Firstly, before we get started, I get it. I too am a small business owner, it’s just me - hi!
I know that starting and running a business is a lot, you have a lot of hats to wear! You’re expected to be the accountant, the HR team, the admin, the shipping department, customer services and now you have to be the marketing manager and social media team too? Ugh!! Sounds exhausting doesn’t it?
So don’t worry, this is a safe space. I am not here to tell you that you’ve been doing it wrong, just as I am not here to tell you that my way is the right way. I’m just here to give you a few tips on running your socials with a few things that have helped me out.
So let’s get started!
The first thing I want to tell you is that despite what you may already think, content planning is worth it!
Facebook’s a B!*ch and unless you’re willing to throw a heap of cash at it on boosted posts or paid ads, you’re organic content is not getting to the top of your audiences news-feed unless you show up and keep showing up!
This is where content planning really shines. If you’re just winging it and hoping to post every day, or even just 3 times a week but your plan is to do it ad-hoc, you’re going to forget to post! Trust me, I’ve seen it over and over again. You get busy and something has to give and, 9 times out of 10, it’s social media!
Remember, content planning and posting consistently is just another habit you have to crack. Strategy planning, reels and campaigning can come later. For now, your primary focus is just to show up consistently, it really is that simple.
But how do you plan your content?
Well, I would start by working out how many times a week or a month you’d like to post and make it happen.
Personally, I only post 3 times a week to my socials (plus a reel here and there). I prefer to plan manually, writing down the content ideas I want to share. Then I start to create it, type up my captions, schedule it in, rinse and repeat. Before I know it I have a months worth of content locked and ready to go freeing up my next few weeks to focus on other aspects of my business.
To get started I would ask yourself these 3 things.
How many times am I capable of posting each week?
What do I want these posts to be?
Is this content something I am able to schedule ahead of time?
As an example, let’s say you’re a Hair Salon. You want to post 3x a week and you like the idea of being able to schedule ahead of time. You decide to post the following:
1. Self care / wellness quote
2. Photo of a client’s cut or style from the week earlier
3. Alternate posting about your services and a styling tip
You know that you will likely have appointment slots come available but, this isn’t necessarily something you know ahead of time so plan to do a post every Sunday for the coming week and any more that become available during the week you plan to share on your story.
This already gives you 4 posts every week! What’s even better is that 2 of those posts (quote and service / tips) can be created and scheduled ahead of time for the next 2 months if you wanted to! All you need to do is remember to grab a photo of a client and promote any appointment spaces you have. Easy! And really you could have a stock pile of client photos ready to go and add those to your scheduling list, leaving you with only appointment slots left to do.
You see how easy it can be with just a little bit of planning. Now anything else this business posts in the week such as staff birthdays or new products they received in, is a bonus!
So what are you waiting for? Ask yourself these 3 questions and start making a plan. Your socials will thank you for it, as well the headspace and time you’re going to get back not worrying about what to post and when you’ll get around to it.
To help I have put together 2x content planners - either weekly or monthly depending on your preference.
You got this!
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