📣 Get Social Media Advice for your Business

[DinaLRosenberg]

Hey Square Readers,

We’re almost at the end of Day Trading Attention by Gary Vaynerchuk, and so far we’ve talked about your business’ use of social media, covered the basics of why attention matters, went through The Modern Advertising Framework, and did an overview of the current Social Media Platforms.

Now we’re going to do something different: we’ll help each other out and play Social Media Consultants to give each other advice on what kind of content would be most effective to post. 

Get Social Media Advice

Sometimes an outside perspective is really helpful, so let’s all help each other with this. Let’s use this as an opportunity to brainstorm different content ideas we can use across platforms, and give each other suggestions. 

Share your social media handles & links, and give a description of your business, in the comments below. 

I’ll look through your social media channels and give some advice, and I hope you join me in helping others too. 

Jump into the comments below to:

• Post your social media handles & links.
• Describe your business and what ideas you’ve had so far.
• Take a look at others’ answers and jump in and share your tips, too!

Don’t forget to:

• View and Subscribe to all threads about this book

• RSVP to our Live Discussion – Tactic Talk: Social Media

Happy reading!

Dina

[Pesso]

Thanks so much for doing this, @DinaLRosenberg ! Looking forward to having folks share their handles and the feedback everyone gives!

[CareyJo]

www.facebook.com/arcticheat2017

We're an HVAC service company

I've struggled with ideas - it's difficult to post content that clients want to read about, very few people care about their equipment or any knowledge of it, they just want someone to show up and fix it

[DinaLRosenberg]

HVAC has been on my mind this week because my Combi System broke down and needs to be replaced.. yay.. HVAC isn't sexy until you don't have heat or hot water... ha ha.. This week I've been taking "homesteader" showers- boiling water on the stove so I could wash up. I'm literally seeing a reel or TikTok of me doing this - with a voice over saying don't let yourself get here- HVAC maintenance is important, etc. 

today I learned that those systems need to be de-scaled every 3 years to prevent build up... have we ever done that? no... and maybe that would have allowed us to keep the unit we are now replacing for a few more years. Who knows?

I love the idea of an educational series- like a troubleshooting 101. What are the little bits of knowledge that are intuitive to you that a business or homeowner should  know? 

For example when our heat isn't working the first place I go is to make sure someone didn't hit the emergency off switch (we have gas) on the way down into the basement (it's a tight squeeze and this happens a lot).

The second thing I do is go in the basement and make sure the pilot light is on.. 

Maybe HVAC isn't super sexy like some things but gosh is it critical.

[GoalGetter]

I would suggest pinning a post that is relevant to your business at the top of your page. You can do that by clicking on the three dots of the relevant HVAC post and then "pin post." That way people see a post right away about your business, if they're vising it for the first time. 

[Pesso]

These are such great tips, @DinaLRosenberg  & @GoalGetter !

I absolutely agree with all of the above, and I think people care more about knowledge & tips than you think they will, @CareyJo ! I totally would (and regularly do) watch videos & read posts like that! I say give it a shot and experiment -- ya never know unless you try.

[CareyJo]

Thanks for the feedback!

[bonny]

I get that people don't care about their equipment until it doesn't work.  Maybe start a silly thread of posts like, "Baby, it's cold inside. Get that furnace checked before it checks out on you."  I know the diddy refers to being cold outside but people want their living/work spaces to be comfortable so work around the things that get people's attention.  Or a ghost busters type theme, "Who are you going to call..."  

That's all I have.  

[bonny]

This has been such an interesting book.  I'm running a little behind (life got in the way) but I will catch up soon. Admittedly, I don't do much with social media because I've never seen much response to my posts but I'm realizing as I read the book that it's because my posts didn't have a actionable focus to them, I very likely used the wrong keywords for tags also, and I don't post on a set schedule because I can't think of anything to add. 

Ok, on to the description of my business:
I blur the lines between fine art and illustration. My original art is either watercolor, colored pencil, or a combination of both. I make my products beautifully designed and elegant to use. 

www.bonnywagoner.com

IG: @bonnywagoner 

I suppose I should work in I don't use AI in the creation of my artwork (since it seems it is going to be an up and coming challenge for all creatives). I'm the manual, old school creative. 

[DinaLRosenberg]

Hi Bonny!

I think people by art not only for it's beauty but for connection. Art creates feeling in us- emotion- and reminds us of our shared experiences. That others may feel the same way we do and we're not alone.

I would love to see reels / videos of you creating your art- maybe some talks about why you choose the subject matter you do.  would also consider tagging the brands you use to create your art with the hopes that they would "regram" your content

In addition here are some new hashtags to use that I think could help. Also, add your own hashtag #bonnywagonerart to every post you make.

#watercolorart #watercolourpainting #watercolors#watercoloursketch #watercolours #watercolourillustration#watercolour #artoninstagram #watercolourart #watercolor#artistsoninstagram #watercolorartist #watercolorist

[bonny]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I tag all my posts with #bonnywagoner since that's my IG handle.  

Since I'm just getting the hang of tags... and this is just me talking out loud, how would using tags describing what the work was designed with benefit me? When I look up those tags, it looks more like artists showing artists their work. 

And trust me, no one wants to know what I use to make my work.  My husband tells me people glaze over when I get technical about what I do so I have on purpose tried to keep it light and fun.  For sure I can totally geek out on the properties of the pigments I'm working with and such but I keep that stuff to myself so I don't bore folks to death.  

[DinaLRosenberg]

hashtags are how people find you or a topic that interests them.

I like using a hashtag that signifies what type of art you're creating- especially with the increase in AI art I have a feeling it will become more important.

I would also TAG the products you're using in your posts. That way, the brands you use in your art may re-post to their feed or stories which increases your views.

[bonny]

Thanks - I'll give a try to see what response it generates.  🙂

[Pesso]

I think there's more of an interest in the behind the scenes details than you think, @bonny ! Even if it's other artists, there's a niche for everything and I'm sure some people would love to hear about the pigments! 

[GoalGetter]

My only suggestion is for you to make videos of you creations.

I know when I see someone doing art or pottery I always want to watch and see the final product.

[bonny]

Figuring out how is on my list of things to do after the holidays when I have some slow time. 

[Pesso]

Thanks for jumping in @bonny !

I love the advice from @GoalGetter & @DinaLRosenberg so far -- absolutely agree with all of that.

You could totally do some long form videos of you creating a piece -- either from start to finish, or just broken up into how you make them. People (me included) love just watching people make art, even in total silence without you talking. You can post the long form videos on youtube, and also make timelapse videos & just short clips of interesting parts (close ups especially) and post those on instagram & tiktok. 

Definitely also agree about more videos of you talking about the art too -- going over everything you've shared with us that you tell potential customers at fairs -- give your pitch! 

[bonny]

So here is one of my existing videos.  My Crater Lake Lodge Project 
It was an attempt at putting together an introduction to one of my projects. 

I'm also having a hard time envisioning what part of what I do anyone would want to see plus I haven't figured out HOW to film myself.  I only have two hands and I use both when I work.  It's something I'll research after the holidays.  

[Pesso]

That video is so great! I'd suggest also doing some voice over or video of you talking in it to bring some more personalization and you into it, too!

People want to see the real and authentic you, so try out a bit of everything and see what you like! 

There are so many ways to record yourself -- even just using the camera on your computer. If you want to use your phone, There are so many great easy and cheap tripod-like things you can use! 

-- There's this little flexible one

-- This taller flexible one that you can also use for overhead shots

-- This mini desktop one 

-- This clamp on one 

So many options! Just look around and hopefully you can find something that works for you!

[CrismarChandler]

Thank you for this opportunity. We are a small candle business located in the Midwest and our viewer interaction has been very minimal. It's hard to come up with content for candles besides pictures of them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Facebook

Instagram

Thank you for taking the time to look and I'm excited to hear your ideas.

Shamarr Voskuil

Co-Owner of Crismar Chandlery

www.crismarchandlery.com

[DinaLRosenberg]

Hi Shamarr!

Right away of the top I'd say talk more about the fact that your scents are pet safe. That's a VERY interesting niche and pet owners would never want to do anything to deliberately hurt their pets, ever. So perhaps content centered around educating consumers as to why some candles are toxic to pets. Do you have pets? Perhaps reels about them, too?

I'd also love to see videos of y'all actually hand-pouring the candles. 

Check out the content on instagram for the hashtag handcraftedcandles https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/handcraftedcandles/

Witchcity Wicks seems to get a ton of engagement https://www.instagram.com/witchcitywicks/

I really like their posts around their scent collections and I'd love to see each scent collection get it's own post.

If you offer seasonal scents, create content around their "vibe'- so the candle and what the scent evokes. For example you scent cafe you say:

We think it's time you finish that book you've been putting off. Instantly turn your room into your dream café with the smell of fresh roasted coffee and cream. A scent escapade that's sure to delight.

I'd create a reel of the candle burning and then clips of a coffee shop, a beautiful latte, someone sitting and reading in a cool coffee shop, all different images rotating... with a tagline of, "if this is your vibe you'll love cafe"

Hope this helps!