Welcome to another edition of Meet Your Pod Squad!
Today, we’re talking to Jay Saspara, a social media assistant at ProudMouth who also started his four-month marketing internship at ProudMouth in May 2021.
In addition to creating content for our external marketing, Jay helps our clients promote their podcasts by creating irresistibly click-worthy podcast summaries and social media posts.
Let’s get to know Jay…
(Listen to Jay’s interview with our CRO, Matt Halloran, or keep reading!)
To start off, can you describe a day in your life as a social media assistant at ProudMouth?
First, let me tell you that I look forward to every new day as a social media assistant at ProudMouth.
My work really starts with listening to the clients’ podcasts. In doing so, I make a note of the key points discussed in every episode, which I later use to write their podcast summaries.
Then comes the best part –– content multiplication! I extract quotes and audio bursts from throughout an episode to create two weeks’ worth of social media content.
Later during the day, I work on minor tasks, like scheduling the posts on behalf of our clients. Also, I frequently visit clients’ websites and social media to stay in the loop with what they’ve been up to lately.
So overall, it’s an exciting day. We as social media assistants are mainly here to ensure that the clients are posting on their social media consistently, so that they’re talking to their audience and cultivating those relationships.
What do you enjoy about working at ProudMouth?
Well, ProudMouth has got me HOOKED on podcasts! I didn’t really listen to podcasts before, but now I listen to around six podcasts every week. It’s so much fun and a great learning experience.
Plus, I absolutely love the ProudMouth culture. Everyone is so supportive of each other and really fun to work with. It truly feels like family here, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team!
What’s a digital tool that you use every day?
There are actually two tools that I use regularly during my work:
- Grammarly: It helps me keep a check on any spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, etc.
- Sendible: It enables me to schedule multiple social media posts for clients well ahead of time.
These two tools definitely make my work so much easier and faster!
Which book has made a lasting impact on you?
The book that has made the biggest impact on me has to be, without a doubt, “Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography” by Walter Isaacson. His entire life journey is just so inspiring.
I find myself often returning to specific parts of the book, like when Jobs dealt with the low points in his life or the time when he managed two huge companies, Apple and Pixar, simultaneously. It’s like a regular dose of inspiration for me. In fact, I have a Steve Jobs poster on my wall!
Which TV shows do you enjoy?
Wow, that’s an interesting question! My top two favorite shows are “F.R.I.E.N.D.S” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” They are full of comedy with a great storyline –– just perfect for unplugging my brain and relaxing for a while.
What’s your most-used emoji? 🤔
My most used emoji? Hmm…I think it might be a tie between the heart emoji and the laughing emoji with tears of joy. I guess I’m all about spreading positive vibes 😊
What kind of podcast episode keeps you listening to the end?
The one I can relate to!
For instance, when I listen to clients’ podcasts, the episodes that include real-world examples and interesting stories instead of just technical jargon keep me really engaged. These elements make the episodes (and podcast host) more relatable and help me absorb their content easily.
So, in my opinion, I would say storytelling works very well for podcasts.
What advice do you have for an industry expert who’s thinking about starting a podcast but is scared out of their mind?
There’s no need to sound perfect and polished!
In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When people are being themselves on a podcast, truly authentic, it feels a lot more conversational and not like a one-way presentation. I absolutely love that, and I’m sure other listeners do, too.
When you think of our clients’ podcast names, which one might be your favorite?
All of them are amazing, but one of my favorite ones is The Life by Design Podcast by Royal Standley. Although they are financial advisors, they often cover a wide variety of general life topics which really intrigue me.
For example, in the past few podcasts, Royal talked about time management, about why libraries are still relevant when everything’s turning digital, and, recently, he published the 50th episode special, where he talks about making an impact in the community. I just love listening to his podcast!
What are your go-to strategies for writing posts that show a client’s personality?
There are a few things that I do to capture a client’s voice and personality:
- I visit their website’s “about us” section and see what they’ve written about themselves and their company
- Sometimes, I pick out their own words and lines from their podcasts and use them verbatim in their posts
- Lastly, some clients like to make suggestions and edits on the posts that we’ve sent to them for approval before publishing. So, I make a note of what type of changes they suggest and incorporate them into future posts
