Fisheries scientist and CEO of digital educational platform Seaside with Emily, Emily De Sousa joined SeafoodSource as a social media correspondent at Seafood Expo North America, which ran from 12 to 14 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
De Sousa promotes sustainable seafood, healthy oceans, culinary adventures, and the rise of pescatourism through her website and Instagram and TikTok social media platforms. She travels around the world speaking at seminars, conferences, and forums advocating for ocean protection and seafood sustainability.
Through her SeafoodSource social correspondence at SENA, De Sousa shared three main tips for seafood companies to help boost their social media presence: 1) Have a hook, 2) Be consistent, and 3) Share your "why."
De Sousa also said it was important for each post to have a clear call to action, and urged social media managers not be afraid to have fun with their work.
With the global media landscape rapidly changing, De Sousa emphasized the value of seafood companies using social media and enhancing online presence to connect with worldwide diverse audiences.
“Do this with an exciting statement that tells your audience what your video is about. Mmovement is another great hook - incorporate camera movement into your opening shot,” De Sousa told SeafoodSource.
Being consistent and sticking to a weekly schedule is an effective way to keep an audience, she said. It’s much better to post one piece of content weekly, keeping it consistent, rather than posting five pieces of content in a week and then disappearing. It reminds your audience that you’re there and helps to build community, and trust.
“Pre-create your content, set aside one day per week to film all your content, and write your captions, then you can simply copy and upload on your schedule,” De Sousa said.
Sharing your reasoning for posting is important, De Sousa said.
"People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it,” De Sousa said. Sharing your ‘why’ and providing reasoning is critical to allow for a more intimate, meaningful connection with your audience.
Having a clear call to action lets people know what to do with the information you are providing. Thinking about the next steps people can take is a powerful way to engage your audience, De Sousa said.
“People are much more likely to act in real life based on something they see online if you’re clear about what you want them to do,” she said. “It can be as big as ‘go find our products in your local grocery store,’ or ‘head to our website for an exclusive discount code,’ to something as simple as ‘comment your favorite seafood product down below.’
De Sousa said having fun with social media is of primary importance, and she urged the seafood industry not to hold back on taking risks on social media. It’s important to curate to your audience, she added, as Gen Z and millennials are especially tuned in to brands who deliver with humor.
“Jump in on pop culture trends including trending sounds and memes, these can make your brand more relevant to people beyond your niche," she said.
Photo courtesy of SeafoodSource Staff
