Social media is a great place to connect with people and share your message, but it can be hard to know where to start. If you're just getting started on social or want to get better at it this year, read on for some tips for creating content that will connect with your audience and keep them coming back for more!
It Can Feel Intimidating At First
Take a deep breath. The first step is figuring out where your audience is hanging out. Are they more likely to be on Facebook or Instagram? TikTok or LinkedIn? Twitter or somewhere else?
Once you've identified the platform your target audience hangs out at, you'll be better equipped to think about what kind of content would be most useful for them and engaging to them. Is it a long-form blog post with lots of text, like this one? Or are they more likely to watch an instructional video or read a newsletter that tells them exactly what to do next?
You might be worried that the content you're creating isn't relevant to your audience or that it won't fit with your brand. At the same time, it's important that you don't leave a month of posts up in the air waiting until the last minute! This can make social media planning feel like a chore rather than an opportunity for creativity and engagement.
Not sure how to create visual content? Luckily, there are some tools out there that make this step much easier! Canva allows users to easily create quality graphics for any occasion or industry – including product-based businesses. You can get started for free with their customizable templates before starting from scratch by using their pre-made designs as inspiration. Kittl is a great alternative to Canva and offers similar functionality and features.
Will My Posts Be Effective?
Where will I find the time to create content? What do I write? How often will I post? We've all been there! You want to be consistent not just with posting, but with creating quality content that engages your audience and inspires them to take action. When it comes to creating new content from scratch each month, it's very easy to feel stuck or even overwhelmed! For writers' block try Copy.ai. For content ideas, check out social media holidays and awareness days on National Today Calendar. You can also review your competitors socials to see what is or isn't working for their audiences. For scheduling social posts try Later, Hootsuite, or Sprout Social. These platforms can even help you detect trending hashtags and when to post.
All in all, write about what people actually want to read rather than what YOU think they might want (but would actually never click through). Need more info on when to post? Check out my favorite articles from HubSpot and Sprout Social.
Should You Hire a Graphic Designer for Your Socials?
If you’re looking to grow your following and get more engagement with consistent branded graphics and content, then yes. You want people interested in what you have to say, so why not make it look good?
If your goal is to use content as organic posts, also yes. Social media templates provide a consistent brand image that makes it easier for users to identify with your business and trust what you have to offer. If you're a small business that can't afford to hire a Designer long-term you may consider working with a them for editable Canva social media templates that you can use again and again. This will ensure that your graphics and visual content looks consistent across platforms and prevents your audiences from being confused about who they are interacting with.
Large or small businesses and startups may consider hiring a graphic designer for quality control over their visual content rather than relying solely on internal resources which could result in lower quality output overall (this can lead consumers away unnecessarily). As mentioned earlier though: Brand consistency across all aspects of business operations is important too. Hiring a Graphic Designer can actually help you generate more leads down the road because people prefer to buy from brands they know and feel familiar with.
Think About The End Goal
Now start thinking about what you want to create based on your end goal - getting more clients, selling products, launching a course, etc. What's the best way to do that on each platform?
Can you show a video of how something is made in one platform and sell it in another? Can you run a contest on Instagram and have people share it on their Facebook Stories so they win a prize from you if they get 2 friends to sign up for your Instagram as well? You can celebrate holidays a quiz about it’s history on TikTok and then posting some questions with new facts that you've discovered yourself that are related to your industry. Are you a fellow designer or creative? Show process videos and behind-the-scenes content of your process. People love feeling like a VIP and learning more about you and what you do.
In the end, this blog won't be useful unless YOU take action! Be sure to comment below with any tips or advice for other creatives who are looking at using social media to scale their business.
“The more open you are to sharing your passions, the closer people will feel to your work” – Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist
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