Success On .Social

Tag: content creation

  • 5 Things You Can Learn About Signature Style from the Eras Tour

    5 Things You Can Learn About Signature Style from the Eras Tour

    Turns out, Miss Taylor Alison Swift knows a thing or two about having a Signature Style!

    Alright, Swifties—let’s talk about the Eras Tour. 

    First, a little confession: I’m a closet Swiftie. When I scored floor seats for myself and my sister to this concert, we were expecting an epic concert. It is Taylor Swift after all. But honestly? What we got was so much more than just an outstanding performance. It was pure, unbeatable insanity. I walked away totally mind-blown—not just by her talent but by the genius business moves happening at every turn.

    The Eras Tour wasn’t just a concert. It was an experience. Every detail was perfectly crafted, and it hit me: Taylor Swift is a master of something we could all learn from—the power of a signature style. Let’s break it down, shall we?

    First, Some Background on the Tour

    If you somehow missed it (where have you been?!), Taylor announced the Eras Tour in 2022 after dropping Midnights. The concept? It was a celebration of every phase of her career, with each “era” getting its own spotlight. For over 3.5 hours, Taylor performed 40+ songs grouped into distinct acts, each representing one of her albums.

    The level of detail was next-level crazy. Each song had its own outfit, choreography, and staging, and every era was unique and could stand alone as a piece of art. And, of course, Taylor being Taylor, she even revamped the show halfway through the tour to include songs from The Tortured Poets Department. Critics loved it. Fans couldn’t get enough. And Swift streams skyrocketed across the board.

    Upon arriving at the arena in Toronto, I was shocked by the lack of chaos. This HUGE event is bound to have some chaos, but there was nothing but organization and smiles. Even the hour-and-a-half souvenir line was well organized and almost enjoyable. As we walked down to our floor seats, it hit me that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and as the clock counted down to Taylor getting on stage, I got goosebumps. It must have been cold in there!

    From start to finish… I was blown the F*CK AWAY!

    Now let’s talk about these lessons—because this is where things get good.

    1. A Signature Style Evolves—And That’s a Good Thing

    What makes Taylor Swift iconic is how she reinvents herself with every album. She’s never stuck in one place, but she’s always Taylor. Whether it’s her country roots, glittery pop anthems, or indie vibes, each era feels like a fresh take on the same person we’ve loved all along.

    Takeaway: You don’t have to stay the same to stay true to yourself. Your “style” can grow and evolve with you. Think about who you are now and how you can reflect that in your work, your life, or even your Instagram posts.

    2. Own Your Story—Every Part of It

    Taylor’s had her fair share of drama over the years (Kanye, Scooter Braun, anyone?), but instead of letting it define her, she’s taken control of the narrative. Whether it’s re-recording her albums or writing songs that spill all the tea, she shows us what it means to own your story and keep it moving. She knows what people are going to say and she beats them to the punchline.

    Takeaway: Don’t let someone else write your story for you. Whatever challenges you’re facing, own them. Use them. They’re part of what makes your journey so uniquely yours.

    3. Over-Deliver Like Your Reputation Depends On It

    When I tell you Taylor went all out during this concert, I’m not kidding. Every song had its own costume, set, and vibe, and she performed each like the grand finale. For over three hours, she gave 110%—and you could feel it in every second.

    Takeaway: Whether it’s your job, your passion project, or how you show up in life, bring your best. People notice. And when you over-deliver, they’ll remember you—and tell everyone about you.

    4. Connection is Everything

    Taylor doesn’t just perform; she connects. Whether it’s through surprise songs, heartfelt lyrics, or chatting with fans on TikTok, she makes everyone feel like they’re part of the experience. And because of her the fans are like one big family that sings together, loves every moment, and yes even exchange friendship bracelets. 

    Takeaway: People want to feel seen, heard, and valued. Whether it’s in your relationships, your work, or even on social media, focus on connection. That’s what keeps people coming back for more.

    Here’s the thing about the Eras Tour—it wasn’t just a celebration of her music; it was a genius business move. By performing songs from all her albums, Taylor boosted streams for her entire catalog, not just her latest releases. She’s not just a musician—she’s a brand, and the Eras Tour was a masterclass in branding done right.

    5. Your Signature Style is Your Superpower

    Takeaway: Your signature style isn’t just how you look or sound—it’s how you make people feel. It’s the vibe you create and the connection you build. Use it to tell your story, show your value, and grow your impact.

    BONUS: When You Care, People Will Pay

    I was going to leave this one out but it is important… Let’s talk ticket prices for a second. Yeah, they weren’t cheap (looking at you, Ticketmaster!), but almost every fan walked away saying, “Worth. Every. Penny.” Why? Because Taylor poured her heart and soul into every single moment of that show. I as a closet Swiftie even got goosebumps a couple times. You could tell she cared, and that made it all worth it.

    Takeaway: People are willing to invest in you if you show them you’re invested in them. It’s not about being the cheapest or flashiest—it’s about being real, caring, and delivering something that feels meaningful.

    So, What Can We Learn from the Eras Tour?

    Whether you’re a coach, or a creator, or someone just trying to stand out in this crazy world, the lessons from the Eras Tour are clear:

    • Evolve but stay true to yourself. Your story—and style—should grow with you.
    • Own your narrative. Don’t let anyone else define you.
    • Over-deliver. Whatever you do, give it everything you’ve got.
    • Build connection. People remember how you make them feel.
    • Leverage your style. Use it to tell your story and grow your impact.
    • Care deeply. It shows—and it makes all the difference.

    If Taylor’s taught us anything, it’s that creating a signature style isn’t just about looking cool—it’s about building something unforgettable. So whether your “era” is still in its first act or you’re gearing up for a whole new one, remember this: Your style is your power. Lean into it, and you’ll create something truly magical.

    Now, Swifties—what’s your favorite lesson from the Eras Tour? Let’s chat in the comments!

  • I’m A Sewist: A Spin on Signature Style

    I’m A Sewist: A Spin on Signature Style

    Hey there, I am so ready to spill some serious tea on making trends work for you… while still being you.

    Today, I want to show you the power of leveraging a hot trend in a way that fits your vibe—AKA your Signature Style—and how it can send your reach skyrocketing. Let’s talk about one of my members, Lisa Woolfork (founder of @blackwomenstitch) and her massive success with her “I Am A Sewist” reel series.

    The Backstory

    Lisa started this series right before the holidays in 2023. She pinged me in a private Clubhouse room, asking whether she should keep the reels going or let it be a one-and-done. I took a look, and my advice was simple: Run with it, And run she did!

    Here’s a snapshot of her numbers (not a complete list):

    • 25.8K
    • 212K
    • 44K
    • 1.2 Million
    • 43.2K

    And so on, for a total of approximately 2.5 million views! Cue the confetti. 

    Oh, and did I mention her follower count has doubled since December? Yeah, that’s what nailing your Signature Style can do.

    Lisa’s Signature Style in Action

    • Playful Yet Specific Tone: Lisa knows how to deliver her message in a fun, relatable way while still being super clear about what she’s doing.
    • Informative & Entertaining Reels: She seamlessly blends teaching moments with humor.
    • Signature Clothing (She Makes Her Own Clothes!): She shows up in her reels wearing her creations—talk about a personal brand.
    • No Fear: She’s not afraid to “go there,” including undergarments. Because hey, if you sew it, you should show it!

    Lisa’s Own Lessons Learned

    1. Listen to Jonathan (that’s me—and she is so right).
    2. Do What Feels Right to YOU. People smell ick from a mile away.
    3. Batch Record & Schedule Ahead. Consistency for the win.
    4. Reply to Comments (Use iPhone text shortcuts to speed things up).

    What We Can All Learn from Lisa’s Success

    1. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. If the trend works for your niche, take a risk!
    2. Stay Connected to the Topic. Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
    3. It Only Takes One Video. One reel can seriously catapult your visibility.
    4. Make a Trend Your Own. Trends are tools, not rules—bend them to fit your personal style.
    5. If It Works, Repeat. Rinse, repeat, and watch your reach keep climbing.
    6. Use Your Signature Style Every Time. Know how you want to show up online so your content is instantly recognizable.

    Why Signature Style Matters

    Your Signature Style is your calling card on social media. It’s not just about pretty fonts or perfect color palettes; it’s about showing up as a real human your audience can connect with. And that authentic spark? That’s what resonates with people—every. Single. Time.

    Ready to Develop Your Signature Style?

    Ever feel like you’re the best-kept secret in your niche? Or maybe you’re just kinda sick of playing small. If you’re ready to unlock your potential and dominate social media the authentic way, let’s talk about my Signature Membership.

    What You Get Each Month:

    • A fresh report packed with content ideas, trending audios, and proven strategies to ignite your growth.
    • Two monthly “Power Hours” for live Q&A and on-the-spot coaching.
    • Hot Seat Coaching Sessions for one or two members each month. That’s personalized support to crush whatever’s holding you back.

    This membership is about showing up differently and finally being seen. Imagine having the blueprint for creating content that slays on social media—and the confidence to share it unapologetically.

    Let’s Do This

    Ready to step into the spotlight? Don’t wait until next month or next year. Click here to learn more about the Signature Membership and start your journey to social media success.

    No more hiding. No more best-kept-secret syndrome. Let’s go from “meh” to “YAS QUEEN” in your niche. Because if Lisa can rake in millions of views, so can you.

  • Write Social Media Captions that Add Value

    Write Social Media Captions that Add Value

    Mastering the Art of Captions

    A value-packed caption can be as impactful as a photo that tells a story. Captions aren’t just a nice-to-have anymore—unless you’re a celebrity or influencer like Kim Kardashian. The right caption can transform a good post into a great one and make a great post blow up! If you’re still stuck in the past, thinking captions don’t matter, here’s the reality check: Captions Matter!

    A great caption speaks directly to your audience. It’s easy to read, easy to understand, and it grabs attention while adding value. Does that sound like a lot for just a few words? Maybe, but leaving the caption blank and hoping for the best won’t cut it. Social media marketing isn’t a walk in the park anymore. The prettiest picture doesn’t automatically win, even on Instagram. Social Media Marketing is a full-contact sport, so gear up and get writing! Crafting the perfect caption can add value for your followers and turn them into clients, making all the effort worthwhile.

    So, how do you write great captions for your posts? Check out some of the tips below.

    The Structure of Captions That Add Value

    There are many different ways to structure your caption, and the best structure for your niche and the kind of content you are delivering can vary. However, here are some overarching tips on the best structure to utilize for captions.

    Valuable Captions Have the Important Words First

    Having the most important words first seems obvious. But many of us lose sight of this. We forget how short attention spans are (8 seconds) and that we are scrolling social media feeds at breakneck speeds. If you have any chance of capturing your audience’s attention, you better do it fast. Include your keywords of the caption in the first couple of lines. Just like with any writing, I recommend the Say What You Are Going to Say, Say It, and Say That You Said It Strategy. Don’t be afraid to be bold, funny, or a bit controversial in your first statement. Make sure it captures the attention of your audience and is brand-appropriate. It is your hook, and if you don’t hook them in the first few words, they are out!

    Crafting the Body of Your Valuable Caption

    The body of your caption is where you deliver on the promise you made in the first few lines. This is the “say it” part. You’ve hooked your audience with a teaser; now it’s time to provide valuable information. This can be answers to questions, helpful tools and tricks, a compelling story, or a Q&A session. In most cases you want to make sure your caption connects directly to the image or video you’re using.

    After this you will quickly recap what you said, for the said that you said it portion of the caption and then its time for your call to action.

    Include Calls to Action (CTAs) and questions in the final paragraph. CTAs and questions are important for encouraging engagement. They prompt your audience to interact with you, turning passive viewers into active participants. Be creative with your questions and CTAs, but remember—simple, easy-to-answer prompts often generate the most engagement.

    Hashtags and @Mentions: Keep Them at the End

    Hashtags and @mentions are important for reaching a wider audience, but they shouldn’t clutter your main message. Place them at the end of your caption to keep your main content clear and readable. Write a valuable, engaging caption first, then add relevant hashtags and mentions to boost your post’s visibility.

    Give Your Captions Room to Breath

    A big text block can be intimidating, and your audience is less likely to engage with something that feels overwhelming. Break up your captions with emojis, paragraph breaks, and lists to create space and make them more inviting. Aim for one to three-sentence paragraphs to be the perfect length.

    Use Visual Elements

    Emojis can add personality and break up text, making it more engaging. Use them to highlight key points or add a touch of fun to your message.

    Paragraph Breaks and Lists

    Utilize paragraph breaks to keep your text manageable. Lists are also a great way to present information clearly and concisely.

    Keep It Simple

    Short paragraphs make your content more digestible and engaging. Remember, the easier it is to read, the more likely your audience will interact with your post.

    General Tips for Creating Captions that Add Value

    Always Know What You Want the Post to Accomplish

    Every social media post should have a clear purpose, goal, or reason for being there. When creating captions, keep that purpose in mind. What action do you want your audience to take after reading your caption? Determine the desired response and put yourself in your audience’s shoes. Ask yourself these questions while crafting your caption:

    • Does my audience care about this post topic?
    • If I saw this in my feed, how would I react?
    • Am I encouraging conversation or just preaching?
    • Is this interesting, thought-provoking, solving a problem, inspiring or entertaining?
    • What impact will this have on my brand?

    Write a caption to make you react how you want your audience to react. Create content your audience cares about, encourage engagement, and spark conversation. Ensure it’s exciting or thought-provoking and positively impacts your brand.

    Remember, it’s okay to experiment with different strategies until you find what resonates with your audience.

    Always Encourage Engagement

    Let’s get back to basics: social media is all about being social. It’s about having conversations, not just broadcasting at people. You want to engage your followers and get them involved in a dialogue. Encourage your audience to respond by asking open-ended questions in your captions. These types of questions drive better engagement, so get creative. Another effective strategy is to include a call to action in your caption.

    Tell a Story in Your Caption

    Your caption is the perfect place to tell a story. Stories are naturally engaging and have been a fundamental part of human communication since the days of cave paintings. They help build a connection between you and your audience, bringing emotion and personality into your social media presence.

    Share stories and anecdotes of success, positive experiences, and how you’ve created success in your business. Don’t shy away from sharing struggles, moments when failure seemed imminent, and days when you felt down and out. These stories of struggle can be even more powerful than success stories because they show you’re human and can encourage and inspire those who are currently facing challenges.

    By weaving stories into your captions, you highlight your personality and build deeper, more authentic relationships with your audience.

    Add Value to Your Caption By Being the Best Version of Yourself

    If you’ve built your brand on a solid foundation, it should already reflect what YOU do best, not what others do. Your brand should showcase what you want your business to be known for and mirror your personality. So, don’t hesitate to be yourself in your captions. Being a real ass human is engaging because there’s no one else out there like you.

    Branding is all about differentiation, so use what makes you unique. It’s fine to be quirky, funny, unique, or even weird. These qualities help you stand out and engage people. You’ll build a loyal audience that supports your brand because they appreciate what only you can offer.

    Keep the Value Simple

    Ensure your value is easy to see and digestible for your audience. This can vary by industry but aim to keep it straightforward and accessible. Avoid overstimulating your readers or talking down to them. Instead, offer bite-sized, valuable content that resonates and engages effectively.

    Final Check: Does Your Caption Add Value?

    You’ve written your captions, proofread them, ensured they make sense, and confirmed they align with your brand and the story you’re telling with your photo or video. Great! You’re ready to schedule them, right?

    Hold on a second!

    Before you post anything on social media, ask yourself these two crucial questions:

    1. Does this post have value?
    2. Is it valuable, or will it resonate with my audience

    Confirming Value: A Crucial Step

    If the answer to both questions is yes, you’re good to go. Consider these questions during social media planning, especially when crafting your captions. Reflect on how your post will serve your audience. Ask yourself and your team:

    • How will this serve my audience?
    • What value will my intended audience take away from this caption?
    • Is it teaching them a lesson they want to learn?
    • Is it answering a question they’ve asked?
    • Is it expanding on a story they’re interested in?

    When Your Caption Doesn’t Add Value

    If the answer to either question is no—if the post doesn’t add value, or it doesn’t add value for your intended audience—it shouldn’t make it onto your calendar. This final check ensures you always deliver content that benefits your audience, ultimately boosting engagement.

    Tips to Level Up Your Caption Game

    If you’ve mastered creating valuable captions and consistently adding value to your audience, it’s time to take your skills to the next level! As you explore advanced techniques, remember that the fundamentals still apply. Here are a few favorite ways to level up your caption writing skills:

    Pay Close Attention to Your Brand Voice

    One advanced move is to ensure your brand voice is consistent across all your captions and posts. Start writing all your social media content in a way that aligns with your brand language. Here’s how:

    1. Define Your Brand Voice: Clearly outline what your brand sounds like. Is it friendly, professional, quirky, or authoritative? Make sure this tone is reflected in every piece of content you create.
    2. Consistency Across Platforms: Your brand voice should be present in all communications, not just your posts. This includes profiles, comments, responses to comments, affiliate posts, and advertising. Consistency builds a unified and believable brand.
    3. Create a Brand Book: Develop a formal style and brand book. This guide should include your brand’s tone, language style, and key phrases. Ensure everyone involved in your social media, from posts to customer responses, follows this guide.
    4. Implement an Approval Process: Have a system in place for approving all posts, updates, and responses to ensure they align with your brand voice. This helps maintain consistency and quality.

    By paying close attention to your brand voice and ensuring it’s consistent across all platforms, you create a stronger, more unified brand that resonates with your audience. These advanced techniques will help you refine your caption game and make your social media presence even more impactful.

    Try the Mini Blog Format Caption

    Deliver more value with a mini-blog format caption. This caption type includes titles and sections covering a specific topic and providing key takeaways. While longer posts can be tricky and may not attract as many readers, those who invest the time are often your most loyal supporters. Some people may even save your post to revisit later. Use the mini-blog format to introduce broader topics or themes and engage your audience deeper. Pro Tip: Highlight key points from your longer caption by creating a story update featuring the text.

    Begin Utilizing CTAs to Drive Followers to Your Website

    Social media platforms can be unpredictable. Instagram could disappear tomorrow, Facebook might demand hefty ad spending for visibility, and Twitter could implode. Using these platforms to build a real audience is crucial—one you can reach even if social media goes belly up. If Instagram vanished tomorrow, how many followers could you still connect with? Use CTAs to drive your social media followers to your website, where you can capture their contact information. Make them engaged followers on and off social media to secure your long-term stability.

    Focus on 3-5 Themes

    Identify what works on your social media and what’s missing. Focusing on delivering valuable posts with strong captions will give you insight into what resonates with your audience. Use this information to determine your brand’s 3-5 best themes and build your content calendar around these themes. Narrowing your focus allows you to hone your expertise in these areas, making content creation more manageable and effective. This clarity helps your audience understand who you are and why you matter.

    Tools to Help You Write Valuable Captions

    Grammarly Is My Jam

    Want to be a better writer? Eliminate unnecessary words and be more concise. Grammarly Premium is worth its weight in gold as it catches a considerable percentage of grammar and spelling errors and advanced mistakes. The premium version includes critical grammar and spelling checks, conciseness checks, readability checks, vocabulary enhancement checks, genre-specific writing checks, tone checks, and plagiarism checks. A free version is also an excellent tool for catching all the critical spelling and grammar errors.

    The Hemingway App 

    The Hemingway App says it will make your writing “bold and clear.” It works by analyzing text and highlighting places where your content is sloppy or indulgent! It helps you eliminate superfluous and ornamental words and phrases. I like this one because it helps you clearly engage with your captions.

    Cliché Finder

    If you are anything like me, you may tend to lean towards cliches as a safe space. But when you consider the fact that cliches are cliches because they have virtually lost all their meaning, you realize they are not going to help you create real, impactful captions. This is where a tool like a cliche finder is so useful, you enter some text into the app, and hit the submit button. Cliches in your writing appear in red.

    Understanding the Value of Creating Valuable Captions

    Providing value in captions is the first step in getting your audience to want to get to know more. You have a few words to capture them and highlight the value you have to offer right from the first contact. Make the most of every caption and try the tips and tricks provided and see how they work for your business. We took a fairly deep dive into how to write valuable captions, but we could probably go even deeper on captions. We hope that you can build your social media presence with a solid foundation with the tips we provided. Captions are a crucial part of content creation and social media management. They should be a part of your content calendar planning and can help you tell your story on social media. Customized content and captions are also vital aspects of what we do differently here at JRH Graphics. And even though we covered a lot here, a deeper dive is certainly possible, so please let us know what you would like to hear more on, have us explore more deeply, or explain differently! Please take a second to leave notes in the comments below.

  • 9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut

    9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut

    Revised June 2024

    Stuck in a Social Media Rut?

    You might be in a social media rut if any of these sound familiar:

    • Your content feels uninspired.
    • Your posts lack engagement and feel flat.
    • Every post feels like a chore.
    • You feel disconnected from what you’re posting.

    Don’t worry; we’re here to help! Revitalize your spirit and social media presence with these 9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut. These tips will help you reframe, refocus, and re-energize your posts without wasting time and effort.

    Save yourself the hassle and try these 9 Ways first!

    9 Ways to Get Out of Your Social Media Rut: 3 Inspirational Strategies

     

    Plan a Day of Inspiration

    The top recommendation for getting out of your social media rut is to plan a day of inspiration for yourself. Forget about social media and the stress it’s causing. Don’t post anything! Dedicate this day to activities that make you happy. Engage in things you love, whether related to your business or not.

    The idea is to spend a day genuinely focused on what you enjoy without considering social media. This break will help you re-center your energy and efforts on what truly matters. Content creation should come from the heart and reflect your passion for your business. Focusing on what you love will reignite your creativity, and meaningful content will naturally surface.

    A Day of Inspiration for Jonathan at Success on .Social

    A day of inspiration for Jonathan at Success on .Social can take many forms. I plan a day behind my camera when I’m stuck in a content creation rut. On this day, my focus is solely on what my camera sees, not on what I want it to capture. The key difference between a content creation day (where I control what the camera sees) and an inspiration day (where the camera leads) is this shift in perspective.

    I don’t plan where I’ll go; I simply walk and see where I end up. With no schedule or specific purpose, I let the camera guide me. This spontaneous walking clears my head. I’m not thinking about creating social media posts or how I will use a photo to tell my story—I’m just taking pictures.

    Get Unstuck by Looking at Leaders and Brands That Inspire You

    Do you follow leaders, influencers, or brands because their content inspires you? Have you ever followed a brand hoping to create content as strong as theirs? Looking at the content of others that inspire you is a great way to reignite your creativity. Sometimes, all it takes is one great post to pull you out of your rut.

    When using others’ content as inspiration, ask yourself:

    • How would this post work with my brand?
    • What creative elements would I use to make this my own?
    • How could I adapt this focus for my brand?

    By asking these questions, you can analyze the content’s objectives that inspire you and create something uniquely your own.

    Get Out of Your Social Media Rut by Getting Inspired by Your Competition

    What is your competition posting? Do they have a new product, concept, or campaign? Sometimes, a little friendly rivalry can spark inspiration. There’s no harm in observing what your competitors are doing and using it as a source of inspiration. However, it’s crucial not to compare yourself directly to your competition or copy their content. Instead, view their efforts as a springboard for your creativity. Your goal is to be inspired to create unique and engaging content for your brand.

    Get Out of Your Social Media Rut: 4 Content-Based Strategies

    Did the 3 inspirational strategies not catapult you out of your social media rut? Sometimes, it’s not just inspiration that’s missing; sometimes, you need to mix up your content and engagement strategies. If you think this might be the case, try these four strategies to help get you back on track.

    Invest in the Relationships You Have

    You have a relationship with every follower. Invest in those relationships by engaging directly. Respond to all comments, acknowledge likes, and answer your followers’ questions. Basic engagement strategies encourage your followers to keep interacting with your posts.

    Every time an audience member asks a question, it’s an opportunity. How can you resolve their problem in a post or a series of posts? The more questions you can answer, the more content you can create. More importantly, you become a valuable resource for them. Investing in relationships is not just a strategy to get you out of your social media rut; it’s also a great way to build a loyal following.

    Reframe Your Role

    This strategy is closely related to investing in the relationships you have with your customers. Position yourself as a resource and an expert in your niche. Reframing your role on social media can dramatically impact what you can post. Let’s compare the content from Jonathan Howard, Everyday Guy with 2 Puggles, and Jonathan Howard, Owner of Success on .Social.

    Jonathan Howard, Everyday Dog Owner

    • Posts about my dogs
    • Content about my house
    • Talking about my photos
    • Discussing what I ate
    • Day-to-day activities
    • Talking about my family
    • Where I am going

    Jonathan Howard, Owner of Success on .Social

    • All the things the dog owner can post about
    • Content creation
    • Social media strategies
    • Storytelling and Building Your Story Bank
    • Developing Your Signature Style
    • Basic business strategies
    • Small business success tips

    By reframing your role, you can expand your content possibilities and establish yourself as a trusted expert in your field.

     

    Get Unstuck by Reposting or Repurposing Existing Content

    This type of content creation became popular with the rise of short-form videos. Experts often suggest finding your top-performing piece and recreating it as a reel. Previously, many of us relied on photo + caption style posts. Over the years, we’ve touched on many topics but often don’t revisit them because we think, “I’ve already done that!” However, this mindset can hold you back. If the content is still relevant, you can repost it or change the format and repurpose it.

    One key to being recognized as a leader in your niche is consistently repeating your message.

    Transforming photo posts into video posts forces you to rethink how to deliver the content effectively in a new format. By doing this, you create a new and relevant post. Each format—whether a live video, a recorded video, a short-form video, or a YouTube tutorial—requires a different approach. This strategy can lead to a wealth of content simply by reframing what you’ve already created.

    Have Your Blog Help You Out of the Rut

    I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Your blog is a powerful social media tool! It’s one of my favorite strategies to expand your reach on social media because it maximizes each piece of content. Your blog is also a great source of material to post on social media. Pair your words, a quote, or an action item with a relevant picture, and voilà—you have a piece of content to post.

    What’s even better is that you can include a call-to-action (CTA) that links back to your blog. A CTA that directs readers to your blog adds authority to your post and drives traffic to your platform.

    Get Out of Your Rut with These Two “Lone Wolf” Strategies

    Let Users Create Content for You

    Social proof is a powerful social media strategy that enlists your product or service users to tell your story without brand bias. User-generated content (UGC) is a form of social proof created by your followers. While encouraging UGC by reposting it in your feed or stories is beneficial, it’s not the most effective content creation strategy alone, as it relies on your audience to create content.

    UGC helps you understand how your followers use your product or service daily. Once you know this, you can build content encouraging others to share similarly. It also allows you to create content that serves the needs of those using your products.

    Challenge Yourself with a Challenge

    Social media challenges are plentiful, but finding the right one can push you out of your comfort zone and revitalize your content creation. Join a challenge that is within reach but still challenging enough to keep you engaged. Avoid too easy or difficult challenges, as you’re more likely to quit. Look for challenges that require daily content creation and have a structure with built-in accountability.

    Unexpected Benefits

    Every challenge I’ve participated in has led to unexpected discoveries and a renewed focus on content creation. Challenges are designed to teach you something new, prompting you to review your current practices and see how the new lessons fit into your business.

    Eve Voyevoda — Business & Brand Creator — Visibility Gym

    “I wasn’t in a rut, but I wanted to stretch myself. I knew I needed to explore different ways to include video in my content strategy. I’ve always been afraid of video, and when the opportunity to participate in this challenge arose, I was looking for every reason not to do it. So, I signed up before I could talk myself out of it and couldn’t have been happier. Not only did I improve my video presentations, but I also ended the experience with a ton of fresh content ideas. While this was one of the best challenges I’ve ever participated in, the lessons and content inspiration are benefits that come with every challenge if you make the most of the opportunity.”

     

    Free Yourself from the Rut & Create Engaging Content with Ease!

    Utilize these 9 strategies to get out of your social media rut, whether you use them together or pinpoint your problem and use just one. Each strategy helps you get out of your head, stop comparing yourself to others, and create content that feels authentic to you and your brand. Remember, you are doing your best at any moment, but there is always room for growth and learning.

    Even if you aren’t currently in a social media rut, these strategies can be used proactively to keep challenging yourself. Create better content that engages your customers and fosters deeper, more meaningful relationships with your followers.

  • Content Creation Made Easier: Using What You Have

    Content Creation Made Easier: Using What You Have

    Updated June 2024

    Content Creation is a Full-Time Job + Overtime

    Content creation can be hard. It can be time consuming. Content creation can be a downright pain in the butt. If you have ever been in charge of creating content for a business, non-profit, or even for your personal blog you know that at times it feels like content creation is your full-time job. And it is making you work overtime.

    Seriously, we feel your pain!

    We have adapted a couple tricks to make your life easier.  In Content Creation Made Easier we will discuss strategies that will make your content creation easier. The first one which we discuss here is what I called Breaking Down Your Blog. I believe that adopting the strategies outlined in these blog posts will revolutionaize your content creation strategy, and make you a happier content creator.

    Before The Creation Even Starts

    Prior to revealing our first hack, there is something that should be done before the content creation even begins. You must find a content scheduler that allows you to post as far as 6 months in advance and auto publishes to the platforms that you utilize. Yes, 6 months in advance. Although, I would prefer 12, but six will suffice. It should also be a tool that you like to use, not one that you dread. Simply because if its a drag you aren’t going to want to do it and you won’t get the most out of these content hacks.

    Breaking Down Your Blog

    Create Blog and Affiliated Social Media Posts Simultaneously

    Do you have a business blog? Are you creating regular posts for it? Is this content also being shared on your social media?

    If you don’t have a business blog, you should consider starting one, and you can read why (insert link). If you aren’t using your blog as the basis for your social media posts, you might be missing out. Your blog and social media should be closely related, feeding into each other and serving as powerful tools to answer your audience’s questions and establish yourself as a leader in your niche.

    Two to Twenty Birds with One Stone

    Creating your blog posts and the affiliated social media posts simultaneously is an efficient way to maximize your content creation efforts. If you write a well-structured blog post, it will naturally include sections that discuss specific topics. These topics often have sub-sections explaining certain ideas. If an idea is important enough to have its own sub-section, it likely deserves its own social media post too.

    For example, if your blog post has three main topics and each topic has three sub-sections, you’ve already got 10 social media posts. Here’s how: you’ll write a post about the overall topic of the blog and why it’s important, which is one post. Then, you’ll create nine more posts based on each topic and sub-section. So, 1 overall post + 9 topic/sub-section posts = 10 social media posts.

    Why The Scheduling Tool is Important

    I don’t recommend bombarding your audience with 10 posts on the same topic over two weeks. It’s essential to vary your content. What I do recommend is creating the content and then scheduling the posts. Typically, I write one blog post a week and post about two concepts from my blogs each week. The first post is about the new blog, and the second post is a subsection from a previous blog, ideally related to the week’s new blog topic, but this isn’t always possible.

    In an ideal scenario, you revisit blog topics on your social media with a fresh perspective (a new subsection post) every 5-6 weeks. When you publish the blog, you also add the posts to your scheduling tool for future dates. This approach allows you to “set it and forget it” (though you will still need to engage with the posts). You’ll adjust the posts for the best fit, but this method provides you with pre-set content weeks in advance.

    An Exercise in Abundance

    A few years ago, I asked members of my Facebook group to break down one of my previous blog posts into potential social media posts. The blog post we used is listed below along with the results. From this blog, we came up with the following social media post topics:

    1. Creating connections
    2. Selling the emotions (2 posts)
    3. Being heard in a crowded marketplace
    4. How your brand story creates uniqueness (example post)
    5. Why story is the most powerful and flexible tool (longer form post)
    6. Reviewing key aspects of a brand story
    7. Sharing TED Talks and EchoStory resources
    8. Tapping into emotions (example post)
    9. Connecting with your audience
    10. “First this, then that” storytelling examples (2 posts)
    11. Exploring the “Why” (Why you do what you do)
    12. Why your audience should care

    From this single blog, we identified approximately 14 social media posts. While this is above my average, it was a content-heavy blog covering many essential storytelling topics. Creating social media posts simultaneously with the blog keeps the content fresh in your mind. You’ll only need to do hashtag research once, the photos used in your blog are readily available, and other potential slow-downs are minimized.

    The Most Amazing Thing

    If you keep this up for just five weeks, with an average of 10 posts per blog, you’ll have almost one post per week ready for your social media for nearly an entire year! Imagine that—one less post to create every week for a year, and you’re only five weeks into this strategy. Isn’t that amazing? I promise, this hack can be a social media game-changer. For the past three months, I’ve been doing this, and I no longer feel the constant anxiety of needing to create content for my profiles. I always have something ready in the pipeline if needed.

    But What If I Don’t Blog and Have No Plans to Start One?

    I’m not here to argue (though I do encourage considering a blog)! You can use this hack for other content, such as breaking down your monthly newsletter to customers or creating five posts over five weeks based on an excellent article you found, like “The 5 Best to Do .” Content creation is challenging, but this hack is about working smarter, not harder.

    Pro-Tip

    Ready to go pro? Video content engages audiences at much higher rates than other forms of content. Whenever possible, create video content. When breaking down content into posts, identify which ones might be better as videos. Record these videos while the topic is fresh (wear season-neutral clothing) and use them when needed. Getting one video from each piece of content will help establish you as a leader in your niche.

    Now Your Blog is Working As Hard As You

    Your blog is now carrying some of the content creation load. Even if you handle all the content creation for your blog, you’re streamlining the work. Creating content in advance alleviates the “oh my god I need something to post” panic we’re all too familiar with. You can adapt this strategy to suit your needs, but I believe it can transform how you approach and manage content creation for your business.

  • Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos & Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos & Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Updated June 2024

    Social Media Strategy: 9 Photos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Creating fresh and current content for your social media posts can seem daunting. Or is it? In this blog, we’ll provide you with ideas for 9 photos and 9 videos that you can easily capture each week to keep your content vibrant. These will streamline your content creation process and ensure all your social media profiles remain engaging and on point.

    Yes, 9 photos and videos a week, and the best part is they feature you going about your daily life. While these won’t replace the need for professional shoots, they will complement them with high-quality content, helping you build your own custom stock photo and video library. For more details on maximizing a photoshoot, check out this blog post! As you know, I am a huge advocate for using your own photos on social media; it’s the best way to differentiate yourself from the get-go.

    It’s Almost Time to Reveal the 9 Photos, But First…

    First, take a moment to consider the type of content you typically post on social media.

    What kind of content generally resonates with your audience?
    Are you regularly posting on specific topics or categories?
    What do you have planned for the next three to five weeks?

    Keep these questions in mind as you review the nine photos you can take daily. You can tweak, stretch, or expand on one or all of them to fit your specific needs. Remember, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I’m giving you these nine images and videos as guidelines based on my social media expertise and what has the potential to engage. Feel free to adapt them to your needs!

    9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Drumroll Please

    1. Daily Routine
    2. Morning Coffee
    3. Full Body Shot/Big Movement Video
    4. Detail Shot
    5. At the Office
    6. With a client or customer
    7. Work close up
    8. Behind the scenes
    9. Life Outside of Work Shot

    The Daily Routine

    I made this the first of the 9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh because it’s the easiest to capture. Simply take a photo or video of something you do every day.

    Why this?

    Because it’s something you do daily, there’s a high chance you’ll talk about it on social media or it will impact your content in some way. Having a relevant visual ready to use when discussing this routine saves you from scrambling for a post idea. Plus, you won’t need to rely on overused stock photos to showcase a unique aspect of yourself or your business.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Think about what you enjoy posting and what your audience engages with. Is it your fitness routine? Haircare? Outfits? Are they asking you specific questions? Use this insight to guide which daily routines you should document. Need a starting point? Pizza, pets, and babies always perform well on social media.

    The Morning Coffee Shot

    I know what you’re thinking: “Really, coffee? You want me to take a photo of my coffee first thing in the morning?” And maybe even worse, “You expect me to take a video of it?” Yes, even if it’s before you’ve had your first sip! Capture that perfect coffee cup shot or a video of your coffee-making ritual.

    Why This?

    Food, babies, and dogs are universal favorites; everyone eats, dogs are man’s best friend, and babies are cute! Similarly, coffee is a nearly universal connector on social media—something almost everyone can relate to.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Not a coffee drinker? No problem! What’s your drink of choice in the morning? What jumpstarts your day? Whether it’s tea, a donut, a protein smoothie, or even a pair of stylish shoes, whatever gets you moving and motivated in the morning works. The key idea behind the coffee posts is to share what energizes you, so feel free to substitute with your own morning motivator.

    The Full Body Shot & The Big Motion Video

    Next on your list of daily photos to keep your content fresh is the full body shot. This means capturing a photo of yourself from head to toe, doing something—anything. As long as your attire is brand-appropriate, you can’t go wrong. For the video, aim for a big movement, such as walking.

    Why This?

    A full body shot is versatile and can be used in both your stories and feed on social media. People do business with other people, not faceless companies. To get people to do business with you, you need to build trust and let them feel like they know you. These photos and videos help create that connection and build trust more effectively.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Don’t worry about looking like a model. You don’t have to be a model—just be yourself. Avoid overthinking, over-staging, or over-editing. This photo isn’t about creating a perfect, imaginary life. It’s about featuring your authentic self, the real face of your brand.

    The Detail Shot

    The detail shot or video is essential for defining your signature style. For example, my Converse sneakers have been a staple in my brand. This was intentional, as I often feature content of my shoes in stories and on my feed. My footwear subtly communicates that my brand is fun, bright, disruptive, and not your typical business. Similarly, my sequin hat reflects the fun and sparkly nature of my brand.

    Why This?

    Detail shots and videos can be used for various purposes on social media. I used my shoes to convey an abstract aspect of my signature style. For a simpler, more straightforward example, a watch could be used in a post about deadlines, setting SMART goals, or your dislike of waiting.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Be creative with this one. It can be details of what you’re wearing, elements of your office, or a part of your everyday life. This approach is also useful for future content about specific aspects of your business. For example, if a housing form is due by a certain date, take a photo of the top of that form on a desk, or a video of someone filling out the form and use it in your post. It’s much more engaging than a generic stock photo.

    In The Office/Work Shot and Video

    Another great way to keep your content fresh is with office shots. These are photos or videos of you at work, doing what you do best. While a day at the office might seem mundane to you, your loyal followers are interested in seeing more about your daily routine. Mix it up by capturing different parts of your office or various aspects of your job. Focus on the more interesting tasks you perform and document them through photos or short videos.

    Why This?

    You’re on social media to showcase the work you do and attract your ideal clients. It’s natural to show your audience what you do, how you do it, why you do it, and where you do it. Consider what your ideal client would want to see from someone in your role, and create content that will engage them.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Review your previous content to identify what performed well on social media. If you’re a web developer, for instance, you could include photos of you working at your computer, videos of you collaborating with a web designer, or attending a training session on a new programming language. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative with your shots.

    With a Client

    I know you might be hesitant about this next photo or video idea, so let me say this: the client does not need to be identifiable. The focus should be on you. Be creative and find a way to show yourself interacting with a client or customer. It could be as simple as you behind a desk with the back of your clients’ heads facing the camera, or a close-up video of you demonstrating something to the client, with only your hands visible.

    Why This?

    You can’t build trust on social media and demonstrate your expertise without showcasing your work. Featuring client interactions is crucial. Highlight your first touchpoints or ways you build trust with clients. Even if you use stand-ins instead of real clients (totally our secret), it’s so important to depict these interactions.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Professional development sessions, speaking opportunities, media events, and more are perfect for capturing photos and videos of you working with clients or potential clients. Make sure someone is available to capture these moments, whether it’s your hubby, friend, or a professional photographer. Take advantage of these opportunities to showcase your client interactions.

    The Work Closeup

    This is what I am doing right now, as I revise this blog post I am recording myself (two birds, one stone) So the idea here is to capture some content up close of you doing something in your business. This is great for stock photography and also to use as B-roll for short-form video. Think about things like, you writing out your plans on an eisel, or your fingers typing on the computer, or writing in a jourmal. Those all work.

    Why This?

    Because when you talk about your work, it is great to have photos that you can post that show you working. Be sure to capture  a variety of photos and videos so you have a library to choose from, although It doesn’t matter that you are writing down the steps to take in your business over the next nine months, but you use the photo in a post about how writing allows your thoughts to flow. In most cases they can’t see the text. You will find that these are the most flexible and useful photos to take as many of them as you can!

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Think about the things that you tend to post about and what an excellent generic visual could be that highlights either what you are talking about in the post, or the feeling you want people to get from the post, etc. We are working on creating a library of flexible and usable stock photos and videos for your business.

    Behind the Scenes

    What are some of the things that you do for your business behind the scenes, or what things would people not ever be able to guess about your business? Photos and videos of different behind the scenes aspects or videos of prepping for an event, photoshoot, or other special occasions are always phenomenal for engagement. Be sure to grab content of this. 

    Why This?

    This is essential because everybody likes a peek behind the curtain. Behind the scenes is always engaging because people want to see the real life person behind what they see that they assume is scripted and perfected.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    All of the images you take should feel real; they shouldn’t be too polished. They should not depict a beautifully perfect life. Make sure to leave your behind the scenes content believable. If it’s too perfect, it shows up as inauthentic, and you could lose credibility.

    Life Outside of Work Shot

    I completely respect a person’s choice not to include aspects such as children in their brand. That is your choice. What I do advocate for is that every business shows off a little bit of life outside of work. If it is you going home and reading a book, walking a dog, cooking, or going to the gym. Those are all great, and you should take photos or videos of you doing them.

    Why This?

    It makes you human, a real person outside of the walls of the business that does cool things and has actual struggles, goals, and dreams. Don’t wipe all the things that make you human from your business; it will erase any possibility of you being able to engage your ideal audience out with it.

    Additional Tips and Tricks

    Social Media is supposed to be social. The things you do outside of work are just as important as those you do at work. 

    Those Are The 9 Photos and Videos to Keep Your Content Fresh

    Using these nine photos as a guide will help you eliminate some of the stress caused by social media. We promise you will feel less overwhelmed, have stronger posts and be able to level up on social media much more quickly.

  • Content Creation Strategies for Success on Social

    Content Creation Strategies for Success on Social

    Updated June 2024

    Content Creation Strategies for A Successful Social Media Existence

    We all know that content is king. Without content, we can’t conquer the other two essential aspects of a successful social media campaign: consistency and engagement. Given the crucial role of content, it’s vital to employ multiple content creation strategies to stay ahead on social media. These strategies can simplify content creation, produce more reusable content, enhance engagement, and free up more time for you to focus on running your business.

    Clarifying Content Creation

    To clarify, content generally refers to anything you post on your social media profiles, website, or newsletter. However, I don’t support the practice of collecting and publishing other people’s content on your business pages. Sharing other people’s content does not tell your unique brand story; it highlights someone else’s. When I mention content, I mean the content you create to tell your story on your social media profiles. This includes posts for stories, short-form video content, photo content, custom GIFs, and blogs

    Documentation Instead of Creation

    Gary Vaynerchuk often gets credit for this approach, as he bases his social media strategy on documenting his life instead of creating content. He frequently records his day-to-day business activities and shares them as content. Gary discusses this content creation strategy on his blog. He isn’t spending time specifically creating content; instead, he’s going about his daily activities, and the content essentially creates itself. While you may not think your life and job are entertaining, everyone loves a behind-the-scenes look.

    Why it works:

    • Authenticity: It provides a genuine glimpse into your daily life.
    • Huge time saver: You create great content for stories and informal posts without extra effort.
    • Increased frequency: This approach allows you to show up more frequently on social media.

    Challenges:

    • Consistency: Remembering to set up a recording device or take photos can be tricky.
    • Engagement: Not everyone has as exciting a life as Gary Vaynerchuk, but authenticity still resonates with audiences.

    Utilizing User-Generated Content

    This content creation strategy is doubly valuable because it not only eliminates the need for you to create content but also surprises and delights your customers. Additionally, sharing user-generated content serves as social proof, aka “hey look your peers like me and you should too!”

    Here’s how it typically works: a customer purchases something from you, loves it, and creates a post showcasing the item while raving about its features or benefits. They tag you in their post, and to make them feel special while showing others how great your product is, you share their content on your social media profiles (with proper permission, of course). We explore the concept of user-generated content in more detail in this blog post.

    Why it works:

    • Efficiency: The user has already created the content.
    • Authenticity: Highlights real-life use of your product.
    • Social Proof: Demonstrates that others enjoy your product.

    Challenges:

    • Strategy: You need a plan to encourage user-generated content.
    • Monitoring: You must keep an eye out for content to share. 
     

    Breaking Down Your Blog

    How many pieces of engaging content do you think you can pull from a single blog post? You might be surprised by how much you can create from a well-written blog. I once worked with a group of content creators, and we managed to break down a single blog post into 100 pieces of unique and informative social media content. By spacing this content out over a few weeks, you can have a significant portion of your educational posts prepared well in advance. I discuss this strategy in detail in this blog post. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.

    Why it works:

    • Efficiency: You already have the content, knowledge, and often photos for the posts.

    Challenges:

    • Initial Effort: You need to write a comprehensive blog.
    • Variety: Relying solely on this tactic can make your content feel repetitive over time.
     

    Live Video Content

    Overcoming the fear of doing live videos was one of my biggest challenges. If I hadn’t virtually met Eve Voyevoda a few years ago at an event organized by Melanie Richards, I might still be intimidated by this medium. However, once you conquer that hurdle, the value of live video is incredible. Live video is one of the best ways to present yourself authentically on social media, showcasing your unique quirks and laid-back vibe, which encourages others to connect with you. By creating content that highlights your personality and adds value to your audience, you can also save time!

    Why it works:

    • Connection: It’s one of the best ways to create a genuine connection with your audience.
    • Engagement: Enables live interaction.
    • Efficiency: Saves time.

    Challenges:

    • Overcoming Fear: Getting comfortable with live video.
    • Content Creation: Developing content that has both value and personality.

    The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Content Creation Strategy

    You already have great content that holds significant value and has been posted in some form before. Here’s how to maximize its potential:

    REDUCE: Break down long-form content into multiple short-form pieces.

    REUSE: Share content across different platforms by staggering the publication times.

    RECYCLE: Repeat your key messages and posts since people need to hear them multiple times to remember.

    REPURPOSE: Transform top-performing posts into new content formats for different platforms.

    You can also work in the opposite direction. For example, I create weekly content for my BNI group presentations, which I then use as stand-alone social media posts. This weekly content builds up to a more comprehensive presentation I give approximately every ten weeks. This presentation also forms the basis of a blog post.

    Often, I turn these presentations into monthly webinars, focusing on a critical aspect of the content. This tactic allows me to create focused social media posts around the webinar’s key elements. Additionally, I can create videos from the most engaging social media posts and blog entries. The possibilities are endless with this strategy.

    Why it works:

    • Efficiency: You’ve already done the research and created the content.
    • Expertise: You know the subject well.

    Challenges:

    • Variety: Ensuring you aren’t overly repetitive.
    • Creativity: Finding new and innovative ways to repurpose content.

    Planning Versatile Content that Presents Next Steps

    One successful but challenging content creation strategy involves testing content on your calendar with the potential to build more if it proves successful. Here’s how I make it work: During a particular week, I select three different topics that I believe my audience might want a deeper look at and create a single social media post for each. Based on the reactions to those posts, I can gauge interest in a specific topic. If there is enough interest, I create additional content on that topic, measure its success, and, if warranted, dive even deeper. This strategy led to a post on social proof evolving into a blog post, which eventually became my first webinar.

    Why it works:

    • Incremental Creation: You create content incrementally, measuring the success of each topic.
    • Engagement: You focus on topics that have already shown potential to engage your audience.

    Challenges:

    • Depth: Sometimes a deeper dive is needed.
    • Metrics: Paying close attention to metrics and creating content quickly to keep your audience engaged.

    The Take 3 Strategy for Short-Form Video

    This content strategy helps you avoid spending excessive time creating short-form videos. It’s easy to get lost in the pursuit of perfection, which is ultimately unattainable. Without setting limits, you could spend hours creating an 8-second video. To prevent this, I developed the Take 3 strategy, which allows you to record up to 3 takes for each of the 3 sections of your video, significantly reducing content creation time. We achieve this by incorporating a research and planning phase into our short-form video creation process, setting us up for efficient recording. I cover this in detail in my Signature Membership, which you can learn more about here.

    Why it works:

    • Efficiency: Prevents endless takes and saves time.
    • Acceptance: Encourages posting imperfect videos.

    Challenges:

    • Discipline: Sticking to only three takes can be tough.
    • Quality Concerns: Ensuring the video still represents your brand well.

    Collaborative Content Creation

    Many social media platforms, especially Instagram, are making collaboration easier, and it’s something we should incorporate into our strategies. There are several ways to collaborate:

    • Guest Posts: Feature content from industry experts or influencers on your profile and reciprocate by guest posting on theirs.
    • Interviews: Conduct and share interviews with thought leaders or key figures in your industry, this can be done live and even multicast to multiple platforms. 
    • Partnered Posts: Create a post together that is shared on both profiles, discussing a topic relevant to both audiences.

    Collaborative posts are beneficial because they help you reach a new audience.

    Why it works:

    • Efficiency: Splitting the workload.
    • Exposure: Getting in front of a new audience.

    Challenges:

    • Coordination: Aligning timelines and aesthetics.
    • Effort: May require additional work.

    Content is the Key to Success on Social

    If content is the key to success on social media, then these strategies are your roadmap to mastering it. Experiment with them all, mix and match to see what resonates best with your style, story, and audience. If you want to learn more about these content creation strategies or how to build a plan that leads to social media success, reach out to Jonathan directly. You can also join us in the Signature Membership. 

  • Time Saver 2: 30 Days of Content From One Photoshoot

    Time Saver 2: 30 Days of Content From One Photoshoot

    Content Creation Time Saver 2: Creating a Ton of Content in One Day

    We previously discussed how to break down your blog to create weeks of content. For this Time Saver we are focusing on our next content creation time saver: How to Get 30 Days or More of Content from a Single Photoshoot. I perfected this tactic while working in DC with Career Coach Lea Berry and have been using it ever since—a major win! You can see some of the results from her photoshoots here.

    For many businesses, hiring a photographer is a worthwhile expense, especially for those creating content for social media. To make the most of this investment, plan to get as much content as possible from the photoshoot. Our second content creation time saver will help you plan your photoshoot and maximize the number of usable shots. While each of us creates content differently and has unique needs, the following ideas can be applied universally.

    Steps to Maximize Your Photoshoot

    1. Review Your Schedule of Posts
    2. Research
    3. Plan
    4. Schedule Time
    5. Execute
    6. Hustle
    7. Expect the Unexpected and Roll With It

    Review Your Schedule of Posts

    Start by reviewing your content calendar. Identify the promotions, blog posts, and campaigns you have planned for the upcoming month. Visualize the photos you need for these campaigns and begin researching ways to capture those shots. Pinterest can be an excellent resource for inspiration. Although I’m not a frequent user, I keep inspiration boards for different types of photoshoots. Printing out the shots you like and using them on your storyboard can help as you dive deeper into planning the photoshoot.

    After Reviewing Scheduled Posts

    Identify any gaps in your schedule and plan how to fill them. I usually recommend planning and scheduling 70% of your content in advance, leaving 25-30% for flexibility, current topics, event photos, etc. Scheduling 70% in advance while allowing for flex space lets you remain timely without scrambling to post daily. However, some months you may only need 10-15% of flex content, so always plan additional posts just in case. Treat them as your B-roll—your security blanket for when all else fails.

    Research Concepts, Locations, and Shots

    Now that you have identified the campaigns and posts you need photos for, it’s time to research concepts, locations, and shots. Scour Pinterest for ideas and inspirational images that align with your brand. Once you have gathered these inspirational images, start looking for suitable locations. I maintain a list of potential sites and use Google Maps to pin places that might work for future shoots. My Google Map, titled “Potential Photoshoots,” helps me keep a running list of locations and quickly decide how to group sites for a cohesive and productive shoot.

    Not Too Crazy, Not Too Bland

    When planning your concepts and locations, strike a balance. Avoid overly complicated setups that are hard to complete in the time available, but be creative enough to keep your content fresh throughout the month. Vary your outfits to add visual interest to the shots. Remind your photographer of the purpose of the images, ensuring they know all the photos are for the same month. This way, they might suggest additional shots or remind you to switch things up during the shoot.

    Finalize Your Plan

    For those who feature themselves in their Instagram feeds or are lifestyle bloggers, these next steps might differ slightly. Since I am not in most of my shots, I select three general locations and review must-have and secondary shots within those areas. Here’s an example from my last content creation day in New York City:

    • Hudson Yards
      • Must-Have Shots: The surrounding neighborhood and The Vessel
      • Secondary Shots: The Shed and Hudson Yards Buildings
    • DUMBO, Brooklyn
      • Must-Have Shots: The iconic shot under the overpass and surrounding neighborhood
      • Secondary Shots: Architectural details and bikes
    • Brooklyn Bridge Park During Golden Hour
      • Must-Have Shots: The sunset with views towards NYC
      • Secondary Shots: Weather-dependent

    Once the plan is finalized, work on scheduling and execution. Consult your train schedule and plan your route using Google Maps. For my NYC shoot, I knew I needed to Uber from Hudson Yards to Brooklyn to have enough time to explore and capture all the desired shots.

    The Execution

    You have your shots and locations picked out, and the theme of each shot is clear. Your photographer has the inspiration images. For my last trip to NYC, I stapled a bunch of my inspiration shots, directions, and must-see areas together and put them in my bag for reference. I recommend doing the same and providing a copy to your photographer in advance. Now, it’s time for the execution!

    The Clothing for Your Photoshoot

    Wait, even I need to plan what I’m going to wear for each shot. If you are in most of your photos, this is even more important. I recommend three main looks that can be quickly changed up with layers and accessories. For example, start with a skirt, top, blazer, and chunky necklace. After several photos, remove the blazer, then later change the necklace and add earrings. Go for easy but dramatic changes. Scarves are another favorite accessory for this reason.

    Another consideration is non-generic stock photos. I had a client who did daily prompts and we always struggled to find the right free stock photos. During her photoshoots, she would bring different supplies and while she changed at each location, I would take stock photos for her to use. It made posting those prompts simpler. So, think about your needs and prepare for them.

    Now, It Is Time to Hustle

    You’ve completed the planning and arrived at your first location. Your photographer is ready, and you’ve reviewed the plan. Now it’s time to hustle. You’ve packed your day (or hours) with your photographer and need to create your content for the month. Stay focused, stick to the schedule, and get the shots! When you arrive at each location, gather everything you need for the shots and change into your planned outfit.

    First, get the essential shots at each location—these are the shots you cannot do without. If you stay on schedule, then proceed to take the secondary shots. This strategy ensures you cover your 2-3 locations and get the necessary images. If you’re running behind, skip the secondary shots and move to the next location. Drink water, stay focused, wear comfy shoes between locations, and don’t rush. Rinse. Repeat!

    Flexibility Is Key

    Planning and sticking to the plan is crucial, but flexibility and adaptability are equally important. You never know what opportunities might arise. During my last trip to NYC, my schedule included three locations. However, while walking past the Empire State Building, a kind gentleman handed me a free ticket because he couldn’t use it. After verifying it was real, I decided to take the opportunity. This meant arriving at Hudson Yards a bit later, but it was worth it. By the end of the day, I had gathered enough content for the month, even though I forgot my backup battery for the camera. I was okay with skipping the sunset at the Brooklyn Bridge.

    And Done

    By the end of a day like this, you’ll be tired, no doubt. It’s hard work, but you’ve made the most out of your day and will have some outstanding images to show for it. The best part is you only need to do this once a month to get the images you need. The more you do it, the more photos you’ll have for social media. Good social media images and videos are key to better engagement, so this strategy will pay off and make your social media life much easier!

  • Establishing Yourself As An Expert On Social Media

    Establishing Yourself As An Expert On Social Media

    Updated May 2024

    Establishing Your Expertise with EDUTAINING Content

    One of the key strategies for businesses on social media is to provide EDUTAINING—Educational, Useful, or Entertaining content. This type of content engages your audience and helps establish you and your business as an expert in your field. But why is it so important to position yourself as an expert on social media?

    Why Establish Your Expertise

    People trust experts because they believe experts know what they’re doing. Building this trust is crucial for growing your audience on social media. Providing content that adds value and engages your audience is the best way to create momentum and grow your business. Here are some ways to start establishing your expertise:

    • Offer Useful Tools: Share tools and resources that your audience will find beneficial.
    • Answer Questions: Engage with your audience by answering their questions.
    • Provide Solutions:Solutions to common problems your audience faces.

    These actions help position you as a valuable resource.

    The Importance of Providing Value

    Providing value is a significant step in becoming an expert—someone your audience likes, knows, and trusts. When seen as an expert, your audience will turn to you first for information on a subject. Focusing on delivering valuable content and answering questions, rather than just promoting your business, helps your audience view you as a resource, not just a salesperson.

    Tailoring Your Content

    Every business is different, and your niche will help you determine what types of content will be most beneficial to your followers. To better understand what your audience values, consider surveying your clients. Ask them directly what content they want to see from you.

    By consistently providing EDUTAINNG content, you engage your audience and establish your credibility and expertise, making your business the go-to resource in your field.

    Examples of Expert Content

    As the Regional Social Media Coordinator for BNI Hudson Valley, I develop the monthly content calendar for the organization. This calendar provides each chapter with specific types of posts to focus on and includes important themes for the month. With the holiday season approaching, we’re enlisting the help of member businesses to establish themselves as experts by providing valuable content and answering questions within their areas of expertise.

    To illustrate how we can all engage with our audience, I assigned each member of my BNI Chapter a specific topic. They were tasked with creating content on that topic from November 1 to New Year’s. By doing this, BNI highlights the talent within each chapter and positions itself as a valuable resource for its audience.

    How This Applies to You

    You might not be a BNI member, and your business might not be included in the examples, but this approach is still valuable to you. Use this as inspiration to brainstorm types of content your business can provide to its audience. Consider your services, values, and seasonal focus. Look at what people are searching for in your niche. What questions are your clients or customers asking? Create content that answers those questions and showcases your expertise.

    Establishing Yourself as an Expert: Content Examples

    Below are examples of content types based on the expertise of BNI members. These examples focus on the holiday season, but businesses can tailor their content to their specific focus at other times of the year. For instance, during the holidays, an accountant might write a blog post titled, “5 Things to Avoid Spending Money on This Holiday,” whereas, at other times, they might focus on “What You Need to Know About the Looming S-Corp Deadline.” It’s perfectly fine to adjust your style to reach a broader audience with educational posts, especially during certain seasons.

    • Health and Wellness Coach, Healthy Eating Options this Thanksgiving.
    • Computer Services, Avoid Falling Victim to Black Friday Scams.
    • Business Financial Services, Holiday/ End of Year Benefits for Employees.
    • Individual Financial Services, How to Not Go Broke This Holiday.
    • Social Media/Graphic Design, 5 Tips to Sleigh Your Social Media Campaigns This Holiday.
    • Cleaning and Restoration, Plan for A Cozy Holiday Instead of A Wet and Soggy One.
    • Insurance, Snow Birds and Their Insurance Policies.
    • Computer & Website Development, How to Update Your Google My Business Page for the Holidays.
    • Real Estate, How Closing on Your New Home in December Can Help Keep The Inlaws Away.
    • Booze Expert, Best Holiday Booze.
    • Financial Services, Financial Health Check-Up for the New Year 

    Key for Success

    You are not directly promoting your business or service when establishing yourself as an expert. You are providing your audience with useful information that is “company agnostic.” Providing this valuable information to your audience is an excellent way for them to get to know you and your area of expertise. It helps build relationships and allows you to earn their trust. Pushing your product or service takes away these benefits.

  • Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with These 9 Tips

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with These 9 Tips

    Are You Ready to LevelUp

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 with these 9 Tips!

    The Role of Planning

    As I have said before, content is king, consistency is queen, and when you take control of these two things with a little bit of planning, you will be amazed at the things you will have time to do. All 9 of these strategies and tips help build a solid foundation for all of your social media platforms. You will be able to expand upon as you master each tactic. We are all on this journey together, some have leveled up already, others are working on solidifying the foundation. But we are all learning, and I hope these tips help you build a robust yet flexible presence on social media that allows you to be responsive to trends while expanding your reach and growing your business. So, let us jump in!

    Set Goals and Define Your KPIs

    Want to Level Up Your Social Media in 2020, then you must define what Leveling Up looks like for you. What are the Key Performance Indicators used to measure if you are reaching that goal? Make sure that you assign the proper metrics to your goals and understand what a positive outcome would look like for this goal. Need help understanding social media metrics before you set these goals? My go-to tool is the SproutSocial.com blog, when I am looking for information on metrics. I have this blog post bookmarked for reference.

    Without these goals and our ability to measure them utilizing the metrics, we have no way of defining success or failure. Without goals, how do we know what we are hoping to accomplish? Set goals for your social media and clearly define success. Share these goals with your team, so everyone is on the same page and working towards the same thing. Review the metrics regularly and share your findings with your team. Encourage feedback.

    Have A Plan

    Having a plan for your content is one of the best ways to save time, focus on engagement, and Level Up your social media profiles. If you are not planning your content chances are you are spending too much time reinventing the social media wheel.

    Set Your Goals

    Set a goal for yourself. How much content are you planning now? Increase that by 20% over the next 2 months. In four months aim to increase your current percentage by 50%. Work your way up to having approximately 75% of your content/posts planned across your platforms with approximately 25% free per platform to flex current events, and other spur of the moment content in as needed. This makes sure your content always feels fresh and current.

    Create the Plan

    Review and Utilize the 9 Essential Posts framework from JRH Graphics to ensure that you are providing your followers with varied content that speaks to them. This tool also helps you not exceed 20% of posts being promotional material. I utilize it during every step of my content calendar planning process. Along with the 9 Essential Posts, we use the Macro, Meso, Micro planning process for creating a content calendar like the one we discussed in this post.

    Overview of The Planning Steps

    First, we look at the big picture, including all holidays, promotions that will anniversary, and significant themes that will repeat from last year. We usually complete the macro step either quarterly or do it at the start of the year and revisit each month to be sure we are not missing anything. After the macro level, we move onto the meso step, which is where we review the monthly themes, the events we are planning, any major product launches, etc. This step is where we lay down the ideas for the posts, types of posts we wish to include in campaigns, and make high-level plans for creative needed. The final step is the micro-step, which is a task completed every week. During micro-planning, you lay in the content for your posts and set them to go in your scheduling tool.

    The Benefits

    Thisw process allows you to have a plan for your year, month and weeks and provides you with a structure within which to post. While you may not have the specifics of every post pre-entered you know what you will be posting which relieves the, “OMG what do I post today stress.” This process along with my Breaking Down the Blog strategy which I will discuss in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle section also allows me to have blog posts scheduled out almost a year in advance.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Engaging

    Did I hear you complain about not having an engaged audience? Whose fault is that? Oh, so you responded to the “thumbs up” you got on your photo of your breakfast this morning? That thumbs-up was engagement for that member of your audience. If you did not respond, you know what you are saying? You just told that member of your audience that YOU DON’T CARE. And if you don’t care, then why would they continue to engage. The worst part, you are saying that publically and everyone can see it. That is not going to help you Level Up your social media this year.

    In Order to Level Up in 2020

    In order to Level Up Your Social Media you need to engage the people that are already engaging you in the way that you want them to be involved. Need words as comments, then when you get a thumbs up, respond with, “Thank you, I am so glad you liked this post” or “Thanks for liking this post, what was it that spoke to you?” And when you engage with your followers like this, you are publically saying, “THANKS FOR ENGAGING, I LOVE YOU GUYS!” The act of engaging with your audience makes your audience more likely to participate in the future. So at a minimum, acknowledge the likes, respond to comments, and always respond to DMs.

    Bonus Pro Move

    Depending on the situation, because you don’t want to be creepy, engage with them on their profiles. If they have a business page, comment there. All engagement is beneficial, and showing a follower that you are willing to take the time to engage them in their playground shows how great you are. As they comment back, watch what they do.

    Do they ask a question? Are they commenting back in more than four words? Watch what they do and engage again in that way. By the way, why is it four words? Because four words are what it takes for Instagram to recognize the comment as content-rich.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Being Human

    Being human shouldn’t be hard. After all, you are a human, so it should be easy to portray yourself as a human on your social media. That is your first mistake. Instead of describing yourself as something, you must be who you are, not anyone else. When Lea Berry and I discussed authenticity earlier in 2019, authenticity was starting to get overused as a buzzword. As this year has progressed, the tolerance for inauthentic brands has almost wholly disappeared. Authenticity will continue as a trend in 2020. The only way to capture an audience is by showing the ups and downs, the real emotions, the struggles, and the fantastic and unexpected successes. Gone are the days of nameless CEOs, and brands without a story and social consciousness.

    Your Winning Story

    At JRH Graphics, we believe stories are the most powerful tool in any companies marketing toolkit. Your winning story is authentic; it has an emotional hook, can capture an audience and convince them to go along on this ride with you. We believe that stories are part of what makes us human, and that is why a simple story can inspire action and produce change. Stories are what make JRH Graphics different. Let us help you tell your winning story!

    Content Creation Can Be Hard

    We certainly know that content creation can be hard. The number one question we get at JRH Graphics is, “How can I create better content in less time?” While hacks and shortcuts are certainly available, you still need to put in the work with social media. There is no magic bullet. But what are you doing right now? Is it related to your business? Could it be “B roll” content, aka something you put in stories?

    Document Don’t Create

    Gary V. is famous because of this. He is always documenting what he is doing and putting that out as content because it is. Not only that, but everybody loves a peek behind the curtain. They want to see how things happen, what life is like, and what struggles a business faces. These posts are not the pretty perfect Instagram feed content that everyone knows is inauthentic now.

    Welcome to the life of an entrepreneur, you can’t be afraid to show the real you. Behind the scenes content is key, document what you are doing. It is one of the best, no short cut, short cuts I can give you. And it will help you level up your social media in 2020!

    Use Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Concept to Level Up Your Social Media

    Reduce the time you spend creating content by reusing content like blog posts and recycling content and redistributing it in another format.

    Reuse

    Your long format videos, blog posts, and webinars can all be broken down into smaller tips and points and distributed on their own with a link tyong them back to the larger piece. I discuss best practices for this process at length in this post. In many cases I am able to get over 10 viable social media posts from a blog allowing me to schedule educational content out for many many weeks. You have already done the hard work creating these pieces of content, make sure you get the most out of them.

    Recycle

    It is true you can’t magically create a movie from a blog post but you can utilize the research and points you made in that blog post to deliver a video. Look at how you could expand on a point you made or take a deeper dive on a concept. Recently, I turned a 9 post story into a series of 9 Live Videos that discuss different strategies for Leveling Up Your Social Media in 2020. These 9 story posts and videos are the basis of a blog post that dives a bit deeper into these tips. Finally, this blog post will be turned into a webinar that shows people how to utilize the tools and strategies discussed and provides them with practical solutions to common problems.

    Level Up Your Social Media by Creating More Content Your Followers Want

    Utilize the 9 Essential posts to create varied content and then build on the successes of your top-performing ones by utilizing the Rule of 3 for Social Media. The Rule of 3 for social media allows you to apply a more scientific way to measure why a post is successful, as seen on the worksheet to the left. You change one aspect of the content at a time, leaving the other two points and see how it performs. I explain it in the video below.

    Understanding Your Metrics

    To make sense of what your existing content is telling you about your audience, you need to be able to understand your metrics. Most social media platforms have metrics built-in, and they are handy to start. As your campaigns and presence on social media expands, you will probably want to invest in a third-party app to measure your social media success. Also, if you need help understanding your metrics, I recommend utilizing the SproutSocial Blog as your go-to research tool. I have regularly referred to the blog post, All The Social Media Metrics That Matter

    Level Up with More Video Content in 2020

    If you want to Level Up your social media in 2020, you will need to create more video content. From Live Videos to more extended form videos, you must create videos for social in 2020. Not only are videos the most engaging form of content, but most of the platforms are prioritizing videos as well. Video is going to need to be a part of your plan for social media for the long haul.

    Instead of Making Excuses, Make Videos

    I have made all the excuses. I created lots of stories as to why my brand was different and didn’t need to include video content right up until this year. It wasn’t until I started losing followers at a terrifyingly fast pace that I accepted that I needed to add more video content in my campaigns. Even then, I avoided Live videos because I was sure nobody wanted to see me go live. Well, I will admit it here. I was wrong. (It’s okay nobody will read this far anyway). I was wrong about not needing to include video. I was wrong about not needing to go Live. In the past two months, I have moved further into creating videos, and for the first time in 10 months, I have had almost three weeks of having gained not LOST followers on all platforms. The key is to show up on your social media where people are and in the way that they are consuming content. Take it from me, stop making excuses, and start making videos.

    Level Up Your Social Media in 2020 by NOT Selling on Social

    Businesses fail when they view social media as a selling platform. Community is the basis of social media, and those of us on there selling are in enemy territory. So instead of marketing on social media, level up by providing value to your followers. Build up your reputation as an educator. People need to be able to like, know, and trust you before they make a purchase. Add value to your audience by answering questions they may have, and by providing content that is value-rich and solves real problems, your ideal client is facing. Establish yourself as an expert on social media, and position yourself as the first person to go to if a member of your audience has a question. Eight of every ten posts should provide value to your audience and not sell, especially as you begin establishing yourself and your company. Your CTA in these educational, value-adding posts should ask what else you can provide to help them. You will become the resource your audience can trust, and with trust eventually comes sales.

    It is Time to Level Up Your Social Media

    Win big in 2020 by applying these strategies on your social media platforms. Each strategy helps you build a solid foundation to build upon. 2020 is going to be the most social year yet, so get the most out of your social media and build your following. You got this!