Author: Jennifer Brugh

When Should You Post on Social Media?

Numbers don’t lie! Find the right time to schedule your posts and watch it change your engagement!

Many people have asked: Is there really a method to scheduling and posting social media content?

The answer: Yes!

Yet, if you still feel like your business posts are missing the mark, there could be good reason for that. You see, inside some social media platforms you can find helpful demographic information, including what days, and what time of day your target market is using the platform. Neat, right?!

I think so! But if you’re not sure what time is best for your content and what your goals are, then I hope you find this post helpful! If you still need help, feel free to contact me for a free 20-minute consult.

When Should I Post?

There are specific times that have shown to be beneficial for different platforms and different audiences. Below, I’ve highlighted some significant times based on B2B business and B2C business. Let’s take a look!

Facebook

For B2B businesses, Hootsuite suggests that scheduling your content or posting organic content between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. This makes sense, especially when we consider the peak of office hours are between these times, and most employees and leaders are at work, scrolling through content with either a mission to solve a problem or are ignoring the company meeting. Either way, that’s good for you! Try scheduling your content between these hours and find out if it works for you.

For B2C, noon on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday seems to be the best time to catch the eye of Facebook users. Think about it–Most people are on their lunch breaks around this time, and Thursday indicates the start of the weekend for some, so these three days on this platform seem to make the most sense.

Twitter

Posting on Twitter is pretty straightforward. For a B2B business, you might want to try posting between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday or Thursday. Since tweets have a very short shelf life (roughly 18 minutes), your posted content is likely to be seen between these hours, especially if you put an emphasis on the hours of 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (right before and after lunch).

B2C businesses find more success when they post their content from Monday to Thursday between noon to 1 p.m. — again, during the lunch hour…do you see a pattern here?

Instagram

Finding the right time to post on Instagram is still proving hard to narrow down and blanket across all industries. Users of the platform love to engage, but engage with content that has the sense of “recency.” For example, businesses in the tourism or travel industry have shown that posting between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Fridays has yielded the most engagement for their posts. It’s likely that users are planning weekend getaways, day dreaming at the office, or looking to plan their next trip abroad.

For the media and entertainment industry, content that was posted between the hours of noon to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays typically has the highest engagement. Again, because people are generally out on their lunch breaks or scrolling aimlessly during that afternoon lull in the workday.

How Do I Know What Works?

Part of developing your social media strategy is knowing when your audience is scrolling and what they are searching, and how your services aline with their needs. Part of a successful strategy is posting often and regularly. If you’re just starting out and are trying to collect data for when your posts get the most engagement, don’t be afraid to experiment.

Take the next 90 days (I didn’t say this was a quick process) and experiment with times. Post within the windows I stated above for each platform, and then note the engagement on each post. For some of my clients, posting consistently and at the right times is a struggle, but thanks to wonderful scheduling tools, we’ve been able to narrow down when the best time is to post for their content to be seen.

We collected data for 90 days, and then adjusted accordingly.

Keep in mind, the more you post, the more the algorithms will reward you (ahhhh the social media gods). If you’re not sure what works, try scheduling out a month’s worth of content for the 9 a.m. slot for 2-3 days out of the week. Be consistent with the days from week to week, and then record the numbers. If you find that time didn’t work for you, increase your time by an hour and experiment for another 30 days. Over the course of three months, you should have a good picture of what time your audience is online and when they are most likely to engage with your content.

At the end of the day, these times I’ve laid out may not work for you. The most important thing to remember when figuring out when the best time to post is, that every business is different and every demographic is different. Don’t get frustrated trying to make these times work for you. Look at the numbers and adjust your plan accordingly. Your unique schedule will ensure you’re reaching your demographic.

Get Your Data With Me!

If the world of social media posting and scheduling is still way over your head, or you’re just looking for someone to consult with, then let me know! I have all the tools and knowledge you need to take your social media strategy to the next level! Contact me today for your FREE 20-minute consultation.

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Hashtags: What Are They & How Do I Use Them?

Find, use, and reap the benefits of social media hashtags. Here’s everything you need to know about these tags and how to use them.

A lot of features on social media platforms can make your business successful. Posting regular, high-quality content is one sure way to get the attention of the algorithms and your target audience. But what about hashtags? Hashtags are used in almost every Instagram post we scroll past, but why? What are they there for and are they making a real difference?

The quick answer: Yes!

But how do businesses know which tags to use and how do you make it to the top of the “Most Popular” or “Recent”? Here, I’ll explain what hashtags (#s) are and how your business can benefit from them.

What is a Hashtag?

A hashtag is a word or collection of words that you’d like to associate with your posted graphic or image. In order for your tag to be labeled a ‘hashtag’, it must include the pound symbol (#) followed by words or a phrase without any spaces. For example, here are some that I chose to use on this client’s post:

You get the idea.

These tags are all used to associate the post with the client’s industry and the services they offer, rather than putting it in the actual body of the caption. Hashtags are a quick and easy way to add bulk content to each post without bogging it down and making it difficult for the reader. Long captions and paragraphs tend to get looked over, but by using these tags, you ensure that your post is relevant to all subjects of the post.

Why Use Hashtags?

Using a hashtag, or a group of tags, in your post makes your content more searchable. People are connecting with, following, and engaging with the top or recent posts in each of the tags you’ve selected. By using them yourself, you improve your chances of being seen when people search for a specific tag.

Think of hashtags like keywords that people would search for on Google. If you think a keyword is relevant to your post, include it. But, there are also things to consider when selecting the right tags

How to Use Hashtags

Using hashtags is easy; selecting the right ones can be tricky. When you sit down and write a post, consider the content, all the relevant keywords, and any phrases that you think are associated with your business, the industry, and the individual post itself. If there isn’t a specific hashtag for your content, create one–but make sure you continue to use it, so it becomes popular in the eyes of the Instagram gods, and easier to find for your audience when they type in a similar search.

Know the Numbers

With millions of users on Instagram and Facebook, it’s no surprise that some tags have more than one million posts associated with them. This can make it very tricky for your posts to be seen at the top, especially if you’re just starting to grow your following and don’t have millions of likes or views on your content, yet. With that being said, if you want your content to be seen sooner rather than later, focus on keywords or tags that have fewer uses.

Researching relevant industry or niche tags takes time, so be prepared to put some effort into this part of your research, but once you have compiled a list of tags you want to use on your page, keep this close and watch the numbers carefully. When it’s all said and done, you should have a list of tags that have varying numbers of uses.

Get Creative

If a popular tag you want to use has a million plus uses, it’s not viable for you to use as your main tag. Instead, get creative and think outside the box for phrases and word combinations that have fewer uses. Don’t be afraid to experiment with tags and do thorough research on whether or not your content will show up on these searches.

Also, play with words and combine things like #marrymemondays, #wristwatchwednesdays, or #flashbackfriday❤️for a more fun and creative spin on the regular old hashtag. Associating your industry or post topic with the day of the week is a great way to ensure you stay current and relevant, yet also encourages other so engage with your content on that day. Your audience will come to expect a related post on the same day of every week.

Know How Many to Use

How many hashtags you use in each post is up to you. Ideally, you should have a list compiled of at least 20-30 tags. This will give you a good start when it comes time to use a combination of them. Having so many could also help you come up with new ones to use in the future. When it comes to adding them to a post, you can use as many as you want, but it’s highly recommended that you stick between 12-15 tags on each post. This will ensure maximum flexibility and reach with each tag.

Engage, Engage, Engage

Engagement is a real part of management social media. If you don’t engage with your audience and follow back, like comments, or respond to messages, it’s very likely that you’ll be losing key followers and attention. Users want to know there is someone behind the screen and all the perfect images you post. So, before you use any of the hashtags you’ve identified for your page, you must follow them, engage with recent content by liking, commenting, and leaving your two cents worth on at least nine posts in each tag.

This part of your social media strategy can take some time, but if you or your social media manager break this up throughout the day, you could only be spending roughly three hours engaging and growing your social community. If three hours out of your day brought you 5 or 6 more leads, follows, or likes to a post, would it be worth it to you? We think so.

So, before you spout off your post and forget about it, starting engaging with the tags you’re using. The algorithm will take notice and the Instagram gods will reward you for it.

Contact Me

If you’re looking for someone to help you with hashtag research, implementation, or overall social media management, then let’s connect. I proudly serve clients across the country. To find out more about my social media services, contact me today for a FREE 20-minute chat.

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3 Ways to Harness the Power of Social Media During COVID-19

Stay connected with your audience as everyone navigates a new normal during COVID-19

We’re living in a strange time. Due to the health threat of COVID-19, millions of people are closing up shop and staying home. While this might mean uncertainty for your business, now is not the time to shy away from your marketing plan, especially social media. More people are now aimlessly scrolling all day long, so why not give them a soft place to land?

Since the global epidemic began, Facebook and Instagram have seen a 40% increase in use. Facebook and Instagram Live stories more than doubled in a week. Yet, that doesn’t mean you should be conducting business as usual. Instead, fellow marketing and social media experts like Jenna Kutcher have said that “now is not the season to be quiet, this is the season to communicate.”

Instagram users like @vettacapsule do this perfectly while staying on brand and message.

Not acknowledging the COVID-19 epidemic on social can make you appear out of touch, or worse, tone deaf. When it comes to connecting with your audience on a deeper level, focus on communicating about the new normal. This not only tells your audience that you’re aware of the economic changes, but you’re also authentic and a business full of humans impacted just like everyone else.

So, here are several ways to utilize the power of social media and show up for your clients during the COVID-19crisis.

3 Ways to Use the Power of Social

1. Keep Posting

Since more people are using social platforms daily, it’s essential to your business plan to keep posting. Once you’ve posted messaging about the crisis and have let your audience know you’re listening and hear their concerns, you can shift your focus to posting high quality content more often. This doesn’t mean you should constantly be pitching sales, but rather posting content that’s more in line with your brand’s voice and message. If you have content already scheduled, go in and tweak captions so they are more relatable during a time when everyone is cooped up at home.

Utilizing key phrases such as, “daydreaming”, “remember when”, “looking forward to”, can help your brand connect to your audience. Not only does this give your brand a human voice, it also ensures that your audience feels connected to you.

2. Be Empathetic

COVID-19 is affecting everyone differently, not just within your organization, but with your audience as well. When posting content, be empathetic and look at things from a different perspective outside your own circle. Many of your followers are likely caring for sick loved ones, have lost their jobs, or are navigating working from home while school their kids. Lives have been turned upside down and it’s important that you stay humble and grounded so you don’t come across as out of touch.

Check out how Ban.do does this on their Instagram page

Posting this billboard in their feed lets their audience know they care and they’re listening. They connect with them on a human level, stepping outside the corporate or sales-y pitches and encourage people to connect (virtually) with their loved ones.

When they do host an online sale, they acknowledge that it’s a strange time to host an online sale, and that not everyone can shop right now. Using similar phrasing in your social media posts will earn you major kudos with your audience.

3. Provide Value

Now is the time to turn your Instagram or Facebook page into a valuable tool for all of your customers. Rather than pushing to drive traffic to your site (Link in bio kind of talk), focus on engagement. While this should always be something your marketing team is focused on, now is the time to ramp that up.

I really enjoy following Later, and online tool I often use for all of my social media tips, tricks, and hacks. They recently put out a post that would normally had navigated to their website. But instead, they provided all of the content users and clients would need in one, easy to follow post.

Another way to be helpful during COVID-19, is to shift your focus away from your business and write captions that encourage social distancing and staying home. One of the most well-known brands to shift their content from extravagant influencer trips to staying indoors is @Revolve. They’ve been so creative with their strategy that they’ve even created a new hashtag: #revolvearoundthehouse. With this tag they’re encouraging their customers to stay positive, stay productive, and stay connected.

If your business has a unique hashtag that they use with every post, try tweaking it to reflect the times. You’ll also make your content more searchable by doing so: a win-win for everyone.

Learn More

If you’re looking for a unique way to reach your audience right now, I can help! With my social media audit and crisis management strategy, you can continue to reach your audience during a time when business is operating differently. Remind your clients that you’re still the same brand they love and enjoy, but let them know you hear them and are with them. Contact me for your free 20-minute phone chat!

3 Tips for Using Microblogging to Boost Business

Microblogging can help give your social media accounts a boost. Here’s what you need to know.

As a business leader and/or owner, you stress over the small details of your marketing plan. Deciding the length of your content and how much detail to include on your website and blogs can keep you up at night. While long-form content can increase your search engine rankings, short-form social media and blog posts, or microblogs, can connect you with your audience more efficiently. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Post Regularly

Microblogs are a great alternative to constant long-form pieces, and they break up your pages with more entertaining snippets of your company. They easily catch the eye of your target market, but only if you’re posting on a regular basis. If you’re looking to grow your audience quickly, make sure you’re posting content on social feeds consistently and with purpose. Once your audience gets used to seeing your content, they’ll expect consistent updates from you, boosting your chances of making a difference in their purchasing decisions and swaying them your way. Of course, this method all depends on your brand, voice, and goals.

2. Know Which Platforms Work for You

Not all social media platforms should be used by your business. Not only does this stretch your internal resources thin for content, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to engage your audiences well. If you haven’t discovered what platforms work best for you and your target audience, experiment with a few for at least 90 days to get a feel for where your audience is living. Use the power of microblogging, develop short-form content and then analyze the social media reports each month. After the 90 days, evaluate how well your company performed against each KPI and make necessary strategy adjustments. [[If this is something your company struggles with, let me help!]]

3. Experiment with Content

When it comes to successfully utilizing microblogs, be sure to experiment with content variety. If your marketing team is struggling with ideas, consider some of the most common ideas for content:

  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • GIFs and memes that relate to your audience
  • Theories and observations
  • Your reaction to the news in real-time
  • What you’re doing right now

Turn it Over

If you’re still struggling with your social media strategy, or need guidance for upcoming months, I can help! I specialize in social media management and marketing and develop 90-day plans for clients to help them boost their growth and audience engagement. If you have questions or suggestions on topics you’d like to know more about, contact me. We can also set up a FREE{!} 20-minute chat.

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3 Social Media Tips for the Holidays

’tis the season.

If you’re trying to catch the eye of potential or existing customers this holiday season, spending more on social media ads and boosts is probably in your plans. Right? You have a strategic plan in place to make sure you hit all of those holiday targets like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. Still, if you feel there’s more you can do, try some of my favorite social media tips for this holiday season.

3 Ways to Boost Your Social Media for the Holidays

1. Listen to your followers

Your followers will tell you what they are looking for this year. While they may not have been into your store or place of business to make a wishlist, it’s out there. Pay attention to where your audiences are living and what hashtags they are using. Scan a few accounts to see if there is a pattern and then follow those to get a better idea of what your market cares about or what items they are posting and searching for. You also might try using some of those key hashtags in your own Instagram posts to help boost your exposure and engagement.

2. Avoid the Sales Pitch

Your regular customers already know what you’re about, so trying to sell them on something extra this season may not bode well for your business. If they have a need, they know where to find you. Instead, shift the tone of your content to reflect your company as a resource rather than trying to sell consumers a product. Focusing on providing great customer service or solving your client’s problems is good practice year round, but could be the deal breaker for a potentially new client purchasing from your this holiday season. A hard sales pitch can easily turn someone away, giving off the impression that you’re just in it to make money and don’t care about them as a customer.

3. Be a Team Player

What this means is that you should try posting pictures of your employees hard at work. They are, after all, Santa’s little helpers this time of year. Creating an image that focuses on your employees and the people that actually make your business run will entice new or current customers to revisit your store. Building that customer relationship now can only benefit you in the future. People tend to shop with a purpose and emotions this time of year, so give them an experience that they’ll remember for future events in their lives. What brought them in might be a friendly staff photo, but what keeps them coming back is a memorable experience.

For more tips and social media advice, contact me for a strategy session. I’ll look over your sites, audit them, and see where improvements can be made. Having the best holiday social media strategy can help boost your engagement and social media footprint. Don’t be caught out in the cold this holiday season! I can help.