Welcome to 5 BY 5, the alpha | BRAVO blog.

In radio jargon, the term “five by five” affirms that a radioed transmission was received loud and clear. Each was rated 1 to 5 with the first for clearness, and the second for loudness. Whether we’re writing social media ads, managing a brand’s social media presence, or crafting a full-funnel social media strategy, our mission is to ensure that every message is received loud and clear. The 5 BY 5 blog covers insights, news, tips, and trends in social media marketing strategy, management, copywriting and design. Check in on the 5th of each month and join us on LinkedIn + Instagram for of-the-minute updates!

curate this
Posted by Beth Newton | 05 October 2019| Blog
5 Steps to Creating Curate-worthy Content

Content curation is continuing to rise among Fortune 500 brands, and understandably so; companies that include a balanced mix of created and curated content on their social media profiles see a 10X higher conversion rate than those that don’t. Beyond conversions, curating valuable content from credible sources also helps to position company executives and employees...

Napoleon quote
Posted by Beth Newton | 12 September 2019| Blog
On Why Solutions Aren’t Always the Answer

What's your first instinct when someone comes to you with a problem? A recent Marketing Week article suggests that our natural inclination is to suggest a solution - maybe several - until one sticks. I had this discussion with my husband/business partner just the other day. We were discussing the fact that when I bring...

content curation
Posted by Beth Newton | 05 August 2019| Blog
Why Your Marketing Strategy Needs Content Curation (+ 5 Rules for Success)

Content curation is going to explode onto the SMB scene in the next 12-18 months. How do we know this? Because global Fortune 500 brands are finding huge success with it right now. Marketing trends typically start with global brands and can take six months to two years to reach smaller brands (not unlike the...

How to write an ebook
Posted by Beth Newton | 05 July 2019| Blog
5 Steps to Writing Your First (Good) E-book

You know you need content, but that’s like knowing you need to file your business taxes—easier said than done. Writing an e-book can be a daunting process. How do you know the topic will resonate with your audience? How will you find enough information to fill an entire e-book? Damn it, Jim, you’re a CEO,...

Posted by Beth Newton | 05 June 2019| Blog
50 Unique Social Media Tips for Small Businesses

There are countless online articles that offer tips for social media marketing. But rather than curating our favorites, we decided to share our own findings. We built our Social Command Studio on the notes we've been taking of our successes and failures for the past 10 years. These are our most helpful social media tips...

Posted by Beth Newton | 06 May 2019| Blog
5 Marketing Pillars of Big League Brands

The way to grow your small business is to think like a Fortune 500 enterprise. Small businesses across the country—like those listed in this recent Forbes article — are making big impacts by following the marketing secrets of much larger brands. I’ve been working with and learning from some of the world’s most powerful brands since...

Posted by Beth Newton | 05 April 2019| Blog
5 Reasons Your Brand Needs an Advocacy Program (and how to do it)

Influencer marketing – hiring people who have a massive following to talk about your brand – has been the marketing darling recently. I’m not terribly surprised – some brands have seen great success with the strategy. But influencer programs are expensive. And unless you’re an enterprise brand with an enterprise budget, it’s not a viable...

gear knob with facebook like symbol
Posted by Beth Newton | 05 March 2019| Blog
5 Tips for Getting Your Small Business Social Media up to Speed

90% of marketers say they've increased their brand exposure through social media alone. Many small business owners tell us that they "know they need social media," but aren't sure what that means, much less where to begin. If all of this sounds time-consuming, well, that's because it is. The right tools can certainly help cut...

Posted by agencyab | 05 February 2019| Blog
5 Ways to Create Real Connections with Your Audience

Marketing is all about creating an emotion – causing consumers to feel something that makes them connect with a brand on a deeper level. It’s creating an experience whether through a live event, an ad campaign, a brand story, or social media engagement. When you can clearly communicate your brand story in a way that...