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How To Create Content Calendar That Kicks Butt (Free Template)
If you’ve ever struggled with creating content consistently, the first step in fixing that inconsistency is to know how to create a content calendar that kicks butt.
And in today’s episode, we’re going to arm you with everything you need to know. Plus, we have The Ultimate Content Calendar Template (it’s totally free) so you know exactly how to create a content calendar that helps you stay consistent, and on top of your marketing.
So what exactly is a content calendar and why the heck do you even need one?
If you’ve ever wondered what to post on Instagram, ran out of blog topics, or flat out had no idea what to post on social media, (nobody has time for that), you need a content calendar in your life, my friend.
Content calendars help plan, organize, and schedule every single piece of content you publish online.
It’s that content hub where all of your social media posts, your blogs, your newsletters, your videos, podcasts and your graphics strategically come together to grow your business.
So if you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet you don’t have a system in place to organize and repurpose your content just yet.
And that’s okay! We’re going to nail this together.
It’s time to ditch the cycle of inconsistency with your content and learn how to create a content calendar that seriously kicks some butt.
Because here’s the deal, this whole content marketing thing takes time, a lot of it. And if you’re not strategically systematizing your process and squeezing your content for all it’s got, you’re missing out on lots of engagement, traffic, and leads.
Imagine being able to (finally) plan every piece of content that will be published online across the board for your business in advance.
Having a bird’s-eye view of your content enables you to anticipate what is coming down the pipeline so you can get really strategic with the content pieces you publish and leverage your content to attract more engagement, more traffic and increase your leads.
That’s what a content calendar can do for your business.
It’s the first step in building the foundation of what should be your content marketing system.
So let’s get into the whole process of how to create a content calendar that actually works.
HOW TO CREATE A CONTENT CALENDAR IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS
Let’s get into then itty gritty of how to create a content calendar that kicks butt, cuts down your content creation time, and helps you apply a strategy behind your content.
Here’s how it works…
STEP #1: SET MONTHLY & QUARTERLY GOALS BASED ON YOUR PROMOTIONAL CALENDAR
So this is the BIGGEST mistakes I see online entrepreneurs make when it comes to nailing how to create a content calendar strategically for their business.
And that’s totally understandable because this whole content creation thing doesn’t come with a handbook (which BTW, is why we’ve taught over 30,000+ small businesses how to create a content calendar system inside our course).
Instead of stressing about what to post, take a step back and analyze your promotional calendar.
Don’t have a promotional calendar? No worries.
Just think about what you’d like to sell more of this month.
Do you have a new product you want to release? Need to fill one more spot in your client roster?
When are you going to be re-launching that online course? How soon do you need to start teasing your new challenge? Are there a few weeks you need to focus on list building to promote your services?
These details matter because marketing is all about building relationships while reverse-engineering the sales process.
The whole point of content marketing is to… market and sell your offers.
But so often we’re just doing content without the marketing part.
Your content should deepen relationships with your readers and lead them through to the next step in their journey to becoming a customer seamlessly.
When you are clear on what you are promoting and to who, it’s easier to reverse-engineer your content marketing so that everything you publish online works in unison to help you CRUSH your business goals.
But we seldom think of our content that way, do we? And it's not anyone's fault... We've been conditioned to blindly chase after the followers, the likes, the comments with zero strategy or intention.
So pull out a piece of paper (or your handy task management tool… I love Trello & Clickup) and jot down your monthly and quarterly goals.
Here is an example…
July Goals:
1. Prep our email list for my new product launch by publishing a three-part blog series on self-esteem.
2. Grow our email list by at least 500 new subscribers by promoting my new lead magnet.
3. Promote my 1:1 life coaching services & fill out 3 new spots.
Now that you know what your goals are, you can start filling your content calendar with posts that move your followers to respond by engaging with your content, download your lead magnet, book that discovery call… etc.
For example, based on the goals we outlined together above, I would make sure to create the following posts to add to my content calendar:
#1. 3 blog posts on self esteem (research and create the titles)
#2. 2-3 posts that add value and promote each blog post on social media
#3. 1-2 emails for each blog post to send to my list
#4. 1-2 weekly posts on social media promoting my new lead magnet
#5. 3-5 emails promoting my coaching services to fill our those 3 new spots
#6. 3-5 posts (or more) promoting my coaching services on social media
#7. 10-15 posts for social media around the topic of self-esteem that add value and engage my audience directly on the feed.
Remember, this is just an example. You should expand this list if you have the resources to do so, or simplify it dramatically if you’re just getting started.
The idea is just to learn how to create a content calendar with intention, a strategy, and clear goals that move your business forward so you don’t get stuck in the content hamster wheel pumping out content ‘because you’re supposed to.’
STEP #2: ORGANIZE YOUR CONTENT INTO BUCKETS OR CATEGORIES
I learned this strategy 10+ years ago when I was a social media manager it changed my life.
Creating “content buckets” (or categories) for your posts can really help you stay focused on your overall strategy but also save you tons of time when you sit down to create your content.
So here’s what you do…
Figure out what kind of posts you want to create…
If the answer is ‘I have no idea’ check out our brand new Content Starter Kit for 90+ days of caption starters, post ideas, and a ton of templates to keep your audience at the edge of their seats, and never have to worry about what to post again.
I find it a lot easier to start with long-form, original content where you deliver massive amounts of value on a consistent basis.
Usually, your long form content falls under any of these channels: a blog, a podcast, a live video show, a newsletter or a YouTube show.
In our business, our blog is our long-form content channel and we also create YouTube videos + a Podcast to enhance our blog content and distribute it to a bigger audience (+ we send out an email to our subscribers with new content as well).
But you don’t need to start with all of these (we sure didn’t!). Pick a single long-form, content channel and go all in.
Once you are clear on your long form content channel, it’s time to run through the same exercise and jot down your content buckets, but this time for your social media channels.
Remember, content buckets just help us group post ideas and act as blinders so we’re not posting random content that isn’t relevant for our business.
For example, your content buckets could be:
- Blog posts
- Videos
- Quotes
- How-to’s
- Behind-the-scenes posts
Figuring out what these content buckets are is simple. Go back to your social media posts and pay attention to what has been successful in the past.
Are you getting a lot of engagement when you post behind-the-scenes photos or reels on Instagram? Put “behind-the-scenes posts” on your content buckets list.
You can also look at the highest performing posts from your competitors’ social media posts and get ideas of what your target market likes to engage with.
But if you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to experiment and try new content buckets.
Next, figure out which long-form content topics people are already searching for.
You can use tools like Google Analytics, Ubersuggests, and SEOMoz to determine which topics get the most amount of traffic and engagement in your specific niche.
BONUS: Use Buzzsumo to figure out what specific topics in your niche or industry get shared across the web more frequently.
Have a brainstorming/research session and create a list of 20+ long-form content topics so when it’s time to sit down and actually write your blogs, outline your podcast or script your videos, you don’t have to waste time staring at a blank page and a ticking cursor.
Finally, create & schedule a bunch of these content buckets and long form content posts in bulk. This will not just save you time and energy, it will laser-focus your strategy.
Need a little a visual? Back to the content buckets.
Here is how I organize my own content buckets, but remember that you can create as many categories as you see fit, always keep your fans’ interests and positive reactions with past content in mind.
In other words, make them your own.
MY SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT BUCKETS
Blog Posts
If you have one (and everyone should), this is where you get to communicate with your readers and really showcase your know-how & expertise.
Remember that you always want to send your fans and followers back to your website, and get discovered through SEO (search engine optimization). Use these posts to build your traffic and grow your email list.
Inspiring Content
You know the feeling you get when you see an image quote or read an article that really hits home? Your fans and followers want to feel it too.
So share inspirational content with your fans and followers, if you think it will empower them.
Questions
These are great conversation starters.
By asking questions that are easy & fast to answer you’re breaking the ice with your fans and encouraging them to converse about topics that interest them.
Tips & Tricks:
This is probably one of my personal favorites. Create short tidbits of insights, advice, or tips that can be helpful to your audience. You can start off by answering some questions you get asked the most by your current clients.
Other People’s Content
It’s virtually impossible to create all the content your audience is interested in all on your own (unless you’re a publication) so show fellow industry leaders some love & share their content with your audience whenever you think they’ll find it helpful.
This process is just content curation. You’re going out there and curating some of the best content to showcase on your own social channels.
Contests & Giveaways
These can help build buzz about your products and get people talking about them. Get really creative and you’ll be able to leverage contests and giveaways really efficiently.
Promos
Of course, you want to sell your product but there’s an art to doing so. You should never be afraid to sell on social media, but always make sure that you’ve given enough free value away first.
Everything Else
This includes photos of yourself or your team, behind-the-scenes action, a photo of your cute puppy… you get the point.
I like to leave space for creativity and anything that just pops into my head and that way my content stays fresh and relevant.
STEP #3: DETERMINE YOUR FREQUENCY
Okay, now that you have your content buckets outlined, how often should you be publishing these pieces of content?
Frequency is key in perfecting how to create a content calendar for your business. So for your long-form-content channel, I recommend publishing at least once per week. That’s a great starting point.
That’s, one new blog post, YouTube video or Podcast. If once per week just feels like too much, start with 2 per month and work your way up.
As your long-form channels grow, and you get better at cutting down your creation time, you can experiment with a higher frequency.
But in my experience, 1-2 original content pieces per week is a fantastic start.
What about social platforms? How often should you post on those?
That’s really gonna depend on the channels you publish your content on.
No frequency works best for every business, so like anything else, you have to experiment with your content marketing.
I touched on this topic in a previous blog, so just to recap, here is a good rule of thumb in terms of the total amounts of posts you should be scheduling each week:
- Facebook: 1-3 times per day (sometimes more often if you have a worldwide audience).
- Twitter: 6-10 times per day (sometimes more often if it works for you).
- Pinterest: 3-10 times per day (you don’t want to overdo it with your followers).
- Instagram: 4-7 times per week on the feed, daily in stories.
- TikTok: 1-4 times per day
- Telegram: 1 time per day (play with the frequency).
- LinkedIn: 1-2 time per day (you can increase, but test the frequency)
- YouTube: Weekly or more often if you can.
- Blog: Weekly or more often if you can.
- Podcast: Weekly or more often if you can.
Here are some tips you can use to plan out the frequency of your content.
- Stagger your posts so your content stays fresh and varied.
- For every self-serving post, make sure there’s another post that delivers amazing value.
- Experiment. With time, you’ll figure out the frequency that works best for you.
STEP #4: CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE TOOL
Are you starting to see why understanding how to create a content calendar that’s strategic, and keeps your audience front and center is so key for nailing your content marketing?
I hope so!
Now that you are ready to create a content calendar system for planning, creating and publishing epic content everywhere, it’s time to get to the tool part (my favorite!).
Choosing the right content calendar tool for you really comes down to preference and functionality (aka use what works for you, homie!)
If you’re a little old school and you love managing your tasks on paper, then reach out for your favorite content calendar. Although, honestly, I don’t recommend it long-term because content requires a lot of touch points and it’s hard to keep track of them on a physical tool.
This tool is the bomb.com.
Personally, it would be very hard to go back to any other publishing tool because CoSchedule just makes this content calendar thing easy-peasy.
Why do I love it so much? CoSchedule brings together your long-form ting content and your social media posts under one roof. Not only can you publish your blog and social media content using this tool, you can actually plan and edit your newsletters, video scripts, podcast episodes and more.
Plus, their drag-and-drop features make it extra easy to plan, organize and schedule all of your content in advance.
Did I mention they have a dope WordPress plugin? It integrates seamlessly to help automate your blog publishing process.
But you don’t need WordPress to use it, which is a beautiful thing.
I am obsessed with this tool and my team uses it on the daily to do the following:
- Plan for and schedule my blogs in advance.
- Schedule and publish content to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & more.
- Collaborate with my team.
- Keep my video shoots organized.
- And so much more…
Trello rocks. It’s designed to be a task management site, but it’s so versatile, it can function as pretty much anything.
From content calendars to wedding planning, you can pretty much do it all on Trello (at least I have).
Easily manage your entire content/editorial calendar on Trello or just choose to plan your social media content.
Now, the major disclaimer: Trello won’t push out your content (meaning actually publish it), unless you’ve synced trigger based app like Zapier or IFTTT. And we developed custom done-for-you recipes that help you push your content from Trello to your favorite content scheduling tool in one click inside The Content Calendar System course.
One of my favorite features about Trello is that it has a built-in calendar so you can see all of your content at a glance.
Take a look at individual cards. You get to add copy, attach images & files plus add checklists, assign users and engage with team members to discuss details.
The labels are also fantastic if you’re visual like me. I love color coding my posts like a total maniac.
Trello, of course, also integrates with various tools like Google Calendar. Which leads me to my next tool…
Google calendars are free and absolutely functional when it comes to creating your content calendar.
Although there aren’t as many features included, it’s a great alternative.
Simply create a new event for each content piece and color code them. You can also attach images and files to individual events if need be.
One feature I like is being able to create several calendars to categorize content types. For example, you could have a separate calendar for blog posts or Facebook content.
Then, you filter off the view to only see specific content categories or see everything that is scheduled at once, which is fantastic.
Of course, Google Cals are not designed to publish your content, but with a little configuration from our good friends at Zapier and IFTTT anything is possible.
The perfect way to stay organized with a simple, but powerful content calendar. I love Google Spreadsheets (or any spreadsheet) because they’re simple enough to get the job done quickly and you don’t always need an internet conenction to access them.
That’s why our newest version of The Ultimate Content Calendar Template is an interactive spreadsheet you can customize yourself (and we you can even use it in Excel or Numbers).
We’ve been ClickUp fanatics for a while now, and it’s what we’re currently using to plan all of our content. We’ve grown quite a lot the past two years, and we needed way more functionality than what Trello could offer to create a hyper-dynamic advanced content calendar and productivity workflow.
I love we can organize our posts in almost infinite ways with their Airtable-like table view, add tags, write captions, and collaborate on each post as a team seamlessly.
Their calendar view is pretty slick too, and if you prefer lists, they have that too. ClickUp has so many views it’s absurd, and with integrated automations, built-in docs, and a litany of advanced features, it’s the tool I recommend most often for folks who have a team.
Want to finally stay consistent with an endless stream of social media post ideas?
Get over 200+ caption starters & done-for-you social media post prompts by Snagging my brand new Content Starter Kit & get over 50 pages of templates of exactly what to say to keep your audience engaged consistently!
STEP #5: CREATE YOUR CONTENT CALENDAR
Okay, superstar. You’re prepped to start scheduling content in your shiny new content calendar systematically.
Start by importing your long-form content pieces (blog posts, podcasts, etc.) that will set the theme and the tone for the rest of your content (aka newsletters & social media posts).
This is where you can really get creative and do some research (hello SEO + Pinterest + YouTube optimization).
So once you have your long-form content pieces laid out, it’s time to add in your supplemental content pieces (lead magnets, content upgrades, newsletters, etc.).
And finally, add in your social media content.
I like to create content for one channel at a time so I don’t feel overwhelmed. These days my team does all of my social media scheduling, but we still use this same format to leverage our time, energy and get the most bank for our content marketing buck (so to speak).
Bonus: Steal My Content Calendar Template
So you have your content buckets figured out for your social media posts and your content calendar set; it’s time to look at your social promotion strategy.
In other words, let’s figure out how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to promoting your blog content on social media.
By now I hope you know you shouldn’t just publish your content once on social media and then forget about it. It ain’t gonna work.
You gotta have a solid content promotion schedule if you want to get the most amount of eyeballs on your awesome content.
So here is the schedule I use:
OVER TO YOU
So there you have it. How to create a content calendar that kicks butt!
I can’t wait to hear how you set up your own content calendar, so leave a comment below and let me know if you have questions.
See you in the comments section!
Xx,
Kim
How To Create A Content Bank For Social Media
Content marketing continues to be insanely popular (check out this trend report by Coschedule), but very few are leveraging tools like a content bank to create content faster, smarter & more strategically.
We’ve been using a content bank for over a decade, and I have to tell you, it’s my BFF (especially for creating social media posts fast).
But before we dive into the nitty gritty, let’s chat about content marketing for a second…
The content marketing craze is real, y’all (and around here we happen to love it when it’s crated with discernment – thank you, Jesus!).
From influencers to content creators, to businesses large and small… everyone seems to leverage content marketing, and it’s no surprise, is it?
Content builds relationships, authority, and attention like nothing else.
And hey, it’s relatively low-cost, fun to produce (if you’re smart), and can get the word out about the awesome products, programs, or services you sell incredibly well when you leverage strategically.
Emphasis on the ”strategic part”, but I won’t go down that rant-rabbit hole in this one. 😉
That being said, content can also be a huge overwhelming time-suck, especially when you’re flying solo in your business.
We know because we do A LOT OF IT every week, and because we get to hear from thousands of entrepreneurs & small business owners over in The Business Lounge too.
We’ve heard every struggle, challenge, and content marketing victory you can think of.
And one of the strategies I’ve been sharing for as long as I can think is to extend your content shelf life, recycle popular posts, and make filling up your content calendar THAT MUCH EASIER are content banks.
WHAT IS A CONTENT BANK?
A content bank is a repository of relevant, evergreen posts you collect (ideally on autopilot) to reshare at a later date.
These posts can be pre-written, or they can be posts you’ve already shared that you save for later. I find a mix of both keeps your content fresh and is easier to use (especially if you’re working with a VA or a social media manger).
Think of a content bank like a post library, or a collection of content you stash away until it’s time to fill up your content calendar again and schedule new content.
It's a tool that's saved me time and again from going absolutely nuts with the sheer amount of content we have to create every week. And I know I'm not alone in that feeling.
I’m the kind of gal who’s too busy to be thinking about what she’s going to be posting on Instagram today or fiddling with Canva (again) for every single post. So I had to get creative with ways to save time, energy, and resources and a good ole’ Content Bank has been doing the trick for many years.
Side note… if you’re still posting content on the fly, I’m going to rescue you from that never-ending chaotic stress mess.
Step #1: Download our content calendar template (it’s free!)
Step #2: Get yourself a content bank (I’m about to show you how to create it for yourself or snag the bonus template in our Content Calendar Playbook here).
Content Banks are a social media managers’ best friend, and they’re a little secret I wish more small business owners and content creators knew about, and actively used.
Seriously… there’s nothing that can put your mind at ease when it comes to posting MORE content than to know you’ve got an entire repository of validated posts you can snag at any time.
HOW TO SET UP A CONTENT BANK
First things first, a Content Bank works for you, not the other way around.
So even though in our video, I’m showing you my favorite tool for organizing content (Trello), you can adapt this same process for any tool you’re using.
Love using Asana? A Content Bank can work there.
How about ClickUp? Absolutely!
Airtable? Done
What about a simple Google spreadsheet? For sure! Any tool you’re already familiar with and is easy for you to add text, video, and graphics to will work.
I built my first ever Content Bank on Evernote, and I still have a lot of our posts saved there. So don’t get caught up selecting the perfect tool. You likely already use it for other things in your business.
Next, decide whether you want to fill your content bank manually (copy/paste each post at the end of the week, let’s day), or build an autopilot system that saves each post you publish across multiple platforms to your content bank for you.
I obviously love the later part, but it’s okay to do it manually too.
BTW, the tool I love using for building my autopilot content bank is Zapier + Trello. It’s quite a techie setup, but well worth it.
If you’re not a techie, our students rave about my plug-and-play Zapier recipes (they can save you a ridiculous amount of tech headaches)! You can snag those inside our Content Calendar System course or as a bonus in The Content Calendar Playbook.
CONTENT BANK DOs & DON’Ts
Let’s start with the Dos:
#1: Get creative with different ways of using your content bank posts.
For example, you can pull Tweets, turn them into Threads, and share those Threads on IG stories (this is how my mind works all the time)! 😝
#2. Save time by creating a strategy ahead of time.
Knowing what you post on what platform will help you pull posts from your Content Bank faster and more efficiently.
#3. Don’t restrict yourself just to micro-content post on social media.
You can create a content bank for your long-form content too. In fact, I have an entire separate content bank for our emails (yes, I send the same email over and over because it works and makes me $$).
On to the Don’ts:
#1. Don’t just post content that you’ve recycled or pre-written from your content bank.
Your social media presence should stay fresh & relevant, so use common sense based on the platform you’re using.
#2. Get a good re-sharing schedule.
I don’t like sharing the same posts for at least 60 days on slower-moving platforms like Instagram & Facebook. But when I was active on Twitter, I would re-share the same posts every 15-30 days (because I was creating so much more content there).
#3. Use common sense.
Content Banks ROCK, but they’re not for every platform. For example, I wouldn’t re-upload the same YouTube video, but I would re-share clips from that same video on Reels.
OVER TO YOU
Now that I’ve armed you with a shiny new content bank, how do you foresee using it? Do you have questions?
I love connecting with you over in the comments, so scroll down and leave me a note. I’d love to say hi and answer any questions you might have.
xx,
Kim
Want to finally stop ghosting your audience for good?
Get over 200+ caption starters & done-for-you social media post prompts by Snagging my brand new Content Calendar Playbook & get over 50 pages of templates of exactly what to say to keep your audience engaged consistently!
3 Reasons You Should Never Outsource Marketing for Your Small Business
As I hit publish on this article, I’m waiting for a barrage of hate mail from Marketing Agencies around the world.
So let me go ahead and get this out of the way…
There are both reasons and seasons when outsourcing marketing makes all the sense in the world for your small business.
MANY Marketing Agencies are busting their butts to provide a tremendous service to their clients, and by no means am I trying to diminish their work.
But, by and large, you should ALWAYS be working towards Outsource Marketing doing your own marketing, in-house.
Outsource marketing is a fantastic stop-gap for many busy business owners…
And I’ll address when and where I feel those are best used.
But today, I’m going to break down 3 reasons you should at least be wary, if not avoid outsourcing completely.
1. Your marketing needs to have a soul
Okay, I know that sounds hokey pokey, and pretty woo woo…
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Because the fact is this, every single time we’ve handled outsourced marketing for a client, we have to FULLY immerse ourselves in their culture, brand, values, and customers in order to put out a message that resonates with their ICA (ideal client avatar).
And the harsh reality is this…
Not every Marketing Agency does that…or even cares to try and do that.
Just like there are crappy Attorneys, Doctors, Mechanics, etc.
There are 100% crappy marketers that have gotten by with a few cheap hacks and gimmicks.
In many cases, they may even re-purpose and re-use the same ad copy they’ve used for MANY other clients, even in the same niche!
Funny story, but I was helping a friend with his marketing, and I looked at their Ads Manager on Meta.
This is a brand that has strong Christian values, and has done a fantastic job of tying that into the culture and messaging of what they do.
Their members rally around that culture, and his churn is next to nothing, despite being a fairly expensive option in the market.
Anyways, the very first ad I reviewed (which performed terribly, btw), had the following hook:
“Does a Bear Sh*t in the woods?”
Kid you not…
And as I read further, the message was relevant as he tied together the rest of the copy…
But do you think it was going to land my friend more ideal clients that identified with his culture?
Probably NOT.
In fact, it may have done the exact opposite.
People, above all else, identify with brands and authenticity.
In many cases, it becomes a status symbol.
It’s why Apple chose to put the logo upside down for you, the user of the actual Macbook, and right side up to onlookers.
True story, they chose to have it right side up for everyone else to see the logo because they discovered people found value in being perceived as an “Apple Person”.
Remember those Apple vs PC commercials?
It was all about defining characteristics of the individual, and their alignment with the brands.
Strip away all the hacks and ninja strategies, and marketing is about appealing to the individual in ways that are meaningful to them, while delivering a desired outcome/transformation.
Some Marketing Agencies understand this…
But finding one that does, and is committed to understanding the soul of your company, is going to be costly (and rightfully so!).
For most business owners, what a good Agency charges is simply going to be out of reach.
And you never want to find yourself nickel and diming a GOOD outsourced marketing agency not because they aren’t great, but because you simply can’t afford what they’re worth.
2. You haven’t built the proper marketing systems yet
Look, people succeed as much as you set them up to do so.
And the reality is most businesses outsource marketing out of shear marketing laziness and/or overwhelm.
They try to throw money at their marketing problem…
And when has throwing money at a problem EVER worked?
Mostly never, right?
So look, if you have a proven funnel, a proven offer, a proven lead magnet, proven sales page, etc. and you’re simply looking for someone to do the mechanics of scaling that out…
Outsourcing can be a fantastic way to go!
Learning how to do advanced marketing strategies can be extremely time-consuming, and it does take you away from what you do best.
When we were much younger in our business journey, we had a low ticket offer that ALWAYS sold at high conversion rates.
We had a sales page that was dialed in, and we knew our audience extremely well.
Knowing this, and knowing we had scale potential with this offer…
We paid a HUGE sum of money to hire THE Facebook Ad Experts in the world for a 2-day workshop.
Legit, like the people who wrote the book on Facebook Ads. (see my previous point about hiring the best and paying their worth)
In any case, over the next 48 hours, they helped take our PROVEN message and offer, and wrap that up into an ad campaign that went on to make nearly 30,000 sales, and generated millions of dollars.
It helped us avoid months, if not years, of having the learn EVERYTHING they knew about Facebook Ads…
And got us a massive ROI.
But MOST, like 99% of business owners, are not at that place (yet!).
In fact, several other business owners at that same Workshop didn’t get NEAR the results we got…if they got results at all!
And it was because they were looking to hire them to wave a magic wand.
Sorry to say, it simply doesn’t exist.
Some Marketing Agencies are wise enough to recognize when you’re not an ideal customer, and they’ll flat-out tell you you’re not ready for them to work with…
Should you be so lucky.
But the key here is to lay a strong foundation.
If you decide to outsource at that point, at least you’re giving them a fair shot at success and not just dumping your marketing probs on someone else.
3. Getting you “results” at any and all costs is not a good strategy
Have you ever followed the White House on social media?
No matter what’s going on, they’ve got a spin team with fancy graphs and cherry picked data showing what a wonderful job is being done.
Much the same, Outsourced Marketing partners are going to do whatever they can to show you “results”.
“We’re getting 22 cent clicks on this ad!”
“We’ve driven 500 new leads for your business this month!”
“This creative is getting high engagement!”
Whatever the narrative, the marketing agency is going to tout any and all wins to keep you, the customer, happy.
But what if those cheap link clicks or new followers to your account aren’t becoming NEW customers?
Or what if they’re not even in your serviceable area!?
True story…
I had a mentee of mine back in that day that got “marketing” advice to run ads to some random country no one had ever heard of.
His point was they had a uniquely high rate of following your account and boosting your follower count…
Making it seem like your business was all the rave!
But here’s the problem.
The engagement rate was trash on the actual posts from the account.
Why?
Because a service business in Atlanta, GA wasn’t RELEVANT to people in some random, African Country.
And, as a result, they ended up having to start a new page because they pretty much torpedoed the one they had doing this strategy.
Meta has smart algos…
And they can detect shady tactics.
Same goes for Ad Accounts.
If you do shoddy practices, you may get some “cheap results”, but it’s likely to eventually catch up with you.
And unfortunately, MOST of the time when it does catch up to you, the marketing agency is already long-gone, and with your MONEY!
Now look, again, not ALL marketers out there are sleezeballs.
Like I said, MANY are fantastic and provide a wonderful service.
But if you have NO clue about what GOOD marketing practices look like, and you just hire someone to get you “results”, the scenarios I’ve outlined here are hardly the worst I’ve seen.
In fact, I myself have even fallen into the trap of getting lazy with my marketing.
Like many business owners before I learned marketing, I outsourced my Google Ads to the guys that were doing my website and had recently expanded their services.
$20,000 later I realized they were accidentally sending traffic to the wrong link…
And people were seeing nothing but a big, fat, 404 Error page.
$20,000 down the drain.
And do you think the agency gave me a $20,000 credit to accommodate for the error?
Don’t let that be you.
A good house is built on a firm foundation, not on sand.
And if you don’t know at least the basics of good marketing while having a system already in place and an idea of what you want an outsourced partner to work with you on…
It’s probably not the right reason or season to outsource.
Related: I Don’t Have Time Or A Team To Create Content, What Do I Do?
OVER TO YOU
But hey!
I don’t want to leave you with doom and gloom, and a bunch of questions about what the heck you ARE supposed to be doing.
So my business partner and I put together this free resource for you!
It’s going to teach you how even busy business owners can build a solid Sales and Marketing System in an hour (or less) without having to get a PhD in marketing.
And you can sign up to check this 15 minute video out using the form below!
See you on the other side!
And hey, let me know, what was your BIGGEST Aha moment in this episode?!
Comment below, or tag us on social, we’d love to hear from you!
IG: @kimannjimenez and @heycmh!
Until next time!
Create Content for Social Media FASTER
Did you know 1 in 5 entrepreneurs are spending up to 7 HOURS per day either on social media or creating social media content for their business?
And the average amount of time spent per day is still a WHOPPING 4 hours.
In fact, any time we try to talk to business owners about literally ANYTHING other than creating content, it’s met with resistance.
Not because they aren’t aware running a business involves more than just creating content…
But rather because they are running around like crazy just trying to KEEP UP!
Social media marketing has become such a competitive landscape today.
When we started way back in 2011, it was completely wide open.
Funny story, but people truly didn’t even understand what we did.
Often times, they would say things like “so you play on Facebook all day?”
Fast forward 12 years and now you HAVE to create content to get ahead.
It’s not longer optional…
It’s how the market will perceive your entire brand.
One look at your tiny social media following and people are already making assumptions about your success as a company!
Crazy, right?
Here’s another quick piece of info for you…
Over 90% of business owners are now engaging in content marketing…
But only 11% feel they are doing it WELL.
You see, we’ve reached critical mass now, as mentioned.
But what happens next is the rise of sophistication.
This is how EVERY market progresses.
First you have a few early adopters setting the new trend…
Then you have a wave of mass adoption…
Then you have to level up your game to cut through the competitive landscape.
Now, this last part is critical.
Because it’s usually where the subpar folks give up and drop out.
They don’t see results so they swim to another part of the pool…
Or find a new pool altogether.
We’ve already seen this happen where people have moved their attention to other platforms…
Or they’ve become “Creators”…
Or worse, they just settled back into their 9-5.
If you’re like us, those two outcomes are not a possibility…
So it’s time to level up your Content Creation game!
And the first step in leveling up in ANY area of your life and business is to identify problem areas that need to be addressed.
In this case, the time it takes entrepreneurs, as mentioned, is the clear problem here.
There are enough tools out there (like Canva) that have solved the creative problem…
And social media has made it easier than ever to post seamlessly.
So what can we do to create content FASTER in order to spend more time serving our clients, making more money, building our team, and (hopefully) having more free time back in our lives?
Let’s dive into it!
#1 Focus on Pillar, Long-Form Content FIRST
See what you’re reading here?
This is long-form content.
Now the kicker is this…
Can you imagine how much micro-content (smaller pieces of content) we can create from every line I’m writing here right now?
Sometimes dozens, if not more, and in MULTIPLE formats.
Maybe you create some awesome quote posts or carousel posts for Instagram…
Or maybe you can create a pin for Pinterest that links back to this same article.
Maybe when I’m done writing this, I can grab my phone and quickly record myself covering some of the content I’m writing in quick, 15-second clips to upload to Kapwing for captions, and then post as Reels on Instagram or Shorts on YouTube.
Now, here’s where the magic happens…
Because this article you’re reading doesn’t just live on Social Media for 24 hours (or less!).
We have blog articles like this one you’re reading that drive traffic and convert leads for us for YEARS, and sometimes continue to perform better over time!
So what you’re doing is creating an awesome piece of content that ranks, finds and nurtures leads, AND gives you an awesome content bank to be able to quickly pull content from to post on Social Media instead of constantly having to come up with new stuff on the fly!
#2 Consider Batching Content Ahead of Time
Speaking of not coming up with stuff on the fly…
Remember back in school when you put off your projects or assignments until the last minute?
Stressful stuff, right? #Guilty
But if you had just planned in advance, you would have slept much easier the night before it was due.
Some theory applies here.
There are ample tools out there (like CoSchedule, Buffer, or Later) that allow you to upload content and schedule it automatically on the desired publishing date!
For example, if on Monday and Friday of every week, you intend to post a Reel…
You can create two quick videos from your article (like this one), add them to Kapwing to automatically add Captions to it, and then schedule it for next week!
DONE!
There are two pieces of highly relevant content off the book, and it likely took you less than 20 minutes to do the entire process.
Now grab a couple of lines you think will resonate, and create some static posts like a Carousel, fill those in to schedule on Tuesday and Thursday, and your content week next week is nearly finished!
The pros will schedule a month (or more!) out in advance, but if we can get you up to one week ahead of time, that’s a great start!
#3 Consider a Part-Time VA (Virtual Assistant)
It simply amazes me how FEW business owners take advantage of the wonderful benefits of having a VA.
We’ve hired countless Helpers (what we call our VAs) from The Philippines over the years, and have had an amazing experience.
In fact, this very article you’re reading has been styled by one of our very own VAs!
Point is, it’s FAR more accessible than most think…
And outside of hiring your tools (meaning building your tool stack), it’s probably the next most important hire for your small business.
For as little as $3-$5/hour, and even as little as an hour or 2 of work per day, a VA can take mountains of work off your plate.
Many of these people are ONLY looking for Part-Time work, as they already have a full-time job or work part-time for other business owners like you.
There are thousands upon thousands of these people out there, and not just limited to The Philippines (although that’s our favorite).
Now, that entire process I told you about…
Creating long-form content and then splintering off micro-content for Social Media.
You can (and should) ONLY do the long-form part, and then hand it off to a VA to create the micro-content for you, as well as schedule it on your social channels.
I would say nearly 90% of what you see us post on social media is VA-generated content but from our original, long-form content.
This maintains the integrity of your post because it originated from your own brain, but takes the nuance out of having to create EVERYTHING yourself.
In our own process, our VAs create a slew of micro-content, we read and approve it, and then it’s scheduled.
Simple. Easy. Effective.
As all the systems in your business should be.
Related: 10 Highly Engaging Social Media Post Ideas To Crush Your Content Calendar
OVER TO YOU
And hey, if you’re ready to take the next steps and start building our your own content creation system in your business…
Check out our Content Calendar Template.
It’s a 100% free download you can use to start planning our your content, and posting schedule.
Whether you’re planning to do all of your content yourself or move towards bringing on a VA, this template will get you started on the right track!
Can’t wait to hear how it works for you!
And tag us on social with one of your brand new amazing posts so we can see how awesome you are!
IG: @kimannjimenez and @heycmh!
Until next time!
Did Twitter just change its name? How X will be a HUGE win for Creators and Entrepreneurs
As you may have heard by now, Twitter has begun the process of no longer being Twitter.
In fact, at the time I’m writing this article, the infamous Twitter Bird logo is no more…
Instead replaced with a very sleak looking “X’ logo.
But why?
What the heck does it mean?
And how will things be different now?
Well, there’s SO much to unpack here…
But I’ll do my best to break down my perspective, and I’ll be using the Tweeted or “X’ed” (kidding) post from new CEO, Linda Yacarrino.
Let’s get into it!
X will be centered on Audio/Video
Now, this comes as no surprise, as Elon himself as Tweeted (in the past) at MANY influential voices to upload their video content on Twitter when it was removed from YouTube.
More importantly, Tucker Carlson’s massive addition to the platform, which is seemingly exclusive to Twitter, firmly cements that direction.
If you think those two things aren’t at all related, think again.
“X” App (I believe) will rival YouTube, and it will also include searchability functions much like YouTube currently possesses.
Right now, uploading native video content to social media is all the rave, but it is largely driven by algorithms rather than search based intent.
As business owners and marketers, this is why we’ve ALWAYS advised native, long-form video content on YouTube first, as much as IG Reels or TikTok posts are fun and easy.
Life span or shelf life of searchable content is king, and it protects you from having to stay on the content hamster wheel ALL the time to keep attracting new viewers.
If X can merge both the hashtag features WITH the search power YouTube Provides, and gives you the ability to house this content on your profile like a YouTube channel…
BIG TIME opportunity there.
And same goes for the audio component.
Now, I know most of you are thinking Twitter Spaces as a function of what “audio content” means…
And don’t get me wrong, live audio IS powerful with the right platform of users.
Clubhouse was an interesting experience that Twitter has seemingly now capitalized on.
But think more robust and expansive than that.
Because I expect people to be able to host full-blown podcasts on the new “X” interface.
In fact, I think it will be a combination of Live audio AND pre-recorded pod content.
Apple (and even Spotify) have yet to fully maximize the power of non-musical audio content…
And I believe long-form audio content is one of the fastest ways to turn followers and fans into SUPERFANS.
Podcasts are one of the most powerful nurture tools, and for good reason.
The data backs this claim, too.
Check this…
The average watch time on a YouTube video is around 4 mins.
You know what the average listen time is on a podcast?
More than 80% of podcast listeners reported spending 7 hours per WEEK listening to podcasts…
With 45% of podcast listeners making over $250,000 in annual household income!
That’s a lot of house in front of a lot of people that have disposable income.
So imagine having a social network, AND the ability to run both your YouTube Channel and Podcast all in the same place and to engage with your earned followers for each in the same app?
Powerful start in the right direction…
Not a BRAND new concept, but we’re just getting started here.
If there are ONE or TWO of your five that are outside of your industry, that’s fine…
But your core Brand Models should be people in your industry, and they should be people that have a bigger following than you.
You can even pick someone as a Brand Model that’s a few steps ahead of you instead of THE industry player.
X app will include Payments and Banking
Elon is no stranger to FinTech (financial technology).
His involvement in the founding days of PayPal has proven to be revolutionary.
But given his strong affinity for cryptocurrency, I expect X App to be Web3 enabled.
Now, you may not know what the heck I just said or what it means…
We covered that inside our membership program, The Business Lounge.
But in short, Web3 is the next evolution of the internet.
The main things to know is it’s fully decentralized…
Meaning it operates via a network of people, called Nodes) instead of servers).
And it runs on cryptography…which is like security on steroids.
Think you have a network “key” (a long series of numbers like a bank account and routing number) that allows you to interface and gain secure access to the internet so you can interact privately and even transact directly without the need for payment gateways and merchants
And ALL of it runs on a network completely by and for the people.
This is the technology that is driving the Bitcoin craze (as well as other cryptocurrencies).
How we conduct business in a Web3 world will be far more seamless, with far more security, with far more privacy, and with far less steps, hurdles and fees.
That said, I FULLY expect X App to include these abilities, and even act as an exchange!
Meaning, you could not just send crypto payments to friends or for purchases on the app…
But you could ALSO buy and sell cryptos (like Bitcoin and Doge) right on the app!
This is HUGE for creators and Business Owners for a variety of reasons…
And we’ve already seen the first steps in what this COULD look like as Twitter just made a massive round of payments to users that took part in their Revenue Share on Twitter Ads.
In my opinion, it’s obvious Musk and Co. want to shift away from the current perception of Twitter…
And a big part of that is attracting marketers and creators to make the user base more expansive than just political banter.
And the fact you can get paid just for engaging on the platform is something other social media companies should have done a LONG time ago.
Elon’s move to primarily monetize via paid verification waa the first step in making ad revenue an ancillary revenue stream…
And now that gives them margin to allow users to share in those revenues, and encourage use on their platform over others.
Just like paid verification is now sweeping throughout other social networks…
Expect this to cause a similar tidal wave of opportunities.
And the more business owners and creators wanting to be seen as legitimate, the more paid verification requests they will receive.
It’s a brilliant move and, again, one that I bet others wish they had instituted a LONG time ago. (looking at you, Zuck)
As X App continues to evolve, we’ll 100% keep you posted…
But expect a FAR more friendly marketing atmosphere, and FAR less censorship.
Meta and Google (YouTube) will have no choice but to back off their politically charged decisions to censor now that there’s viable competition in the market.
What a beautiful and amazing concept, right?
Related: 3 Marketing Assets You MUST HAVE To Protect Your Business
OVER TO YOU
Happy marketing, folks!
To learn more about doin content marketing like the pros do it, and getting it done more consistently without spending HOURS every single day…
Make sure you check out our free Content Class by clicking here!
Kim, founder over here at Kim + Co., has worked with over 32,000 business owners around the world to cut their content creation time in HALF with her unique Content Calendar System.
Can’t wait to hear how it works for you!
And tag us on social with one of your brand new amazing posts so we can see how awesome you are!
IG: @kimannjimenez and @heycmh!
Talk soon!
How To Come Up With New Content Ideas When You Have a Small Following or Just Getting Started!
Here’s the story…
You’re running around doing a million things, falling behind on being consistent with your content (AGAIN!)…
You have a SMALL audience that is giving you little feedback…
Or worse…you’re JUST getting started and your audience is smaller than small.
Like, it’s limited to your mom, dad, and a few friends small.
So what the HECK do you post about?
How can you possibly come up with new content ideas with little-to-no feedback.
Because let’s be real, 3 likes and a heart emoji in the comments from your cousin sure aren’t going to spawn a whole lot of inspiration for new content.
It’s actually downright embarrassing sometimes, right!?
Like how am I actually going to make sales and get customers for my business if I can’t even come up with content ideas that get people to engage and follow my account!?
So if that sounds like you, you’re in the right place…
And I’m going to supercharge your content idea game and get those wheels firing on all cylinders.
Ready?
Lets’ dive in…
Step 1. Identify 3-5 Brand Models
Look, there are companies in the world that have been around MUCH longer than you.
They have MASSIVE teams and spend silly money on Market Research.
They’ve also tried nearly everything you can think of on social media with their content.
In short, they know their people and what they like, want, need, and will spend money on.
So why not take advantage of that?
Success leaves breadcrumbs. (more on this in a minute)
Let’s make it practical…
Let’s say you see several of the Brand Models you follow doing a TON of Live Q&A sessions…
They’re going Live and answering questions multiple times per week.
What does that tell you about their strategy?
What TYPES of questions are people asking?
And topics is the company covering that just lights up the live comments section?
And are you writing those things down and taking notes yet?
GOOD!
Because from one of those sessions alone, you may come up with enough content ideas to last you a few months!
Now, super important caveat here…
MOST of your Brand Models should be people in your industry.
If there are ONE or TWO of your five that are outside of your industry, that’s fine…
But your core Brand Models should be people in your industry, and they should be people that have a bigger following than you.
You can even pick someone as a Brand Model that’s a few steps ahead of you instead of THE industry player.
For example, I might pick a startup shoe brand to follow instead of Nike if I was getting into that space.
The reason is because Nike’s marketing is pretty much just reinforcing the Nike Brand.
We call that Brand Marketing.
However, the startup shoe brand is going to have to hustle…
They will have to deploy more sophisticated marketing strategies (notice I didn’t say creative) to develop trust in a market where they aren’t as well known.
Now, remember when I mentioned success leaves breadcrumbs?
Good…
Because you’re looking for CLUES, not exact strategies.
One of my earlier marketing mentors told me “emulate before you innovate”…
But notice he didn’t say duplicate or replicate.
That’s called copying.
And it’s a bad look for your brand people will call out.
What you’re looking for is marketing strategies and topics…
You can then decide how you take that concept and make it uniquely your own.
Last Pro Tip: Consider creating a “burner” account on social media platforms to follow ONLY your brand models.
This gives you the opportunity to login to those accounts and see ONLY what’s happening in your market.
Immersion is key.
Step 2. Groups are a Total Growth Hack
What happens when you show up to a party instead of sitting at home by your lonesome?
Probably hear all the juicy and latest goss, right?
So why would you think sitting at home by yourself would be the way to come up with engaging new content?
You see, a BIG misconception MANY have about marketing is that it’s an art.
And look, there absolutely is a creative aspect of it…
For many, including myself, it’s a creative OUTLET.
But good marketing, the marketing that makes you actual money, is a science.
It’s human psychology wrapped up in a strategic way that develops affinity, trust and, most importantly, moves people to take ACTION!
To be totally candid, we’ve lost that skill in today’s landscape.
Dancing and pointing to go viral has taken away the attention from sound marketing strategies that put money in the bank, but maybe don’t make you Insta Famous.
The good news for you, as a business owner, is you don’t have to be famous to make money for your business…
And that should be a relief to you!
In fact, it’s actually now an advantage for you…
Because MOST people are focused on the wrong things in today’s world when it comes to their marketing.
If you don’t believe me, you should see our ad costs in relation to what they were circa 2017-2019…it would blow your mind.
But back to my point here.
Just like I said immersion was good with your Brand Models…
The single fastest way to get a read on people and what they WANT is to find a “PARTY” to attend…
And the best place for that is a few Facebook Groups in your market.
Seriously!
And guess what?
A little-known trick is you can actually search for specific topics or key terms inside the group in addition to just scrolling the feed.
Meaning, if I was a marketer and I was trying to get clients to run Facebook Ads for…
I could type “Facebook Ads” in the search bar inside the group I joined and literally see every single post referencing that term.
Ummm…
There’s probably 10,000 content ideas for you right there just in those search results.
If you start seeing themes or common Q’s that are coming up, my guess is people REALLY want to know about that topic or question to the topic.
Now, to show you how powerful this strategy is…
I personally know service providers that built 6-Figure Businesses in a matter of no time just by doing this ONE strategy in Facebook Groups.
In many cases, they didn’t even HAVE to create content outside of the actual group.
They just answered questions and stated who they were/what they did…
And eventually, became an “expert” in the group that people started referring and tagging, at which point many wanted to take it a step further and hire them.
Pumped up about the possibilities now!?
Hope so…
Because it only gets better from here because Step 3 is something hardly ANYONE does and it will give you a massive advantage in your market.
Step 3. Use Online Data to See Queries and Generate Even More Content Ideas!
Quick question before we jump in on this one…
Have you ever been typing in the search bar on Google or YouTube and saw like 10 suggestions pop up that you could possibly choose from?
Guess what?
That’s not random…
That’s based on actual search queries.
Google/YouTube keep mountains of search data, and their main job/focus is to quickly and readily provide you with relevant information.
If not, guess what happens?
You start using Safari, or Bing, or DuckDuckGo…you get the point.
Less users on their platform means less ads they can show to people.
Less ads they show means less money for Google.
And that’s not what they want (obviously).
So hey, why not take advantage of the largest and second largest search engines in the world…?
Google and YouTube (which is still Google).
Let’s do an example just so you see how powerful this is.
Let’s say you are trying to get into selling pet products online and saw your Brand Models and people in your Facebook Groups talking about “dog food”…
And you, being new with a small or no audience, want some ideas for new content…
Let’s start typing in Google and YouTube and see if we can’t come up with some ideas.
First of all…wow…people search for some crazy stuff.
But secondly, there are easily 20 new content ideas for you to create…
And guess what, there’s no artsy fartsy marketing skills needed.
All you did was look for what the market searched for and created content that matched their queries.
This isn’t rocket science, folks.
You could now create entire blogs (like the one you’re reading), carousel posts with facts based on one of these questions, you could create a reel talking about the subject matter and also upload it to YouTube Shorts (Pro Tip), or you could even go Live right now i nthe next few minutes to just talk about one of these topics!
And look, don’t just stop there…
You can try all sort of different prompts around the “Dog Food” query.
But again, this is where having Brand Models and Facebook Groups are going to be a GREAT starting point…
It will give you more specific search prompts to research and play with.
OVER TO YOU
And that’s it (for now)!
This should be MORE than enough to chew on (dog food pun reference) for at least the next few months.
And hey, if you are dying for MORE after reading this blog…
Our team even took MOST of the work out of this process for you inside our Content Calendar Playbook.
Because when you take this research and add it to our 90+ days of new Content Ideas, you’ll have YEARS worth of content to create…
And you’ll never be left staring at the screen again trying to think about what to come up with next…
We even included done-for-you post ideas like caption prompts, templates, content banks, a content matrix and SO much more.
And because you’ve read ALL the way to the end on this one (go YOU!), you can use my special link right now to grab it for just $37 (normally $99).
Here’s the link to check out everything we included.
You’ll go from constantly struggling to come up with new post ideas to totally stressfree and carefree because you have MONTHS of content done and scheduled!
This is a limited time offer at this price, so don’t miss out!
Can’t wait to hear how it works for you!
And tag us on social with one of your brand new amazing posts so we can see how awesome you are!
IG: @kimannjimenez and @heycmh!
Talk soon!
10 Highly Engaging Social Media Post Ideas To Crush Your Content Calendar
Unless you’re a social media savant, you’ll probably run out of engaging social media post ideas at some point or another…
And IMO there’s nothing more frustrating when it comes time to fill up your content calendar, than having zero clue what to post about…
I mean, I get it. I create content for a living, and sometimes even I get stuck with what to say…
So after helping 30,000+ creators, entrepreneurs & small businesses with their content creation through The Content Calendar System & our other courses, I’ve learned that this is by far the thing that keeps most everyone completely stuck and inconsistent with their content.
In fact, a few weeks ago, we polled 50,000 of our small business subscribers, and 1 out of 3 said the biggest challenge they have staying consistent with their content creation is just not having good social media post ideas to fill up their content calendar.
So if you can relate, you’re in good hands. We’re going to load you up with 10 highly engaging social media post ideas to crush your content calendar, no matter what type of business or brand you run.
Yes, we took extra care to make these as practical as possible so you can get unstuck and back to creating awesome content that resonates with your people without stressing.
✨ Snag Now: FREE: Content Calendar Template✨
10 HIGHLY ENGAGING SOCIAL MEDIA POST IDEAS
#1. Post Your Blog, Podcast or Video
Do you create blogs, podcasts, or videos for your business? If you don’t yet, I would jump on that as soon as you nail your content calendar.
P.S. Here’s the new version of our free content calendar template and it’s FIRE.
Why should you focus on long-form content? For starters, it’s authority building.
Which means, it sets you apart in a sea of wanna be’s, helps you educate your ideal customers, builds relationships faster than anything else, and helps you get discovered (if you use SEO) without having to hustle on social media.
I mean… what else can you ask for? 😄
Long-form content (think blog posts, newsletters, podcasts & videos) is the most powerful form of content if you’d ask me… And my top priority as a marketing expert as we’ve built 3 multiple seven figure start-ups (two local, one online) over the past ten years.
Whether you run a local brick-and-mortar, a service-based business, or an online brand, long-form is your BFF when it comes to content creation (more on how to start creating irresistible long-form content on this post).
Did I mention long form content makes creating content on social media SO MUCH easier too? Okay, I’ll expand on that one in a future post…
For now, I’ll leave you with this… Your ideal clients who find you on social media are going to go snooping on your stuff. They’re going to Google you, try to find your website, and make sure you’re legit before they buy from you.
So why not give them easy access to your long-form content (if you have it) consistently on social?
#2. Get Your Humor On
Don’t take yourself too seriously on social media. No one likes doing business with a corporate robot… So one of the best ways of getting your audience engaged is to share something that makes them laugh (or even poke some fun at yourself).
I love using this strategy when I noticed my reach is getting lower than normal, or I’m just not getting the response that I want from my followers. It’s one of my favorite social media post ideas for businesses owners who are just getting started because…
Humor is shareable! And that means more people passing around your content to family & friends, re-posting it on their own accounts, or tagging people in the comments who might also be your ideal clients.
It’s a great way to get your audience talking AND grow your following in the meantime.
#3. Highlight Industry News
Did something spicy just happen? Share it on your social media. I especially like using Instagram stories for this type of social media post idea because it’s perfect for adding commentary and posting in real-time as a story is developing.
The psychological principle that makes this type of post super engaging is that people love being in the know (TMZ anyone?). It’s why mainstream media (as corrupt as they are) spins narratives and gets incredible amounts of engagement on news stories that are dramatic, suspenseful or negative.
And also why emerging independent journalists are absolutely killing it with timely news posts, even if they’re not the ones breaking the story.
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to pull a yucky TMZ moment on your account to leverage this type of engagement (please don’t). You can absolutely leverage the power of news stories without being slimy.
For example, I used The Silicon Valley Bank collapse and subsequent payment holds from Etsy sellers to share as a teachable moment for my audience as a reminder of the importance of selling on their own website, and diversifying their merchants as we experience a serious economic shift.
Flipping a negative into a teachable moment, a good takeaway, or a learning lesson can make your followers feel inspired & empowered.
#4. Get Controversial (If You Dare)
Fair warning on this one… it is NOT for the faint of heart.
Posting controversial content in our current social climate is definitely going to invite haters and potentially unwanted attention to your business. But… if you have thick skin and some bravado, it’s one of the best ways to spike engagement, and in our case, share our values unapologetically.
Not to mention, marketing-wise, it's spectacular for engagement and cutting through the algorithms. Because here's the deal...
The exact thing that people love about you, will turn off people who are not the right fit. That’s a good thing. The more you can show up authentically, the more the right people will find your message relatable.
People ask if we’ve lost business over the past few years of being open about our conservative faith values through the upside down shenanigan storm that’s been the past few years, and I’m sure we have lost some business. But it’s a tiny amount compared to the amount of folks who do business with us because we’re outspoken.
They go out of their way to let us know, and that’s awesome.
Stop self-censoring because it’s convenient. It will slowly erode who you are until your message is SO vanilla that no one cares about what you have to say.
And hey, there’s also the fact that everything is controversial these days… There’s no escaping our weak societal norms, so you may as well lean into it. Just make sure you’re being discerning and wise.
Side Note: Some of you will unfollow me, just for this post, and some of the crazies will even send me some pretty hateful messages because I dare share my views. Welp… I still love you (I mean that) and I’m blessing you from afar.
At some point, we have to grow up as a society and stop finding childish reasons to be offended at everything we disagree with, don’t cha think?
This is a time for bold, courageous leadership, not watered-down PC opinions. Those are a dime a dozen on social media.
As a wise person once said, 'The cost of leadership is criticism.' - Albert Dunlap
#5. Post A Shareable Tip
I absolutely love a good carousel post on Instagram because it’s a chance to educate your audience, building engagement, and create shareable content all in one. But you can adapt it to any platform like Facebook, LinkedIn and even YouTube.
Plus, if you can debunk some myths, share an unpopular opinion, or share a novel concept, it will explode your virality because people love sharing unique view points. On platforms like Instagram, the save feature will also push this post on the algorithm, and that’s a huge plus.
Ideas to get your wheels churning:
- What’s a pet peeve of yours?
- What’s a common misconception in your industry?
- What lies does your audience believe about what you do?
- What’s a well-kept secret in your industry?
- What’s a topic no one wants to talk about?
Want to finally stay consistent with an endless stream of social media post ideas?
Get over 200+ caption starters & done-for-you social media post prompts by Snagging my brand new Content Starter Kit & get over 50 pages of templates of exactly what to say to keep your audience engaged consistently!
10 Highly Engaging Social Media Post Ideas To Crush Your Content Calendar Part 2
#6. Share A Behind-The-Scenes Post
This is my go-to when I need a good dose of social media post ideas that don’t take a ton of my time. I love me a good behind-the-scenes post, and I use it almost daily on Instagram stories. These posts tend to perform well because they build curiosity! And humans, well, we’re super curious beings.
Not to mention, behind-the-scenes posts help to humanize your brand, build that trust factor and make you way more relatable. So whether you’re working on a new product, producing some new content, shipping out orders, collaborating with partners, delivering your service, or celebrating a milestone, document it for your followers.
Did I mention this type of content is insanely easy to produce? Just document what you’re already doing vs. create something new and boom! You have a highly engaging post, done.
#7. Ask Your Audience A Question
Can I let you in on an old social media secret? Well, it’s not really a secret, but most of us don’t really think about this when it’s time to come up with social media post ideas.
It’s this: People looooove sharing their opinions and advice online.
It’s why nearly every algorithm places weight on comments above other metrics as a sign that this piece of content is relevant. So instead of always talking at your audience, try talking with them. Ask their thoughts on a particular scenario, have them share their advice, ask them about something they love or are currently enjoying…
They’ll love sharing their perspective and you’ll learn more about them + get a little engagement boost on your platform.
#8. Ask For Feedback
Along the same lines as asking a question, asking for feedback is another clever way to get your audience talking. Afterall, that’s exactly what we want them to do.
Use a fun poll, or post a question directly… The idea is to get them involved in whatever conversation you want to have with them. I love bringing our audience into the conversation by asking for their preference on our next content piece, their thoughts on current events, or just something silly like what color I should paint the new credenza in my office.
Get creative. This doesn’t have to be serious, but it’s a great way to have some fun with your audience, and learn a ton from them.
Hot Tip: Ask for advice, insight, or poll your audience on everything from your next content idea to what color your new packaging should be...
#9: Answer A Commonly Asked Question
When it doubt… go for the Q&A play!
But seriously, I love using the Instagram question sticker and answering the questions that come from my followers, but you can do this using all kinds of formats and on all platforms.
For example, you can create a YouTube short by answering a common question, or use a comment on your TikTok to create a video answer. It’s an easy way to showcase your expertise, and add value right on the feed.
#10: Share A Free Resource
Most of us forget this one a lot… but it’s the smartest way to shift the relationship with your followers and get them to join your email list. The term we use around here for freebies that generate leads is ‘Lead Magnet’ but some people call them ‘freemiums’ or plain ole ‘freebies.’
By offering something cool that’s free like an ebook, a template, a discount code, a free class, PDF report, etc. in exchange for their name and email, you’re able to stay in touch with your audience even if the algorithms lower your reach, or God forbid, your account gets hacked.
At least 20% of your posts should be promotional, and posting a lead magnet is a great way of adding even more value to your audience while growing your email list.
OVER TO YOU
Okay, so what did you think of these 10 highly engaging social media post ideas for your business?
Which one are you planning on trying this week? Let me know in the comments below because it makes me feel like I’m not just talking into the void. 🤣
See you in the next one!
Un beso! xx
Kim
Stick it to big tech
And get my#uncensored opinion on business, marketing, and current events.
P.S. Don’t even think of joining if you’re easily offended. 😉
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