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JOIN THE 14 Day CHALLENGE & Cultivating Consistency on Social Media Webinar
11 Plays9 days ago
In this episode I share a webinar I presented yesterday within the Digital Solutions Program, on ‘Cultivating Consistency on Social Media for Creative Professionals’
Since this podcast started out as Business to Your Own Beat there are likely still listeners who are running their own business and could find this helpful in their journey, especially if you’ve struggled to remain consistent in your content creation or even taking the steps towards showing up online.
Also included is a 14 Day Challenge you can participate in with the offer to receive a 30min coaching session with me or a full page feature in the Autumn Edition of THE Rural Woman e-Mag if you participate as a part of the Digital Solutions Program.
Find out more by listening to the episode.
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By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents are the property of Marie-Nicole Meunier, or used by Marie-Nicole Meunier with permission, and are protected under AU and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Marie-Nicole Meunier, which may be requested by contacting
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Transcript
Introduction and Purpose
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome back to the Alive by Design podcast. In today's episode, I am going to share with you what I shared in a webinar that I presented yesterday within the Digital Solutions Program.
00:00:12
Speaker
Since this podcast started out as business to your own beat, there are likely still listeners here who run their own business and could find this helpful in their journey, especially if you've struggled to remain consistent in your content creation or even taking the steps towards showing up online.
Webinar Summary and Challenge
00:00:31
Speaker
Throughout this webinar, I share what consistency means in terms of social media, as well as ways to develop habits and practices to support you in sustaining momentum,
00:00:42
Speaker
When we're starting out, it can be really helpful to have a framework to work within to help overcome the blocks that you may be experiencing. And I also share stories of how there are other ways to gauge if your content creation is having an impact beyond likes and follows.
00:01:00
Speaker
The real conversion rate to focus on that speaks to your success or not. And I also have created a 14-day challenge to help participants with ideas on what to post and build their consistency muscle.
00:01:15
Speaker
For those in the Digital Solutions Program, there was an offering of three people having a full page feature in the Autumn Issue of the Rural Woman e-magazine, which is only a new offering and receives thousands of readers. So if you're in the program already, you may be interested in finding out more about that.
00:01:34
Speaker
But if you're not in the program and wish to join, you can sign up via the link in the show notes and receive up to four hours of one-to-one coaching to support you in your digital solutions journey at the same time.
Host's Background and Business Journey
00:01:46
Speaker
But for those of you who do not meet the requirements of joining the program because you're not in New South Wales, Australia, or let alone Australia, I am offering something else for you to um if you choose to actually join this challenge alongside the rest of us.
00:02:01
Speaker
And I will share that later on in the episode. So listen on if you would like some inspiration, guidance and encouragement in becoming consistent on social media. It is my intention to support as many small business owners, especially solopreneurs, in building a sustainable business that enables them to thrive, have their unique essence be their outer expression, and free them themselves from feeling limited in their potential.
00:02:28
Speaker
You are here to share your magic with the world, and I look forward to seeing you, Sora, alongside of us as you do. Do you desire to live a life that supports you in thriving? A life based on understanding your unique design while engaging more in your passions.
00:02:44
Speaker
I'm Marie Nicole and I am devoted to combining beauty, uniqueness and connection in everyday living experiences. As a creative professional and embodiment coach, I facilitate others in embodying their uniqueness and help them connect to their inner essence and let that be their outer expression.
00:03:03
Speaker
I'm also a mother of two precious young men and with children in tow have established and run unique businesses over the last 25 years and embraced opportunities that have created magical memories along the way.
Role of Digital Tools in Business Growth
00:03:15
Speaker
This journey has certainly not been without its challenges, but overcoming these challenges is what has led me to focus more deeply on living my life by design and provides me with the wisdom to draw from in supporting others to do so too.
00:03:31
Speaker
It's my hope this podcast inspires you to live your life on your terms and earn your income through being uniquely you. Whether that's working for yourself or someone else, the key here is living in alignment with your unique design.
00:03:46
Speaker
After all, it's the unique thread that we each contribute to the collective tapestry that creates the whole.
00:03:56
Speaker
Now are you ready to take your creativity digital? Whether you're starting out or refining your skills, we're going to look at how to build a confident online presence as creative professionals in this episode. So let's begin.
00:04:11
Speaker
During webinars, I do a little background and experience intro so that people get an awareness around where my knowledge and wisdom has come from that I'm sharing in these webinars.
00:04:23
Speaker
And some of you may already know my background and so this may be a little boring to hear it all again. so today I'm gonna share a little extra piece of information about my background that I've not shared previously.
00:04:35
Speaker
What I am sharing with you in this webinar and episode comes from a lived experience, not just the theory behind how it all works or doesn't work in our favour. Of course, everyone's experience will be unique, but hearing the experiences of others can be really supportive and informative. 25 years ago, when I started my first business as a professional portrait and wedding photographer in Sydney,
00:05:00
Speaker
serving clients from the Hunter Valley through to Wollongong and everything in between. The digital landscape did not exist in this same way. After 10 years of running that business and becoming digital in the process, when I first started my photography business, it was analog based.
00:05:16
Speaker
And then I had the arrival of my second child and i transitioned out of photography and started an artisanal business instead. What I've not shared before is that after the birth of my first son, before the arrival of my second, I was a part of a bridal collective running my client consultations for my photography business out of that space.
00:05:38
Speaker
Often with my little Bubba in tow, I carried him in with in a little Moses crib and the owner of the store was so impressed with how I managed my time and continued my professional presence even while navigating being a new mum.
00:05:53
Speaker
So she actually asked me to establish on her behalf a new business under her brand as an event decorator. alongside her niece who also had established a flower girls dress business under that same umbrella company.
00:06:08
Speaker
So for a year I continued to run my own photography business. I was in the process of phasing that out but at the same time I also set up this event decorating business.
Strategies for Social Media Consistency
00:06:19
Speaker
This role included going on many buying trips and building up stock and establishing systems and processes for the operation of this new offering. And once that business got to a point of standing alone, um having its own dedicated warehouse that it operated out of, the owner of the business actually then employed a team to run that business going forward.
00:06:42
Speaker
And I began the process of establishing my artisanal business, phasing out my photography business. So this was a crazy busy time, juggling a lot, which amplified the desire to make the move to the country, which we'd always dreamed of.
00:06:57
Speaker
slowing down our pace of life and especially once our second son was born. So 14 years ago, I moved to the Yass Valley and continued to grow that business, selling my wares online through retail stores, markets and festivals. And then about eight years ago, I opened up a commercial space in the town of Yass.
00:07:15
Speaker
And that included the integrated workshop area, creative co-working space and a retail store. And through that space, I also mentored and coached micro and small business owners in in establishing supportive habits and practices for their business and life.
00:07:30
Speaker
Now, i recently closed that space after a year of becoming a single mum, and now I'm back working fully remotely from home as an embodiment coach, podcaster, and artisan, relying even more heavily on digital solutions myself.
00:07:45
Speaker
Utilising digital tools effectively has played a critical role in attracting and staying connected with clients and customers in all the businesses that I've established and run.
00:07:56
Speaker
As a micro-business owner and single mother, creating content efficiently and effectively is even more important these days. Being someone who operates best by setting up systems and processes to sustain a thriving business, as well as a lifestyle that supports my well-being,
00:08:15
Speaker
Creating content for social media has been a journey of trial, error, tweak, try again, lots of continual research and learning in order to keep up with this ever-evolving beast, which is also such a gift to those of us working in our little cocoons, creating magic, often on our own, and then that being shared as a result with a much broader audience through social media and without even having to spend a single cent on advertising.
00:08:45
Speaker
which is a real gift these days. So this webinar is a three part series. The first one was based on kickstarting your social media journey. And in that I shared 25 years ago We spent thousands of dollars on one magazine advertisement for one publication in the hope that we'd get a return on our investment to at least cover the cost of that ad.
00:09:10
Speaker
Nowadays, we can try, test, tweak, try again only for the cost of our time and imagination. Time is now our biggest collective constraint, which is why I'm so passionate about supporting others in finding their flow in the digital realms.
00:09:27
Speaker
I know it can be daunting thinking about where to begin, how to sustain consistency when it comes to creating content and sharing in a way that feels aligned with your creative process, especially when you'd rather not have to share your whole life with the world or lose hours a day doing so in the hope that people will invest in what you do and create.
00:09:52
Speaker
But the truth is, regardless of whether or not you're investing in showing up online or in person, it's the showing up that keeps your business going and enables you to grow and pivot as needed. The systems and processes I've established to stay consistent is what has enabled me to pivot and start something new in a seemingly effortless way.
00:10:14
Speaker
But what fosters this is creating supportive practices and processes, not seeing marketing as a chore, but an essential element of running a business. Finding ways to connect your offerings to those who would benefit from the service or product you provide will rely on marketing, whether or not connecting with people face-to-face or online.
00:10:37
Speaker
Being in rural locations especially, finding those we are here to serve and creating sustain a sustainable business may mean reaching people beyond our local government area.
00:10:48
Speaker
And that's the magic of social media and the internet. It allows us to cast a wider web from our beautiful, serene location. When I moved my photography business from a commercial space in Sydney to operating from room at the bottom of the townhouse we were renting in Terrigal, it was so hard to separate business and personal life.
00:11:08
Speaker
I had clients show up at my front door on a morning that was very rare that I actually had off, where I was sitting on the balcony upstairs in my pyjamas, taking a well-deserved break and lazy breakfast overlooking the ocean.
00:11:23
Speaker
But I was so accessible. Running a home-based business from a rural location acts as a natural filter and makes us less accessible, enabling us to switch off when we need to, but it also means we have to put in more effort to be discovered, which is why I wanted to host this webinar to hopefully help people establish a foundation that supports them in creating consistency and share content online through at least one of the various distribution channels available to you.
00:11:55
Speaker
And use these for free so that you can attract those aligned customers and clients from your beautiful, serene surroundings. Now, the third webinar in this series will be held on Wednesday, 30th April.
00:12:09
Speaker
And it will also be free and the focus will be elevating your online presence in the creative world. So like I said, if you are if you're eligible to join the program, I encourage you to do so. You can also register for this webinar. I'll include a link to that in the show notes as well.
00:12:26
Speaker
But for now, let's get on with developing consistency in your online presence. So understanding, first of all, what is consistency in social media? What does it mean?
00:12:39
Speaker
Does it mean posting every single day? Now, there are four elements I want to focus on about consistency. Regular posting is number one, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to post every day.
00:12:52
Speaker
It's about establishing and following a posting schedule that aligns with your audience's habits and platform algorithms. This practice assures your audience of your commitment and reliability.
00:13:05
Speaker
Recently, I was tasked with setting up a directory for creatives as a part of a freelance role, and it was difficult to determine if some people were still engaging in their craft. From what the organisation expressed, they were, but me being new in the organisation, I did not know all of the members personally, and I was viewing their profile in a way a new person to their work would.
00:13:29
Speaker
And there were artists and musicians who'd not posted anything for two years. There were even people who had their LinkedIn page as their profile link. And that page was focused on their day job.
00:13:41
Speaker
So it's important to see this from the viewer's perspective and especially a new viewer, not from the perspective of your family and friends who know your situation and why you've not been posting.
00:13:54
Speaker
You're better off to create a place holding post stating that you are taking a break from posting rather than leave your social media platform unattended for long periods of time, especially if you do have the desire to grow your creative career and be viewed as a professional in this field.
Maintaining Brand Voice and Engagement
00:14:13
Speaker
Posting regularly does not have to mean daily. It just means creating a cadence, a rhythm to your posting. And that may be three times a week for some, or it might be daily for others, and it might even be twice a day for some of you, if that works for you.
00:14:29
Speaker
Now, in the last webinar, I talked about the various platforms that you could choose to share content on and the differences between them. And I recommended picking one that suits you.
00:14:40
Speaker
That is where your target audience is found and that you enjoy hanging out in. In the same way that while there are thousands of people at a football match, you won't find me there pitching my offerings because it's just not really where my target audience is or even my interests.
00:14:58
Speaker
I am more likely to connect with them in an intimate experience like a sound healing or a cacao ceremony at a one-day retreat experience. Now the second part about consistency that I want to share is your cohesive brand voice and visuals.
00:15:15
Speaker
Maintaining a unified brand voice and visual across all platforms. Now this includes consistent language, tone, colour schemes and imagery that reflects your brand's identity.
00:15:28
Speaker
This comes back to authenticity, staying true to your values and being genuine and transparent, which I spoke about in the last webinar also. As a creative, you are your brand and you are a potential pioneer of a trend.
00:15:44
Speaker
So doing something that is a current trend or works for someone else on their feed does not serve you in building your audience based on your unique voice, style and creative expression.
00:15:58
Speaker
It is so much easier to be yourself than to try and be something you think you should be. Keep this in mind if you choose to use the assistance of AI for your content. you will still want that content to sound like you, your voice and the voice of your brand, which is you.
00:16:16
Speaker
Now the visual representation of your brand is also an important element in creating consistency. Representing the feel of your brand through the tone and textures of your images.
00:16:29
Speaker
Is your brand and creative expression dark and moody? and introspective or is it light vibrant and uplifting or is it minimalistic and slick? For me the elements that represent my brand are natural fibers, textured finishes and earthy tones.
00:16:45
Speaker
Now yesterday when I was running that webinar I was actually doing so from my son's place because of internet connectivity issues that I have had here in the village with the our little mobile tower being completely overworked with construction taking place in the village and school holidays being on. So the platform that we run the webinars on is quite a heavy intensive platform for the internet.
00:17:09
Speaker
So I went down to Canberra and I was running it that webinar from there and I was sitting in his gaming chair with this big logo on the chair which not really representative of my brand identity.
00:17:21
Speaker
So I took my linen wrap with me and I covered the gaming chair. i mean his room looked beautiful but the gaming chair was what really bothered me And so this is the type of little things that become ingrained in you once you really start to really tune into the awareness of your brand identity and the importance of that.
00:17:41
Speaker
And your background is a part of that in your content. Now, the third part I want to talk about in terms of consistency is aligned messaging, ensuring that your messaging is consistent in purpose and supports your brand's core values and goals.
00:17:59
Speaker
across different posts and platforms. Like you won't find me pitching my um offerings at a football game, you'll never hear me use football references in my content.
00:18:10
Speaker
I wouldn't have no idea where to begin, even if I thought it would reach a broader audience because there are lots of people out there who follow football. Instead, you'll hear me use gardening analogies, wild nature-inspired metaphors,
00:18:24
Speaker
because they align with my messaging. Cyclical living-based examples following the cycles of the moon, the seasons of our environment, life and its phases and stages itself.
00:18:38
Speaker
Now, keeping your messaging in alignment with what's authentic to you and your core values also helps create consistency in your content creation.
00:18:49
Speaker
So do what excites you, not what you think will work. Don't waste your talent on echoing somebody else's voice and express your truth and you will attract your tribe.
00:19:01
Speaker
Focus on your life force energy and creative expression. This is after all your superpower. It's not following a formula or tactics.
Overcoming Creative Blocks and Resource Management
00:19:11
Speaker
The fourth part of consistency that I want to share with you is about engagement and interaction.
00:19:18
Speaker
Consistently engaging with your audience, their comments, likes and shares, this interaction builds trust and fosters a sense of community around your brand.
00:19:29
Speaker
Clients often say that they know they should be on social media for their business, but they really don't want to have to hang out on social media. So let's consider for a moment, if you opened up a commercial space and when people walked in, you ignored them because you were so caught up in catching up on global affairs, reading the news.
00:19:48
Speaker
And if you continue to ignore those who walk into your space, you wouldn't actually be able to build a sustainable business now, would you? And you know what? You've probably had this experience when you've walked into a commercial space where someone's reading a book or a magazine and and hardly even notices you're there.
00:20:04
Speaker
Of course, this would not serve your business well. So let's transfer that theory to opening up a virtual space for people to connect with your offerings. They show up, make a comment, and you just ignore them Do you think that they would be likely to comment again or even attempt to dive deeper in a conversation?
00:20:24
Speaker
Why would they? That said, I do find it interesting to learn that some people follow me online who never like, comment on anything that I'm posting about, but when they see me in person, they talk to me about what I have shared in terms of content creation.
00:20:41
Speaker
And a good example of this was a jeweler I met at a market. I loved her work so much. I bought a pair of her earrings at that market and then started following her on social media. And I even reached out to her to stock her creations in my store.
00:20:56
Speaker
I did not end up doing that because I closed my commercial space. However, I did continue to purchase her work through her online store and engage in her Instagram feed.
00:21:07
Speaker
Now I had no idea she was actually taking any notice of my content though until I reached out to ask if I could buy a replacement pair of earrings and if she still made that particular design because I had lost one of the pair down by the river and her response to that was no need to buy them I'll just send you a new pair I love the message you share on your Instagram feed.
00:21:28
Speaker
Now she had never even liked let alone commented on anything that I had posted on so I had no idea But she was clearly gaining something out of staying in touch with my content.
00:21:40
Speaker
Now, I have many stories similar to this that I can share, not necessarily being gifted things for nothing, but just in terms of people reaching out sending emails, speaking to me offline or sending a DM and and telling me about the impact that my content has had on them.
00:21:59
Speaker
But they're not necessarily leaving that in the public platform and by leaving a comment. So instead of focusing on receiving immediate responses for the content that you create, but Look for other clues and indicators that what you are doing is actually serving your audience.
00:22:17
Speaker
The conversion rate I like to focus on, even more than likes and followers, is how many people invest in my offerings that have discovered me on social media.
00:22:28
Speaker
By focusing on the elements of regularity, cohesive brand voice, visuals, aligned messaging and engagement, you will create a consistent social media presence that resonates with your audience strengthens your brand's reputation and will make you easily recognizable.
00:22:47
Speaker
So let's now move on to the strategies for building consistency. One of those strategies is content planning and scheduling. Now there are lots of tools and techniques for a content calendar creation that can be supportive to you in creating consistently, yes, but the most basic approach to starting your journey would be to write it down.
00:23:11
Speaker
pen or pencil to paper, brainstorm, brain dump all of your ideas on paper. I personally find this to be more powerful as a first step than sitting in front of a computer with a blank screen in front of me.
00:23:25
Speaker
After brain dumping ideas onto paper, I then transfer those that I think would be the easiest to create and the most impactful into something electronic on the computer.
00:23:37
Speaker
Now, running those ideas through the filter of does this speak to my brand values? Does it serve my audience? And then use a framework to support your creative expression.
00:23:49
Speaker
A simple four post framework I like to give clients to get them started to rotate through are four pillars, inspirational, educational, storytelling, and promotional.
00:24:02
Speaker
By writing out these four headings and then brain dumping your ideas under those headings, you will be surprised to discover how much you actually have that you can share.
00:24:13
Speaker
And rather than just sitting in front of a blank screen or a sheet, by putting those titles into place, you'll spark ideas. And you might be thinking, I'm a creative, what am I going to educate people on?
00:24:25
Speaker
How about the why behind what you do or why you use particular mediums you work with? As an artisan, I choose to work with sustainably sourced materials as I operate within an eco-friendly ethos and desire to reduce the impact of my work on the environment that supports our life and thriving.
00:24:45
Speaker
So that is something I use as a part of my educational aspect in my artisanal brand. In terms of inspiration, that could be based on what inspires the work that you do and that could be inspiring for your audience to learn about.
00:25:02
Speaker
Or how you do your work, some behind the scenes of your creative space or sneak peeks into your process. In terms of storytelling, you could share the journey that led you to doing what you do now, or it could be the story of a client or customer and their experience with your work.
00:25:21
Speaker
In terms of promotions, this is about bringing focus to an upcoming offering, ready-to-purchase product, a or something that's created to order. Having these four pillars to cycle through makes it easier to come up with ideas on what content to create and share.
00:25:39
Speaker
And once you've got those topic ideas listed out and have decided which to create, then it's time to allocate time to sharing those ideas. And a simple spreadsheet or writing it into a calendar is the most basic way to do this.
00:25:55
Speaker
There are, of course, as I've said, apps that you can use to schedule and post from, but even before investing energy into working out how to use these apps or even pay a subscription, I'd encourage you to first develop the habit and practice of planning and posting consistently.
00:26:15
Speaker
Experimenting with the content creation itself, creating videos, carousels, stories, establishing templates that you can use over and over again to help you create your brand identity and publishing regularly, as well as building foundational skills of writing captions that represent your brand values and deliver your aligned message.
00:26:39
Speaker
Once you have those foundations laid out, then you can explore apps to automate your content like Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, even meta-business. But I like to encourage you to develop the ah muscle of consistency first.
Efficient Content Management Strategies
00:26:55
Speaker
So now let's go into the area of overcoming challenges. There are three areas I want to focus on with this. Number one being creative blocks, two time management and three resource limitations.
00:27:09
Speaker
Creative professionals often face a range of challenges when striving for consistency on social media and here are some of those practical suggestions to overcome these common obstacles.
00:27:21
Speaker
Starting with creative blocks, let's look at your inspiration sources. Regularly seeking out new sources of inspiration such as using art galleries, books, podcasts or nature.
00:27:34
Speaker
Changing your environment or consuming different types of media to spark new ideas. And then mind mapping and brainstorming. Using and the mind mapping and brainstorming technique to explore various ideas and connect with different concepts.
00:27:50
Speaker
that can help generate those innovative content ideas, which is what I spoke about when it came to the four pillars earlier. And then taking creative breaks. Allow yourself short breaks to recharge, engage in activities unrelated to the work that you are doing so you can rejuvenate your creativity and lead to fresh perspectives.
00:28:14
Speaker
Collaboration and networking is another one that's really good to try. Working with other people who are creative professionals to share ideas and gather feedback. Or networking can introduce you to new ways to approach and inspire creativity.
00:28:31
Speaker
The second one is managing your time effectively. Prioritising and planning is a good place to start. Prioritising tasks based on deadlines and importance. If you have a specific event, launch or release date in mind, working back from there to create your content then takes your audience on a journey, warming them up to, preparing them to invest in that important date, while still building their awareness and trust in your overall creative business brand and offerings.
00:29:04
Speaker
And use tools like to-do lists or digital project management boards to keep track of tasks and ensure you're focusing on what's most crucial. There are tools like digital tools like Monday, ClickUp or Notion, but a basic pen and paper notebook that you can create a listing is also just as effective or even a spreadsheet.
00:29:25
Speaker
Now batch content creation is another way to help with time management, allocating specific days for content creation and scheduling your posts in advance. This method helps you streamline the process and reduce the daily pressure.
00:29:41
Speaker
When I had a commercial space and I had a retail store that opened to trade, I didn't open on Mondays and Monday was my day for content creation and planning. I would look ahead Often I'd look a month ahead and at least stay on top of what was necessary to plan out.
00:29:58
Speaker
But on a Monday would really be a focus of the the week's content that I needed to get out the door. So I would have all my ideas ready and then I would take my photos and I would even pull things off the um the retail shelves and create little scenarios and take those photos and then prepare the content to post out on a daily basis.
00:30:18
Speaker
And setting realistic goals, that's another one. Establishing achievable goals for each work session to prevent burnout. Breaking those larger projects into smaller tasks can make them more manageable.
00:30:33
Speaker
So that's what my Monday was. It was a big day of planning and then I did the content create um the content delivery over the rest of the week. Time blocking is another technique that can help you with time management and allocating dedicated time slots for specific tasks to minimize distraction and increase productivity.
00:30:56
Speaker
Not only did I have a Monday allocated to my content creation, that was also part of my newsletter was a part of that too and I had Thursday as the day that the newsletter went out but I blocked time out throughout the week that enabled me to focus on getting that task finished.
00:31:13
Speaker
Now I actually dedicate a day a week to creating my podcast because that is my big piece of content that that I then pull apart and use in small. I'm going to get to that in a minute. Let's just stay focused on the time blocking, actually allocating time.
00:31:28
Speaker
This works not just for content creation. It can work for your bookkeeping and your sales reporting and even your um production. So Time blocking is a really effective way to Make the most of the time you have available to you or creating time that you need available to do certain things.
00:31:47
Speaker
Now, the third one is overcoming resource limitations. I hear this a lot. You know, I don't have the um i don't have the right equipment. So utilising free tools and resources is a good place to start. Take advantage of free, low-cost tools for design, like Canva.
00:32:04
Speaker
I use Canva for free for a while quite a while before I actually started paying for the subscription because I found that it was so powerful just as a free app and then I got more out of it once I started paying for the subscription.
00:32:19
Speaker
So looking at ways that you can use free apps to read your analytics or to do your social media management. Many platforms offer a free version at a basic level first and then you can upgrade like I was saying with Canva.
00:32:33
Speaker
And when you do upgrade, you get access to even more powerful tools that can support you. And I would be using one app to its full extent before you actually start taking on a subscription of another.
00:32:45
Speaker
Outsourcing and delegating tasks is another way to um overcome your resource limitations. Now, consider outsourcing tasks like graphic design, content writing to freelancers,
00:32:59
Speaker
um if that If your resources allow for that. But if you don't have the funds available to you to actually pay somebody else to do it, potentially consider a value exchange service where someone with the skills that you don't have and you with skills that they need, you could actually offer to help each other out.
00:33:20
Speaker
Now, as a solopreneur with teenage children, don't overlook the ah value of your children as a resource. Recently, i have outsourced some of the tasks that I need done to my youngest son as he is very reliant on me getting around for what he needs because he only has his learners. He's not on his P's yet.
00:33:40
Speaker
So in exchange for me being his Uber driver, he has to been devoting some of his time to help me update the links in my YouTube and podcast descriptions because I've closed down one website and I'm opening up and I've got a new website that I'm directing people to and there are a lot of links that need to be changed.
00:34:00
Speaker
So that is only one aspect of how your teenager teenager or teenager in your family can help you. Another is researching apps and equipment that could be supportive to the production of what you do in your content creation.
00:34:14
Speaker
This has saved me many hours of going down wormholes in the interweb. I have allocated to both of my children to actually look for equipment that I need to do what I would like to do And because they spend so much time researching these things out of interest, and even um I've discovered apps that I now work with that they have recommended to me because they have worked with them.
00:34:39
Speaker
So it's outsourcing outside of the box is what I'm trying to encourage here. You are creative. You can get creative in the way you do your business and the way you run your business as well.
Maximizing Reach with Content Repurposing
00:34:49
Speaker
Now, repurposing content is another way, maximizing the value of existing content that you have and using that across different platforms.
00:34:59
Speaker
For example, if you write a blog post, then using that to create a series of social media posts or even a video. Now, I intentionally create a long form piece of content for my YouTube channel and podcast, and then I extract quotes and clips to use across other platforms.
00:35:15
Speaker
On the flip side, I also repurpose content that I have created off the cuff for content on social media like um Instagram. And if I do a video that or ah take photos that seem to capture people's attention and stop some scrolling, then I will reuse that for something promotional because that imagery has proven to be scroll stopping.
00:35:39
Speaker
thinking about it that way how can you minimize the amount of time you spend on each piece and use what is already effective the other aspect I want to share with you on this is leveraging user-generated content encourage your audience to create content related to your brand user-generated content can provide valuable material and engage your community As a former portrait and wedding photographer, when I had my commercial space selling Australian made and designed and locally handcrafted wares, I asked repeat customers if I could take a portrait of them wearing items that they had purchased in the store.
00:36:20
Speaker
And I used my skills as a portrait of photographer to create a beautiful image of them that I gave to them and also used it to promote the products that we sold in store. So it's thinking again outside of the square.
00:36:33
Speaker
Now with my repurposed blanket instrument cases that I sold across the globe, I often receive photos from delighted customers sharing how they had used that blanket. Things like children wrapped in a guitar case at an airport sleeping,
00:36:49
Speaker
because it was cold and they'd taken the guitar out of the the case and then wrapped themselves in it. I even had adult photos like that. But also people were so proud of the product that they were taking photos in the of the product in their new home I've had duffel bags, all sorts of things that people have sent me photos that they have really put some thought and effort into taking.
00:37:10
Speaker
And then I use that on my feed to share their capture and their story. And it that ties back into the storytelling as well. So by implementing these strategies, you can effectively navigate the challenges of maintaining consistency on social media.
14-Day Challenge Introduction
00:37:27
Speaker
ultimately enhancing your brand presence and engagement with your audience. Now I want introduce to you the idea of this 14-day Instagram content creation challenge to help you exercise your content creation muscle and discover what you may not realize you enjoy doing because you've never tried or because you have hesitated to try.
00:37:51
Speaker
Now, if you decide to engage in this challenge, it really is for you to actually experience and learn and apply what you then learn to elevating your presence online.
00:38:03
Speaker
Some of you will be excited by this and ready to take on the challenge and others of you will be reluctant. But with a little bit more encourage encouragement, you may realize the value in taking yourself through this journey.
00:38:16
Speaker
And there will be some of you who think there's no way I can fit this into my schedule. My intention with this is to help you learn through taking action. Even if you're not on Instagram, if you wish to take on this challenge, you can do this on any platform. But the reason I have chosen Instagram is because it will be easy for me to manage monitoring your activities and celebrating you taking on this challenge as well.
00:38:42
Speaker
Because as a single mum living in a rural location with all of the commitments that I have, I too don't have a lot of spare time. But I really want to support you in this. And I have found over my 25 years of business that the most impactful way to learn is to do.
00:38:59
Speaker
And I've undertaken many courses in business to improve my skills in creating and even coaching, and it has never been just theory that has solidified the knowledge or helped me acquire the wisdom.
00:39:12
Speaker
It has always been through the doing. Now, currently, I'm in the process of preparing my family home to, i would not even preparing, it's listed, preparing to sell the house that we live in and the property that we live on and to move to a new region. So my time is constrained more than usual, but I too am committing to this challenge. And I actually shared my first video yesterday ah with the webinar participants, they're going to be doing this journey alongside of us.
00:39:38
Speaker
But because I have found that actually putting a little bit of pressure sometimes helps refine action, that's why I thought this would be a really good idea to do it. When you think about um submitting an application and how you're given word counts in, say, a project proposal or applying for a grant And those word counts actually help you clarify your message and tighten your message, as well as the deadline to submit it in.
00:40:07
Speaker
On the flip side, if you have plenty of time and space to deliver your message, you could end up overthinking, overexpressing, putting it off until later. So this challenge will introduce you to topic ideas and different types of content creation methods that you can use.
00:40:24
Speaker
And it'll encourage you to explore a little deeper and keep things a little simpler. the The video I created yesterday was one of the most simple reels I have created in a long time.
00:40:35
Speaker
and But I'm glad I did that because I do sometimes over-complicate it for myself. This challenge is not about adding more to your plate. It's about helping you find your rhythm on social media as a creative entrepreneur.
00:40:49
Speaker
And if you're new to content creation or building consistency online, then this is a way for you to explore and experiment and gain momentum in a supportive environment.
00:41:01
Speaker
The intention behind you joining the challenge is for you to build confidence using social media platforms that align with your creative business, to learn what types of content resonates best with your audience,
00:41:13
Speaker
and to form habits and support consistent visibility online, as well as connect with other passionate creators who are sharing this process with you.
00:41:24
Speaker
Now, you'll walk away with a bank of content that you can repurpose beyond the challenge. And as an incentive, as I mentioned in the introduction, the people that are doing this through the Digital Solutions Program, they will also be um they will have the potential to receive a full page feature in the autumn issue of the Rural Woman e-magazine.
00:41:47
Speaker
But for those who are not in the program who wish to engage in the challenge too, I am offering that you take part through my podcast feed instead. And we'll offer two participants who complete the challenge a 30-minute coaching session for free with me.
00:42:03
Speaker
Now, there is not going to be an assessment of what you do here that you have created. This is about using your newfound awareness of how important it is to create consistency using your brand, voice, imagery and trialing methods that you may not have tried before to create content.
00:42:22
Speaker
Even if you don't wish to do the whole challenge, just trying some of these ideas will be valuable to you to support you in developing some skills in taking action on your content creation.
00:42:34
Speaker
It will be a requirement that you use a hashtag in this challenge and the hashtag for the A Life by Design challenge will be A Life by Design WIP which stands for Work in Progress and I'll get you to tag my Instagram handle into your post so I can find you in that sea of content out there.
00:42:55
Speaker
Before you start the challenge, I suggest taking a screenshot of your analytics or insights information and set that aside. I don't want you getting caught up in the numbers. This is about practicing the art of content creation.
00:43:08
Speaker
But that said, it will be valuable for you to see if there is a shift in your analytics at the end of the challenge. But I cannot emphasize enough here that this is not the objective.
00:43:19
Speaker
The objective is to form a new habit, develop new skills, and the next time we will look at refining those skills. Now, if you're not on Instagram and you wish to use this inspiration on um for the the challenge on other platforms, I welcome you to do so.
00:43:34
Speaker
But for simplicity's sake, like I said, I've selected Instagram so I can monitor activities and celebrate your efforts. Remember, I too will be taking this challenge and stretching myself in doing so.
00:43:46
Speaker
So the details of the challenge will be provided as a separate PDF with the themes for each day. I will have a link to the um to that in the show notes where you can get access to that.
Conclusion and Community Engagement
00:43:57
Speaker
and But the actual structure will be something like this. We'll go for 14 days and you'll be doing four reels, four stories, four carousels and one free choice post.
00:44:09
Speaker
So to receive all of the topics for each of the day, simply click on the link in the show notes and register to join the challenge. So I hope you are as excited about building your online presence as I am.
00:44:22
Speaker
So let's consider for a moment the flow on effect of micro and small businesses like us thriving. for our families, our communities and beyond, which is really what excites me.
00:44:34
Speaker
So I want you to remember that there are three webinars that I'll be presenting on this. Now, of course, if you've not seen the first webinar and you're not in the Digital Solutions Program, you can always join. And if you are not eligible to join, ah let me know. And potentially I can do ah an episode dedicated to what I shared in that to help you.
00:44:54
Speaker
But if you also are interested in joining the challenge and then going that next step, focusing on elevating your online presence, we're going to take the insights from this challenge that you gain to help you in that, to up-level in that next webinar.
00:45:09
Speaker
And remember that for a small fee, you can get one-to-one coaching support through the Digital Solutions Programme. And that will help make a difference to realizing your dreams and reaching your goals sooner.
00:45:21
Speaker
So I wish you a magical rest of your day and hope that this episode has inspired you to step into the light a little bit more and actually show up on social media because the world needs the magic you have to offer.
00:45:35
Speaker
Thank you so much for staying all the way to the end of this episode. I hope it provided you with the insights and inspiration that you need right now on your quest of fostering thriving. If you are looking for a coach to support and guide you through your own unique journey of creating a life by design, reach out for a connection call. You'll find a link in the show notes.
00:45:55
Speaker
Also, please do pass this on to someone you think could get value out of it. And I'd really appreciate if you left a review for this podcast or comment on YouTube.
00:46:05
Speaker
I'd love to hear any insights or inspirations it activated in you. And I look forward to soaring alongside of you too.