How would it feel to have all your social media content set up for the month ahead?

Well, are you a forward planner, or more of a wing-it kinda’ gal when it comes to posting on social media? Some people like to plan their posts out in advance, while others prefer to be more spontaneous and post on the fly. I don’t think it’s a question of which is right or wrong, but more about whether you are getting the best value out of your posts.

Using Instagram as a marketing tool for your small business has fantastic potential, and it’s free to use. Yes, it has changed. A LOT. But there is still great value in using it as a way to reach and connect with your customers and generate sales.

So, if you are a Maker with products to promote, how can you set yourself up for success? This week I posted about three tips to help make creating social easier and go into more detail on each point here:

1. Plan out your posts each month in advance

Seems pretty obvious, right? But it can be quite an overwhelming prospect for some people, especially if you are just starting out.  If that’s the case for you, start by planning one week first, then build up to four weeks, if that suits your schedule. You will need to set aside time to do this, but the more you plan, the easier it will become because you won’t need to be thinking of something new every time.

So, what will go into this plan? The first thing I suggest you do is brainstorm lots of ideas. If you haven’t already got it, I have a free download called How to brainstorm 70+ ideas for your socials. You can grab it here.

2. Decide how many photos and graphics you need each week

Once you have all your ideas it’s time to start creating a schedule. (Tip: there is a free calendar in the download to help you get started). You will need to decide what you want to focus on with your posts. It is a good idea to split these into different sections, for example:

Educational: Tell your audience how to use or wear your products, how to order from you and where to find you at markets etc.

Inspirational: Share relevant quotes or testimonials or ask your audience questions. These posts can be great to break up product shots and are also a good way to bring in your brand colours in the backgrounds or text. You could also share behind the scenes shots of your studio or workplace.

Personal: Sharing images of yourself usually get greater engagement than any others, so get in front of the camera in photos, Instagram live or IGTV. Tell your brand story, how any why you started your business etc. This could also include a behind the scenes sneak peek type of post.

Promotional: Maybe you have a new product launch coming up, or want to promote a special offer. The golden rule with promotional posts is to use them about 20% of the time, so roughly one in five posts.

Once you have all your ideas together, decide how often you want to post. It is better to post quality content consistently rather than loads of posts that don’t connect with your audience. It’s up to you, so start off with a schedule that is achievable, whether that is once a week or twice a day. 

3. Use customisable templates to create on-brand posts

Using templates can be a great way to get started, especially if you don’t have design skills to create your own posts yet. They can help you create a consistent look in your branding which will give you a professional looking Instagram feed. When people visit your profile they will see between six and nine images so you want these to look as professional and interesting as you can to grab their attention. I recommend using Canva templates to create your graphics. If you haven’t tried Canva, you can sign up to their free version here.

It is easy to use but if you need some help you can check out go to our blog post that includes a video tutorial here. 

Tip: Search on Pinterest for cusotmisable templates, and keep a look out for our new graphics shop which is opening soon!