The top 10 must-attend fintech conferences (2024)

Posted on March 20, 2024June 27, 2024 by Tpalmer Agency

As the fintech landscape continues to evolve, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and continue learning and connecting. Fintech conferences cover a plethora of topics reflecting the ever-evolving nature of this exciting industry. But, what conference should you attend?

The world of fintech conferences takes a deep dive into technological innovations, financial services, and broader industry trends. Within technological innovation, topics include emerging technologies. This encompasses discussions on topics like blockchain, AI, machine learning, big data analytics, and more.

However, as financial data becomes more digitized, the risk of security threats increases. Conversations around this include exploring solutions such as secure authentication methods and data encryption strategies.

Lastly, rounding out tech innovations, there’s RegTech, which focuses on compliance with regulations and risk management, and its impact on fintech businesses.

Another core topic within fintech conferences is financial services. Expert speakers lend their insights and discuss new payment methods like real-time payments (RTP), contactless payments, and mobile wallets. Additionally, conferences may explore topics like alternative lending models such as peer-to-peer lending, alternative data credit-scoring, and the rise of AI-powered lending.

Wealth management is another significant part of financial services. This area focuses on things like robo-advisors, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing, the future of wealth management, and the expanding demand for personalized financial services. Finally, there’s open banking, which lends itself to conversations around its impact on financial innovation and the potential opportunities it may present for collaborations between traditional banks and fintech startups.

Fintech events cover a variety of topics.

The last main topic fintech events cover are broader industry trends. These include financial inclusion for underserved populations. Conversations around this discuss ways to leverage tech to address financial exclusion and promote access to financial services for those populations.

Additionally, another trend covered is sustainable finance. This growing area explores the role of fintech in promotion more sustainable practices and facilitating green financing initiatives. There’s also conversations about industry trends and the future of work. It includes fintech leaders discussing how automation and other advancements in technology may impact the financial workforce. It dives into the need for up-skilling and re-skilling as a necessity.

However, topics don’t stop there. Depending on the specific event, other conversations may include marketing and the customer experience in fintech. Conferences may also get more specific in regards to the role of blockchain in industries like insurance or healthcare.

Obviously, that’s a lot to vet through. We suggest you start with identifying what conference is right for you to attend.

How do you know which conference is right for you?

When choosing a conference, be sure to consider your interests and goals. There are many key factors you should weigh to help you make a decision about the best ones for you and your company to attend or sponsor.

Here are our suggestions regarding what to look for when selecting an event to attend:

Alignment with your goals

Make sure the conference you want to attend aligns with your goals.

Professional development: Ask yourself if the conference aligns with your desired areas of growth? Also, ask if it provides knowledge and skills which are directly applicable to your current position or career path
Networking: Review the attendees list from previous years. Are the attendees the types of people you want to connect with and add to your professional network? Are there any attendees who are high-value that could be potential clients, collaborators or industry peers?
Business objectives: Does attending the conference support the goals of your company? Can attending the conference lead to valuable lead generation, industry insight or partnership opportunities?

Conference content and speakers

When it comes to picking the right conferences to attend, check the speaker roster.

Relevance: Review the conference agenda you wish to attend. Take a look and make sure the session topics, panels and keynotes are relevant to your industry and areas of interest.
Speakers: Review the speakers for the event. Are they recognized industry experts and thought leaders in your field? Ask if they will offer valuable insights and perspectives to help you grow.
Learning format: How do you learn best? Does the mix of presentations, workshops, interactive sessions, etc. align with how you learn?

Logistics and cost

Location and dates: Is the location convenient for you or will you have to travel? What about the timing? How does that fit into your schedule?
Cost: Make sure the registration fee, cost of travel and lodging aligns with the company budget and potential ROI.

Reputation and feedback

Check the reputation of conferences before registering

Industry recognition: If you’re here at the TPA website, we only share the best conferences worthy of attending in the fintech sector. But, when vetting other conferences, you’ll want to attend ones which are well-respected in your industry.
Testimonials: Take a look at the reviews and testimonials from past attendees. Are they speaking about the value of the content and networking opportunities that are presented?

How to research conferences

Be sure to research conferences before deciding if you want to attend.

Conference website: The conference’s landing page should provide you with all the pertinent information to make a decision – information on the speakers and who attends, schedules and sponsorship opportunities
Social media: Check out the conference hashtag if they have one, and see what people have posted. Also, look at social media from associated organizations and speakers on the social media platforms to get a better feel for the buzz and what people are saying about it.
Industry blog and publications: Do a search and read the recaps of the conference from previous years. What kind of takeaways did people have who attended?
Your network: Connect with your colleagues, mentors and others in your industry who have attended in the past and see what they thought of the event.

How T Palmer Agency evaluates conferences

A look at the top 10 must-attend fintech conferences in 2024. From Money 20/20 to Fintech Fall, these are where you should be this year.

We, at T Palmer Agency, are seasoned veterans of the tech industry. For more than a decade, we have been happily immersed in the world of tech conferences, exploring the diverse events that cater to each unique sector within this ever-evolving landscape. This experience has given us an in-depth understanding of what makes a conference truly exceptional and valuable for fintech (and other similar) industries.

Our passion lies in building connections and we curate our list of top conferences are based on three pillars: speakers, sessions, and networking.

Speakers

When it comes to speakers, we want to share with you the conferences that feature the most inspirational speakers who can deliver the all-important ROI. We look for speakers who are industry leaders, renowned experts, and thought-provoking visionaries who can offer new takes on the industry and share cutting-edge insights. Moreover, the speakers at the conferences we recommend guarantee attendees a valuable learning experience that can lead to insightful discussions.

Sessions

But, it extends beyond just the best speakers. We also evaluate conferences based on the relevant sessions they have on the agenda. Conferences offering a diverse selection of sessions that are directly related to attendees needs and interests make our list. In regards to topics, we want to make sure they are diving into the latest trends, whether that’s in AI, cybersecurity solutions, practical tips on scaling your business and more.

Networking

Finally, there’s the networking. This is such an important factor in deciding what conferences to attend because it isn’t just about the knowledge you can gain; it’s about who you can meet, too. Conferences we recommend offer ample networking opportunities designed to foster meaningful interactions between attendees and speakers, as well as attendees and their peers. Networking allows you to build valuable relationships, exchange ideas and discover potential collaborators to grow your business. So, at the end of the conference, you aren’t just leaving with new information, you’re also leaving with a robust network of new connections that can propel you and your business forward.

By attending these top fintech conferences, you can gain valuable insights, build connections, and stay ahead of the curve in this dynamic and exciting industry. Not only that, attending these conferences can be transformative to your business. Stop sending valuable time researching the best fintech events to attend. We’re industry experts and work with numerous fintech companies; we’ve done all the work for you!

The 10 best fintech conferences for 2024

Fintech Meetup

Fintech Meetup is a massive gathering bringing together more than 4,000 attendees from fintech, banking, payments and lending. One of the leading industry events (and one of our personal favorites we always recommend) for more than a decade, the conference focuses on the biggest issues, challenges and opportunities facing the industry and organizations.

This year’s agenda is built around five themes: banking and payments, lending and credit, innovation and transformation, fraud, identity and risk, and legal, regulatory and compliance. Fintech’s agenda celebrates innovation and transformation, touching on the latest innovations and trends, tech disrupting fintech, banking, payments and lending. We love the focus on the future and “how” you can use the latest trends and technologies to deliver ROI and impact. What’s more, it’s easier than ever to connect with others who attend this conference thanks to the technology behind Fintech. In fact, the tech it uses facilitates more than 45,000 meetings and connections, delivering real results and measurable ROI.

Register to attend

Transact by ETA

TRANSACT is where leaders in the payments industry from around the world head to conduct business. The conference brings professionals and decisions-makers from more than 1,000 payment companies together to strengthen relationships, expand their networks and create communities. With more than 150 speakers, the event focuses on payments technology and innovation, attracting payment networks, processors, merchants and financial institutions.

Insights regarding payments, mobile wallets, blockchain integration, best practices and more are shared here. If you’re looking for insights and to connect with a niche audience of payment companies, this conference is for you.

Register to attend

Wealth Management Edge

Wealth Management EDGE is a wealth management conference which powers investment, productivity and growth. It aligns industry-leading brands Inside ETFs+, WealthStack and RIA Edge. Within the Inside ETFs track, your learn about new investment strategies, product and portfolio construction ideas and meet industry advisors, issuers and influencers. WealthStack brings together a new generation of growth-oriented advisors who embrace technology to grow their businesses and wealthtech innovators. Finally, within RIA Edge, you’ll meet the fastest growing RIAs and some of the most influential voices in the industry.

You’ll learn about fine-tuning or developing your M&A, succession planning, compensation, human capital and leadership strategies. For us, the selling point is that you essentially get three conferences in one.

Register to attend

Finovate Spring

FinovateSpring gives attendees the opportunity to connect face-to-face with the FinovateSpring community. The common goal: plot a course for the future. This is the leading fintech conference on the west coast of the US, and it brings in more than 1,200 attendees who are executive-level in the fintech sector. There are also live demos of innovative fintech solutions and the latest developments, expert advice from key influencers, and remarkable networking opportunities.

You’ll meet fintechs, platform players, financial institutions, regulators and investors all who are working to redefine the future of financial services the world over and make valuable connections. If you’re on the West Coast, this is a no-brainer conference to attend. And, if you’re not on the West Coast, you can either head out for it or wait until the fall to attend its sister event, Finovate Fall, in NYC.

Register to attend

Consensus by Coindesk

Consensus is the world’s largest and longest-running conference in the fintech industry and a premier event. It also brings together some of the most influential across crypto, blockchain and Web3 sectors. The annual conference is a call-to-action for builders, creators, storytellings, and money-movers coming together for the future of financial technology and the Web3 economy. This year, Coindesk and EasyA are teaming up for a unique opportunity — a three-day hackathon attracting the world’s best developers to build the future of Web3. The conference promises “hard-hitting conversations with visionary speakers” and hands-on workshops geared towards solving industry challenges.

From keynote speeches and conversations with visionary speakers to hands-on workshops aimed at solving industry challenges, developers, investors, founders, brands, policymakers and more will walk away with the tools and insights needed to continue laying the foundation of a more decentralized future. We love the quality of attendees at this conference.

Register to attend

Fintech Talents

Fintech Talents North America brings together innovators and change-makers who are redefining the future of the fintech industry. The goal of the event is to share their thinking, innovative solutions and experiences in the rapidly evolving industry.

Fintech Talents features a diverse audience from the North American financial services industry — from early-stage fintech startups to the world’s largest service providers. At the event, you can exchange ideas, and meet partners and providers to help meet your business goals. While it’s a smaller conference, you can get a lot out of it.

Register to attend

DIGITAL BANKING by American Banker

DIGITAL BANKING is an immersive conference addressing the latest trends in digital banking. This includes artificial intelligence-powered customer experiences, omnichannel strategies and the rise of embedded finance. It offers engaging demos which showcase cutting-edge technologies and solutions. In addition, the interactive panel discussions attract industry leaders who touch on critical topics and provide practical insights. At DIGITAL BANKING, the networking experiences are thoughtfully curated and powerful.

If you’re in the banking or fintech communities, this event is a must-attend. You’ll learn how things like how to implement digital onboarding and processes to streamline customer acquisition. You’ll also learn how to leverage data analytics and AI to gain insights into customer behavior, stay on top of emerging tech like blockchain, AI and biometrics for potential integration, explore cybersecurity measures and much more. The conference provides a lot of ROI thanks to the networking and topics covered.

Register to attend

FinovateFall

Finovate Fall is the sister event to Finovate Spring. This conference attracts more than 2,000 decision-makers, 1,000 of which are from banks and investors in New York City. More so, it includes more than 70 demos. At the event, you’ll explore cutting-edge fintech solutions and new ideas at one of the world’s premier fintech showcases. Attendees come to Finovate Fall to have meaningful discussions with senior-level decision-makers who can help you and your company grow.

Attending Finovate events gives companies a competitive edge and regularly brings together some of the brightest minds in the fintech community. If you missed the spring event in San Fransisco or want to network even more, this is the event to attend.

Register to attend

Lend360

LEND360 is an annual event for the leaders in online lending that explores fintech industry trends and the latest technologies impacting consumer lenders, small business lenders, service partners, investors, bank representatives, and more. Regardless of whether you are a consumer or business lender, you’ll meet businesses, partners, and influencers to help you move your own business forward. Additionally, topics include recommendations for management growth, overcoming recent challenges, and preparing for the future.

You’ll also learn more about the financial trends impacting the industry. Additionally, you’ll hear about what cutting-edge solutions coming down the pipeline at the intersection of fintech and online lending. This niche audience makes it the perfect fit for those wanting connections within the lending industry.

Register to attend

AFP

Every year, the Association of Financial Professionals (AFP), hosts this massive networking event. It brings in more than 7,000 corporate professionals. Attendees come from the treasury and finance industries. The collaborative environment fosters the exchange of knowledge, views and strategies. It also helps to generate solutions faced by financial professionals today.

The programming, built by the AFP 2024 Task Force, features more than 100 sessions across seven tracks. The tracks are: capital markets and investments, career development, executive institute, financial planning and analysis, payments, risk management and treasure management. The AFP consistently puts on excellent conferences, and this ranks as one of our favorites for industry professionals.

Register to attend

Money 20/20

Money 20/20 is the world’s leading, premium content, sales and networking platform for the global money ecosystem. This event attracts powerful attendees to connect with and is the top show in the fintech world. More than 3,000 leading companies attend, 64 percent of which are already established businesses, and 31 percent are startup. In 2023, attending companies included Amazon, Google, Mastercard, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Stripe, Bain Capital and more. It fosters ideas and connections with leaders from across the industry who wouldn’t normally be together in one place.

This year, the theme of the show is Human X Machine. It will address how the new world of humans and AI come together, how it will redefine experiences, and more. If you can only attend one event this year, this is the one you go to.

Register to attend

There are also a handful of exceptional international conference worthy of taking a look at, including Sibos in Beijing Oct. 21 – 24, 2024, Fintech Week London June 10 – 14, 2024 and Money 20/20 in Amsterdam June 4 – 6, 2024.

Are you ready to get out there?

By attending any of these conferences, you can be sure its money well spent. Not only that, attending will lead to new connections, new knowledge and a new perspective on the industry. If you’re interested in a curated list of conferences specifically for your company, connect with us today!

The Top SXSW Activations and Pop Ups to Check Out

Posted on March 13, 2024March 13, 2024 by Tpalmer Agency

In case you were caught up in the Oscar hoopla this weekend, there’s also another huge event taking place — South by South West (AKA South by or SXSW). This is the time when the annual pilgrimage of techies, creatives, musicians and more descend to Austin.

In an instant, the city turns into a hub for innovation. People who attend the festival are diverse, ranging from filmmakers to tech leaders, musicians and entrepreneurs. They head there to be inspired courtesy of big name panels with thought leaders, keynote speakers, introductions to the latest technologies and access to the many industries leaders for professional development.

But, SXSW isn’t just about panels, screenings and concerts. For SXSW badge holders, they get even more than conference sessions and music, they get access to the brightest minds leading brand activations. Brands play a massive role in creating the festival vibe and buzz courtesy of immersive brand activations. However, at this event, attendees don’t leave talking only about swag bags; they talk about the events. These events are major and designed to engage attendees, build buzz and get people talking on every social platform well past the end of the event. As marketers who create experiential experiences, we’ve always got our eyes on SXSW to see the thriving creativity and how it compares to last year.

While we’re not there this year (ICYMI, we’re busy gearing up for a NYC launch and our first Founder’s Dinner at the famed Hotel Chelsea later this month), we are still keeping tabs. These are our top picks for activations at the 2024 event that stand out for their creativity and social-media generating hype. Sadly, most of these events took place March 8th, March 9th and March 10th, so unless you were there over the weekend, these are but a memory. But, you never know. Perhaps you’ll stumble up an intimate setting with a special performance

SXSW Experience: the top SXSW activations

The La Croix House

Let’s get things started with one of our favorite sparkling waters, La Croix. This year, the brand created a house to establish its brand presence.

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On March 8, it was opened to everyone for free drinks and cocktails featuring all 31 (who knew!?!) flavors. Complete with a DJ, merch and interactive experiences, this was a crowd favorite. People piled into its ball pit, played cornhole and had a general awesome time in perfect spring weather. We loved how playful this activation was over the weekend.

Paramount+ Presents: The Lodge Experience

This year’s South By features a return of Paramount+ Presents: The Lodge. A staple of SXSW, the activation features themed sets tied to Paramount shows and movies, as well as drinks, music and even an airbrush tattoo station. The Clive Bar has been remade into The Lodge, complete with rustic decor and three floors of photo opps and experiences. Guests can sip on themed cocktails at the Lawmen: Bass Reeve’s saloon. Or, they can grab an Azalea, the signature drink of The Masters at the Paramount+ Pub.

But, it goes beyond that. There’s also a Halo interactive experience that allows fans to explore props and costumes. In addition, they can also step onto the iconic bridge of the USS Discovery in advance of the Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 premiere that’s on the SXSW schedule. Finally, The Chi, Survivor, Ink Master and others have inspired other interactive moments at The Lodge. What sets this activation apart is that its a festival series regular and delivers a familiar environment courtesy of The Lodge that attendees can return to every year.

Prime Video Fallout

To celebrate the new Amazon Prime Video series, Prime Video Fallout’s experience recreates the Wasteland shanty-town of Filly. The show, which premiers April 12 on Prime recreates the post-apocalyptic world of the show and gives attendees a chance to see if they have what it takes to survive in this immersive experience.

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Prime Video took a Downtown Austin parking lot at the Hotel San José and transformed it into “Filly,” a post-nuclear fallout world. Visitors (called Vault Dwellers) are then transported into this immersive experience. The creativity here is incredible. Vault dwellers enter through an old sewer tunnel and are greeted by local resident before they embark on a journey into the Fallout world. The goal is to get people psyched for the show’s first time on the air, and we think it definitely does that and more.

Audible Sound Experience

Audible pulled out all the stops for this year’s SXSW, including building a Ferris wheel and creating a carnival-inspired experience complete with carnival games, prizes and music.

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Throughout all of the immersive experiences, the brand is front-and-center. On the Ferris wheel, the gondolas have audio so people can listen to Audible content when riding. The games are all Audible themed and there is even one-on-one listening spaces. Plus, when it comes to content creation and content creators, this year’s theme lends itself perfectly.

Porsche Full Service

The luxury automobile maker pulls up to SXSW with it’s Full Service experience. Inside the activation, guests can wander through and learn about icons of the past, meet the new face of the brand’s electric future and witness the North American debut of the all-new Macan Electric.

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As far as strategic partnerships go, this one is brilliant because the tech-savvy audience is one of the maker’s target audiences. Not only that, but the activation also includes panel discussions daily, a happy hour, tiny garage musical performances and more. For those with SXSW badges, there’s even an exclusive concert featuring artists like Common, 9th Wonder and DJ Diamond Kuts.

Tide Laundry Experience

Tide is launching what it’s calling the “biggest laundry innovation of the 21st century” to SXSW attendees. The company’s newest innovation is Tide evo. This powerful cleaning formula packs 100% concentrated cleaning ingredients into a lightweight and convenient form. The plastic packaging is replaced with ready-to-recycle paperboard.

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At the activation, you’ll meet the industry leaders and scientists behind the product and participate in hands-on demos.

citizenM’s Bucking Bed

Stay in bed and win a free night at any citizenM hotel in the world. With a catch. Attendees get super interactive with this novel twist on the bucking bull in the form of a bucking bed. Climb on the bed and stay. on. Anyone surviving the 60-seconds as the bed furiously bucks to throw you off wins a free night.

@fox7austin We know you’ve heard of a bucking bull but how about a bucking bed? The activation was up @SXSW thanks to @citizenM hotels which held its grand opening for its Austin location. #fyp ♬ Western style bgm cowboy western etc.(1263171) – Shinnosuke Shibata

Engagement is achieved through this fun approach. And, it’s also a great way to attract people who wouldn’t normally stop. Who doesn’t want to watch someone stay planted on a bucking bed for a sweet prize?

Hook’em House

Finally, there’s Hook’em House at Antone’s. This spot is the hub for the University of Texas at Austin at SXSW.

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SXSW events here include installations, and panels with academic talent and entrepreneurs. It also includes UT Austin men’s and women’s basketball watch parties and live music performances. There is even a parade marching through downtown.

All in all, the activations at SXSW were fantastic. We cannot wait to see what brands pop-up next year. If you’re ready to head to SXSW and create a memorable activation, contact us today!

Why you should attend the InsurTech NY conference March 2024

Posted on March 12, 2024March 12, 2024 by Tpalmer Agency

If you’re in New York City March 20 – 21 2024 and in the insurance industry, then you need to be at InsurTech NYC. Taking place at Pier 60 Chelsea Piers, the annual event brings together industry leaders, insurtech founders, investors, traditional insurers and other solutions providers who support the community.

This event is one of our top event picks when it comes to the industry, and for good reason: it brings together all of the people you want to meet, connect with and learn from in one incredible event.

Why we love InsureTech and recommend attending

1. You can connect with the industry’s global leaders: The conference has an incredible line up of speakers. These include industry leaders, renowned experts and visionaries from the industry. It gives you a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best and gain valuable insights from those directly shaping the future of insurtech. It also provides you with some world-class networking which can lead to collaborations, and will keep you ahead-of-the-curve thanks to the collective knowledge of those you meet.

2. You discover cutting-edge innovations: At the event, you’ll be able to explore demos and presentations focusing on the latest advancements in the field. Moreover, you’ll see firsthand how innovations are transforming the industry. And, you’ll learn how to leverage those innovations in your company. Plus, the agenda covers a lot of content areas giving you the best experience. So, you’ll learn about emerging trends and technologies that will impact the future of insurance. Finally, this helps you prepare your business for changes and stay competitive.

3. Gain Valuable Knowledge and Insights: The conference includes interactive sessions and workshops designed to deepen your understanding of important issues and challenges facing the industry today. In addition, you’ll learn from industry experts and be able to apply what you learn to your own business.

4. Enhance Your Professional Development: At InsurTech NY, you’ll expand your network and build new connections with insurtech companies, solution providers, decision makers, inspirational founders and others. Also, you’ll stay on top of trends, gain new insights that can help drive innovation and growth, have new opportunities, and more.

For 2024, presentations are split up into two areas — property and casualty, and life and health. In addition, the event also features the largest InsurTech Competition on the East Coast. Prior to the event, there is a pool of 100 applicants. Next, that pool is whittled down to 10. Then, at InsurTech NY, the chosen 10 insurtech startups will pitch in front of investors.

Topics for the conference include:

Using Artificial Intelligence to Leverage New Insights

Will AI Ever Stick in the Insurance Industry

Talking to Customers with AI

Living up to the Embedded Insurance Promise

Driving Digital Growth in Specialty and Commerical

Using AI to Improve Workflows

Reinsurance Collateral Post-Vesttoo

Claims and Analytics

Managing Natural Disasters with Analytics

Speakers include:

Alex Timm, Founder & CEO, Root Insurance

Jack Kudale, Founder & CEO, Cowbell Cyber

Steve Shaffer, CEO, Homesteaders Life

Brian Luther, CEO & President, Navy Mutual

Claude Yoder, Founding Partner, Lockton Re

Tanner Hackett, CEO, Counterpart

Ryan Duques, AVP, Emerging and Innovation Partnerships, Travelers

Charanjit Saggu, Director of Underwriting Innovation, Zurich North America

Bryan Adams, Head of Catastrophe Analytics, Arch

Patrick Gallic, VP Business Innovation, Tokio Marine HCC

Nicolas Moskiou, EVP, Products, Innovations and Partnership, Humania Assurance

Wendi Bukowtiz, VP, Strategic Innovation, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Rhonda Marcucci, VP, Innovation, Gallagher

Nanditha Nandy, Head Data Driven Underwriting Solutions Americas, Swiss Re

Sam Hodas, Managing Director, Enterprise ESG Strategy, Nuveen, a TIAA Company

Allyson Laurance, VP, Strategic Initiatives, Prudential

Meg Duty, SVP, Puritan Life and Canvas Annuity

Rick McCathron, President & CEO, Hippo

Roseanna Laudisio, CIO, NIP Group

Cameron Torstenson, EVP & CMO, EMC Life

On the first day, Tony Lew, InsurTech NY’s Co-Founder, presents the keynote at 4:45 p.m. on the Insurance Innovation Playbook. Following, there’s a keynote fireside chat on AI and Analytics Advantage.

The second day’s keynote panel is at 11:25 a.m. — “InsurTech CEO Perspective: Paving the Path to Profitability” with InsureTech NY’s Co-Founder David Gritz, Timm, McCathron, and Kudale.

Are you ready to attend InsurTech NY? Register here.

Are you interested in learning more about other conference and events we recommend in the insurtech industry? If so, connect with us today!

5 Big Mistakes Businesses Make on Social Media + What to Do

Posted on March 1, 2024March 5, 2024 by Tpalmer Agency

We all know social media is a powerful (and necessary) tool for businesses. What started as simply a place to share status updates, photos and thoughts in 120 characters or less has evolved into a behemoth. Today, if your brand isn’t on at least one social media platform, it renders the company almost irrelevant. Social media is the best way to tell your brand story and raise brand awareness. To reach your target audience. To handle negative feedback. To deliver stellar customer service. To launch products. To promote products.

You get it.

If you’re not on social media, this is your reminder to stop what you’re doing right now and set up your social media accounts, and develop your social media presence. Immediately.

But, a word of warning: social media is powerful.

It can make your brand. Or, it can break your brand. It’s more than simply throwing up selfies, unedited photos of products, sales pitches, etc. Social media marketers know the type of content you need to build your customer base. They can work with you to create promotional content, tap into user-generated content, and develop a smart social media marketing strategy.

Of course, not every brand has the ability to bring on a team to help implement a content calendar or build a brand presence on these various social platforms. Their pain points are why we are here to help.

These are 5 of the most common mistakes brands make when it comes to developing an online presence across different social media platforms … and what you should be doing instead.

5 mistakes brands make on social media

Mistake #1: Adopting a one-size-fits-all model across all social media sites.

This is one of the most common social media mistakes we see businesses doing. It’s easy for a company to write a post and add a photo and post it on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads, and so on. But, each platform caters to a different audience and favors different formats.

For example, let’s use a company’s recent press coverage. Here’s how we would break it down:

– Facebook: Pull a quote from the article and use that as the copy, tag the publication and writer, then add in a few relevant hashtags and a location tag. Then, add the URL so it populates.

- Instagram: Use a gorgeous photo and in the caption share what the article was about, tag the publication and the writer, add a few relevant hashtags and then share a screenshot or PDF of the article in your stories with a link to the published article. Also, add that to a Press highlight.

– X and Threads: Share the link and engage with your community by asking a question. Tag the publication, writer and use relevant hashtags.

– LinkedIn: Take the opportunity to talk about your business and how it got noticed by the publication and include tags and link.

The goal here is to tailor the messaging to the social channels. Remember, Instagram is about leveraging visuals and video, Twitter and X are all about engaging in conversations, and LinkedIn is about emerging as a thought leader.

If you simply slap up the same copy for each platform, you won’t experience social media success. Your audience who might also be following you on all the different platforms might get tired of seeing the same posts on all the platforms.

Mistake #2: Posting just to post

When building your brand identity, the last thing you want to do is post just to post. It’s another one of the most common social media marketing mistakes we see. Posting just to post will reflect the lack of care you put into your content. People will definitely notice the difference between a quality post with meaning and a post that was mocked up within seconds.

The right way to use social media is to have a clear plan, understand basic social media analytics and post high-quality content across all your social media pages. Whether that be informational videos, info-graphics, or showing off company culture. Those posts will always be a hundred times better than a pointless post.

If you’re posting inconsistent, irrelevant content, bad photos, and copy that isn’t engaging, your brand will give off the impression that it doesn’t care about it’s audience and you will be chasing them away. It’s vital to get to know your audience. You want to understand customers’ and potential customers’ interests and pain points to create content that resonates with them. It’s important to anticipate and answer their questions, spark meaningful conversations, and engage with them.

By understanding analytics, you understand the best time to post, what content brings you the best engagement rates, and gain other valuable insights. This is a powerful marketing tool to help craft your branding online and create valuable content to keep your audience fully immersed.

Mistake #3: Abiding only by your content calendar

Another social media failure is sticking to a content calendar.

Yes, content calendars are important so they can keep you in line when it comes to posting and allow you to plan ahead. But, a part of your social media strategy needs to be paying attention to what is trending.

For example, when Instagram or TikTok have a song that is trending, they’ll sometimes throttle those posts so they reach more people. The algorithms on these apps are crazy with how they push out certain content if they have a trending song or filter.

Another example was when the Calvin Klein ad featured Jeremy Allen White who was in his underwear on a rooftop in NYC and the internet went crazy. Away, a luggage company, didn’t waste time and hopped on to create a similar video, acknowledging the video that was trending. They won social media around that ad because people found it hilarious and entertaining. They posted a photo of their suitcase, clad in the same CK white underwear, on a rooftop in NYC. It was a brilliant way to get in on pop culture and for the brand to reach a ton of new people.

People love it when brands get involved in trends and acknowledge some of the crazier ones. It makes companies and brands seem more human. Sticking only to a content calendar means you’re missing out on opportunities like this to grow your brand. You need to monitor trends, be ready to adapt your content, and participate in relevant conversations to connect you with your audience.

Mistake #4: Being perfect

Here’s your reminder: perfection does not exist. Therefore, be real on your social media networks.

Sure, it’s great to show polished product shots and graphics. But, it’s also important to be authentic and build trust. You want to humanize your business and make the brand relatable. You only have a few seconds to entice users to watch or listen to you and most times perfect often can equal boring. They want to see the “real you” behind the brand.

There’s a reason why TikTok has become one of the most used social media apps and it’s because most people who go viral are posting authentic and raw content. Audiences don’t want a perfectly produced commercial, they want to see what makes your brand human. The brands that are on TikTok right now know the laws of the land of being real have skyrocketed with their audience growth.

Remember, people love to connect with stories, emotions, and shared experiences. By hopping on Instagram Reels, TikTok, or even YouTube, and showing your brand is relatable and imperfect allows the audience to see themselves in your brand.

You can build immense brand loyalty by simply being more than just another faceless corporation, and allowing the people who believe in it and work for it to show their personality. When you share vulnerability, it shows you value transparency and honesty, which are necessary for building the all-important trust. Gaining trust with your audience is pivotal for brand retention and growth. The more people have your trust, the more they will talk about you to their friends and family. Nothing beats someone talking about your brand and how great you are to other people. Especially if they utilize social media to brag about you.

We also have to remember that it’s okay to make mistakes and it’s ok to admit that you made them (hey, we all make ”em!). So, talk about learning experiences and show that you’re human. There are already way too many robots out there with all this AI emerging, so we don’t need any more of those. People want to see real.

Content that incorporates all of these aspects are behind-the-scenes videos, sharing vulnerabilities, about company culture and celebrating imperfections (hello, blooper reel). Humor also makes you more relatable so it’s okay to embrace a little humor and lightheartedness in your content. Again, it makes your brand relatable and likable.

On your Stories, offer Questions for people to ask and then use those as starting points for content, or simply create a reel and answer them with a human on-the-fly. Additionally, be engaging with your audience; incorporate polls too to make them feel like they’re also a part of your brand. It’s ok to be lo-fi. After all, you don’t need fancy equipment or professional setups to create content that resonates and leads to growth. It’s ok to flub your words. It’s ok to have out-of-place hair. The world will keep turning and, importantly, your audience will keep supporting you.

Mistake #5: Only showing finished products

This goes along with mistake #4 and being perfect.

In an age where instant gratification is rampant, we can forget the power of showing the “how” behind the “wow.” Yes, we want to see the finished product, but more than that, we want to see the entire journey. We want to see how you got to that perfect ending. You’ll notice we talk a lot about authenticity and sharing a journey is a part of that. People crave authenticity. So, when you share stories, struggles, and growth, it lets audiences connect with you on a deeper level. They will feel invested in your successes … and challenges.

In addition, a transparent brand means a trustworthy brand. Moreover, the lessons you share are valuable content and allow users to feel connected to you. When you share progress updates, it invites curiosity. After all, we all know people love to see things unfold and offer their feedback. Consequently, followers feel like they are a part of the journey. Everything about your journey builds a connection to your audience. It gives them a glimpse into who you are, what you stand for, and how you achieve your goals.

Here’s your reminder

These are some of the biggest social media mistakes we’ve seen brands make. However, with our best practices guide, you can start down the path of building trust with your audience. And build your social media fronts.

Remember, these are key to your social media presence:

Tailor your content to each platform: Have a firm understanding of what each platform is good for and capitalize on it to tailor your content. It’s not one-size-fit-all; don’t treat it as such.

Know your audience: When crafting your content, make sure you customer is at the top of your mind and you connect with them on their interests and pain points. Have meaningful conversations and answer their questions. Don’t post just to post.

Embrace trends: Don’t be afraid to adapt your content calendar to capitalize on relevant cultural moments and trending topics. We all love a good meme.

Show your human side: Don’t strive for perfection – authenticity builds trust. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, vulnerabilities, and imperfections.

Document your journey: Share your process, challenges, and lessons learned. Give your audience a window into your brand story and values.

Never forget, social media is a powerful tool, but it requires constant attention and commitment. By implementing these tips and being mindful of common pitfalls, you can navigate the social media landscape with confidence. The result? Your brand will thrive. Are you overwhelmed by all of this and don’t know where to start? Reach out to T Palmer Agency today. We offer full-service social media management and strategy and know the industry inside-out. Connect with us today and start growing your brand now.