Written by Bianca Schwartpaul, Social Media and Mailchimp Expert
Bianca is your go-to expert in Social Media and Mailchimp. Leading the team at B Thriven, she's all about creating custom solutions for SMEs worldwide. Since kicking off B Thriven in 2019, she's been on a mission to help businesses tackle those tricky marketing challenges.
Every business owner knows it: a consistent, knowledgeable, and expertly crafted social media and email marketing strategy is essential if you want your businesses to thrive. However, being consistent and sharing valuable content every month may seem daunting. The key to managing this without getting overwhelmed lies in adopting a structured and strategic approach.
Here are some insightful ways to streamline your social media and email marketing efforts
1. Plan ahead
The foundation of any successful marketing strategy is planning. Mapping out your content a month in advance is a great starting point. While planning for three months would be ideal, a month's plan is perfectly adequate and is what we do with most of our clients. Set aside time in your diary for this task at least half a day should be dedicated to planning your content. Consistency is crucial; always schedule this planning session on the same day each month to ensure it's a non-negotiable part of your routine. This practice not only aids in maintaining a steady flow of content but also in establishing a rhythm that your audience can anticipate and engage with.
2. Schedule your content
Leveraging a content scheduling tool can dramatically improve your marketing efficiency and effectiveness. Tools like Metricool, Hootsuite, or SocialPilot allow you to see the optimal posting times for maximum engagement, which takes the guesswork out of the equation. By scheduling your posts in advance, you ensure that your content is consistently published, even on busy days, and you avoid posting at less ideal times due to forgetfulness or other commitments. Our experience, supported by testing with various clients, shows that using a scheduling tool does not detract from the engagement compared to posting live, making it a highly recommended practice for staying ahead.
3. Create a content archive
At B Thriven, we create a spreadsheet for our clients with all the posts they have ever posted. This document becomes a valuable asset over time, allowing you to reflect on past content and identify opportunities for repurposing or revisiting successful themes. For example, a post from a year ago could inspire a new piece, perhaps presented in a different format like a video, infographic, or carousel post. Maintaining an archive of your posts, with details such as the date, category, and title, not only facilitates easy reference but also streamlines the process of content creation in the long run.
Tip: If you are short on time, you could ask one of your team members to create/maintain the spreadsheet for you.
4. Repurpose social media content for newsletters
An effective way to save time while maintaining consistent communication with your audience is to repurpose your social media content for newsletters. This approach can be particularly useful when you're looking for additional content for your newsletters but want to ensure regular touchpoints with your audience. We adapt the content to make sure it resonates with the newsletter's audience, considering their size and preferences. This strategy not only streamlines the content creation process but also ensures that your audience receives a consistent experience across different platforms.
Strategic planning, scheduling, archiving, and repurposing content are vital elements that can streamline your social media and email marketing initiatives. By adopting these smart practices, businesses can not only save time but also enhance the quality and consistency of their digital marketing efforts. The key lies in leveraging technology and strategic foresight to ensure that your content resonates with your audience at the right time and in the right format, driving engagement and fostering a strong, connected community.
Bianca Schwartpaul, Social Media and Mailchimp Expert
Bianca is your go-to expert in Social Media and Mailchimp. Leading the team at B Thriven, she's all about creating custom solutions for SMEs worldwide. Since kicking off B Thriven in 2019, she's been on a mission to help businesses tackle those tricky marketing challenges. She understands the hurdles companies face online and is all about offering smart, encouraging ways to get past them. Her team is super skilled at putting together personalised strategies in social media and email marketing, making sure each client doesn't just get by, but actually stands out in the crowded online world. With a big focus on putting clients first, she's always there, guiding businesses on their path to success.
