You know you need to be on social media, it is important for your business; your intention is to make a quick post and you get distracted by a friend’s post, a cute puppy, or adorable new shoes you never knew you needed! Pretty soon you look up and an hour or so has gone by and you realize this could have been time spent on your business! You need to make a social media plan, I can help!
Hey there creatives! Rita Barakat here with today’s post on how to make a social media plan! First things first- don’t worry if you are overwhelmed just thinking about a “social media plan!” I totally understand! However there are many ways to get help for your social media plan whether it is content, scheduling or resizing. Making a social media plan will save you time in the long run so let’s get started!
Step 1 Make a list of how what platforms you are on, and the steps you take to get them done. For example I am on Instagram, FaceBook, Periscope and Twitter. In order for me to post I have to find content or create a graphic, edit it or add text to it, resize it for the right platform, post it. I also have to take time to respond to comments and like other peoples content. (Hence the social part! 😉
Step 2 After you have done this time these steps and get an average for the time it takes to get these done. Try this for a week – you will be surprised how much time it actually takes, I know I was! Another thing you might find are more steps you actually take.
Step 3 Once you have a better picture of how much time it takes write the time it takes next to each step.
Step 4 Use your planner/calendar or scheduler and schedule each step and platform. (I need a visual so I still have to write it out in my planner! )
Using these steps will give you a more realistic picture of what you can accomplish if you stick to your schedule.
Here are some other things to consider when making a social media plan.
How much time do you have?
Who is your audience and where are they? (Do you need to need to be on every platform? Hint – the answer is no!)
What does your audience want to see from you? or to see? (You probably want to schedule time just to collect content).
Helps and links
Apps to resize: Each social media platform takes a different size pic or graphic. There many apps that resize it for you, Word Swag, Spark Post, Canva are just a few of many apps out there!
Online Scheduling plans – Hootsuite, Buffer Social, Post Planner (Post Planner not free but worth a look). These apps have options to post during optimal times.
Collecting content – It can be as easy as using your tool bar to mark favorite sites to pull from. Google docs has free and user friendly charts and Pinterest has options to keep boards private.
The most important thing to understand about your social media plan is that social media is forever changing, so don’t be afraid to change things up try something new or different if things aren’t working for you. Your plan will evolve and change as you and your business needs change! Happy planning!
Rita Barakat is a Mixed Media Artist, Illustrator, Designer and Educator. From wall murals to itty bitty minis you can find her work in various hospitals, corporations, family homes, manufacturer websites and magazines. She designs, teaches workshops and and freelances for a variety of manufacturers. Not anywhere near a local event? Sign up for her newsletter and receive a Top Secret Mixed Media Class in your inbox!
- How to Make a Social Media Plan - March 16, 2017
