The year was 2010. The era of chunky necklaces, flower crowns and technicolor skinny jeans. Tumblr was the birthplace of trends and culture. Millennials ruled the headlines. And it was the year Pete Cashmore, former Mashable CEO, first coined “Social Media Day.” Incidentally, it was also the year Sprout Social was founded.
Fourteen years ago, the role social media played in our lives was drastically different. It was primarily seen as a way to connect with friends and family. Text updates, relationship statuses and hyper-filtered photos were the extent of our feeds. Few could imagine the way social would inundate our daily lives in the next decade.
But that was beginning to change. Some brands were getting on board with social and scaling their presence. Emerging businesses were leveraging platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and the new Instagram app to get off the ground. The year marked a turning point: It was the first time companies realized social might actually be the future of marketing.
Today, social has become the place for discovering new trends, following influencers and creators, researching brands and shopping. Naturally, that puts it at the center of many brands’ overall marketing strategies, positioning social teams at the helm of a critical, cross-functional operation.
This Social Media Day, let’s celebrate all that the people behind brand accounts have achieved. Here are ways other social marketers are marking the occasion, and ideas your brand can use to follow suit.
What is Social Media Day?
Every June 30th, Social Media Day recognizes social media’s impact on global communication and culture at large.
Cashmore originally introduced the hashtag holiday to celebrate how social media has altered communication channels and media. While the holiday’s original purpose is just as relevant today, its importance continues to grow.
Social Media Day also highlights the contributions social creators and marketers make to the cultural zeitgeist and how social will continue to change our world.
For social teams, it serves as an opportunity to educate leaders about the way social positively impacts your brand, and to pull back the curtain for your customers on all that goes into your social presence. To kick off Social Media Day celebrations this year, we turned to Sprout’s community, The Arboretum (affectionately known as the Arb), to find out what trends social marketers miss and how much social has changed. We rounded up a few of our favorite responses, and took note of the overall sentiment. It’s obvious that many marketers are nostalgic for the social media functionalities and trends of the past. Even if they might cringe at some of their posts today. Here’s what they said when remembering what social looked like a decade ago: Many Arb members have worked in social since the first Social Media Day 14 years ago. They’ve seen social transform from “a job for the intern” into a legitimate career path. They remember the scrappy days, and are thankful stakeholders are finally seeing the value of social and investing in it. And all our respondents noted that community building and engagement now trump follower growth—a sign of how social is transforming and how brands are changing their strategies with it. As much as social has changed, much has stayed the same. Like how it’s still the driving force behind so many cultural moments. Unfortunately, this means some of the challenges still exist (or have been magnified). When it comes to planning how you’ll celebrate Social Media Day this year, consider using one of the ideas below. No matter how you observe it, we hope this holiday helps reinforce the importance of the work you do everyday and the major contributions you make to your brand’s success and our collective culture. Regardless of title, level or area of expertise, people who work in social are essential to connecting businesses with their customers and elevating brand recognition. On Social Media Day, take a moment to honor your diligence and commitment. Share your and your peers’ narratives, spotlight their achievements and express your gratitude for their invaluable contributions. Apply it: To make this tip brand-account-friendly, shout-out your brand partners, customers or prospects excelling on social. According to a Sprout Q4 2023 Pulse Survey, almost half (42%) of consumers want to see a brand’s social media team represented in their content. Creating a meet the team series or sharing behind-the-scenes post for Social Media Day is an excellent opportunity to showcase the people behind your accounts. By offering a peek into the world of day-to-day social media marketing, you’ll humanize your brand, illustrate all that goes into content production and boost your engagement. Apply it: Have an upcoming photo or video shoot coming up? Capture it. Have you taken your followers on an office tour lately? Now is the time. Have a social team member who your audience doesn’t know yet? Let them take over the brand account for the day. There are many ways to capture the magic of your team. Find the one that works best for you. Craft a post celebrating your team’s successes on social this year. Reflect on your social media performance and achievements, and consider which have been most impactful. Which campaigns were the most successful? What milestones did you reach? Share them with your followers and celebrate your team’s hard work. Apply it: It might not feel natural to talk about your accomplishments as a social team. But showing your audience how you make brand magic—and business impact—cementing the notion that social is the key to driving exponential growth. Especially on Social Media Day. After all, a win for one brand’s social team is a win for all. Does anyone understand the significance of this day better than your social media peers? Social Media Day is the perfect time to nurture and expand your professional circle. Attend industry gatherings, forge new connections on LinkedIn and join virtual communities. Networking is a powerful tool for learning, staying current with trends and finding fresh inspiration for your social media strategies. Apply it: If you’re not yet a part of an online community or mentorship program, consider joining for camaraderie, support and genuine connection. Reflecting on the first Social Media Day back in 2010, it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. Though social started as a channel for casual updates, it’s evolved into a powerhouse for brands, influencers and cultural movements. This Social Media Day, let’s celebrate the tireless efforts of social media practitioners who bravely navigate this ever-changing landscape, wear countless hats, continuously educate their colleagues and leaders about social’s potential, and drive brand success. Celebrate yourselves, your team and your network of peers for your dedication, impact and the mark you make on the industry. Looking for a member-driven virtual community built by social media and marketing professionals? Join the Arb today.What does Social Media Day mean to marketers?
Nostalgia for the past
Celebrating how far we’ve come
Reflecting on what’s stayed the same
4 ways to celebrate Social Media Day
Champion the work of social professionals
Share behind-the-scenes content
Celebrate your social wins
Connect with fellow social marketers
We salute those behind the brand account