Building GQ's Social Media Narrative: A Conversation with Katie Philo
Chatting with the Boss Lady of GQ Social Media, Katie Philo
Grab a seat and join us as we sit down with Katie Philo, the Associate Director of Social Media at GQ, who's been instrumental in shaping social media strategies for major media brands, including the BBC and Condé Nast. With a career spanning over a decade, her journey is marked by creativity, collaboration, and a keen knack for staying ahead of social media trends. Buckle up, folks—this lady's a force to be reckoned with!
Getting to Know Katie
Katie's soaring career in digital and social media started back in the day when she was marketing a video streaming platform at Reuters in New York. Realizing the importance of understanding video and digital platforms in the fast-paced industry, she set her sights on New York. Her skills and experience landing her a dream job as an Online Researcher for BBC iPlayer in London. Threecreative, enriching years later, she found herself leading social media and digital production for some of the BBC's biggest shows and brands.
The thrill of collaboration and connecting with audiences led her to accept a role leading social media for BritBox in New York, a streaming service created by the BBC and ITV. Teaching her to team creativity with data-driven decisions, she contributed to some remarkable projects like the Britannia Awards and the Royal wedding in 2018. Music being a cornerstone of her life, she eventually moved to Pitchfork, creating content for music enthusiasts just like her. In 2022, she took on a new challenge at GQ, heading up social media for a brand with a wide scope and opportunities.
Pinch Me Moments
From working on two seasons of Strictly Come Dancing, to leading social media at Pitchfork Music Festival, and covering the Met Gala, every step of Katie's career has been filled with unforgettable moments.
Navigating the Diverse Landscape of GQ Social Media
Staying ahead of social media trends isn't always a walk in the park, especially when tackling a global platform like GQ. With endless opportunities comes the need for strategy and selectivity. Adapting to the evolving nature of platforms is key, as is being mindful of the audience, GQ's mission, and the platforms themselves.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities at GQ
As head of social media, Katie oversees strategy, programming, and creative development across GQ's social media platforms. She collaborates with the editorial team to find the best ways to tell compelling stories, leads event coverage such as Men of the Year, the Met Gala, and Fashion Weeks, and engages audiences with the help of a talented team.
Preparing for Red Carpet Events
If an event or red carpet makes sense for GQ to cover, Katie secures any necessary equipment and researches confirmed or potential talent to devise questions. On the red carpet, she's often the one-woman show, conducting interviews, filming, producing, and publishing content end-to-end. For larger events, she leads a team to execute a more complex content strategy.
Covering GQ Cover Stories
Katie leads the social plan for each issue, from ideation to publishing. After reading the story, she collaborates with writers and editors to understand the scope and identify key moments for highlfight during social media coverage. Visual storytelling is essential, as is crafting posts that resonate with audiences on each platform.
Advice for Adapting Social Media Strategies
Staying ahead of the curve requires clarity about the role of social media in achieving organizational goals, choosing the right platforms, and assessing strategies to determine whether they're working. Katie emphasizes a quality-over-quantity approach, continuous learning, and leveraging industry trends to remain competitive.
So there you have it—an insightful chat with Katie Philo, the trailblazer of social media at GQ. Keep your eyes peeled for her groundbreaking work and exciting endeavors in the world of media!
connects Katie Philo, the Associate Director of Social Media at GQ, with celebrities and pop-culture, as she leads social media coverage for events such as the Met Gala, Men of the Year, Fashion Weeks, and red carpets, and crafts social media plans for each issue of GQ magazine, highlighting key moments with visual storytelling.
Katie Philo, the force to be reckoned with in GQ's social media world, not only stays ahead of social media trends, but also shapes them, setting the stage for compelling entertainment and pop-culture discussions on social media platforms, collaborating with celebrities and notable figures in the sphere of social media, entertainment, and pop-culture.
