Yes, social media is a tough one for small business owners like yourself. We get it. You can't afford to waste time or resources, you have other things to focus on! So, with that in mind, we wanted to get into how a well-crafted social media content calendar can assist in helping you save time, all while attracting potential customers and building brand advocates.
This deep-dive guide will equip you with the essential tools and strategies you need to boost your social media marketing strategy (in turn supercharging your conversions!)
Why You Need a Social Media Calendar
For small business owners, the benefits of an organised social media strategy cannot be overstated. Being able to schedule posts not only frees up valuable time, but also assures your audience that you are dependable, consistent, and serious about your social media presence. No matter which social media platforms your business is on, you require a clear content strategy to appeal to your target audience.
Consistency breeds recognition, and recognition leads to trust. Having a social media content calendar will act as a lighthouse, keeping your customers and potential customers tethered to your brand.
Getting Started - Plan Your Content
Understanding your target audience is ground zero. Tailoring your content to meet the social media habits of your customer base is key.
Set clear and achievable social media marketing goals — do you seek to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or nourish your online community?
Different types of social media posts and content serve different purposes. For example, educational posts can establish your brand as an authority in your field, while behind-the-scenes content can create relatability and even offer some entertainment.
Tools for Creating and Scheduling Content
Multiple tools are available to help you organise and schedule your social media content. Platforms like Hootsuite and Buffer offer both free and premium services, catering to various business needs and budgets.
These tools save time and ensure that you never miss an opportunity to engage with your audience. The key is to plan your content in advance, and these tools can facilitate the process—whether you prefer weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly planning.
Create a Balanced Content Mix
The 80/20 rule is a valuable guide for maintaining a balance in your content as part of your marketing strategy.
Aim for 80% of your social posts to inform, educate, or entertain your audience, and 20% for direct promotion.
Ensuring that your content mix resonates with your audience is also about its quality. Your content should be well-aligned with your brand identity, values, and voice.
Create Your Content Calendar
Now, you're ready to get going with your social media content calendar! Your calendar will be the clear guide in your social media strategy, keeping all of your social posts organised, planned and connected to each social media platform.
Begin by planning your content weekly and expand from there to monthly. Align your content with relevant seasonal events or trends for added engagement. Ensure your business objectives match your social strategy within the social media calendar!
While structure is vital, leave room for spontaneity. Oftentimes, it's the on-the-fly posts about current events or trending topics that garner the most engagement.
Execute Your Plan and Measure Success
Sticking to your content calendar is essential, but so is the ability to adapt. Social media is dynamic, so your strategy should be too. Measure the success of your campaign by tracking key metrics.
Whether it's looking at engagement rates, click-through rates, or conversion rates, analytics will help fine-tune your approach.
Use these metrics intelligently. Optimise for what works, refine what doesn't, and always be ready to adjust your course based on the data you gather.
You can also conduct a social media audit, improve your content creation process, engage with social media marketers, and look to social media networks for more guidance on crafting a successful social media strategy.
A well-designed social media content calendar isn't about controlling your interactions with your audience, but about making those interactions meaningful and effective. It can transform the way you engage with your customers, and how they perceive and interact with your brand.
Recognise the value in planning your social media strategy, and commit to the process. The effort invested will return in the form of customer loyalty, brand growth, and clarity in your social media messaging.
Begin your content calendar planning today! If you're struggling to get your own strategy started, or simply don't have the time to be writing and designing impeccable social media posts each month, that's something we can do for you. You can contact us by clicking here to find out more about how our social media strategies and social media team are the experts in driving engagement and more eyes on your business.
