How To Do Social Media Right Now
We’re living in a crazy, unprecedented time. With so much uncertainty surrounding us, our social media strategies feel uncertain as well. While some people are hesitant to jump on social media right now, I’d argue that it is more important than ever. Here are the questions I’ve been frequently getting asked about social media during the pandemic - and my tips for best practices.
Should I keep posting?
Yes! People want and need to communicate and socialize, and social media gives us a safe way to connect. I find Facebook Groups to be an especially great way to communicate with others, but you don’t have to be part of a private community to connect. Just continue to post content you enjoy and that relate to your brand and social media strategy – but do so mindfully.
What should I be posting?
Continue to post your same content, but keep an eye on our current environment. Could it be misinterpreted, or somehow offensive? If yes or if you aren’t sure – skip it and save it for later. Otherwise, continue to share content that educates and provides value. Posting “normal” content can be a (good) distraction and bring some joy to your followers' feeds.
And of course, you can use the current situation to inspire new pieces of content. Ask how you can provide value to your audience: What skills or expertise or experience can you share in light of our new normal?
Examples:
● How to do social media right now
● How to work from home (tips, set up, taking breaks, etc.)
● How to homeschool your kids
● At-home workouts
● DIY beauty routines
● Favorite recipes (now that we are all cooking a lot more)
What about scheduling? Should I be scheduling posts?
Things are changing on a daily basis, so be cautious. Don’t schedule posts more than a few days or a week out, and review your content often. Regularly reviewing your posts will ensure you don’t share outdated or insensitive content, but it also gives you the opportunity to tweak your messaging to be even more relevant.
For example, one of my clients had prescheduled a blog about spring cleaning. It would’ve been perfectly fine to auto post - but we would have missed the opportunity to make it even more meaningful. We tweaked the caption to include a message about spending more time at home and, just like that, we had content that felt timely and mindful.
If I am just getting started, is now the time to start posting on social media?
This is a great time to start. You likely have some extra time on your hands right now, so use it to create a social media marketing strategy. If you put in the time now, you’ll have a solid plan in place when life goes back to “normal.”
And if you have already been posting for a while, use this time to tweak or update your social media strategy or batch create content. Your future self will thank you for putting in the work!
Here are a few more things to keep in mind when using social media during this challenging time.
● Be mindful. This is impacting everyone differently, but it is impacting everyone! Be aware of the different circumstances people are facing, and empathize with others whenever possible.
● Be present. It’s more important than ever to show up for people. Connect with others, and spread some joy and love. Challenge yourself to send five messages a day or, better yet, go Live or share videos.
● Be authentic. We are all making this up as we go. Now is not the time to try and be perfect.
● Be cautious. Social media isn’t just about what you post - it’s also about what you consume. Spend some time off of social media. Put some boundaries in place. Unfollow people and pages as needed. Look out for yourself.
Let’s use social media for good, and as a tool to get through the coming weeks and months. If you need any guidance with your social media strategy, or even just someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out.