The Science of Social Media

'Bluesky Wants to Help Creators Make Money' — COO Rose Wang: Introducing Buffer Chat

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Buffer Chat is Buffer's brand-new show — get a sneak peek of what to expect in this bonus episode. Find all episodes of Buffer Chat here →---...

From Zero to 30K YouTube Subscribers in Six Months

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ready to unlock the secrets to YouTube growth? In this episode, we delve into the world of YouTube and share invaluable tips from YouTube creator Paul...

Why you shouldn't add links to your social posts

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s a question that puzzles most social media users … Why do some of my posts get more views than others? It’s a difficult question to answer...

What is the Ideal TikTok Length?

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’ll be discussing a topic that we have been asked several questions about: what’s the ideal length for a video on TikTok? More specificall...

It’s Here… AI for Social Media Scheduling

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hello there! Today, we're talking about the brand new Buffer AI Assistant, a game-changer in the world of social media management. With the ability to...

A Beginner's Guide to Mastodon

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of feeling like just another number on centralized social media platforms? Look no further than Mastodon, the decentralized, open-source...

6 Ways AI Can Support Content Creators

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hello there! As audiences demand more content across different platforms, the number of content creators is growing to meet the demand. But it’s har...

7 Important Skills You Need to Be a Successful Social Media Marketer (Repeat)

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A decade ago, the role of a social media manager might not have even existed. Today, however, almost every company is involved in social media one way...

How to Build Your Personal Brand: Top Tips for 2023

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hello there! Personal branding has become an increasingly important aspect of successful career growth and social media is the tool everyone’s using...

Surviving the Holidays as a Small Business Owner

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we'll be discussing how to set boundaries during the holiday season. The holidays are supposed to be a time for rest and relaxation, but for man...

The Twitter Upheaval and What it Means for Marketers

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hello there! On today’s episode we dive into what’s happening at Twitter and how it will impact marketers. We also share some advice for getting m...

5 Social Media Content Ideas for 2023

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Oh hi there, it’s been a while! We’re experimenting with kicking off the Science of Social Media podcast again! On today’s episode we take a loo...

Introducing Small Business, Big Lessons Season 2 — A Buffer Original Series

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Listen to a preview of Small Business, Big Lessons, a podcast from Buffer that goes behind-the-scenes with inspirational small businesses to explore h...

How to Build an Audience on Twitter (with Matthew Kobach)

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 200 of The Science of Social Media! Thanks to each and every one of you for tuning in to the show and joining us on this journey. T...

Allyship and Anti-Racism on Social Media

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is a little different from usual. In this episode, we’re focusing on allyship and anti-racism on social media. Back in June, Buffe...

No Budget, No Problem: Shifting Social Media Strategy in the Face of COVID-19

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As Q4 approaches, budgets are top of mind for many of us.  And if you’re feeling worried about managing budgets, and hitting your goals, you’...

How Local Businesses Can Crush It On Social (And Keep Customers Coming Back... Without Spending a Dime)

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As of July 2020, more than half of all the people on Earth use social media. With so much of the world’s population using social channels — and mo...

Measuring Social Media Success Using Data

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The thing we love most at Buffer is helping you succeed at social media. But I’m sure every social media manager has at some point asked themselves ...

How to Sell More Online

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

According to data from Shopify, new stores created online grew 62 percent between March 13th to April 24th, 2020.  With so many businesses moving...

Inside Buffer's Formula for Customer Engagement on Social Media

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As people have been spending more time and home, screentime and time on social channels have also gone up. This has led to big jumps in engagement for...

How to Stay on Top of an Ever-Changing Industry in 30-Minutes Per Day

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Does this sound familiar: One minute your social strategy is flying... the next, numbers are down, and it's hard to pinpoint exactly why. We're sure e...

Adapt and Thrive — Social Media Advice to Get You Through (Part Two)

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re jumping back into our Buffer Session on how to adapt your social media strategy and thrive in this changing times. (If you didn’t ...

Adapt and Thrive — Social Media Advice to Get You Through (Part One)

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Now more than ever social media may be one of your most important channels for connecting with your audience and your customers. The tricky part? Soci...

Why Brands Shouldn't Overlook Pinterest (Plus 3 Strategies You Can Use Today)

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When most people think of social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter — maybe even TikTok — tend to be top-of-mind. But today we're shari...

What’s Next for Instagram? New Strategies to Make Your Brand Stand Out

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

"I feel like I’m getting tired of Instagram and I get the feeling other people are too."  This week, we speak with Buffer’s head of content A...

How a VP of Marketing Looks at Social Media Metrics

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

What metrics really matter to social media marketers and marketing leaders? We’re really excited to share our new podcast format with you all today....

Social Media Management in Times of Crisis

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

These are times of fast-changing news around COVID-19. It’s clear that what we are facing — not just as marketers, as friends, and parents and col...

Encore: Inside the Facebook Ads of Your Competitors

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

(Right now we’re working on creating a brand new, refreshed version of The Science of Social Media. We can’t wait to share it with you next w...

Encore: A Crash Course in Microcopy for Social Media Captions

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

(Right now we’re working on creating a brand new, refreshed version of  The Science of Social Media. We can’t wait to share it with you in ju...

Encore: Marie Kondo-ing Your LinkedIn — The LinkedIn Audit Blueprint to Help Your Profile Shine

25 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

(Right now we’re working on creating a brand new, refreshed version of The Science of Social Media. We can’t wait to share it with you in just a f...

Find the Best Times to Post on Social Media

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Does the timing of your social media posts still matter? Here at Buffer, we think so! And in today's episode we'll be guiding you through our processe...

How to discover what works: Our guide to social media experiments

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Over the years, we’ve shared plenty of tips and tactics to help you with social media marketing but one thing we haven’t really done well is to ex...

How the Instagram Algorithm Works in 2020 (Plus a New Stories Feature)

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a burning question about the Instagram algorithm? If you do, chances are it may have been answered recently. Instagram recently held a Q&a...

11 Thumb-Stopping Instagram Stories Design Tips

27 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Instagram Stories has over 500 million daily active users, meaning half of Instagram’s overall user base create or view stories every single day. Th...

How Brands Can Leverage Pinterest To Make Sales

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know: Pinterest is such a key part of the buying journey for its users that over 90 percent of weekly active Pinners use Pinterest to make pur...

Encore: The 7 Important Skills You Need to Be a Successful Social Media Marketer

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

(This week, we're re-airing our top episode of the year. Thank you for being along for the ride and for making The Science of Social Media part of you...

Encore: 8 Fun Things to Try on Instagram You Probably Haven't Thought of Before

30 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

(This week, we're revisiting one of our top episodes of 2019. Thank you for being along for the ride and for making The Science of Social Media part o...

Introducing: Breaking Brand, Episode One

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we have a special episode for you — something a bit different than usual. We’d love to share the first episode of our new podcast series, B...

The Best Instagram Stories of 2019

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Instagram Stories was one of the most dynamic social media channels in 2019. So much happened with Stories — from new developments with the product ...

Why social commerce will rule social media in 2020

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What will the future hold for social media?  We have a pretty good guess that social commerce will play a large role. From Instagram Checkout to ...

The Complete, Actionable Guide to Marketing Personas

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Marketing personas are the foundation that holds your strategy and messaging together.  This week's episode will give you some insight into the p...

Brand Secrets for Standing Out in a Crowded World

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a world of infinite supply… The secret to standing out is to have a brand that your customers connect with and care about deeply. In toda...

BFCM: Last-Minute Black Friday + Cyber Monday Marketing Ideas for Social Media

12 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The biggest retail dates of the year are just around the corner. Do you have your social media marketing ready? In this episode, we'll share some of t...

A Crash Course in Building Custom Audiences for Your Social Media Ads

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When you want to get your message in front of the right people on social media, where do you turn?  More and more, brands and businesses are turn...

Bonus: Introducing Buffer’s new podcast series 'Breaking Brand'

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On this special episode of The Science of Social Media, we’re introducing you to a new podcast series from Buffer. It’s called 'Breaking Brand' an...

9 Social Media Goals You Can Set for Your Business (and How to Track Them)

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The thing we love most at Buffer is to help you succeed at social media. And a key part of social media success is knowing which goals and target...

The Keys to Epic Engagement on Social Media

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Social media engagement seems like a slam dunk strategy. Everyone should be doing it, right? But it certainly comes with its blind spots and questions...

News Roundup: The Future of Facebook, Pinterest's Latest Changes, the Most Popular Stories, and More

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As always, a ton is happening in the world of social media, and it can be hard to catch every story. So we want to highlight some of the biggest news ...

How to Schedule Instagram Stories (Plus 10 Ideas for What to Make Next)

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Where can you practice storytelling in front of an audience of 500 million? Instagram Stories, of course. Instagram Stories are empowering marketers t...

The Science Behind the Best Instagram Bios

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Small-but-powerful. Front-and-center. Instagram bios are well worth the time and investment to write well and test often. They're one of the most visi...

​​How to Use Instagram to Increase Your Sales: Proven Strategies from the Pros

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas. Shopping season is just around the corner. We want to help you get prepared by looking at how some of today’s...

Inside the Facebook Ads of Your Competitors: How to Research, What to Learn

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you're looking for inspiration for your next great Facebook ad, then we've got you covered with this episode! We're diving into the Facebook Ad Lib...

Can You Make a Great Six-Second Ad? Here’s What We Learned From the Best

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When marketers wish for more time and resources, they often wish to spend it on video marketing. Well, what if you only needed six seconds of video to...

Magical Ways to Measure Social Media Attribution

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When someone makes a purchase or signs up for your product, how do you know where they came from? Especially when it comes to a top-of-funnel channel ...

How to Find a Fantastic Agency to Help With Your Social Media Marketing

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the very best brands on social media get by with a little help from their friends -- agencies and consultants and strategists.  If this i...

A Crash Course in Microcopy for Social Media Captions

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Copywriting is one of the most essential skills for a marketer to have. Good copy is everywhere! Websites, advertisements, blog posts, and especially ...

Reddit Marketing Strategies for Those Who Don't Have Time for Reddit Marketing

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Reddit is one of the most vibrant communities on the Internet and a powerful source of attention. A positive Reddit mention can mean thousands of visi...

How to Get the Very Most out of Buffer (Tips From the Team)

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So much of social media marketing happens in our social media management tools. On today's episode, we want to make sure this feels like time well spe...

Grade Your Marketing for Free With These 10+ Tools

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to know if you've checked all the right boxes for your marketing, then look no further than this set of free marketing graders. You can se...

Inside the World of Micro-Influencers, the Influencer Strategy Getting the Best Results Today

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

They say bigger is better ... but in the case of influencer strategy, we think the opposite could be true! The latest data shows that micro-influencer...

Best Instagram Apps for Marketers: The Rise of the Single-Job, Standalone App

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Instagram app by itself is supremely powerful. But did you know all the best apps to take your Instagram marketing to even greater heights?  ...

The Best New Pinterest Marketing Strategies Working Today

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How are brands and businesses succeeding on Pinterest today?  And how can you follow their playbooks to make waves yourself?  We go deep on ...

8 Fun Things to Try on Instagram You Probably Haven't Thought of Before

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It can be hard to stay on top of the latest news for everything that’s coming to social media. We'd love to help you. This episode of The Science of...

How tentree created a record-breaking Instagram campaign

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to a special edition of the Buffer podcast.  In this episode, the team from tentree will share exactly how they created and launched an I...

Need a Chatbot Marketing Strategy? We've Got You Covered

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When you think of chatbot marketing, what comes to mind? Opinions run the gamut from fear — “What’ll it be like to entrust my customer serv...

Marie Kondo-ing Your LinkedIn: The LinkedIn Audit Blueprint to Help Your Profile Shine

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We wish for you to have the very best, most fulfilling career possible, doing work that you love. And one of the best routes to that dream job is havi...

The Most Essential (and Surprising) Social Media Statistics and Facts of 2019

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What role do social media stats and facts play in your day-to-day? As social media marketers, we do our best to be data-informed with the decisions we...

Tiny Tips for Delivering Out-of-This-World Customer Support on Social Media

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re serious about building a remarkable brand on social media, we believe that a core component of your strategy needs to be engagement. Engag...

What If Instagram Got Rid Of Likes? Plus Even More Social Media What Ifs

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What if you had a magic wand and could make any change you wanted on social media? Quite a question, right? Well, we dove into the many different what...

The 7 Important Skills You Need to Be a Successful Social Media Marketer

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A decade ago, the role of a social media manager might not have even existed. Today, however, almost every company is involved in social media one way...

Why Brands are Turning to Spotify as the Next Big Social Platform

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are so many social networks to choose from today: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest. Maybe YouTube? Maybe Reddit? We'd love to l...

How to Get (Real!) Followers on Social Media in 2019

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most popular topics in social media marketing is how to get more followers. And not just any followers --- real followers, no bot...

Why Isn't Anyone Talking About Live Video Anymore? The Current State of Live

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Live video remains a core feature of the top social networks, so ... why isn’t anyone talking about it anymore?  How should you be thinking abo...

(SSM Selects) 6 Proven Instagram Marketing Tactics to Grow Followers and Engagement

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A very special SSM Select episode from our archives! Instagram is one of the most important (if not the most important) for brands and businesses look...

6 Simple Ways You Can Use Neuroscience to Increase Marketing Productivity

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary science that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the nervous system. When applied to our ...

8 Unexpected Marketing Lessons from History’s Most Influential Leaders

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re taking a journey through time and uncovering some of the greatest, yet most unexpected marketing lessons from some of history’s mo...

How to Turn Fans and Customers Into Brand Champions in 2019

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A group of highly engaged fans can have a huge impact on your marketing efforts. Those fans are your brand champions and they're everywhere! One of th...

(SSM Selects) 6 Rules for Great Storytelling as Told by Pixar

25 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode from the SSM archives! This was one of the most popular episode from 2018 - voted on by our listeners! As a marketer, effective stor...

The Art of Copywriting: How to Write Better Captions and Tell Stories that Get Engagement

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What you’re trying to do, when you tell a story, is to write about an event in your life that made you feel some particular way. And what you’re t...

9 Proven Techniques to Improve Your Instagram Content (Feed + Stories)

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An incredible 500 million people actively use Instagram and Instagram Stories every day. But it's not just the sheer number of users that's impressive...

7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Retargeting Ad Campaigns

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Retargeting, also known as remarketing, is a powerful form of digital advertising in which audiences (potential customers) are targeted with specific ...

Does Vertical Video Make a Difference in Results? We Spent $6,000 on Experiments to Find Out

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Does vertical video really make a difference in your social media results? This week we have some brand new research lined up for you. Over the last t...

How Nike, Square, Blenders Eyewear, and Other Top Brands Approach Instagram Marketing in 2019 (New Case Studies)

19 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder how some of the world's top brands approach Instagram marketing? You're in luck! This week we have a ton of great resources all tied up in...

The Top 10 Social Media Marketing Tools Brands are Using to Succeed in 2019

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Marketers are faced with an ever-growing list of responsibilities. From social media marketing to customer experience and advertising, it's a challeng...

How Top Ecommerce Brands Use Shopping on Instagram to Drive Sales and Growth

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Instagram now has more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide and 500 million+ people use Instagram Stories on a daily basis. But, did you know...

The State of Social 2019 Report: Insights From More Than 1,800 Marketing Professionals

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Buffer's annual State of Social report is here! This year we surveyed more than 1,800 marketers from businesses of all sizes (across a range of indust...

6 Powerful Psychological Biases And How They Influencer Human Behavior Online

21 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Great campaigns happen at the intersection of marketing and psychology - the sweet spot where your content and messaging connects with your audience o...

The Most In-Demand Skills of 2019 (According to LinkedIn), YouTube’s Big Advertising Opportunity, The Ultimate Facebook Engagement Guide, and More!

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to take your professional skills to the next level?  Thinking about YouTube advertising as a new channel for your brand? Wondering abou...

What 777,367,063 Facebook Posts Tell Us About Successful Content in 2019 (New Research)

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook marketing in 2019 isn’t dead. On the contrary, it’s far from it! Although we continue to see a rise in the usage and effectiveness of ...

5 Data-Backed Social Media Marketing Trends You Need to Know for 2019

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

2019 is officially here! Gone are the days where generating audience engagement on social media was primarily a passive process. The always-online ...

(SSM Selects) 11 Content Creation Hacks: Strategies & Tools to Take Your Social Media to the Next Level

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A special episode from the SSM archives! This was the most popular episode from 2018 - voted on by our listeners. Content is the golden ticket to s...

13 Social Media Experts Share Their Biggest Piece of Marketing Advice

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Often the best way to learn about a craft is from someone who has been in your shoes before. That's why we turned to 13 social media experts for their...

How to Use Video Content to Raise Brand Awareness and Sell Your Product

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Video content is one of the most popular mediums for businesses today, and for good reason. Video is more engaging, more memorable, and more popular a...

A Marketer's Guide to Decoding Social Media Algorithms in 2019

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Social media algorithms play a very important role in the ability for marketers and business owners to make an impact online. Yet they remain a mys...

We Analyzed 15,000 Instagram Stories from 200 of the World’s Top Brands (New Research)

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We gathered never-before-seen data from more than 15,000 Instagram Stories posted by over 200 of the world’s top accounts and brands. This is one...

Instagram Stories Strategy: How Businesses Can Create Thumb-Stopping Stories Content

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

More than 400 million people use the Instagram Stories every day - making Stories an amazing opportunity for your business to reach your customers on ...

Your Go-To Small Business Marketing Guide for 2019 (New Tips and Ideas)

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, an incredible two-thirds of small business owners and entrepreneurs are personally responsible fo...

7 Invaluable Marketing Skills That Help Top Teams Produce Consistently Great Content

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Marketing skills and career growth do not come easy in a field that moves at the speed of light. It seems like every single week companies are demandi...

9 Marketing Ideas That Don’t Include Blogging (Plus How to Identify Big Opportunities)

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Great marketing ideas are hard to come by. Which is why many businesses resort to blogging as their go-to marketing strategy. But there are so many...

How to Launch on Product Hunt Like a Pro, Lessons from 17.2 Million Twitter Impressions, 4 Key Facebook Trends for 2019, and More!

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to catch up on the latest social media news and trends, but short on time? This week we're covering everything you need to know to get caught ...