Updated June 12, 2023
I love a good challenge! I know it’s my North Node in Gemini that causes me to be intrigued by the inner workings of how others think. It helps me seek out what challenges others face and allows me to problem-solve in a way they can implement. It’s like my superpower as a marketing coach and consultant.
But, in general, most people are either shy or ashamed to ask for help. They don’t want to bother me or think they’re asking a dumb question. But that’s the part I do well and love best - helping people. It’s funny that I’m in marketing and rarely get asked questions about it. Because I know that asking for help can be intimidating, I put the option up to pick my brain in my social media stories. Yet, I get crickets. But in conversations with people about their business, I catch tidbits about a problem or obstacle I know how to solve.
But then I’m faced with the ultimate dilemma of offering free advice when it wasn’t asked for or staying silent and letting others figure out their problems.
What’s A Girl To Do?
The best solution is to offer a few tidbits of advice and cover some common questions I think many people might be afraid to ask.
1. How do I ______ on Instagram? Or how do I know _____ is working?
Please drop me a DM or shoot me an email! I can’t tell you the answer without knowing the question. And I can promise you that no question is dumb. I have literally been that person at the office who tried everything before realizing I needed to unplug the machine for 10 seconds and plug it back in.
Too often, people don’t realize that there is a solution because they are too close to the issue. But if I know the answer, I am more than willing to offer advice if it’ll make your job easier.
2. How can I share a TikTok on Instagram without getting into hot water by the algorithm Gods?
Use a third-party app such as CapCut (free to use!) to do your initial editing, save it to your phone and then use Instagram or TikTok’s native tools to add captions, stickers, effects, etc. While it will tweak your video differently in each app, that’s more than okay since you want to have some differences in your content to appeal to different audiences.
3. Do I really have to show up on multiple platforms? It’s exhausting!
The short answer is only to show up on social media platforms that your IDEAL customer and target audience will be on. If they are present on multiple platforms, see what you can automate. Schedule content on platforms you aren’t interested in and post organically on platforms you enjoy. It’s not a great way to approach marketing your business, but if you are genuinely stretched thin, this is the simplest way to keep showing up on social media.
4. Do I have to show my face on social media?
Honestly? No, you don't. There are clever ways to make your posts seem personal and allow your followers and community members to get to know you (because you will want them to go through the sales funnel know, like, and trust factor). You can create video footage and use the voiceover feature. You can share some of your processes and products without actually showing your face. You can offer advice or share tips. You can even show what your day looks like. ALL WITHOUT SHOWING YOUR FACE. As long as you stay true to who you are and what your brand represents, there is nothing wrong with not wanting to show your face on social media.
5. How do I know when it's a good time to post?
All social media apps will provide backend analytics as long as you have a business/professional account instead of a personal one. Those dashboard stats will show the days of the week that your audience is active and what time they are active, and can even offer more granular information, such as what posts performed the best. The only advice I would HIGHLY recommend is to tailor your posts to cater to your followers and communities. Don't take blanket advice from marketers that say to post on such and such a day and such and such a time. It's b*llsh**. Additionally, Meta (Facebook and Instagram) stats automatically default to Pacific Standard Time. So, don't forget to adjust your posting schedule to what is going on in your most active time zone.
6. What are your prices?
I like to do things ala cart. I work with small businesses because I love their direct impact on their community. Each small business has different marketing needs. Most business owners don’t know the terminology for other areas of marketing and assume that one category covers it all.
It would be helpful to talk with each business owner to discuss their goals and obstacles and determine the best action plan.
Perhaps you thought you wanted a social media manager, but after talking, we determined you need a PR agency. Unfortunately, I may not be able to provide that service, but I can still help you by pointing you in the right direction.
I also enjoy ala cart pricing because it allows flexibility on what may be most helpful to your business. For example, perhaps you love designing Canva graphics but hate caption writing. Or maybe you need a content calendar and some accountability. Unfortunately, not every package fits in a neat checkbox, and that’s okay.
The Ultimate Question
Hahaha, I'm just kidding. I can’t possibly know your burning question without having a conversation. Marketing is such a complicated, creative, and data-driven process that it’s hard to understand your business's needs without at least a discussion. But I know that whatever your question is, there’s a good possibility that I either know the answer, will learn how to uncover the answer, or know someone who can help if I can’t.
Sometimes I am told that people don’t ask me marketing questions because they don’t want to be “that” person who asks me ten thousand questions. Or, they don’t want to make me feel taken advantage of because they can’t afford to pay me for my time. To that, I say, ask away. And if it is something that won’t be a quick answer or you’re asking me questions daily, we can talk invoices and fees.
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