Marketing Happy Hour - Building a Social Media Strategy for a Global, Legacy Brand | Elizabeth Thompson of National Geographic
Episode Date: November 20, 2025In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Manager of Social Media at National Geographic, who leads strategy for one of the largest social ecosystems in the world—over 400 million... followers across platforms. Elizabeth shares the career journey that took her from freelancer to running social for one of the most iconic storytelling brands, including how she grew Nat Geo’s Instagram from 250M to 270M and TikTok from 2.5M to 9M. We unpack how Nat Geo stays relevant in today’s cultural landscape, how her team uses UGC, storytelling, and new formats to reach global audiences, and what creators and marketers can learn from building social strategy at scale.Key Takeaways:// How to grow a legacy brand on social: The frameworks Nat Geo uses to stay culturally relevant while staying true to its roots.// The power of UGC at scale: Why user-generated content fuels @NatGeoYourShot and how it drives community, not just reach.// Building strategy for massive audiences: How Elizabeth approaches content for 400M+ followers across seven platforms.// Career lessons for social pros: How early internships, freelancing, and experimentation shaped her career—and how creators can follow a similar path.// Team building in social: What it takes to scale from platform manager to leading a multi-platform social team.// The role of storytelling in modern social: How Nat Geo blends cultural moments, trends, and visual storytelling to stay top-of-feed.Connect with Elizabeth: LinkedInFollow Nat Geo: NatGeoYourShot | NatGeo____Say hi! DM me on Instagram and let us know what content you want to hear on the show - I can't wait to hear from you! Please also consider rating the show and leaving a review, as that helps us tremendously as we move forward in this Marketing Happy Hour journey and create more content for all of you. Join our FREE Open Jobs group on LinkedIn: Join nowGet the latest from MHH, straight to your inbox: Join our email list!Follow MHH on Social: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Facebook
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Discussion (0)
When we think about why social was created in the first place, people to connect with family and friends, then obviously brands entered that conversation or that world as well.
Brands to continue to keep that connection and community top of mind, whether it's through the content they're creating, community management efforts, UGC efforts, that's going to continue to stand the test of time and social.
Welcome to Marketing Happy Hour, a weekly podcast helping marketing professionals build better strategies and hit career goals.
I'm Cassie, consultant and your host through these unfiltered convos with your peers.
Grab your favorite drink and get ready for practical insights to support your journey in marketing.
Today, Allie and I are joined by Elizabeth Thompson, senior social media manager at National Geographic.
I am so stoked about this episode. We were talking off record that I just attended Digital Summit and heard a session from two team members from the Nat Geo team.
So just excited to Elizabeth, meet you, dive more into your experience as well. Welcome to the show.
Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to chat today. Yeah, big fans of the pod, so very happy to be here.
Oh, my gosh. We are big fans of everything that you all do as well. And just excited to become a fan of you, too, like hear your journey and what you're working on and just everything.
But first, we have to kick off with, I just want to know what's been in your glass lately.
oh my gosh so right now since it's early afternoon i have my go-to diet coke um loves it's so good
and it's become a habit for me that like at nat geo the whole social team like between one
and three p.m if i don't have a diet coke in hand like someone's checking on me like have you
had your diet coke today this is a staple um but yes always have my water with me as well
hydration's important but typical go-to happy hour order i've definitely been into like a skinny
spicy marg lately or a dirty martini with jalapeno brine and blue chiefs stuffed olives so
a little diverse there yeah halapeno brine is so fun i like spice i like the spiciness
i love it i do have to ask or have you tried the new diet coke with lime from target like have
you gotten the cans are you a fan no but i'm going i'm like i'm on a mission to go and get that and try
I remember when Lyme Diet Coke was, oh, we have a visitor, Salem, my cat.
We're big cat people.
He realized, oh, we're recording.
Let me get in the frame.
A little attention seeker.
But I am on a mission to try it because I'm a big Lyme girl, too.
Oh, you'll love it.
You'll love it.
You absolutely will.
Well, Elizabeth, so, so, so excited to have you.
Would love for you to walk us through your career journey, how you landed at Nat
geo and just tell us more about your role there yeah so honestly we're taking back to like my
childhood days and I feel like a lot of how I grew up is so ingrained in like who I am today and like
what I do at work even so I've always had a passion for adventure exploration travel um I grew up
an army brat so like connecting with other people was always so important to me as I moved around
and trying to make new friends um I was also just very chronically online and very into the popcorn
and like what was going on in the world.
Um, also just growing up during like the boom of social, like coding away in my MySpace days.
So that's like a lot of what my childhood was like.
And then fast forward to my undergrad, I knew I wanted to work in the umbrella of like
PR, broadcast journalism, marketing, advertising, something in that space.
But I wasn't exactly sure what.
And so I had internships kind of spanning all these things, having different experiences.
and I just loved so much, but I couldn't figure out, like, what exactly I wanted to do.
So I ultimately decided to move to Germany to get my master's.
And while I was there, I also got an internship at Stars and Stripes, which is a global
publisher that serves the U.S. military community.
And as an Army Brack growing up, Stars and Stripes was, like, always a part of my world.
So I was very excited for that opportunity.
And eventually, throughout my internship, I got a full time.
time job as a content producer where I really focused on digital and print lifestyle content
strategies. And then somehow, I honestly couldn't tell you the moment, some social media
marketing responsibilities like fell into my lap. And that's when I was like, ooh, okay, I also like
the marketing of the content and like connecting with audiences. And then from there, I moved from
Germany to the D.C. area and transferred to Stars and Stripes headquarters in D.C. And I moved
into the digital marketing department where I led global, social, and digital marketing strategies.
And this is also the time where I'm like uncovering more and more like, all right, I really like
social media. And I started my own freelance business. And I created social content strategies
and just created content for a suite of small businesses. And this is where I was like,
okay, I want to just be in social only. I was toggling between like just so I go all in on my
business or do I find like that dream role? Enter National Geographic. So I started with NatGeo back in
2022 and I started as a manager overseeing strategy for Instagram and TikTok. And then over time,
my scope expanded the last like year and a half to seven different platforms owning strategy
for the core brand accounts and also the newly revamped UGC fuel.
old Nat Geo Yourshot Instagram account. And a big part of my team and I's goals are really
driving audience acquisitions. So our social audience to NatGeo.com to read our amazing editorial
storytelling. It's also elevating our TV titles, driving people to Disney Plus and Hulu to watch
these shows and documentaries. And because we lead brand strategy, we have to like elevate the full
360 story of Nat Geo, right? So like expeditions and books and so,
many entry points of the brand. All right, Salem's going to piece out. Okay, there he goes.
He was done with me. So, yeah, it's a big part of our day to day, today, is just really
elevating the whole brand and supporting all these various lines of businesses and the work
of our amazing explorers and photographers. And then I truly can't go without shouting out my own
team, Sonia Mattel and Adriana Sanchez. Without them, I could not do what we do every day to
support this amazing brand and the entire social team and our partners. But specifically,
I would say in the last like two years, we really focused on how are we going to make a 137-year-old
brand like culturally relevant, you know, and reach newer generation. So it really was under the
vision and leadership of our VP to Lani Andre, who was like, chef's kiss. I'm not just saying
that. Like she is such a force in the social space. I'm very, very grateful for her.
and she really has pioneered how we approach social media in this world and just like entering
conversations in a more engaging in social first way than we ever had before. So yeah, that's a little
bit about me, my journey, what we do at Nat Geo. And yeah, that's it. Yeah. Well, you already
mentioned legacy, right? And so I'm just curious, like as you are bringing more creators and talent
into the fold to work with them to develop content for your pages how are you balancing their
tone their brands their vision with this legacy identity right like how are you kind of
balancing the new with the old essentially i'm just very curious to hear about that oh yeah i love
that question i think when it comes to working with talent you have to be you have to understand that
like you have to marry their roles with the brands world and so what i mean by that is
anytime we're working with talent, like, what are they known for?
What does their audience love the most about them?
And how can we bring that into what people know and love about national and geographic?
It's really marrying those two worlds together that I think is what has created the best social content for our campaigns, working with talent and creators.
I think also, too, is being adaptable to your approach for campaigns.
So, for example, the way we work with like a high profile celebrity versus a creator versus a campaign,
for an editorial franchise or a TV title, like, it's very different and you have to be
adaptable to the moment.
I think also collaboration is super important as well when it's working with like celebrity
talent or creators ensuring that the brief or the idea is something in their wheelhouse,
they're comfortable with it, but they also have creative freedom as well.
And I think when it comes to injecting that new, like you mentioned into something legacy,
if they have an unexpected idea or something different,
I think it's so important to be open to that,
even if it's a place that's unfamiliar for the brand,
but of course still at its core is in line with the brand's values
and missions and like the overarching strategy, of course.
So it really is just that marriage of the two worlds,
being adaptable and being collaborative with the talent.
Yeah, that's incredible.
And I think so important for other brands to hear kind of how you approach that.
I'm curious from a process standpoint, what does the process look like when you and your team are identifying a cultural or trending moment worth reacting to from the not geo brand perspective and when is it better to sit out?
Yes. Oh, man. It's so hard because I feel like any time I see a trend, I'm like, let's do it.
I know. Or I just see my own trends. I'm like, all right, let's just, maybe I'll just hop on my own trend and do it on my own TikTok or something.
I'm just so chronically online.
It's probably unhealthy.
But from a brand perspective, really what my team and I are thinking about is relevance,
resonance, and risk.
Like, is it relevant to the brand?
Is it in our wheelhouse?
Is it something that we have a natural tie or way in?
Or even if it's unexpected, is it unexpected in a good way?
I think also when it comes to resonance, is this something that's going to make someone laugh,
bring them joy, make them think about the world differently?
is this, does this have high shareability?
Like, is this going to end up in the DMs and the group chat?
Because that's what you want to do.
We want to show up in these spaces with people.
And then risk, I think, obviously, if it's going to be detrimental or paint the brand
and negative light, we just don't go there.
Also, anything that goes against, like, legal guidance, obviously we stay clear from.
One example is, like, we can't use trending audio.
So if a trend is reliant on that sound.
we just either have to find a different clever way in, which we have done before, or we just
don't enter it.
So I think that's like the overall framework and process that we use.
But I think another key thing is like collaboration, something that I'm always adamant
about is that even though we're the social team, ideas and pitches and ways into these
zeitgeist moments or cultural moments can come from anyone, any department.
So really try to establish a environment where anyone can feel like they can pitch an idea to the social team and be a part of the brainstorm and the conception of the actual asset because we all have different for you pages.
We all have our own corners of the internet.
And like what I'm seeing on mine might be very different than what you're seeing on yours.
So I think collaboration is so important as well into identifying the right moments to jump on.
that could be like really unexpected and fun for the brand.
Yeah.
During that the session at the conference, there were a lot of stories like that
where even with creators, they were like, yeah, I mean, we work with agencies,
but some of our best collaborations have come out of just some of our fellow teammates,
like sharing a creator to collaborate with because it's on their feeds
and they're kind of consuming that kind of content.
And so I think you're exactly right.
From a leadership standpoint, making sure you're fostering that environment for the team to share,
ideas, but also, you know, as a professional, like, don't be afraid to speak up and contribute
and share why, too. I think that's the biggest thing is, yes, the idea is great, but why are you
sharing that specific idea? What's that data to back it or the concept to back that idea, too?
Yeah. And I think, too, especially, like, nurturing, like, younger members, right?
I think something that is so engaging and entertaining to them may just be totally different.
I think it's understanding that so many people have different.
and even though it might not be your cup of tea, it could be somebody else's, and we have to just be
open to creative ideas. I guess, too, at the time of this recording, it hasn't come out yet,
but I think when this comes out, it'll be out there. But someone on my team, Sonia, she really wanted
to do this idea with me being in a shark, like, costume. And we've never really done anything like
that, at least on like the brand pages. So that's coming out. But like, she had this idea. We want to
make it fun and silly and just different but it's still on brand still not geo and playful but it is
very different than what we've done before and I think not only does it really drive engagement
and increase brand love but I think also it creates a really good positive atmosphere in the
workplace and like overall boosting morale for anyone again on the social team or not to like have this
creative outlet to pitch these ideas to really anchor the brand and cultural relevance yeah I
love the idea too of allowing the team to actually a buy-in into that. Oh, yeah.
Where necessary. Um, so that is, that's so fun. Um, I'm curious to you on the metric side.
You know, how do you balance that short-term performance metric request like an engagement spike
or like, um, you know, likes on a post or whatever it is with that long-term brand affinity
and trust? You know, how are you kind of looking at content now in terms of a performance standpoint?
know these algorithms are shifting so rapidly and what we're checking can change depending on the
campaign or depending on the objective but just curious how you're approaching data. Oh yeah. I mean
definitely like engagement's impressions are an audience sentiment are like the biggest and most important
metrics we're really looking at in terms of like what's really sticking with our audience. I think when
it comes to these like engagement plays or spikes that's very important to have part of your strategy
but also having an always-on strategy is really, really critical.
You can't have one without the other.
Like, they both go hand-in-hand.
That always-on strategy, like, that's the content you know your audience is, like,
expecting from you.
It's data-backed.
They engage with it the most.
And that's, like, feeding the day-to-day.
And then the more engagement spike or, like, engagement play moments are really going
to be the cultural conversations, the trends, just the social first, like, really
native content and having a healthy cadence of that pipeline as well.
So I think it's like, yes, have the engagement plays to drive connection, be top of mind
for people, show you're involved in internet culture, but still have that always on to drive
that brand affinity and trust.
Again, they go hand in hand.
You can't have one without the other.
So both are very much equally important for us and Nat Geo.
Yeah, for sure.
And you already mentioned Nat Geo, your shot, that page that you all have.
UGC is obviously very important, allowing, you know, the audience and fans to have a platform
and an opportunity to be a part of a strategy or a campaign or what have you.
So what role does a page like that, or just UGC in general, plain maintaining authenticity
and community at Nat Geo?
Yeah, I mean, I think just UGC in general is so important to community and authenticity
because it really invites your audience to feel like they're a part of the brand.
I think for Nat Geo Your Shot specifically, we really reimagined it this last year and a half or so.
And for those who don't know, like Nat Geo Your Shot is this account where a community of up and coming kind of beginner visual storytellers, photographers, photographers, up to like experts in their craft, can share their work through our hashtag challenges.
So like kind of creative prompts.
And I think it's so important that we really reimagine.
this space because not only are we highlighting beautiful work, which is very national and
geographic, but we're inviting this audience into it and to be a part of it. Oftentimes people
will say like, oh my gosh, you work in Nat Geo. I've always wanted to be a Nat Geo photographer
when I grew up. And this account really is like delivering that. It really makes the brand
feel more attainable. And I think even beyond the UGC for Nat Geo, Your Shot, Adriana Sanchez and my team really
led this initiative of reimagining it, revamping in the community to be a space where
we're highlighting this UGC work, but it's also a resource for this community.
So we're sharing photography tips from some of our most iconic Nat Geo photographers
and like how to take underwater photos or how to photograph these upcoming night sky events.
And so this account specifically really creates a space for the community to highlight their work
but then also to grow in their craft.
And I think that really ties back to authenticity
and, like, the space they were really trying to create
for these visual storytellers.
That's incredible.
I think Cass and I are both aspiring photographers
in our own right.
And just thinking about the, you know,
taking my camera to Hawaii and Japan
and kind of thinking about Nat Geo as a result of that
and being like, oh, it's so cool.
This reminds me of a shot that I've seen in Nat Geo.
And I'm just speaking from my own personal experience.
And just that is such a cool way to connect with the community and really different, I think, and in a differentiator for Natio for sure.
Yeah, no, I love that. Okay, you have to submit to Natio, your shop.
I know, I know.
We absolutely will. Both of us will. And I think, you know, Nat Geo is obviously incredibly large. It's very matrixed.
You know, you're working cross-functionally with so many different people from EPs to filmmakers, editorial team, sales teams.
what is your approach and what can you share with us about how you can keep social strategy and
creative aligned across all of those different stakeholders? Yes, it's such a great question.
My approach really is transparency and communication and flexibility. So when it comes to that
transparency and communication with these partners, it's all about anytime there's a shift in
strategy or there's a new platform feature or we're adapting or revamping tone and voice for
something, we're always proactively communicating that to our partners. That way, when we're
in meetings advising on a certain approach for social to elevate a campaign or project they're working
on, they're fully aware of where this advisement's coming from. So that transparency and
communication is absolutely critical. With that said, though, I think flexibility is just as important.
Like, you can have a very structured social strategy, but to be a good partner, especially across
a matrix organization, you have to be flexible with that strategy and be able to bend your
rules, if you will, to meet your partners where there are. I think what I really learned is that
especially working at a matrix organization is that there's so many layers. So oftentimes when
partners are coming to us with an ask or request about how to use a collab feature with so and so
or how many posts can we get out to really elevate or amplify something, it's also coming from a
suite of partners that they have, whether it's talent or other external factors. And so
it's also just meeting people where they are, leading with empathy and understanding and
try to get to like a yes and scenario versus like just going in with the hard no because like
this is how the strategy is. So I really learned like, yes, you can have your your strategy,
but you have to allow that flexibility to meet your partners where they are. And ultimately
strengthening that trust in connection with these partners is only going to elevate your social
strategy and the brand even more. Yeah, absolutely. And with that, I think it poses communication
challenges, right? We have to over communicate. We have to clarify. We have to build relationships
with other partners to really understand, you know, what makes them tick and how do they communicate
versus these other partners. So any tips on communication too, because that's obviously a big
skill in marketing just to be on top of communication, making sure you are clear with partners
and over communicating, if I want to say that word again, over communicating different details.
So yeah, just curious, like any other strategies that you recommend or just tips for building
those skills.
No, absolutely.
I mean, I think for us, what is very important is having frequent touch points already on
the calendars, whether that's a weekly meeting, a monthly, a quarterly, whatever it may be,
specifically for the social team in Nat Geo, we all have our day-to-day partners we're working with,
whether we sit more on the editorial side or synergy side to amplify more of like the Walt Disney
company or our TV title side. So everyone kind of has their day-to-day stakeholders,
but something that we specifically do is host a monthly meeting where we're just sharing with
all of our partners, like the biggest priorities coming up, a look back at performance,
and really create a space and dialogue of what's coming, what worked, what didn't work in
the past, how we're shifting and just establishing that trust.
So I think meeting frequently is very critical.
I would say also when there are major shifts in something, like if it's something that's
going to impact an upcoming campaign or project, you don't have to necessarily wait for
those touchpoint meetings, like take it upon yourself to be proactive in email or send
a slack to these partners to give out.
heads up. I think is also really important. But again, I think just always having that top of mind
so no one is surprised is the best way to go about that proactive communication because often what I
have found is that sometimes people are hesitant to like admit they don't know everything about
social media or even if they are comfortable with that, it's still just something that feels so
otherworldly to them and like how we how we promote our team.
titles or editorial storytelling, whatever may be. And so when you knowledge share with them,
it really helps them feel more confident in themselves, but then also helps build that trust
with you too. Yeah. Yeah. Great, great tips. I love the idea, especially if you're in an
organization where there are so many different departments and brands that you're communicating
with to do that monthly touch base. Just how can we support one another and what we're building
and growing? So, yeah, of course, have to talk about AI for a minute.
You know, we're in this age where AI is evolving very quickly.
Algorithms are shifting pretty much every single day.
What just kind of like creative and overall social principles do you think will always be timeless in your work?
Is there anything that comes to mind there?
So I think the things that will always be timeless are versus authenticity.
So I think people, audiences can really tell immediately when something feels like it's made for them in mind versus it's a brand kind of shoving
their bottom line down their throats.
So ensuring that your approach to social is authentic is going to continue to be timeless.
I think the second thing is connection and communities.
So when we think about why social was created in the first place, people to connect with
family and friends, then obviously brands entered that conversation or that world as well.
So I think for brands to continue to keep that connection and community top of mind,
whether it's through the content they're creating, community management efforts,
UGC efforts, that's going to continue to stand the test of time in social.
And then it's less of a creative tactic, but more of a strategic one is I think adaptability.
And what I mean by that is platforms are going to continue to come and go.
I think algorithms are obviously going to continue shifting.
New features are going to pop up.
And as social media marketers, it's critical for us to stay on top of that and bigger out when to lean in or when to at least experiment
and try a lot of these features.
So, for example, if we know that carousels get served twice in feed, lean into that
to increase your reach.
If we know that adding audio to your carousel is going to help you go into the Reels tab,
which Instagram is prioritizing, lean into that.
And so whatever those features are going to continue to be and evolve and get grow to be,
it's important as marketers for us to be adaptable in those spaces and just always be ahead
of the curve on that.
Yeah, absolutely.
And kind of with that, too, another question, how are you personally staying on top of just
trends and changes and just the space in general? Because, again, not only the algorithm,
there's so many different things happening, even just with a consumer standpoint, the
behaviors there, like, how are you personally staying on top of things in our ecosystem?
Yeah. Honestly, I think part of it is my chronically onlineness and just like being on social
all the time. I think also, though, just like really key industry forward resources, right? So
newsletters, podcasts, such as y'alls, or following the heads of these platforms, right? I think
Adam from Instagram does a fantastic job of really ensuring that he's communicating all the
like newest updates to Instagram. And it's almost like Christmas morning when he does that. I'm like,
yes, got it. I sent it to like the whole social team and Nat Geo or someone else in the team. We're like,
all right, guys, how are we, like, lean into this?
And we try it out.
If it sticks and it sticks and that's great and we're ahead of it,
if it's kind of a blip in the moment, it's a blip in the moment.
But I think just leaning into those industry, experts, thought leaders, the resources,
newsletters, and podcasts or whatever medium that you like to receive information is really
key to stay ahead of the curve there.
Yeah, absolutely.
Elizabeth, this has been fantastic.
I feel like, again, we can ask you a million questions.
We'll have to have you back to do.
check in. But in the meantime, please tell us what, what channels should we be following? How can
we connect with you personally? Give us all the details. Oh, my gosh. Well, thank you first again
for having me. It's been so much fun. Definitely could talk for hours about social. In terms of
connecting, I definitely connected me on LinkedIn, Elizabeth Thompson, senior manager of social at
Nat Geo. Also, you can find me on Instagram, Elizabeth Thompson. I don't post a ton about like work in
social there sometimes some behind-the-scenes stuff of what's happening at HQ or we're out
creating social content um but it's mostly my dogs and my cat so if you're into that follow me
more salem more salem more salem yeah and then obviously would love for anyone who isn't already
following nat geo we also have amazing verticals across platforms for something for everyone
Nat Geo history, science, TV, docs, animals, you name it.
So, yeah, just watch this space, watch Nat Geo space, and more exciting things to come.
Amazing.
Thank you so much.
We'll have all of those channels linked below, so definitely check those out.
But Elizabeth, really appreciate you taking the time today and just sharing your experience,
but also all things, Nat Geo.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
All right.
Until next time.
Yes.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Thank you so much for tuning in to this week's episode.
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Thank you again.
And I'll see you next Thursday.
Thank you.
