Tag: improve your social

  • The Ultimate Vibe Check: 5 Key Components of Your Signature Style

    The Ultimate Vibe Check: 5 Key Components of Your Signature Style

    5 Key Components of Your Signature Style

    ave you ever felt like your online presence was just a little off— if your brand feels scattered you may be missing one or more of the five key components of your Signature Style. So today is the perfect time to focus on a brand vibe check.

    Five key components of your Signature Style help you create memorable vibes across your online footprint: content, strategy, personality, stories, and visuals. Your signature style is the perfect harmony of all these elements, working together to captivate your audience.

    Are you ready to get your brand in sync?

    1. Content: The Main Component of Your Signature Style

    Why It Matters
    Content is how you communicate your ideas, passions, and values. Whether you’re writing a blog post, creating Reels, or whipping up captions for Instagram, your content should always reflect your unique perspective.

    How to Nail It

    • Share knowledge that truly helps your audience.
    • Use a consistent tone (friendly, professional, sassy—whatever screams you).
    • Experiment with formats—blogs, videos, infographics—to keep your feed fresh and engaging.

    Bonus Tip: Align your content with your “vibe check” keywords (like “empowering,” “energetic,” “chill,” etc.) so your posts always feel like you.

    2. Strategy: The Roadmap for Consistency

    Why It Matters
    You can’t just wing it 24/7. Strategy is how you plan, schedule, and streamline your presence so you’re not randomly posting at midnight on a Thursday (unless that’s your jam).

    How to Nail It

    • Use your content calendar. to plan out your yearly, monthly and weekly posts. Check out how to use a Content Calendar from this blog post.
    • Set goals—are you aiming for engagement, brand awareness, or direct sales?
    • Keep an eye on analytics so you can see what’s working and pivot when needed.

    Bonus Tip: A solid strategy ensures you’re not burning out or overthinking. You always know your next move, which keeps your brand vibe consistent.

    3. Personality: The Soul of Your Signature Style

    Why It Matters
    Personality is everything. It’s the difference between being just another coach online and being that coach everybody wants to follow. When you show off your quirks, humor, and realness, you attract the right people.

    How to Nail It

    • Embrace your “weirdness” (it’s what makes you memorable!).
    • Tell personal stories that let people see the real you.
    • Use language you’d actually use in real life—no need to be stiff or overly formal if that’s not who you are.

    Bonus Tip: If you’re worried about “oversharing,” keep it relevant to your audience. Being real on social media doesn’t mean telling your entire life story—it means showing up as you.

    4. Stories: The Component of Your Signature Style That Builds Connection

    Why It Matters
    Stories connect us on a human level. Sharing the why behind your coaching business, the how behind your services, or even small personal anecdotes helps you stand out in a sea of generic content. You are the only person that has your story to share, lean into that.

    How to Nail It

    • Weave mini-stories into your captions and blog posts.
    • Talk about your own transformations and lessons learned.
    • Use client success stories (with permission) to highlight real-life impact.

    Bonus Tip: Everyone loves a good underdog or origin story. When you open up, you give your audience a reason to root for you—and remember you.

    5. Visuals: The Eye-Catching “Wow” Factor

    Why It Matters
    We’re all scrolling at lightning speed, so visuals matter big time. Whether it’s your color palette, fonts, or photography style, it sets the mood before people even read a single word.

    How to Nail It

    • Identify a visual component for your brand.
    • Stick to a consistent color scheme that reflects your brand vibe.
    • Use similar filters or editing styles on photos and Reels.
    • Keep your graphics clean and on-brand (think about fonts, spacing, and logos).

    Bonus Tip: Quality over quantity—your feed doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should look cohesive. That’s how you become instantly recognizable.

    Putting It All Together: The Brand Vibe Check

    Now that you know the five key components of your signature style, content, strategy, personality, stories, and visuals—let’s do a quick vibe check. 

    1. Define Your Core Brand Keywords

    Think of three to five words describing the emotions you want your audience to feel when interacting with your brand. Examples:

    • Empowering
    • Playful
    • Calming
    • Bold
    • Sophisticated
    • Strong
    • Disruptive

    Jot these down and keep them in your back pocket as you move through your content. They will act as your guardrails!

    2. Audit Your Current Look

    Now that you’ve got your keywords, do a quick sweep of your platforms. Look at your:

    • Instagram Feed: Are the colors cohesive? Do they match your vibe keywords?
    • Website or Blog: Is the font consistent and easy to read? Does the tone match the feeling you want to convey?
    • Profile Picture and Logo: Are they up-to-date and relevant to the vibe you’re going for?

    Does everything seem to line up? If something feels off, trust your gut—it probably needs a refresh.

    3. Curate Your Brand Vibe Board

    A vibe board is like a vision board’s cooler cousin. It’s a collection of colors, patterns, images, and words visually representing your brand vibe. Platforms like Pinterest, Canva, or even a PowerPoint deck will help you stay organized. Think of it as a cheat sheet that says, “This is what my brand should look and feel like.” But you need to make sure that it does which brings us to the next step of our brand vibe check.

    4. Review the Components of Your Signature Style 

    1. Content: Are my posts resonating with my ideal audience? Do they reflect my vibe words (like “playful,” “empowering,” or “soulful”)?
    2. Strategy: Do I have a posting plan, or am I always winging it?
    3. Personality: Could someone read my captions and say, “Oh my god, that’s so me”?
    4. Stories: Am I sharing the why behind my work to forge deeper connections?
    5. Visuals: Does my feed have a cohesive look that instantly signals “This is my brand”?

    If you locate spots that could use some work, great work on those to level up your Signature Style.

    5. Update Your Bio & About Pages

    Don’t skip the most basic real estate: your bio and about pages. These are prime spots to show off that new and improved brand vibe. Use your keywords, reflect your personality, and speak directly to your target audience. Make them feel at home from the second they land on your page.

    6. Check-In Regularly

    Brands evolve just like people do. Schedule a quarterly brand vibe check to ensure everything is still in sync. It’s a lot easier to tweak small things along the way than to do a massive rebrand a year later.

    Brand Vibe Bonus Tips

    • Stay Inspired: Follow creators or brands that share a similar vibe (no copying, though!).
    • Mix It Up: Experiment with new formats—Reels, carousels, live videos—to keep your content fresh.
    • Ask for Feedback: Your audience often sees your brand more clearly than you do. Poll them and see what words they’d use to describe you.

    Ready for a deeper dive? If you feel like your brand vibe could use a serious makeover, book a Signature Style Audit. We will pinpoint exactly where you’re rocking it, where you’re stuck, and how to bring all five components together in a way that’s 100% you—no cookie-cutter vibe.

    Let’s Get It

    Think of your signature style as the harmony between five key components: content, strategy, personality, stories, and visuals. All these elements work together to create a cohesive experience for your audience—one that’s consistent, memorable, and unmistakably you. So if your brand needs a little tune-up, you know where to start. Go let your brilliance shine in every post, story, and swipe!

  • Stop Hacking, Start Creating

    Stop Hacking, Start Creating

    Hacks Are Not The Answer


    Stop Chasing Social Media Hacks: When What Actually Works in Content Creation

    If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “best Instagram strategies for 2025” or scrolling endlessly through videos promising “the one secret to growing your audience overnight,” this post is for you. Also, this post may hurt, because the magic isn’t in hacks, trends, or quick fixes. It’s in the work you do day after day, showing up for your audience and improving over time. One step, one post, one lesson at a time.

    Let’s cut through the noise and talk about what actually works when it comes to content creation—and no, it doesn’t involve buying yet another course or following the latest viral trend.

    Why Hacks and Trends Won’t Build a Sustainable Strategy

    Hacks and trends promise quick results, but they rarely deliver long-term growth. Why? Because they’re often built around gaming a system that’s constantly changing. Just a heads up the algorithm and those people that work at places like Instagram, they know what you are doing before you know what you are doing. So a successful hack one day is a failed account the next. Then add in all the variables that exist on your account and nobody elses. Stop trying to beat the system and do the work needed to work with the system.

    Content creation isn’t about outsmarting Instagram or TikTok—it’s about connecting with your audience, building trust, and providing value. That takes time and consistency, not shortcuts. So, what should you focus on instead? Four key aspects that will lead to success with your content creation.

    Four Key Aspects of Content Creation


    Create Content Regularly (Even If It’s Not Perfect)

    Consistency beats perfection every time. Why? Because every piece of content you create is a chance to learn, connect, and grow your audience. Every piece of content should have a goal and no matter how it performs it reveals something about your audience.

    Here’s how to make consistency manageable:

    • Choose What You Want to Create Start with 2-3 one should be the content that you love to create the most (think of it as a reward for actually doing the thing) and the other needs to be the type of content that your audience loves to consume
    • Set a realistic schedule. You don’t need to post daily—3 times a week is enough to build momentum. Commit to your consistency and have your audience hold you accountable.
    • Repurpose like a pro. Turn a blog post into a carousel. Chop up a live session into Reels. A single idea can fuel multiple posts.

    Remember: Your audience isn’t looking for perfect—they’re looking for helpful, relatable, and consistent.


    Experiment With Formats, Styles, and Messaging

    The best way to figure out what works for your audience? Test, test, and test some more. Think of yourself as a content scientist, running experiments to see what resonates. If you haven’t tested it for yourself you have no idea if it is a good strategy for you. I recommend up to 20% of your content at any given time should be experimental.

    Inside my Signature Membership I teach the Rule of 3 when it comes to experimenting with content creation, and it is a bit more complex than it sounds but what you want to remember is that you want to always iterate off a proven success. Here are some things you can do when experimenting

    • Mix up your formats. Post a mix of videos, text-based posts, carousels, and infographics to see what grabs attention. Try to always post one video a week at least.
    • Try different tones. Alternate between storytelling, educational, and conversational posts.
    • Play with CTAs. Ask for comments, saves, shares—see what drives engagement.

    And don’t forget to review the results! Your analytics will tell you what’s working, so you can do more of that and less of what’s not.


    Learn From Experience (Not Just Data)

    Data is a powerful tool, but it’s not the only teacher. Your own experience and intuition are just as valuable.

    Here’s how to reflect on your content:

    • Ask yourself questions. After each post, think:
      • Did this feel aligned with my signature style?
      • Did it spark engagement or conversation?
      • What would I tweak next time?
    • Embrace the “flops.” A post that doesn’t perform isn’t a failure—it’s feedback. Use it to refine your approach.

    Over time, you’ll develop a better sense of what works for your unique audience.


    Focus on Building Trust, Not Just Followers

    Followers are nice, but trust is what actually builds a loyal community. And trust comes from showing up as your real (yeah, I said it) self. Show up on your profile, in lives, in the comments, on other peoples pages. The more you show up the more relationships you build. And relationships are the foundation of a successful business.

    Here’s how to create connection:

    • Show your face. People connect with people, not logos. Don’t be afraid to hop on Stories or share a behind-the-scenes moment.
    • Share your “why.” Let your audience in on your mission, your struggles, and what drives you.
    • Engage meaningfully. Respond to comments, answer DMs, and create content that feels like a conversation.

    The more consistent and genuine you are, the more trust you’ll earn—and that’s what leads to lasting growth.


    Why Consistency Beats Hacks Every Time

    At the end of the day, content creation is a long game. Hacks might give you a quick spike, but consistency is what builds a foundation for sustainable success. Here’s why this approach works:

    • You build a deeper connection with your audience over time.
    • You get better at creating content simply by doing it.
    • You develop a clear understanding of what works for your brand.

    Ready to Get to Work?

    The next time you’re tempted to chase the latest trend or hack, remember this: the magic isn’t in a secret strategy or a perfect post. It’s in the work you do, day after day, to show up, create, and connect. Remember Posted is better than PERFECT!

    So, what’s one thing you can commit to this week to level up your content game? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to cheer you on.


  • Social Media 2025: Content Changes Keep On Coming

    Social Media 2025: Content Changes Keep On Coming

    Ready for a wild ride? Because social media is evolving faster than my four-year old nephew on a sugar high, and trust me—2025 is set to be the year you’ll want to remember.

    Right now, the platforms you’ve come to know and love (or love to hate) are changing, and so are your audiences. The good news? This new era is loaded with opportunities to stand out, connect deeply, and scale your coaching biz like never before.

    Ready to get ahead of the curve? Let’s dive into the specifics, tools, and tactics that’ll help you dominate 2025.

    Edutainment: Teach Them Something and Make It Fun

    Data Speaks:

    • 66% of users prefer “edutainment” as the most engaging form of brand content.
    • Nearly half of social users (48%) have increased their interactions with brands over the last six months.

    Why It Works:
    What do you use social media for when you get home at night? Many use it to find something to take their mind off their day, something that makes them laugh, something you can send to all the girls and say, “look thats us.” That is the content that is working.

    But if your content screams “boredom,” they’ll swipe away faster than you can say, “Next!” Enter edutainment, your golden ticket to feed their brains and make ’em smile. Think of it as a masterclass that’s also a stand-up comedy routine. Give them the goods, but keep it light.

    How to Adapt:

    • Be Relatable: Offer quick, practical tips that fit into their everyday chaos. Try a 30-second Character Reel on beating imposter syndrome where you play the coach and the client or a carousel with mindset hacks for Monday mornings.
    • Did I Mention Day in the Life: This type of content is always a win and always entertaining because people want that peek behind the curtain.
    • Show Your Personality: Sprinkle humor and show those behind-the-scenes bloopers. Authenticity is a buzzword; But your real weapon is being yourself.
    • Get Creative: Turn FAQs into fun skits, add animated text overlays, or experiment with illustrated storytelling. Don’t be afraid to go off-script—it’s the unexpected that hooks ’em.

    Short-Form Video: MVP Again in 2025

    Data Speaks:

    • Reels are still driving growth on Instagram, and speaking to the camera can help you connect with your audience.
    • TikTok continues to win hearts, especially among Gen Z and Millennials, with 54% engaging daily. However, the ban is looming so its future is unknown.

    Why It Works:
    Newsflash: attention spans are as short as a goldfish on espresso. 8-seconds is (sort of) out the window unless you capture them with something curious, unexpected, or completely odd! Short-form videos meet your audience’s need for speed. In under 30 seconds, you can intrigue, teach, and entertain. And remember from above, education is important.

    How to Adapt (and Shine):

    • Keep It Snappy: Aim for 8–20 seconds. Show a dramatic before-and-after transformation or drop a one-liner that makes them say, “Damn, I needed that.”
    • Try Speaking to Camera: This allows you to connect directly with your audience, make eye contact with your camera lens, and speak to them like you are at brunch… don’t talk down to them (they hate that).
    • Stay Consistent: One or two short-form videos a week can work wonders. Whether it’s a mini-client success story or a mindset hack, regular appearances build trust.

    Storytelling on LinkedIn: Your Professional Playground

    Data Speaks:

    • LinkedIn users crave personal stories mixed with professional advice. It is time to share your journey.
    • 67% of businesses now have a presence on LinkedIn, making it an active place for coaches to land clients.

    Why It Works:
    LinkedIn is no longer all polished résumés and corporate jargon. Your audience wants the backstory—why you do what you do, what you’ve learned, and how you’ve grown. Vulnerability shows you’re human, and humans trust humans.

    How to Adapt (and Connect):

    • Share Your Journey: Was it a career crisis or a personal “aha” moment that led you into coaching? Spill the details, showing both the struggles and the breakthroughs.
    • Celebrate Milestones: Hit 1,000 clients or launch a new program? Tell us why it matters. Give the backstory so your audience feels the victory with you. It is not about bragging so don’t post those big dollar days post the stories behind them.
    • Educate with Purpose: Whenever educating on social media, do so to get your audience to that next step. Post with a purpose.

    Micro-Virality: Big Wins in Small Circles

    Data Speaks:

    • 27% of social marketers now hop on cultural trends and memes that resonate with their niche.
    • Social listening helps pinpoint the micro-trends your specific audience is buzzing about.

    Why It Works (and what I have been saying)
    I love these moments because I have been saying this for years, and now the rest of the world is seeing what I mean! Forget virality, reach your people it is much more powerful. Gone are the days of trying to break the internet. Micro-virality means winning over a smaller, passionate segment—your people. Remember, a tight-knit crew that buys from you beats 100,000 random likes daily.

    How to Adapt (and Make Waves):

    • Stay Niche: Focus on 2–3 main themes your audience cares about—like mindset, self-care, or scaling to six figures. Don’t water yourself down by trying to be everything to everyone. That never works.
    • Trend with Intent: Hop on memes and challenges that fit your brand. Don’t force it—no one wants to see you dancing awkwardly if that’s not your thing… but if it is, well get down with yo bad self.
    • Invite Engagement: End posts with a question, like “What’s your biggest mindset hurdle this week?” Simple and direct, it sparks real conversation.

    Outbound Engagement: Another One I Have Harped On For A While Now

    Data Speaks:

    • 41% of brands are proactively commenting on others’ content.
    • Short, punchy comments (10–99 characters) drive the most engagement.

    Why It Works:
    If you’ve been lurking quietly, it’s time to step out of the shadows. Thoughtful comments on the right posts put you in front of the people who need your coaching. Think of it as networking without the awkward handshakes and stale appetizers. That is exactly what it is. Successful businesses are built on relationships, and those relationships begin by talking to people in comments on social media.

    How to Adapt (and Slay the Comment Game):

    • Follow the Right Accounts: Influencers, industry leaders, and niche hashtags are your playground. Hang out where your dream clients gather.
    • Add Value: Instead of “🔥🔥🔥” try “This tip is gold! I’d also add .” Show ’em you’re more than a pretty profile pic.
    • Be Consistent: Commit to 10 minutes a day for meaningful engagement. Your future clients will notice.

    Capturing Gen Z: Being Real is Your Key

    Data Speaks:

    • 68% of Gen Z uses TikTok for discovery, and 72% rely on Instagram for customer care.
    • Gen Z cares about you being a real ass human and values-driven brands.

    Why It Works:
    Gen Z is a no-BS crowd. They’ve grown up online, spotting fakes like a hawk spots a mouse. To win them over, show your real face, values, and humor. The realness is what it takes, so stop hiding behind branding and templates… yes I am talking to you!

    How to Adapt:

    • Show Your Values: Are you big on mental health, diversity, or sustainability? Let ’em know.
    • Use Humor: Memes, stories, or self-aware jokes—just keep it real and relevant.
    • Keep It Snappy: Stick to their go-to platforms (TikTok, Instagram) and serve up fast-paced content that respects their time.

    AI: Your New Best Friend (and here I admit I was wrong but also right)

    Data Speaks:

    • 77% of social marketers now use AI for content creation.
    • Teams using AI saw a 95% productivity boost last year.

    Why It Works:

    I have said that AI is the worst thing to ever happen to social media content in this podcast. I admit that may have been an over-exaggeration, but it’s important to remember that you need to be visible in your content. If it’s all AI, it won’t connect. Don’t let AI write your content; use it to make the process smoother. I write my posts, feed them to AI for revision, and then add my spin back in if it was stripped in the revision process. AI isn’t here to steal your thunder but to help you shine brighter. It saves time, sparks creativity, and helps you analyze what’s working. Think of AI as your digital sidekick—minus the cape.

    How to Adapt (and Make It Work for You):

    • Brainstorm Faster: Use AI to come up with some ideas, or additional ideas based on what you put in
    • Revise Better: You can use tools like ChatGPT to revise blog posts for you, and clean up your Instagram posts. Just make sure to add your personality back in.
    • Analyze Smarter: AI-powered insights show you which posts hit home and where to pivot for even better engagement.

    Build a Community That Loves You Back

    Data Speaks:

    • Facebook groups remain a powerful tool for fostering engagement.
    • LinkedIn is quickly becoming a hub for authentic professional communities.

    Why It Works:
    People crave belonging. A tight-knit community means you’re not just a “content creator” but a leader of your own mini-universe. Members become your advocates, cheerleaders, and yes—paying clients.

    How to Adapt (and Create Your Tribe):

    • Start a Group: Launch a niche Facebook or LinkedIn group. “Mindset Mastery for Coaches,” anyone?
    • Host Live Events: Hold Q&As, challenges, or coffee chats. When people feel heard and involved, they stick around.
    • Celebrate Wins: Highlight community success stories. Shoutouts and high-fives create a positive feedback loop.

    Social Listening: Your Secret Weapon

    This is a whole blog by itself, coming soon!

    Data Speaks:

    • 62% of marketers use social listening tools, making it a top strategy priority.
    • Real-time insights can boost web traffic by a whopping 35%.

    Why It Works:
    Instead of guessing what your audience wants, how about just, you know, listening? Social listening lets you be a digital detective, uncovering hot topics, pain points, and must-have insights you can use in your content.

    How to Adapt (and Eavesdrop Like a Pro):

    • Use the Right Tools: Sprout Social, Hootsuite, or Brandwatch—find your weapon of choice.
    • Spot Trends Early: If everyone’s stressing about a particular challenge, address it before they even ask.
    • Get Feedback: Poll your audience, survey them, or just ask, “What do you need help with this month?” Their answers guide your next moves.

    2025 is Your Year to Shine

    Social media in 2025 isn’t about doing all the things. It’s about doing the right things. From edutainment and storytelling to building communities and leveraging AI, the future of social is all about being human, value, and real human connection. You’ve got the strategies, you’ve got the tools—now go out there and make some magic happen. And hey, if you need a co-pilot on this journey, I’ve got your back. Together, we’ll craft a killer strategy to turn your social media presence into a revenue-driving, audience-loving powerhouse.

    So go on, superstar coach—2025 is waiting. Let’s seize it and make it our best year yet.

  • 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!

  • Using Hashtags Effectively on Social Media

    Using Hashtags Effectively on Social Media

    Using Hashtags Effectively on Social Media

    There are numerous benefits to using hashtags effectively in your social media posts. Hashtags assist in discovery. They allow your ideal clients to find you when you utilize the right hashtags. They can help you stay in touch with existing customers. You can boost a marketing campaign with a well-planned strategy around hashtags. Utilize hashtags to actively research what your competition is doing on social media as well as track current trends using hashtags. The all-mighty hashtag also helps ensure that your content shows up with similar content, which increases discovery. However, this only applies if you have a strategy and are using the right hashtags. So we will be reviewing why it is essential to use hashtags and on what platforms. The general rules when using hashtags. What types of hashtags you should use.  We will also review how you research hashtags and how to put your hashtag strategy into play.

    Why Use Hashtags?

    Remember when you used to go to the library. Before computers, you would go to a large wooden stack of drawers somewhere in the middle of the floor. When you opened the drawers, you would find thousands of cards. These cards cataloged the contents of the library and made things more manageable. #Hashtags are the card catalogs of social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. They help organize all the posts that are uploaded daily into neatly organized buckets of things that are alike. Hashtags help you quickly find something you are looking for, and they help you get noticed! Hashtags are little organizational powerhouses when appropriately utilized.

    Additionally, hashtags can also help you build your brand, build brand loyalty, and increase engagement. Since all of these things are key for businesses, we think it makes sense for you to have a comprehensive hashtag strategy.

    Additional Notes on Hashtags

    A couple quick notes on hashtags, first use hashtags that will help your audience find your content on Twitter and Instagram. Hashtags are not functional on Facebook except for the inside of groups if the group uses hashtags as a way to organize topics. When posting an update from Instagram to Facebook, make sure you clear any hashtags and check all of your @tags.  Secondly, research hashtags before using them and make sure your content belongs in the hashtag, and the hashtag is active on the platform you plan to use it on. Thirdly, the best way to research a hashtag is on the platform you wish to use it on, sure some of the apps are okay, but the most up to date and accurate info is within the platform.

    Rules to Make Your Hashtag Strategy More Effective

    If you want to have an effective hashtag strategy, there are some general rules to follow. These rules include some vital do’s and don’t like the following: Do research all the hashtags you plan on using and Don’t use hashtags that have millions of posts associated with them. Check out the full list below.

    Do These Things As Part of An Effective Hashtag Strategy

    • Create Content Specific Hashtag lists for yourself.
    • Have a brand-specific hashtag or hashtags.
    • Utilize community based hashtags. Community-based hashtags are ones that indicate a specific service, location, industry or event
    • Research the hashtags you competition is using
    • Review hashtags that influencers in your niche are using
    • Utilize hashtags that are specific to your niche
    • Use at least one hashtag in every Instagram and Twitter post
    • Research hashtags before you use them
    • Include hashtags in your content after a few line breaks or in the first comment

    Don’t Do These Things As Part of Your Effective Hashtag Strategy

    • Use the same hashtags for every post
    • Utilize hashtags that have millions of posts
    • Create a Facebook post and leave Instagram only hashtags in it
    • Use hashtags that have been banned on Instagram
    • Create a post complete with hashtags without researching the hashtags used
    • Utilize hashtags that don’t apply to your content.
    • Make your post look “spammy” by overfilling it with hashtags

    An Effective Hashtag Strategy and What Hashtags to Use

    Everyone wants to know what hashtags they should use on their social media posts, and what I have realized is they want a one size fits all answer. Unfortunately, that answer doesn’t exist. Why does it not exist? Because your content is different from everyone else’s content, and because your audience is different from everyone else’s audience. So nobody can tell you to use these 15 hashtags, and you will be successful. No app can promise you that if you put in your best hashtag, it will give you the best 20 to grow your business, it does not work like that. Instead you must research your niche and figure out the number and quantity that works best for your specific profile.

    Researching Hashtags

    The first step in researching your hashtags is to define your niche and create your customer avatar. Knowing your avatar creates a specific target for your content, therefore, making your research more accessible.

    Going Down

    Researching hashtags requires you to go down a bit of a social media rabbit hole so make sure to set a time limit, bring a pad and paper, and drop a trail of breadcrumbs so you can find your way out! Now, go onto Instagram with a singular mission of finding niche-specific hashtags. The more specific, the better as more conversation (engagement) is happening around super niche hashtags. Go to Instagram and search a fairly general hashtag in your field, look at the top posts and pick one you are attracted to and seem to match your brand aesthetic.

    Scroll down and see what other hashtags were used in the post, select one that is more specific than your original, and see what you discover on that page. After a few rounds of this, you should be arriving at some niche-specific tags and going, man, I didn’t even know somebody did (fill in the niche-specific blank). Make sure you are writing the more specific hashtags down or adding them to a custom list of tags by the theme which it goes. Whenever your timer goes off immediately remove yourself from the situation so that you don’t lose your entire day. Repeat for each one of the types of posts or themes you post.

    What you Are Looking for When Researching

    You are looking for what are often called “community hashtags” They are hashtags that target a specific service like #weddingphotographer or a product like #freshlybakedbrownies or an industry like #gasgrillassemblers. Community hashtags also can focus a particular event #memorialday5K or a particular location #NYCwinebars or even a day of the week #wateringwednesday. These are all much more specific than hashtags like #photographer #brownies. Your ideal hashtags probably sit below this level; for example, I could search #dogs, and while hunting underdogs, I discover the hashtag #puggles and quickly discover #pugglesofNY. While reviewing those tags, I find two super specific tags #pugglestruggle and #everydayimpugglin.

    Next Steps

    After researching and looking for unique niche tags you will want to double back and take a look at posts from your comphetition, industry leaders and influencers withing your area and see what hashtags they are using. Is your competition killing it on a hashtag, but they have no competition there? Is an influencer identifying an upcoming trend in a hashtag? Also, pay attention to how many hashtags, where they place them, or any other differences that could indicate a change of preference of your audience. I do not recommend doing this first because it may limit your focus, and you may not find the most exciting tags.

    Putting Your Hashtag Strategy to Work

    How to Start if Never Had A Strategy

    If you have never had a hashtag strategy and don’t have lists of hashtags you use for specific posts, you are pretty much starting from scratch. The first thing you will want to do is to create hashtag lists for each theme. Keep these in a document you can access from any location. I also recommend creating hashtag lists for specific holidays, events, and other significant occurrences. Put those particular hashtags on your content calendar. Your next step is to begin utilizing these hashtags and seeing what works.

    For each post, use a core list of hashtags specific for that content. If there are a couple of additional tags for a post you want to use add them on to that post, not into your core list. Test some posts with the hashtags in the caption after some breaks. Test others with the hashtags in the first comment. Finally, test some posts with five hashtags, some with fifteen, and some with thirty. What works best? Measure the success of each post based on the actual numbers. Not your gut feeling. Revisit each core list every few months and trim the dead weight and add new niche hashtags.

    If You Had A Hashtag Strategy Before

    If you had a hashtag strategy before and you broke your hashtags into content specific lists, I would recommend testing your lists against one another and see how they do. In some cases, you may need to combine the best performing hashtags from your old and new lists. If that is the case, just select the best-performing ones from each and create that third list and use that going forward. If the original list outperforms your old collection on every post for every category. Then you have a #winning hashtag strategy, and you go with your new list.

    In Conclusion

    To sum up all the key points here:

    • Hashtags are essential tools you should utilize on your posts
    • There are some best practices for hashtags like research before you use
    • You should always look to use niche hashtags and hashtags with less than 1 million posts
    • Build your own unique content specific hashtag lists to use with your posts
    • Regularly measure what is working and refresh as needed.

    Keep these tips in mind, and you won’t hate hashtags ever again!