Lately, folks have been reaching out and telling me that they just don’t know where to start with their social media. So, I’m sharing a step-by-step plan to get you going!
Whether you’re brand new to business promotion on social media or already have a presence but want to refresh your brand, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here are a few steps I often share with my clients to get them started and feeling good about the content they’re sharing.
1. Get your social media content ideas flowing
Your best ideas – the ones that come from your most creative, authentic self – will present themselves when you’re NOT stressed! Take a walk, go to a café… do something that gets you out of “biz mode”. Then, let the ideas flow. The key here is to *not* judge the ideas that come to you! Write them all down (digital, handwritten… doesn’t matter), and then re-visit them in a few days, once the ideas have had a chance to percolate.
2. Mastermind with other biz owners
Whether you have a group of fellow entrepreneurs that you meet with regularly, or you find a few like-minded folks to meet with as a one-off, it’s very helpful to share ideas with others who aren’t immersed in your business. When you meet, share your content ideas from your list that you made in step #1.
Ask questions of each other and gather data:
- What would they like to learn about your industry/business? What questions do they have?
- What are the value propositions of your product or offering that are most important to them?
- What would “sell” them on your product/offering?
This info will come in handy when assessing the viability of the content you’re creating/sharing on social. In fact, most people I talk to don’t even realize how much ‘gold’ they have, just waiting to be shared! When you’re doing the work in your business, sometimes it’s challenging to discern what people actually want to know about your product, processes, etc. A fresh perspective is powerful!
👉 Don’t have a biz bestie, or don’t know where to start? You’re welcome to book a free discovery call with me to get the ideas flowing: https://app.lisapedersen.ca/30min-discovery
3. Decide on the content pillars you want to share, then be of service
Once you’ve received feedback and kicked around your content ideas, you’ll have a good idea of the kinds of content you should share, commonly known as your “content pillars”.
For example, a fitness instructor might have the following pillars:
- WHY exercise – benefits of incorporating exercise into your routine
- HOW to get fit – exercise videos, good form/safety tips, etc.
- Inspiration/Motivation – fun quotes, inspiring stories, etc.
- Your services/ways to work together – promote yourself and how you can help your prospective clients achieve their goals
Focus on being of service and sharing great content… stuff that is helpful to your ideal audience and that they’ll want to save/share. When you focus less on what you’ll get in return, and more on giving, you’ll find that people will be drawn to your content (and authenticity!), and the engagement will follow.
Tip: take polls and ask questions to find out what your audience wants to know.
4. Incorporate YOU into every post
There are (potentially) lots of people who do what you do – or who sell what you sell – but no one does it like YOU! It is this difference that sets your business apart.
One of my favourite quotes is, “I’d rather be somebody’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea.” And that is 100% true for me. I want to work with people who get me… and who I ‘get’. Not everyone is a good fit, and that’s okay!
I think it was Eleanor Beaton who said that your marketing should repel the wrong audience as much as it should attract the right one. The more you let your personality/values/mission shine through in your social media content, the more you draw your ideal clients to you – and filter out the wrong ones.
5. Don’t forget to add a CTA (call to action)
So, you’re sharing quality, helpful content – that feels great, right? For many of us, the next step – self-promotion – can feel icky. But, guess what? People NEED what you’re offering, and you need to make a living!
Reframing your thoughts is the POWERFUL STEP you need to take in order to show up with impact on social media and ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT – i.e. to buy your service, share your content, book a call, visit your website, etc.
It is a game-changer when we switch the narrative from: “I feel spammy selling my services/products.” to “I’m offering services/products that can truly help others, so I’d be doing the world a disservice by not sharing it!”
Trust me, the mindset piece is important! Once you start seeing your business as the key to helping others succeed / be more efficient / have better quality of life (whatever!), then you can confidently interact with your audience via calls-to-action.
Which of the 5 steps above do you find most challenging? Comment below and I’d be happy to help.
Bravo! Totally on point!!!
Thanks, Erin! Glad you found it helpful!