Frances Barrett is the Director of The Social Brain , a social media marketing agency who help their clients’ businesses grow in visibility and sales, through consistent content.
It might sound cliche, but it’s that age old saying “failing to plan is planning to fail”. This is something Frances’ Dad used to tell her while she was prioritising MSN messenger over studying for her GCSEs, but a lesson that she has carried through every part of life and business. Here’s Frances’ quick tips you can apply today to plan ahead for your content calendar and so you can concentrate on the other stuff in your business:
Grab a 12 month calendar and plan in your holidays and days off first
If you are running your own business and you are the main point of contact, these important “your days” will influence your monthly focus.
Focus on JUST ONE THING per month:
This could be one intention (for example, increasing brand awareness because you’re on holiday and people can’t book into your diary) or just one product or service. It makes everything from what you’re talking about to your messaging a little less complicated.
Think of three to five topics that support your product or service:
If you are in the wellness industry, it might be “mindset”, “nutrition” and “fitness”. You can then divide these topics into sub-topics to inform, educate, entertain and inspire.
Look at National and International Days that are relevant to your business or to your ideal audience:
By using this trending content (and by putting your own spin on it), this can encouragement engagement on your platforms. The Social Brain has a calendar function in The Social Brain app (it’s free!) so you can plan ahead.
Think about your consistency and what platforms you can dedicate your time to.
This largely depends from business owner to business owner, and audience to audience. We all have our own preferences so do your research - ask your current clients where they hang out.
Assess the results and rinse and repeat what works
The social platforms give us a lot of information in the insights. Check in with them at least once a month and take note of what topics support your desired results.
Need an extra hand? Check out The Social Brain’s Sales Strategy Planner - an undated planner helping you to break down your social media strategy and plan ahead for 12 months.
