How To Make Our Content Your Own

We totally get it. You may be reluctant to subscribe to a content calendar that a bunch of other people in your industry are getting. Heck—other people in your office! One of the golden rules of social media is to stand out in the crowd, so how will Officially Social Content Calendars help you accomplish that goal?

Our content schedule is merely a suggestion. Of course, we think the order is excellent and effective, but you do you! No one knows your business, clients, and needs better than you, so feel free to adjust what’s on the calendar each month to suit your own personal taste. And it might even be fun! Here are five ways to make our content your own:

1. Change up the order - The easiest way to avoid having the same post as other subscribers on any day of the week is to change up the order. Granted, if we give you a post celebrating National Tooth Fairy Day, that post will have to stay put. But otherwise, feel free to post our content any day you'd like - or keep it as is. 
2. Drop in a logo - Did you notice there's an easy-to-use editor right in our calendars? We've also mindfully designed many of our images with negative space precisely for your logo. Drop it in, position it where you'd like and voilà - a personalized graphic!
3. Edit the text - Is your tone of voice a bit snarky, sarcastic, or all business? Edit any text we provide to match your style of speech. Add in local information, a tidbit about your business, or include a link to your website. The possibilities are endless. 
4. Add your business name to the caption - Nothing says personalization like your business name. Add it to any post along with your email address or phone number. 
5. Use the content in other ways - This is why we love our 5 and 7 days per week subscriptions. The more content choices, the better! Take a few days of images and post them in Stories. Better yet, make a Reel and post it everywhere. Our posts don't necessarily need to be "posts." Use them anywhere you'd like.

You’ve decided to take the plunge and finally invest in your social media channels. Wonderful news! But if you haven’t posted in a while, it could take several months for you to see any significant engagement.

What’s the culprit holding you back? Algorithms. These are the set of calculations put in place by each social network that determines what users see in their newsfeeds. So, you can post all the great content you want, but it’s entirely possible that no one is seeing it.

Think of it this way. If you go several months without posting or post very infrequently, your feed essentially “falls asleep.” The algorithms stop prioritizing your content, and you don’t show up in your followers’ feeds. So how do you make it “wake up?” Here are the top three ways to get the wheels spinning again.

1. Boosting - This is an excellent option because it's both affordable and effective. For as little as $1 per day, you'll reach a much wider audience, and it will start to tell those pesky algorithms - hey, look at me! We recommend boosting a post that is personal to your business and either highlights your products/services or shows off a great accomplishment. And don't forget a call to action!
2. Sharing - Log into your account and start scrolling through your feed. At least two or three times per day, share someone else's post that is relevant to your business. Not only with the original poster appreciate the gesture, but it will certainly increase the exposure of your account. Hopefully, you'll get a few shares out of it as well!
3. Engagement - Again, start scrolling and comment/like as much as possible. Not only will the "algorithm gods" start taking notice, but the more you interact, the more others will interact with you - WIN-WIN! 

We can't stress enough that you need to be patient in this process. It could take several months before you see any changes at all. But if you take the steps we've suggested, your engagement will definitely improve!

You’ll never be good at social media, right? How do other people do it? It’s actually pretty simple. And YOU can be good at it.

With just a few basic principles to keep in mind, you can change your social accounts from stale to stunning.

1. Be social - Have you ever commented on your favorite influencer's post, and they "like" or comment back? It can make your day! It's like getting an autograph from a celebrity. Don't forget this MOST essential aspect of social media. BE SOCIAL! Take notes from those who are most successful. Check your comments regularly, respond, and engage with your community. Followers will love hearing from you.
2. Sharing - Whether it's a Reel from a Story you came across, or a colleague's post, share as much as you can with your community. It shows that you have your finger on the pulse of what's going on, and the person whose content you shared will be very grateful - and might even return the favor. 
3. Show personality - No one wants to follow a boring account with no imagination. Don't be afraid to get a little creative! No fresh ideas? Follow accounts in your field that are doing well and get some inspiration. Take a few risks, and they're sure to pay off. 
4. Content variety - You know what they say - variety is the spice of life! If you're always sharing the same type of content, your accounts will become dull and predictable. One of the biggest mistakes people make on social media is only focusing on one thing, like self-promotion, selling products, or posting videos. Keep followers interested. Make them laugh, throw in some helpful tips, and by all means, promote your business. 
5. Don't overthink it - One of the biggest reasons why business owners don't post is because they overthink their content. Self-doubt makes us second-guess ourselves, so we end up posting nothing at all. Will people even care about what I have to say? I don't want to annoy people and most. Sound familiar? People follow you for a reason. They like what you have to offer and want to hear what you have to say. Stop the self-sabotage and get posting!

Once you’re an Officially Social Content Calendar subscriber, you’ll have an entire month’s worth of content at your fingertips! No more guesswork. No more staring at your screen with no idea where to start.

Since our team works hard to bring you the best content, we also want to teach you the most effective way to maximize engagement. One of the best ways is to mix your personalized content with ours. But then, aren’t you back to square one with having to think of your own ideas? Nope. We’ve got you covered.

But don’t feel pressured to do all of these. If you pick one or two per week, blend it with your OS content, and you’re good to go.

1. Accomplishments - Never be afraid to toot your own horn on social media. Have you recently won an award? Reached a sales goal? Landed your dream listing? Been featured in a popular publication? Tell your community all about it.
2. Services/Products - Your audience will never know what you have to offer unless they're told. Pick one or two services or products per week to highlight. Tell your followers why they need it and how it will help them. Some posts can feature an individual product/service, and some can feature an entire category. Keep it interesting and mix it up. 
3. Show yourself (and your staff) - Getting in front of the camera isn't always easy, but is will help your engagement. When your followers see there's a real face to the company and a friendly team to back it up, they're more likely to do business with you. It can be a photo or video. It's great to do both! And don't think videos have to be lengthy productions. Simply picking up your phone and talking for a few seconds will do just fine.
4. Latest News - Every business has new things happening occasionally. Whether it's your latest product, an improved service, or a new hire - let your community know. The more active and cutting-edge your business is, the more you'll be seen as current and in-the-know. 
5. Deals - Whether it's 20% off a service or a free sample with a purchase, people always love a good deal. It creates urgency and makes followers feel like you're working hard for their business. And those few dollars off just might make the difference in convincing a person to buy what you're selling. 
6. Seasonal Info - Most businesses feature something different depending on what's popular in the current season. For example, home buying and selling is busy in the fall and spring, patients want to get their teeth whitened for the summer, and authors may get a jump start in the new year. Hone in on the highlights of each season for your business and give followers advice and inspiration.
7. Local Happenings - Followers love to see you're in touch with what's relatable. If you have a business that thrives on locals, like real estate, show that you're in the know. Post pics of yourself at a local event, share town happenings, and show support for local businesses - which brings us to our last tip ...
8. Partnerships - Social media is "social," right? Form as many partnerships as possible, whether official or unofficial. Target businesses whose relationships would be helpful to your business. Trust us, if that local business feels a ton of support from you, they'll be sure to return the favor.