Taking the Horror out of Social Media
Using social media can often feel like a horror show. It can feel scary to put yourself out there and show up on camera for the world to see. It’s the biggest thing that get’s in the way of promoting our business.
It’s also incredibly overwhelming. So many platforms, so many algorithms, so much content to create 🙈
This has caused much frustration over the years so I want to share what I’ve learned that’s helped me to see it and approach it differently so that I can show up for the people who truly want my help and services.
The world needs what you’re offering and life is too short not to follow your dreams…
WHY
First of all, what is the reason you want to reach more people? Why do you want them to know what you do? How will this benefit them and enhance their lives?
Knowing your why will motivate you when things feel tough. It’s the reason you do what you do, it’s what makes you smile and the thing you can talk endlessly about with real passion. Keep this at the forefront of your mind and it will help you connect more deeply to what you’re doing.
WHAT
Pick one platform and learn it well.
You don’t need to spread yourself all over every social platform. Apart from anything else, that’s exhausting! Find out where the majority of your clients are, and go there.
Use your brand pillars and values as a guide for your content. Focus on the outcomes you provide for your clients.
Consider how you find services or products. How do you make your buying decisions? This will give you insight into how your clients make theirs.
WHEN
When you don’t have a plan, you’ll be making a lot of decisions every day which takes up a lot of unnecessary time and energy. Once you’ve decided what platform is best for you, choose how often you’re going to post and at what times. There’s no need to be on it every 5 minutes or post every day. Really. You don’t work Facebook, you just want to connect with your potential clients.
An important rule is to stick to your plan! It will be a lot simpler. I use a specific calendar for marketing so I can see at a glance what I’m doing each week. It makes it so much easier and it means I’m not flip flopping around changing my mind every day.
The main thing here is consistency. Honestly, it took me so long to really get this and do it. I struggle sometimes, for sure, but I see results when I’m consistent.
You don’t have to be consistent but your business does. This is why automation is your BFF.
HOW
The way you see something is so powerful. If you’re seeing social media as a fight, it’s going to feel like a fight. When you see it as an opportunity to reach people who need help, you soften the experience and it allows you to show up in a different way. As you.
Talk to one person rather than a group. You’ll be more personal in terms of what you’re saying plus it’s less overwhelming. Imagine you’re sitting in a café with one of your ideal clients and they want your help. They need your help and they’re asking for it. What would you say to them? How can you help them? Use this visualisation when you write your posts.
WHAT NOW
Be clear about what you want someone to do. If you’re just giving out information without a focus or structure of course it’s going to feel like you’re just creating content for the sake of it. And that feels pointless and tiring.
Be specific about how you help your clients and what you want them to do. Where do you want them to go next? Do you have your freebie you want them to download? Do you have a website you want them to go to?
And don’t just post and run. Stick around to engage with your audience. You’re creating new connections. Remember, it often takes many times for someone to see your message before they take action.
Keep an eye on the stats to see what’s working so you can do more of that!
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
If you notice that you’re comparing yourself to other people on social media, stop! You have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes and they are completely different from you. When I compare myself to people who look like they’re doing better than me, it immediately makes me doubt myself and I start procrastinating. What good is this doing? None. I remind myself that they also had to start from scratch and they built up their audience. They also learned and failed as they went but they kept going.
I know people say this a lot, but we are all our own unique journey. Do YOU. Find your voice. And the right clients will find you.
If you’ve ever tried affirmations to employ a new mindset, this is a great tool to use here. If you’re feeling scared of going on social, say to yourself what your best friend or your Mum would say to you. When we repeat these phrases to ourselves, over time our mind automatically starts thinking them 🙂
RESOURCES
Here’s what I use to help this whole process go smoothly.
Instagram expert, Pink Storm Social: for keeping on top of what’s new and how to use the platform.
Linktree: free site to host your links on your Instagram profile.
LinkedIn expert, Sophie Cross: for learning what works on the platform and supporting freelancers.
ChatGPT: free site to help you write posts. It’s definitely worth paying for the 4o version.
Capcut: free app for editing videos.
Canva: free app for creating posters, banners, logos etc….
Later: free site for scheduling your posts.
Acuity Scheduler: free site for booking appointments.
Mailchimp: free platform for building your subscriber list.
And Subject Line for… subject lines.
“Take one step at a time. It’s a long game. Give yourself space to think about it and it’ll feel easier. I promise.”
Written by Kate Greenslade
Click here to find out how Kate can help you be more present in order to show up for your business with more ease, clarity and confidence.
