Unpacking Their Value for your Small Business Social Media Planning

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, we are all constantly seeking creative ways to engage with our audience and boost our brand visibility. One strategy that has gained popularity in recent years is using awareness days, also known as national or international observances or holidays as part of social media content planning. But are these awareness days just hype, or do they offer genuine value to small businesses? Let’s take a deeper look into this topic to understand their potential impact on your social media strategy.

The Power of Awareness Days

Awareness days are designated occasions that draw attention to specific causes, issues, or themes. They vary from the well-known International Women’s Day and Earth Day to more niche observances like National Coffee Day or National Pizza Day. These days offer several benefits for small businesses:

1. Content Relevance: Awareness days provide a timely opportunity to create content that resonates with your audience. Aligning your social media posts with relevant days can make your brand more relatable and engaging.
2. Trend Relevance: Joining the conversation on trending topics can help your content gain more traction. By participating in awareness days, you can tap into existing online discussions and reach a broader audience.
3. Showcasing Values: Many awareness days revolve around social or environmental causes. Participating in such observances can showcase your business’s values and commitment to making a positive impact.

The Potential Downsides

While awareness days offer several advantages, it’s crucial to consider the potential downsides before diving in headfirst:

1. Oversaturation: Some days have become so popular that they risk oversaturation. Your content might get lost in a sea of similar posts unless you find a unique angle to stand out.
2. Relevance: Not all awareness days will align with your business. Posting on unrelated days can come across as disingenuous or opportunistic. It’s vital to select the ones that resonate with your brand and target audience.
3. Planning Challenges: Keeping up with awareness days can be time-consuming. Small business owners often have limited resources, so planning and creating content for numerous days can be overwhelming.

Maximising the Value of Awareness Days

Here are some tips to ensure you don’t fall into the hype trap:

1. Content Strategy: Prioritise the days that align with your brand’s values and resonate with your audience. Develop a content strategy that outlines how each awareness day fits into your overall social media plan.
2. Creativity: Instead of simply acknowledging the day, find creative ways to participate. Share unique stories, create engaging visuals, and provide valuable insights related to the observance.
3. Consistency: Don’t limit your engagement to awareness days alone. Maintain a consistent social media presence throughout the month. Awareness days should complement your regular content, not overshadow it.
4. Measure Impact: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your awareness day posts. This data can help you assess the actual impact of these observances on your brand’s online presence.
5. Quality Over Quantity: Focus on a select few awareness days that genuinely matter to your audience. It’s better to create high-quality, meaningful content for a few of the days than to participate in many with shallow posts.

So, in my opinion, awareness days are not just hype. They can be valuable tools for a small business owner looking to enhance their social media strategy. However, the key lies in strategic planning and thoughtful execution. By aligning your content with the right days and consistently delivering meaningful messages, you can use these days to boost your brand’s visibility, connect with your audience, and showcase your business’s commitment to important causes. Remember, it’s not about the quantity of awareness days you participate in; it’s about the quality of your engagement.

If you need help with planning out your monthly content, why not consider booking a Social Media Content Planning Session with me over Zoom?  Email me at karen@littleacornmarketing.co.uk for more information.

 

*image credit canva Nov 2023

Does it sound weird if I suggest that you should build your list before you decide exactly what to sell? It's a little counter intuitive isn't it?

So here's what I'm saying. If you're a coach or a yoga teacher you know what your passion is and you know roughly what you're going to teach. So before you start paying deposits on venues or buying lights for your course or online studio (even if that's your front room) build your network. And it doesn't have to be a stadium! Twenty, thirty, fifty people who are really engaged in exactly what you do is great.

Why?

Have you ever put your heart and soul into a project, spent hours on getting it just right and then tried to sell it but no one buys? I have. What I learned is that posting a couple of posts in local groups about your upcoming event or posting on social media a few times is not enough. You need to have a group of people who are really interested in you. Who know, like and trust you.

How?

Figure out what you want to teach.

What general style?

Decide who you will offer it to.

Create something that you can share with them in exchange for contact details.

Talk to them about the kind of course or classes that you want to share, how you will help them to feel in their body and mind as a result of your classes.

Imagine how it would feel if you had customers ready to buy your course, your membership, your coaching.

Think about how powerful it would be to ask a group of people who are already interested in what you share for feedback on something that you're thinking of offering.

Remember people want to help others so ASK

• Look around on social media, It's full of people helping each other, connecting, sharing, laughing, crying, buying.
• Reach out to friends and family, even former colleagues and ask them to share your lead magnet.

The worse thing that can happen is that they say NO. Everyone appreciates being heard so LISTEN

• Go to the hashtags that you use to post and share to try to reach your ideal clients. And see what they are posting and talk to them. Like their posts. Share their posts.
• Help them to succeed. Make insightful comments. And do it consistently.

Set notifications up for when your prospective clients post. On Instagram and LinkedIn you can do this using the bell feature beside the account name.

Get the balance right use SELF AWARENESS

• Have you ever heard that phrase that you shouldn't go back to the same well too many times.
• This expression is a modern version of an ancient proverb, appearing in various ways and numerous languages from the fourteenth century on. Thomas Fuller (Gnomologia, 1732), “The pitcher that often goes to the well comes home broken at last.”

But some people think asking their family to help them once is too much.

Others go back and back and back and ask for help until no one wants to talk to them anymore.

Self awareness is so important. It's ok to ask for help. Maybe not 10 times from the exact same people. But certainly more than a couple of times is ok.

Do you have a system for Building your Network?

On the 11th January I am going to run a Paid Workshop to show you how you can Grow a List with Ease. It's going to include:

• A live Workshop at 1pm Ireland and UK time on Zoom to show you to Grow your List with Ease when you use the right tools to attract the right people.
• A follow up Personal Recorded Video Feedback session within the Private Facebook Group.
• A 40 Lead Magnet Ideas Workbook PDF
• A recorded tutorial on How to host your Lead Magnet
• A recorded tutorial How to Create an Automated Email Welcome Series.
• 5 different Lead Magnet Canva Templates to customise and use as your own with Accompanying Canva Training Tutorial on how to use the templates.
• Private Facebook Group to receive peer to peer support and further resource on how to Attract your Ideal Clients.

AND There's an early bird 30% discount for WIBN members if you book by the 21st December Here's the link: https://www.elainewalshmcgrath.com/offers/PFzLgey4?coupon_code=WIBN30OFFNOW

Photocredit: Elaine Walsh-McGrath in Canva