Content creation can be time-consuming. You have to think about what to post, create the graphics, write your caption, choose hashtags, post it, and engage with your audience in the comments—and then you have to do it all over again. But, there are ways to make the process easier!
Where’s Your Audience Hanging Out?
To start with you should find out which social media platforms your audience hangs out on, and start there. It can seem like there is a new social media platform or opportunity happening all the time. You don’t have to chase every shiny thing. So where should you focus your efforts to get the most out of your marketing strategy?
We always talk about using an integrated approach to your marketing. What’s on your website, in your email marketing, on social media and even the conversations you have with clients should reflect one strategy and message. Repurposing the content you already have will save you a lot of time and effort.
Creating Your Social Media Mix
One of the biggest challenges our clients face when it comes to social media content is knowing what to post. Your core messaging should be the same everywhere, but on social media you’ll want to also have more one-off types of content to supplement that. Don’t forget it’s called social for a reason!
Start by deciding what platforms you will use and how often you will post. Remember, consistency is what gets traction, but make it manageable for yourself. For example, let’s say you plan to post on Facebook and Instagram three times per week. That’s about twelve to fifteen posts a month. When you create content for social media, it’s important to share a variety of types of content. This is where a social media mix comes in! Your content should educate, entertain, and can promote, but not all the time.
We like the 80/20 rule. 80% interesting, entertaining, informative, 20% promotion. When you create your social mix, think about repeating types of content you can create to fill in those twelve to fifteen posts each month. You’ll have some holidays, maybe a featured product of the week, events you’re doing, a customer or project spotlight, fun Friday facts, short videos, your blog posts, and tips. When you define a mix you’ll know how much and what type of content you’ll need each week and month.
Batch Out Your Content
Once you have your social mix planned out, get it on a calendar. You can plan ahead of time and then even batch create the different types of posts. Use a template for your tip of the week, for example so you become familiar and expected. Using a template makes content creation simpler. There’s no reason you can’t sit down with a calendar and plan for the year all the real and fun holidays that you’ll want to share. Everyone loves a “Take Your Dog to Work Day” post, so get it on your calendar.
Building a web presence that produces results is a process that takes time, planning, goals, and monitoring. Having an overall strategy helps take you from random acts of marketing to reliable revenue, without having to spend all your time on social media.
One of the most important things we’ve learned over the years of helping our customers use digital marketing to really grow their businesses, it’s this: Consistency builds traction and gets results. So what consistent action will you take to start the new year right?
Links in this episode: 26 Great Ideas For Social Media Posts That You Can Steal
How To Find The Right Social Media Marketing Mix
