15 top takeaways from Ragan’s Social Media Conference 2026

Social media professionals stepped out from behind their screens to be inspired by the creativity of Walt Disney World as well as an all-star roster of industry speakers. In between sessions, attendees explored brand storytelling in EPCOT and partied poolside with Mickey and Minnie.

If you weren’t able to join us this year, here are some of the best insights on social media, storytelling and thriving no matter how crazy the internet gets.

1. People who understand people always win. — Rohit Bhargava, founder, The Non-Obvious Company
2. Your most important social media platforms can differ depending on whether you’re communicating, listening or optimizing. No one knows your brand better than you, so your answer can vary from everyone else’s. — Natalie Calvo, head of social media, Prologis
3. Multi-source verification is the new standard to rank in GEO and AEO. It signals to AI that your brand is factually important and relevant. — Jon Alhart, executive director of brand marketing and storytelling, V Foundation for Cancer Research
4. I think it’s important to give teams the story, give them the why and give them the tools to share stories in a truly authentic way. It starts internally. — Caroline Johns, vice president of corporate communications, Saatva
5. Lead with empathy but stick to the facts. Be careful of putting something out there that might mislead others. — Daryl Drabinsky, head of social media marketing, PwC
6. Creators are essential to our business. They help us stay relevant in real time. Unexpected partnerships create culture and conversation. — Jennifer Brown, director of U.S. influencer marketing and talent partnerships, SHEIN
7. If your strategy depends on a miracle, your team will burn out waiting for one. — Allyson Forstrom, director of social media & community, Life is Good
8. On drafting social content — be precise and specific. This doesn’t mean sterile. This is where the storyteller comes out. — Brent Bowen, chief storyteller, Sparkcade Marketing
9. Failure is data. Small teams can’t afford to repeat what doesn’t work, so reflection is essential. — Lara Harrison, former senior communications manager, Audubon Delta, National Audubon Society
10. Your employees are an asset. When you promote your people, they take ownership of what you do and passionate about sharing that pride. — Michael Rothman, senior editor and content strategist, TD Bank
11. You cannot outspend fragmentation. You must out-earn belief. — Ashlyn Remillard, director, global social and influencer marketing, Salesforce
12. Clear structure removes friction. Teams move faster when they know what to produce, when to produce it and how it gets distributed. — Azad Yakatally, social media lead, Spring Health
13. Flubs and mistimed posts with your social team are an opportunity to reinforce internal comms strategy and empower them with the judgement to make autonomous decisions that builds trust in leadership. — Kassidy Silva, social director, Allure and SELF Magazine
14. Don’t ask ambassadors to promote something they don’t use. — Paulette Bleam, director of social media, AAPA
15. Social pros aren’t thinking enough about unconnected reach — is your content resonating beyond the base you’ve built? — Chaka Cumberbatch, head of social, metaverse and wearables, Meta