You’re probably wondering why the heck I have a photo with Christmas presents on my blog in October. Well here’s why.
When you are a small business owner and you rely on your sales and networking for a living you can’t wait to the last minute to create a holiday strategy.
Begin by having a full assessment done on all your social media platforms. This will tell you if you need to have work done on your social media pages before you begin driving traffic and using them to share your holiday strategy.
Once your assessment is complete you need to create a strategy. What platforms are you on currently?
The social landscape of Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are all different. You have different kinds of viewers on each platform. Just because someone follows you on Facebook doesn’t mean they’ll follow you anywhere else or vice versa. After you have your assessment done you should know exactly where your audience is. You’ll be able to determine which platforms you need to put the most time and energy into.
You’ll need to come up with a plan on what and how much content you’ll be sharing on the social media platforms you have determined to be the best place to target and engage your audience on.
A few things to ask yourself… Do you need a content calendar? What are you marketing? What content are you posting? How often are you posting? When is your followers/fans/customers online on each platform? What’s the best time for engagement? How will you engage? Again if you’ve had a complete assessment done you should know this already.
Types of different content could include but is not limited to; quotes, plain text, shared posts, articles, testimonials, opt-in leads, leadpages, special occasions, product reviews, photos, memes, personalized hello’s and questions from your business, sales, notes on Facebook, inspiration and contests.
Who will be responsible for writing and publishing content?
What hashtags will you use?
Will you include videos? How many per week? Who will create these videos?
Will you be running Facebook ads? Do you know how to set up ads? Who is your target market? Do you know how to target your Facebook ads?
Did you know you can promote tweets on Twitter, pins on Pinterest and photos on Instagram?
Have you considered live Mobile Broadcasting with Meerkat, Periscope or Blab? During these live broadcasts you could have special days where you highlight, show off and demonstrate a new product. Be on the look out for Blabs that are letting business owners jump in to share a little bit about their products, mission or even interview you.
Some of the content you create can be repurposed across multiple platform but you’ll need to create different content for different platforms.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you join a co-hosted Blab or you host a blab. You can then take that video recording and embed it into your blog, newsletter and share it on all your social media channels. Each platform will need a graphic created advertising your blab and what it was about. If you join a Blab that is being recorded (on the record) ask for the replay link.
Pinterest will need the custom link added that leads to your blab, website or video. Lead it to the best place possible for conversation.
You Facebook ad will also require it’s special sized graphic and will need to lead to the best possible place for conversation.
You have to put some thought into your plans and not just toss content out there willy nilly and expect results. The more you can personalize, be authentic and engage the better. It’s ok to schedule some content but you also need to be posting live, engaging live and interacting with your audience. No one likes one sided conversations. The brands and businesses rocking it online know this. They put the time it to ask questions, share what they are up to, show customer appreciation, engage live, interact, answer questions as soon as possible, reshare content and show up where their customers are online.
I know this sounds overwhelming and you probably are already strapped for time just trying to run your business day to day. Of course you should be very involved with your social media. It is your business after all, but if you are able to hire a bit of help you’ll be able to structure your time for taking care of the important tasks in your business that require you and only you to do. Having some help creating and implementing a strategy can save you time and energy. If you’d like to know about my three month amplification package, consulting package or even my monthly packages fill out my form below. If you are interested in my Fall Special please mention this in your contact information. I’ll send you over all the details. (Purchase 2 months of my services, receive one month free. So for example if you where to sign up for three months of my most popular small business package you would be saving $2500. This would also include $200 in Facebook ads and set up.)
“I would like to take a moment to thank a very special someone – Carol Lawrence walked into my world when I was in desperate need of help with my social media. Running a successful social media campaign takes talent and dedication. I have one but not the other. She has found a way to express my love & passion for all things furry & helps me to stay connected. She is also a great resource to bounce ideas off of and has one heck of an adorable fur family. If you are in need of social media rescuing, then I highly recommend giving her a call. You will NOT be disappointed.Thank you so very much Carol – You rock!” ~ Veronica Glynn, One Dog Organic Bakery ( See More Recommendations!)
Carol Lawrence is the owner of Social Media Help 4 U, a virtual based business that supports authors and businesses based on integrity. Social Media Help 4 U offers conscious business services, providing intuitive and skill based social media management & consulting. Looking for social media assistance to grow your online presence and provide top notch customer service? Have a marketing budget? Look no further. Multiple packages available. Perfect for for the company who knows the value of a marketing budget and needs help putting their company on the social map! Contact her today!
