Kara Kelley

About Kara Kelley

With 9+ years of progressive experience in marketing across both agency and corporate settings, I bring a strong understanding of the evolving digital landscape. My journey began after graduating from Penn State University (BA in Public Relations, with minors in Sociology and Business), moving from the Greater Philadelphia area to Northern New Jersey to specialize in social media marketing.My first role at a full-service digital advertising agency provided a valuable foundation where I managed client relationships and spearheaded the creation and implementation of social-first and digital campaigns for various consumer brands. The breadth of responsibilities in this role ignited my passion for social media strategy.In August 2019, I broadened my experience in the corporate sector at GAF, North America\'s leading roofing manufacturer. Within the Communications team, my focus encompassed social content strategy and development, reporting and analytics, agency management, and employee engagement initiatives through social media advocacy.Seeking new challenges, I returned to the agency world in July 2021, focusing on the pharmaceutical industry with Digitas Health\'s Engagement Strategy team, where I specialized in DTC dermatology social media content strategy.I joined Fingerpaint in September 2024 as an Associate Director of Social Content Strategy, where I continue to drive impactful social strategies for a diverse portfolio of pharma clients.

Experience

1. Associate Director, Social Content Strategy

   Fingerpaint Group

   Sep 2024 — Present · Cedar Knolls, NJ, US

   Architect and implement comprehensive social media strategies to increase brand visibility and engagement across all social media platforms for pharmaceutical and health & wellness clients-Collaborate with creative teams to conceptualize and develop social media content that align with overarching strategic and engagement objectives-Conduct social listening to assess the social landscape for brand and key competitors, identify audience attitudes, linguistics, and conversation volumes in connection to the category and disease experience, and translate these insights into actionable content themes, audience segments, and platform strategies-Proactively monitor and identify significant social media and pharmaceutical advertising industry trends, and best-in-class creative examples, integrating these advancements into social media strategies to keep brands current and engaging-Identify and secure strategic partnerships with influencers to develop enticing social media content, amplify social media and digital reach, and enhance brand positioning-Lead cross-functional collaboration with creative and production teams to develop and execute innovative content ideas, and ensure seamless integration with brand managers, media strategists, and digital strategy teams-Develop and execute community engagement strategies, across content and comment response, that promote interaction, increase followers, and foster social community growth-Continuously analyze performance metrics to optimize social content and placement strategies, ensuring maximum effectiveness and to inform social media content and campaign optimizations-Provide strategic guidance and mentorship to the social media team, fostering professional growth and development, setting clear goals, and ensuring accountability-Develop and enforce agency’s social media standards, ensuring their effective implementation and adherence by all internal stakeholders

Education

• North Penn High School

  Diploma

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Public Relations