Everyone knows by now that having strong social media content is crucial for your brand image and even for reaching new customers. But how can one establish a solid social media presence? Start with a content calendar.
A content calendar is exactly what it sounds like: a grid in which you lay out what content you are going to post, where and when. In making a social media calendar, you can plan out your content weeks in advance. This means less worry for you, and more consistent posting which often leads to an increased following. Here are some quick tips for how to create a content calendar for your brand.
Quick Tips
- Start with a free template online. Instead of starting from scratch, save time and use a blank calendar that has already been created. Check out this article for a comprehensive list of templates online, or this one for a free template you can place into Excel.
- Plan your calendar ahead of time. The goal of a calendar is to plan out content weeks, sometimes even months in advance so you don’t have to worry about it later. Leave plenty of time to complete your calendar before putting it into effect.
- Establish your voice. This is something that may already be utilized in your social media content, but it is key to establish a voice for your brand. Know your audience: are you reaching out to teens? Professionals? Your content should look very different depending on who you are trying to attract.
- Research key dates in the industry. An easy way to build out content is to post around some key dates that are important for your brand. Is Valentine’s Day coming up? International Coffee Day? Use that as an excuse to interact with your followers. Get creative; create something clever, humorous or impactful that will engage your following.
- Repurpose content. An active social media campaign requires a lot of content. Fortunately for you, companies often have tons of content they can draw from already, so you don’t have to create something brand new every day for your channels. Take advantage of your current assets, whether they include photos from past events, blog posts or industry news. Use your employees as professionals in their own field for quotes, expertise or data. Don’t be afraid to repost or use consumers engaging with the product or service; they will love the shoutout and you get to borrow their content.
- Track success and tweak for the future. Don’t forget to track your content once it has posted. What kind of posts got the most engagement? How can you improve your content in the future? A lot can be learned be tracking the success of your current campaign.
Helpful Hints
-Consider collaborating with another brand or an influencer. It’s a win-win for both parties involved, and it widens your company’s audience.
-Tailor your voice to the media you’re posting on. Consider this: an Instagram post often consists of a simplified caption, letting the image speak for itself. Twitter and Facebook are word-based sites with a casual tone (photo/video encouraged). LinkedIn tends to be a formal business scene, so scholarly blog posts and a serious tone are more welcome here.
-Keeping your username and profile picture consistent over all media helps consumers to identify you more easily.
In today’s consumer climate, it is absolutely vital to be able to communicate and engage with your consumer. Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to creating successful and engaging social media content and growing your customer base.
For professional help creating your company’s content calendar, contact Anvil Media today: