Social Media

Social Media Strategy for a New Account: Getting Started

September 1, 2021 by Ashley

Creating a social media strategy for an existing account is really rather simple. That is in comparison to creating a social media strategy for a new account. Why is that? A new account does not have an audience yet. Instead of stressing about what your audience may or may not like, here are some tips for creating a social media strategy for a new account.

Chances are you are not the first person to launch social media for the specific niche group you are looking to reach. You are also not the first person to launch a social media account for a business. Use this to your advantage. How you may ask?

Steps to take before creating a social media strategy for a new account:

1. Study the competition

As you begin thinking about your business and what you are trying to accomplish on social media, understanding your competition is a great place to get started! Let’s say you make guitars and want to sell them on social media. You probably won’t end up with the number of followers Fender has, but it is a great place for you to see what content the audience is responding to!

Before creating a social media strategy for a new account, make a list of businesses that are like yours, big or small, and do a social media audit of those channels. It doesn’t need to be intense. Look at their posts, read the captions, examine the audience response, and build your strategy based on where they succeeded and avoid what fell flat. If this seems like a daunting task, we offer assistance in social media auditing of competition (and even develop a social media strategy for you – if you decide it’s easier to take that off your plate).

2. Know Your Audience

This might be difficult to understand since you have yet to create a social media strategy for a new account, but knowing your target audience is necessary! Maybe you own an ice cream shop and are located near the local high school. Your target audience would more than likely be ages 14-18 to reach those at the high school.

Think about in terms of where you’re located:

Do you have a product that is only sold in one physical location? Keep your audience local.
Are your services or product available to purchase online? Learn who your buyers are to better attract the same people online.

Think about your product or service:

Are you a candy store in a small neighborhood looking for new customers? Keep your audience local.
Are you a finance professional looking to help small businesses with all their finance needs? Target small businesses online and market straight to them.

You may not fit into the exact scenarios above, but you get the idea. Knowing your audience and where to find them is the BEST way to create a successful social media strategy.

3. Know Your Business

Especially when you are first starting, determining exactly what your business is might be difficult. For instance, you might be a freelancer who has a variety of skills and is not sure what you want to focus on.

Maybe you want to write exclusively, or maybe you want to create a menu of options to market out to small businesses and nonprofits. Whatever your business is, this needs to be determined before you can truly create a successful social media strategy for a new account.

Answer these questions and see if this helps you get to know your business better:

What are we trying to sell? (consulting, freelancing, physical product)
Who is our target marget? (Gen Z, Millenials, etc.)
What are our buisness goals? (growth, awareness, sales)
What is our mission?
What is our vision?

Once you have answers to these questions, you will be able to serve your customers better making creating a social media strategy for your new account easier!

Now you are ready to start creating a social media strategy!

Creating a Social Media Strategy for a New Account:

For starters, know that a social media strategy is different than a content strategy. You will want to work on a content strategy as well, but getting a social media strategy in order is important to understand why you have a social media account.

List out the social media accounts you have or want. (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)
Determine a strategy for each of the platforms you have listed.
Start by looking at the audience. What is the age demographic, what is the reach, how can you obtain organic reach?
Understand that you will need to curate content specific to each platform in order for it to be truly successful.
Determine how often you will post, when you will post, and when you will engage with others.

Once you have completed these steps, your social media strategy will be ready. Major tips though, know that the strategy should not be deviated from while also understanding it may need to change based on trends. This usually comes into play when determining a content strategy, but that’s another post for another day!

If you have questions or want help in creating a social media strategy for a new account, we are here for hire in freelance and consulting!

Why Creating Instagram Graphics in Canva is a Good Idea.

July 8, 2021 by Ashley

Creating Instagram graphics in Canva is simple! There are some things to keep in mind. Here are some reasons to get started.

In our Beginner’s Guide to Canva post, we talked a lot about how to get started in Canva. We walked you through ways to make simple graphics, but now, let’s get serious. Canva makes it easy to create content for nearly anything, but Instagram is our favorite.

Disclosure: I am not getting paid to talk about Canva. I sincerely think it is an incredible tool for marketers (especially those with a limited budget) to create engaging content. IF you have the budget to do so, hire a graphic designer instead of using Canva.

Reasons to Create Instagram Graphics in Canva:

1. It’s easy to use!

Instagram Graphics in Canva - It's Easy to Use!

It is simple to create Instagram graphics in Canva. When you are just starting in Canva, there are templates available to you which help give you a starting point on content creation.

You will see a ton of Canva creations when scrolling through our Instagram account. It was super helpful to use templates when starting, but these templates are available to anyone on Canva. This means any person who signs in to Canva can post the same content. How do you avoid this? By starting from scratch, of course! We will get to that later.

2. You can create branded content FAST.

If you are like me and want to set your business up for success, you should invest in the premium versions of Canva. Though you have access to features in the free version of Canva, the premium version allows you to create a brand kit.

The brand kits allow you to store multiple logos for your brand, select brand colors and add branded fonts. These aspects are available in the design mode, giving you a shortened time frame on how long it takes to create branded content.

3. You have free stock photos at your fingertips!

Instagram Graphics in Canva - Free Stock Photos

No more rummaging through the internet trying to find the perfect free stock photo to include in your content. Canva offers free stock photos, elements, and videos that give your content an edge.

When you unlock premium with Canva, you will have access to ALL the stock images and videos Canva has to offer. If you are serious about your business, consider getting a premium account.

4. You can post directly from Canva to your platform.

Instagram Graphics in Canva - Content Planner

If you have a Facebook page for your business, you can connect it to an Instagram business account! In the content planner provided by Canva, you can schedule content in advance using the Instagram graphics you just created in Canva!

Even though we no longer have a Facebook account, we still utilize the content planner for other platforms. Yes, this is not just usable with Instagram! Connect Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Facebook Group, Pinterest, LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn Page, Tumblr, and even Slack! Canva makes it all too easy to get you started on your social media content goals.

Creating Instagram graphics in Canva is smart because it saves you so much time!

And what do they also say about time in business? Time is MONEY! Creating content for social media does not need to be terrifying. With tools like Canva, almost anyone can do it. If you are reluctant to try it for yourself or do not have the time, we are here to help!

Reach out to us! We will help create content perfect for your business and your brand.

Until next time,

Beginner’s Guide to Canva: Creating Content Easily

July 2, 2021 by Ashley

You’ve seen the commercials and heard about Canva, but what is it? Here is a beginner’s guide to Canva to help you get started and convince you why you should be using it.

Let me start off by disclosing: I am not getting paid by Canva to talk about their website. I simply think it is an incredible tool for marketers (without Graphic Design experience) to take their content to the next level. If your business requires a need of a graphic designer then hire a graphic designer. This should not take place over hiring a professional who is qualified and trained. Now, moving on.

A Beginner’s Guide to Canva: Getting Started

Setting Up Your Account

Before you get started, decide whether you would like to use a work or personal email for the account. If you are planning to use this for work purposes only and would like to be reimbursed for the cost (don’t worry, this is for premium), consider signing up with your work email.

*Note: You can sign in using social media, but I would advise against doing this. Instead, use an email. This avoids you needing a code generator or a second step to keep you from accessing the site.

Now that your account is set up, let’s really get started!

Setting Up Files

I get it. You’re finally signed in and ready to start customizing and playing with the exciting tools of Canva. Before you get started, I urge to you create folders first. This will get you in the habit of organizing your content instead of having it all thrown onto your main screen. Click “Home” and find the “All Your Folders” section. Click on this and start creating folders based on what content you’ll be creating.

Beginner's Guide to Canva: All Your Folders

I have my files set up based on businesses. This means I have folders labeled for businesses I freelance with to keep all that info together and have separate folders for Moody Blue Media and my passion project Moody Blue Elvis.

Now that you have your folders set up, or at least at a starting point, you can get started on creating content!

Creating Content

Canva makes it easy to create almost any content you may need. Presentations for work, developing a new logo, even Instagram Stories – the possibilities are endless. We will go through a lot of those in the future. For now, let’s create content for this blog post together!

Since I have a premium account, I was able to set up a brand kit. We will go through a brand kit and premium accounts in a later post. For now, see if Canva is a smart tool for you and your business before investing. A lot can be accomplished with the free account.

Create A Design

At the top of the page, click “Create a design.” A lot of options will appear. In the search bar, type in “blog banner” and select that option.

A new window will appear with a blank canvas in the appropriate size. Before we get started, make sure to title your new document. This will make it easier to organize your files later. To rename your document, click on the area at the type right of the screen where you see the words, “Untitled design – Blog Banner.” This will remove that title and allow you to type in something new.

Beginner's Guide to Canva: Untitled Design

Now is when we can get started.

As you can see, our blog has a specific style we like to keep. All of these designs came straight from Canva, but I lay them out how I want. If you are not quite there yet, you will see a section on the left side of your screen labeled “templates.” This will help you with the layout. All you’ll have to do is edit the colors, text, and imagery to match your brand.

Make A Design

I like to keep the colors rotating depending on when the blog post will go live, making the background of this featured image white. For teaching purposes, I’ll show you how to change the background color. Click on the blank canvas. It should highlight teal around it. Just above the left portion of the canvas is a square filled with colors. Click on the square, and here you can select the color of the background.

Beginner's Guide to Canva: Background Color

Now that the background color has been selected, we can begin adding text.

On the lefthand side of your screen, you will see an option labeled “Text.” When you click on this, several options will appear. Click on “Add a heading” and watch as it appears on the blank canvas. Using the toolbar above the canvas, you can adjust the size, color, and font to your liking.

Using the title of this blog post, I will create the text I like, adjust the sizing, and change the colors to match our brand style.

Adding Flair!

Now, we can dive into the elements Canva has to offer. This is where we can add flair to just about anything! Click on “Elements” on the lefthand side of the screen and type in the search bar “Canva.”

Take your time to experiment. Move things around, change font sizes or styles. You never know what you may create until you take some chances!

Here is my final product:

Beginner's Guide to Canva Creating Content Easily - Featured Image

Have questions or concerns about Canva? Reach out! We are more than happy to assist you getting setup and started using Canva. Remember, this is just the beginner’s guide to Canva so there is a lot more to come.

Until next time,

TCB,

3 Tips to Improve Your Social Media Business Account

May 12, 2021 by Ashley

Having a business account on social media shouldn’t scare you. There are simple ways to improve your social media business account and set your business up for success! Here are some tips.

In this day and age of digital marketing, businesses have the opportunity to get to know their consumers better than ever before. With endless BuzzFeed quizzes, social media users are eager to find out which Disney Princess they are most like or which snack food best suits them. In a world where people are willing to give answers about what they most prefer, marketers no longer have to guess!

In a recent study conducted by Sprout Social, it was found that 90% of consumers are more likely to buy from companies they are connected to on social media. Social media is a place where users share information about themselves and marketers should listen.

Many brands have taken a shift in the way they engage with their community on social media. To set your business up for success on social media follow these helpful tips to connect to potential consumers.

1. Engage with your community.

Of course, this seems like an obvious suggestion, but engaging with your audience is huge! The key to successfully engaging with an online community is connecting to them on a personal level – even on your business account. For example, if a consumer leaves a comment on a post that brings about a concern you should comment. A typical response may look like this, “Thanks for your response. Our team is working on resolving the issue.”

Sure, you acknowledge their response and your organization’s willingness to assist but it comes off-dry and not personable. Try responding with something like this: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We value your business and are working on resolving your issue. Feel free to DM us if you have any other concerns.”

Taking the time to make the consumer feel heard, understood, and cared for like a human being will not only encourage their business in the future but potentially bring new customers to your business – after all, others will be able to see your comment too!

2. Create engaging posts.

One thing a business account strives for is creating posts that get high engagement results. Not only does this show the benefit of having a social media team for businesses, but it is also an opportunity to get to know the audience. When a user comments on a post they are doing so in the hopes that the brand will respond. Since we have talked about how to respond to their comments, now is the perfect time to learn what they comment on!

Take time to get to know the targeted audience and test what works best for them in terms of content. For instance, create a poll on social media asking which product or service your followers would be more likely to purchase. Not only is this a great tool to get engagement results, but it also tells you exactly which type of content would bring about the biggest results.

When creating visual content, remember the targeted audience. If you are attempting to attract a younger generation of users, research and understand trends to appeal to that audience. If you are working with an older audience, use nostalgia to connect with them.

3. Track your social analytics.

Social media is constantly changing. From new and involving platforms to the latest trends and updates. Keeping up on this is important to successfully manage a business account on social media. Having a business account on social media is AMAZING because it tracks your analytics for you! Taking the time to pull analytics, understand the numbers, and create a story has the ability to increase the success of the account.

How many likes did a piece of content get? How many views did that video receive? These numbers are a direct reflection of what your audience wants. More importantly, it showcases what they do not want. Posting content that users do not want to see not only decreases the overall engagement of a single post but has the potential to lose followers – which means losing potential customers. Decide the timeline of pulling analytics – monthly, weekly, quarterly – and make changes based on what is seen.

Something to remember about marketing on social media, a large audience doesn’t necessarily mean a good audience. If your audience isn’t engaging or not seeing your posts, you may want to try something else out. (We will get into creating a successful social media strategy later.)

Your social media audience will tell you exactly what they like on social media – there is an actual button for that. When it comes to creating engaging content, knowing your audience is key. Talk to them. Engage with them. Most importantly, listen to them – they are wanting to be heard!

If you are looking for help in specific areas, please reach out! We want you to succeed on social media.

Until we meet again – TCB,

Blogging and Social Media: Why the two go hand-in-hand

May 19, 2020 by Ashley

Blogging is an important tool in marketing, and if you aren’t promoting on social media … well, you might be blogging wrong.

In the past I have worked for major corporations and discovered many keep their blogging teams and social media teams very separate. While obtaining my Masters in Arts degree, I studied the importance of combining efforts and really focusing on what the audience wants to learn. Though people are able to subscribe to a blog, not many want emails each time a brand they love makes a new post. Can you imagine receiving 10-15 emails a day from one single blog?

Social media is definitely something marketers are no longer able to ignore. I recall working within a marketing department, specifically on their social media team, with marketing executives not understanding the purpose in even having social media accounts but understood the importance of a blog. From here, it was my responsibility to prove to them our worth. Instead of preaching my beliefs, I gave them something they were unable to argue with – results!

For the most part, the people who are going to read your blog are the same people who will follow you on social media. That being said, not all the people that follow you on social media will read your blog – especially if you are not using your platforms to market your blog! Here are some reasons why you should:

1. Content marketing is essential to the overall strategy of most organizations

With the future looking digital, the longer organizations fight the digital way of marketing the less likely they will exist in the future. Have a content strategy that speaks for your organization and the goals and the needs of the audience. Avoid posting just to post – quality over quantity wins every time. You are bound to have an audience that trusts you more!

2. Blogging represents the company brand in an industry and their expertise – why not share that on social!

Social media users follow companies to learn more about them and decide if they will become a consumer. Share your expertise with them and build trust. Social media only allows so many characters – take advantage of your blog and let social media users know you!

3. It is easier to build up an audience on social than it is with blogging.

Though many might argue this, I believe it to be true. Look at how many users are on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. Building up a social following can lead to larger readership numbers on your blog. Though social users might not respond the same as subscribers to your blog, you can take the time to learn what content they respond best to by checking social analytics! Your audience will tell you exactly what they want if you are willing to listen!

What it all comes down to is your content calendar. Create an overall editorial calendar consisting of your social channels and your blog. Be picky about which posts are shared to a specific platform. Remember that not all social media networks are created equal. Even though it is important to maintain your brand’s voice, it is also just as important to remember your audience.

Until next time,

TCB,