Social Strategy with a Human Voice

I’m Matt Jackson, the founder of Socially-M, an award-winning social media strategist turned speaker and consultant. After years at the forefront of the digital world, building bold brands and creating scroll-stopping campaigns, I’m now helping individuals and organisations cut through the noise, find their voice, and tell stories that stick. I speak on stages and inside boardrooms about personal branding, digital confidence, and the power of strategic social media, offering clear, creative guidance with a relatable approach. Whether I’m delivering a keynote, leading a workshop, or advising one-on-one, my goal is simple: to help people show up online with purpose, personality and impact. This is the reboot, and it's just the beginning.

[sociallym]

Today marks the 13th anniversary of one of my all-time favourite hashtag campaigns in the history of social media. If you've ever been to one of my talks and I've discussed or answered any questions about hashtags, then you have probably seen me write this particular hashtag on the board with almost unbridled glee.

That's right, today is exactly 9 years to the day that the PR team working on Susan Boyle's album launch marketing, pressed the publish button and approved the tweet which read: "Susan will be answering your questions at her exclusive album listening party on Saturday. Send in your questions #susanalbumparty Susan HQ".

Whether it was a stroke of PR genius or genuinely naive, will largely depend on how you interpret the hashtag, but ultimately we will never know. Clearly, it can be read more than one way. The tweet was deleted within several hours of it being posted, but not before it had trended worldwide and become the most retweeted message of 2012.

Hashtags can be without doubt one of the catchiest ways to get your business campaigns noticed out there and it's clear that this particular example got the attention the team were looking for. However, it's best to be remembered for what you do, not for what many believe was an embarrassing mistake.

When it comes to your business, choose your hashtags wisely, or they may end up defining you.

[mysharona1987]

[mysharona1987]

[sociallym]

I’m currently back writing poetry. But I’m writing it all about social media, platforms, pitfalls and scandals. Something akin to confessions of a social media manager, but with a dark, melancholy feel from several different perspectives. If I made them into a book, would any of you want a copy or read it?

[victusinveritas]

Tom Gauld

[myjetpack]

A halloween cartoon for New Scientist.

[myjetpack]

Three Guardian books cartoons from previous halloweens.

[sociallym]

Wishing you all a blessed and thoughtful Samhain and Halloween.

As the veil between worlds thins at this time of year, I’m reminded of the power of reflection, of honouring where we’ve been, who we’ve lost, and what we’ve learned along the way.

Samhain is the quiet turning point of the year, the moment we move from the light into the dark. It’s a time for release, gratitude, and grounding. For recognising that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning.

So tonight, light a candle. Remember your ancestors. Give thanks for the harvest, not just of food, but of experience, lessons, and growth.

The year is shifting, and with it comes an invitation to slow down, trust the process, to prepare the soil and ourselves for what’s next.

May this Samhain bring you peace, clarity, and renewed purpose for the season ahead.

#Samhain #SeasonsOfChange #Reflection #Mindfulness #Gratitude #AutumnWisdom #NewBeginnings

[myjetpack]

Two cartoons about autumn.

[myjetpack]

My cartoon for this week’s New Scientist magazine

[sociallym]

Today, many of us will wear yellow to show our support for World Mental Health Day, a symbol of hope, awareness, and solidarity. But the truth is, looking after our mental health and that of others isn’t just for today. It’s for every day.

Mental health isn’t a once-a-year topic or a one-off assembly. It’s a daily practice, in our workplaces, our schools, our homes, and our own minds. The small check-ins, the honest conversations, the moments of empathy and understanding, that’s where real change happens.

I’ve had my own battles with mental health over the years. There were times when things felt heavier than I could carry. But with time, support, and self-awareness, I’ve learned that vulnerability isn’t weakness, it’s courage in its purest form. And it’s that same courage I now try to model and encourage in others.

Working with students has shown me just how vital it is that we keep having these conversations, not just when there’s a campaign or an awareness day, but whenever someone might be silently struggling. Children and young people need to see that emotions aren’t something to hide from. They need to know it’s okay to talk, to ask for help, and to be listened to without judgement.

So today, yes, wear yellow, share the message, start the conversation. But let’s remember that real awareness happens in the everyday moments that follow.

Let’s keep showing up for ourselves.

Let’s keep showing up for each other.

#WorldMentalHealthDay #WMHD2025 #MentalHealthMatters #BeKindAlways #ItsOkayToNotBeOkay #Wellbeing #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportEachOther #TalkAboutIt #EducationMatters

[myjetpack]

One of the cartoons in my new book 'Physics for Cats' which is out now in the UK, USA, Canada, France and Germany. Order from your local bookshops or online: www.tomgauld.com/

[myjetpack]

My latest cartoon for New Scientist.

p.s. My new book of science cartoons 'Physics for Cats' is out this week. Details at www.tomgauld.com

[myjetpack]

A riddle for Guardian Books.

p.s. My new book 'Physics for Cats' is out this week in bookshops and online. Details at www.tomgauld.com

[sociallym]

In today’s digital economy, competition isn’t just across the street,it’s across the world. Your customers are exposed to hundreds, even thousands, of messages every single day. Amidst all the noise, the only way to truly stand out is to deliver value so strong that it cuts through the scroll.

But here’s the challenge. Most businesses still treat social media like a billboard. They post sales messages, product updates, and the occasional fun fact, then wonder why engagement is low and conversions are flat.

The truth is, social media is no longer just a marketing tool, it’s a relationship engine. Customers expect more than content; they expect connection, education, entertainment, respect and insight. The photo in this post is from a brand I worked with many years ago who really understood this.

So the real question is this:

How are you bringing more value to your customers than anyone else?

Are you solving their problems in ways your competitors aren’t?

Are you educating them with content that empowers smarter decisions?

Are you building a community where they feel seen and heard?

Are you showing up consistently to earn trust, not just attention?

When customers receive genuine value before they ever buy, you position your business as the natural choice when they’re ready to make a purchase. Social media isn’t about who shouts the loudest, it’s about who helps the most.

So, business owners, what’s your answer?

How are you turning your social media into the most valuable customer experience in your industry?

[myjetpack]

My latest cartoon for Guardian Books

[sociallym]

So I realise I’m late to this party, exactly 20 years late this month, in fact. But I am currently obsessed with Supernatural. It was one of those shows that I’d always intended to watch, but never actually got around to. Now 15 seasons and 20 years later, I’m finally watching it with my boys, and everything about it speaks to me.

It isn’t just about hunting things and saving people. It’s about loyalty. It’s about family. It’s about two brothers who keep going, no matter how many times the world tries to break them. That resilience, fighting battles both external and internal, feels raw, real, and strangely comforting.

Every character, from Dean’s stubborn humour to Sam’s moral struggles, feels like they’ve been written with human flaws we can actually recognise in ourselves. Even the angels and demons are layered, nobody is just good or just evil. It’s just not that simple. That moral grey area is exactly what makes the storytelling so addictive.

And then there’s the humour. The meta-episodes. The running jokes. The fact that one minute you’re crying over a tragic death and the next you’re laughing at a ridiculous prank war. Very few shows can swing between heartbreak and hilarity so seamlessly. And then there’s that soundtrack. And that car.

But the real reason I’m hooked? It’s because it serves as a reminder that even when the odds are stacked against you, when the world feels dark and heavy, you can keep going. You can lean on the people beside you. You can fight your demons, literal or otherwise.