working in social media?
J: My approach to social media marketing allows me to marry two of my passions: statistics and creative writing. There is a lot of creativity in building a social media presence — the tone, intended message, length, vocabulary — are all important. But to determine if those aspects are actually communicating your message, or if the message is even accomplishing your business goals, that’s where I use statistics and my analytic side.
How did you get started in professional social media management?
J: I moved to New York City in my early 20s to work with a medical genomics startup company in a sales capacity. Eventually, my role grew to a more Business Development position. Because the company was new, they needed a social media presence, so I took the initiative and started their Facebook and Twitter presences, as well as a medical genomics educational blog.
After I moved back to Portland, I took on clients as a freelance social media manager. I had learned so much about social media marketing in NYC, and it was my favorite aspect of my job there, that I wanted to continue in the field.
When Team Upswept works with clients, we focus on telling authentic brand stories as a marketing approach — what are your thoughts on remaining authentic in social media?
J: Social media gives a business such a unique opportunity to interact with customers and potential customers directly. It’s so important to strike a tone that is authentic to the core of the business. I strive to, even in more advertising-centric campaigns, communicate like a human being. I’m not just some intern who’s just getting content on the page; I really do care about what gets put up, and how I respond to messages and comments.
How do you find an authentic voice to represent a client’s organization?
J: A big part of finding that authentic voice, for me, is taking the time to build a strong relationship with my clients. Why did they start their business? How is your business different from competitors? What is the story of your brand? At the core of every social media campaign is a kind of story that communicates all of those things and more. It’s only possible for me to tell that story if I feel like I truly understand the client and their business.
What’s a thing you enjoy in life that is not this?
J: When I’m not working, I’m usually reading, writing, or performing poetry. Portland’s local poetry scene is so inviting and good that it’s hard for me to stay away! I’m in the editing stages of my second chapbook, slated to be released this winter.
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Josselyn is fantastic at what she does, running Upswept’s social media presence, as well as human-focused, data-driven campaigns for some of our clients. Whether you want to hand over the keys to your Facebook account and never look back, or you just need an expert to create a custom plan to make the social machine do your bidding, Josselyn and Team Upswept are here to help tap into your authentic brand voice, and extend your reach on the internet. Ready to talk about it? Get in touch here!
