Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest… Oh My!
Don’t Know What to Share on Social Media? This Blog is For You.
What are some of the most common nightmares?
Falling - 64.7%
Being chased - 63.3%
Death - 54.9%
Feeling lost or trapped - 53.8%
Being attacked - 52.4%
Can we add social media to this list too?
Wow, I definitely started this blog off on a dark note… And I love social media!
But seriously, I feel as though there is no “middle ground” anymore in regards to whether or not you like social media.
You either love it or you hate it.
For every business, however, social media is a MUST.
If you love it, you gotta use it.
And if you hate it, well… you gotta use it.
In today’s blog, I’m hoping to accomplish 1 thing: I want to make social media easier for you.
I plan on doing this by providing you all with a little social media “cheat sheet.” Along the way, I’ll make sure to note some positive aspects of social media too that you can take advantage of for yourself and embrace.
Remember: Nothing becomes easier without a positive attitude!
THE BASICS:
Before discussing WHAT to post on social media, we should first establish WHERE this content will fit best. Although Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are all social media platforms, they’re all used in slightly different ways and it can sometimes be difficult to spot the differences.
In regards to Facebook, you can share anything that’s related to you and your organization such as updates, community events, pictures/videos of your community involvements, links to your website or to other sources, etc.
Keep your posts specific to your business, but if your post is geared towards something more personal, you can always post it to your Facebook page and share it to your personal account. Overall, Facebook is a great place to engage more in-depth with your audience, create awareness about what it is your organization is doing, and connect your audience with services or products you may be offering. Social media is constantly evolving, so know your audience. Keep in mind that Facebook is not as popular among young people today, so if your target audience is youth, Facebook may be important, but not your first priority.
On the other hand, Instagram is a great place to build your personal brand. Whereas with Facebook you don’t need to add any photos or videos to your posts, Instagram is all about visuals and shorter text. Additionally, Instagram is a place where you can go outside the box and share what’s going on in your personal and professional life as it aligns with your organization and overall vision for the world. By mixing the two, you can create an interactive community that relates to you and the “vibe” you’re putting forward, not just with your organization’s work and mission. Because Instagram has a feed that’s constantly moving and passing through, I find that posting once a day is the perfect amount.
Facebook and Instagram also have the option to post “stories.” These are quick highlights that disappear after 24 hours. You can post anything from a quote that resonates with you and your mission/vision to a picture showing that you’re a fun person! Your stories also don’t have to be as “polished” as a post.
Twitter is pretty much the only place where you can type in a hashtag and see what’s trending around the world. You can see the latest news as well as what people are currently interested in. Twitter is not only great for listening, but it’s also a great platform for connecting with other entrepreneurs. Twitter is also a platform to share quick ideas that pop in your mind or opinions too.
Lastly, Pinterest is a mix between a social media platform and a search engine. Pinterest is useful for connecting people to your content through the use of visual aides. For example, if you’re providing classes, you can put your photos and/or videos on Pinterest. People that search on the internet for the topic you’re discussing will find your content through the platform.
As you can see, there are different ways to use each social media platform and certain social media platforms may suit your business better than others.
There are also different areas of social media WITHIN each social media platform that you can use for different purposes.
There are a lot of things that work on some social media platforms, but don’t work on others.
Now, I know this is a lot of information but I encourage you to experiment a little to figure these things out for yourself.
Here are some general content ideas for you all to experiment with:
CONTENT IDEAS:
Just experiment
The beauty of social media is that whatever you post, you can delete. So, experiment with it! Don’t be afraid as it’s the only way to learn.
Interview your recipients
Get testimonials from the population you’ve been working with. Have them speak on behalf of your organization and outline how their experience has been with you. Showcase it to others on social media so they see the positive change you’re making in the community. Because my organization works with youth, we aren’t always allowed to use photos or videos of the children we work with. So, we post pictures of the thank you notes they write. This way, the community can see the impact we’re making and connect with our mission.
Interview people around your industry
Ask professionals in your industry if you can interview them. Professionals could highlight the work you’re doing and why it’s so important in the industry, thus adding credibility to your organization. They could also discuss a topic that connects with your mission that maybe you don’t have the expertise to talk about.
Motivational content
Inspirational content can come from anywhere. It could be a quote you found, a video you saw, or an idea you thought of yourself. It doesn’t matter whether it’s original or from someone else. As long as you resonate with it, other people will too!
Show your impact
Showcase the hard work you’re putting into your non-profit in order to achieve your mission. Take photos of what your ‘everyday’ looks like, even if it’s just something simple such as sitting at your computer or running to the store to buy supplies. Share your daily activities with your followers and let people know what it is you’re working on.
Show yourself
Now, this may be one that a lot of us don’t like to hear. However, people connect with you (a person), not with a business. Therefore, when you put yourself in your posts, your followers are more likely to relate with you and your brand. Be professional, but personal!
HERE’S WHAT I’VE LEARNED:
When it comes to the world of social media, there are many things I’ve learned.
First, don’t get overwhelmed and don’t take it too seriously.
Like I mentioned before, experiment! You can’t learn without experimenting. At the end of the day, you can always delete the post or edit the comment you made.
Second, build relationships with your followers and treat them like gold. Interact with them and make them feel as though they’re important.
Third, showing up is half the battle. Although social media is an online platform, reliability is just as important as it would be in-person. People are counting on you to deliver content when you say you’ll deliver it. Your content doesn’t have to be perfect, just try your best to always deliver.
Lastly, building an online presence takes time. This one is a given, but I think many people forget it in today’s world. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Please comment down below which content ideas you will experiment with!
And if you’re wanting social media to play a role in your overall funding plan for your social endeavor, but aren’t sure how to get to that point, check out my Unleash Your Profit course. Join our group coaching program where we’ll design a roadmap to follow to create a business that is profitable.
In my Unleash Your Purpose course, I help you work through your big idea and then, we file together in less than 30 days.
Check them out!
