Last year, I had the best of intentions with my social media. I was going to post more often, grow my following, and spend less time spinning my wheels about what to post. It was going to be beautiful–with videos, photos, and all kinds of amazing graphics.
That ain’t happen.
I struggle-bused my way through with no real strategy. And, as I also dealt with issues like body image, self-doubt, and regular hair & makeup, pictures and videos just weren’t in my ministry.
However, toward the end of the year, I decided to stop making excuses. As Jasmine Star says often, I had to make unemotional decisions about my posts and content.
While I’m still at the earliest of stages with my social media strategy, I’ve seen a huge shift already. Above all, I am more strategic, unemotional about perfection–or the lack of it, and following a plan.
On this #ThursdayThoughts episode, I received a question about how to do better and get more consistent on social media. This was timely because this was literally what I was working on with the question came in.
Check it out below.
To summarize the episode, I give three tips I learned from Brendon Burchard that will help you do better–and get more engagement–on social media.
- Go Live on social media regularly (some suggest every day);
- Start a weekly blog/podcast/video series that you can cut up and post across social media each week; and
- Send an email to your list once per week.
In addition, check out this blog post for the social media strategy I’m using for my own company right now. It’s a bit more detailed than what I offered in the episode.
Finally, one point of clarification from this episode: I haven’t fully taken the advice of going Live regularly on social media, but I’m creating lots more videos and posting them. Going Live frequently is on the horizon though!
Questions & Action: Create a social media calendar
After you’ve had a chance to watch the video, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section!
Please answer these questions for me:
- What’s holding you back on social media?
- Have you created a social media calendar? If not, could you commit to posting something related to your business and brand once per week? One of the best ways to do better on social media is to create a social media calendar and stick with it.
Please give as much information as you can in response to these questions. I’d be happy to share more tools and resources that help you get what you want. Most importantly, I know the other folks reading this can learn from your experiences! We are all in this together.
If you’d like to create a social media calendar, check out my suggestions for how to do this by clicking here.
Finally, I always say that I’m on a mission to help people build the brands, businesses and lives that they love. We can learn from each other on this journey, particularly when we have accountability partners. This is why I am building a whole nation of side-hustlers, creatives and business owners who keep each other––and me––accountable.
You can join my support network online and via app. Check us out at programs.shontavia.com or via the Mighty Networks App.
First, download the Mighty Network app by clicking here. Second, once it downloads, click “Find a Mighty Network” and search for Shontavia Johnson. You’ll find content there that I may not share elsewhere.
Thank you so much for joining me on this roller coaster of an experience.
I am eternally grateful that I get to do this work with wonderful people like you each day.
Let’s make it happen,
Show Notes
Grow a business and brand with social media: My plan: https://shontavia.com/grow-a-business-and-brand-with-social-media-my-plan/
Brendon Burchard: https://brendon.com/
How Brendon Does Social Media: https://youtu.be/tM3en9nVrQ8
Jasmine Star: https://jasminestar.com/
Jasmine Star Q&A about social media: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B6lYXX6jUGS/
Jasmine Star, Is the Algorithm Giving You Whiplash?: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B6OSmx8DklL/
Gary Vaynerchuk: https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/
How to make 64 pieces of content per day: https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/how-to-create-64-pieces-of-content-in-a-day/
Marie Forleo: marieforleo.com
When I think about the impact social media has on this world and running a successful business I just want to cry “Why?!?!?!? oh Why?!?!?!?” I am becoming more and more of a social media hermit. I definitely haven’t let it go completely, but to have to commit so much of life to it for my business to be successful frustrates me. To me, it’s the equivalent of having to be “on” all the time.
Ok, rant over. Thank you for sharing your struggles and plans and successes with us!
I understand COMPLETELY! I don’t think it has to be all or nothing though. You can do what works for you, and that doesn’t have to include all social media (or any social media, TBH)! 24% of small businesses don’t use social media (at least with the most recent data I’ve seen: https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/03/companies-that-do-not-use-social-media.html).
Some large companies are opting out of certain platforms too. Apple, for example, doesn’t really use Twitter. Trader Joe’s isn’t on Facebook or Twitter.
The real question for you is how you plan to connect with your customers/clients and sell whatever you’re selling. Social media is merely one tool that allows you to do that. I find value in that, given the nature of my business. But is is completely fair and valid if you don’t. Many of my favorite brands/entrepreneurs aren’t super active on social media.
Don’t get discouraged! Just find what’s right for you.