Managing social media for a small business can feel like a lonely and thankless task. With resources and personnel stretched thin, social media is often handled by one member of the team who tries to balance it with the rest of their responsibilities. As Catherine mentioned in her latest blog post, creating a content calendar can do wonders in terms of providing clarity, organization, and even fun to the task of creating and disseminating content. Yet once the calendar is created and a plan is implemented, the content must still be posted, tweeted, and shared for it to have the desired impact.
Managing multiple social media channels, email marketing platforms, as well as the company website and blog can feel a bit like being a one-man band, attempting to play all the instruments at once (and not playing any of them particularly well).
If you're stretched thin attempting to implement a workable social media plan, take a look at these ideas on how to spread your message when the company's social media team consists of me, myself, and I.
Airtable for content calendars: I recently discovered the joys of Airtable, and though I am still a novice, I've found it to be incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. You can use Airtable to create content calendars that are customized to your company's needs, either by using their templates or by creating your own. And since it is free, you can always check it out risk-free.
Buffer for scheduling posts: There are several scheduling services out there, such as Hootsuite and Coschedule. But most small businesses can get by using the amazing (and free!) offering by Buffer. By linking your business' social accounts (including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and more) you can easily schedule out content weeks or even months in advance. While there are limits on how many channels you can connect to under the free plan, the majority of small businesses needs can be met with Buffer.
Later for Instagram scheduling: Though CSR does not use Instagram, the platform is becoming increasingly popular among businesses looking to market directly to consumers. Enter Later, which makes planning Instagram posts and campaigns seamless with their visual planner. Later even suggests the best time to post, and generates hashtag ideas based on your content. You can even plan Instagram stories using Later, then schedule them for the optimal time to reach your target audience.
With tools like these, managing your small business's social media presence doesn't have to feel like an impossible chore. And if you're looking for more ideas on how to use social media in your marketing efforts, reach out--we're here to help!
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