Promoting yourself and your business on social media can seem like an overwhelming task.
You know you need to – but have no idea where to start.
Start by creating an editorial calendar.
Let’s just start with the first week. Then, you can add each week/ month and then the rest of the year.
Sounds like too much?
It’s actually very easy.
Here are 7 easy steps to create a week’s worth of social media posts.
- First,
- Make a table in Word or Excel. Or use Google Docs, if that’s your preference.
- Then, plug in all the days and dates.
- Next, take a look at your planner or calendar with all the holidays and type those in.
OR
- Skip all the hoopla of creating by combining the above: download a calendar online. Here’s one that is printable and editable and even has holidays plugged in!
Holidays – the easiest posts
Holidays are an easy way to promote your business, no matter what kind of business you have. Who would object to a nice photo of fireworks for the New Year, a beautiful photo for the first day of spring, or a funny meme for Valentine’s day? Not too many.
In fact, most people go looking for these kinds of posts to plug into their own page or to retweet it! Think about how many times you share posts, retweet, or copy a link for an article.
And so, when your business is coming up with these great images and ideas, you can promote yourself at the same time.
Notice next time you see an image on FB, for example, that the photo may even have a URL embedded which links to someone’s website… that’s a promotion. And you may not get a business deal from your post, but your brand is out there. You never know who will see it, share it, or comment on it.
Okay, back to making the calendar:
- After the holidays, plug in two days a week to “promote yourself” – yes, no more than two.
What does “promoting yourself” mean? It actually means that each post/tweet/page should NOT be all about you.
Instead, promoting yourself means that you’re telling your prospects (new or existing clients) what you can do for THEM.
Share something worthwhile about your business, a free item you offer, a lead generation piece, or an offer you’re giving out right now. Like 20% off for a new client.
Cute cat videos work, too
- Now you have four more days left in your week. You could find a meme, funny cartoon, or a video that relates to your business. Cute cat videos can work, too.
NOW – please, please, please – make sure you watch the entire video, read the cartoon, and check out the meme! There’s nothing worse than posting something you didn’t completely vet.
That being said, there are tons out there! Here’s a link to a few:
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Library/57
https://www.pinterest.com/utsasbdc/small-business-humor/?lp=true
(PLEASE make sure you know how to legally share – just because you can download the image, doesn’t mean it’s free.)
Quotes are fun and easy
- Three days left: Find quotes and photos related to your business. Here are some for writers, accountants, freelancers, designers, and here are just some positive ones which relate to anyone. Positivity in all you do always wins, by the way.
When you post positive news, you’re seen as a positive influence. If you must post (ask yourself whether you do or not…) something negative, try to find a positive spin on it. Think about how whatever you’re sharing could be seen as a positive note in your line of business.
For example, if you’re a real estate agent, and home sales are way down in your area, how can you put a positive spin on that? Your expertise will come into play and you could share tips on how homeowners can get more money for their house.
Or how you are the fastest when it comes to closing sales and getting results. Remember, though, that all of this must be spun and seen as a BENEFIT for the prospect, not flaunting yourself.
Share something insightful
- Two days left on the calendar, and now you’re going to share something insightful about your expertise. Again, this MUST be geared towards your new (or existing) prospect and must not be boasting about you or your business.
You could share a great infographic about your industry, a news article that has clout, or a nice resource for your prospect/customer to use.
Ask a question – 10 all ready for you to use
- Last but not least, “Ask a Question.” Fill in ANY other day you don’t have a post for, or as a replacement for any one that just doesn’t “jive” with your personality or your business.
Here are 10 questions ready for you to use. Change them to anything you need to or just use as inspiration for your own questions. And, it’s okay to ask questions that don’t relate to your business at all. Show your human side and share something about yourself. 🙂
- Who is your favorite guru in [your business]?
- If you suddenly had a day off, what would you do?
- Who has influenced you the most?
- How do you relax?
- What is your favorite _______?
- If you won $1,000 but had to give it away, who would you give it to?
- If you had to choose – condo or houseboat?
- What country would you like to visit that you haven’t been to?
- Do you prefer summer or winter?
- Vacation spots: ocean or the mountains?
BONUS: photos and backgrounds
- Wondering how some businesses have the coolest photos and backgrounds in their posts? And I’m not just talking about the generic FB colors and backgrounds.
Use this for the best and easiest way to make your posts pop – a cool site called Canva.com. In just their free version, there are hundreds of backgrounds and photos to choose from. Many of the templates even have the font (and its color) ready to replace your message into it.
If you’d like to use your own photos, you can upload them onto Canva, too. Or choose from thousands of CC0 photos on pixabay.com, https://unsplash.com/, or https://www.istockphoto.com/ .
** The photo on this post was created using Canva, with photo from Pixabay! 🙂
BONUS TIP #2:
After you’ve written your first week’s posts, just copy and paste each of the posts onto your next week’s calendar. Now you have a readymade template for next week’s postings.
I hope you found this helpful. Feel free to share! Here’s an infographic with the 7 steps! 🙂 I made this on Canva, too!
Most sincerely,
Taru
P.S. Did you know Facebook has a scheduling tool where you can schedule your posts ahead of time!? So you don’t have to hang out all day and night to post about your business!
P.P.S. If you’d like help creating a social media editorial calendar for your business, contact me to set up a 20-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
