by Kerry Ferguson | Mar 1, 2020 | Digital Marketing, Social Media
I probably run my social media training in very different way to others in my area. I really do much prefer the 1-2-1 or small group setting, than larger workshops… but why?
I remember years ago when we first started Gwe Cambrian Web in 2013, going to a lot of workshops and events about websites and social media. One of the ones I remember vividly had around 40 in the room, and I came away learning nothing. The range of experience was so varied, it was impossible to cover all aspects for all in the room.
So, when we decided about 2 years ago to branch into digital marketing more officially, I knew that I wanted to concentrate more on the smaller, intimate workshops/groups. I also believe you can’t provide truly useful training without a good understand of the business you’re helping – its values, ethos, goals.
That’s not to say large workshops are impossible, quite the opposite. In fact, it just doesn’t strike a chord with how I’d like to provide training for social media. That’s just a personal thing.
Before I host a training session, I take time to complete a detailed audit of the social media activity for my own records. This gives me a really good basis to understand what’s already going on and where training will help. I also spend time going through the website, making sure that the message the website provides is the same as the social media – especially in terms of goals, ethos, attitude, branding.
Hosting my sessions like this means that no matter how experienced you are, if you feel like you want to come to me for training, I’ve done plenty of research to help and discuss your social media with you.
Don’t forget, training isn’t just showing you how to navigate creating a post or going back to basics. It’s boosting your social media at the moment.
by Kerry Ferguson | Feb 19, 2020 | Digital Marketing, Social Media
Just what does a social media audit mean? It’s a service I offer, but perhaps the title itself isn’t very clear. Let’s explain…
Think of an audit as a second pair of eyes. For a social media audit, I look at the following and more:
- All of your social media platforms
- The variety of your posts
- How well you use the different post options available to you
- Your brand consistency
- Your brand language
- Use of graphics
- The variety and use of call to actions
- Use of hashtags
An audit is a great way to give you some ideas on how to boost your social media – it’s not a service I offer to critique you or pick holes in your current marketing strategy. It’s there to affirm what you are currently doing, and help you tweak and improve moving forward.
Sometimes, it does just take that second pair of eyes, from outside of your business to provide some new ideas! Nothing wrong with that at all.
by Kerry Ferguson | Jan 7, 2020 | Digital Marketing, Social Media
Social media is the perfect way to show off your personality online, and in an age where we crave that personal touch, what could be more important?
Let’s focus on a small business perspective – a lot of my social media clients will ask me what they can post about, because quite frankly, they feel that they don’t have a lot to say.
This is where personality comes in.
Every business has its own personality, whether you meant to let it happen or not. It’ll come from the graphics you use, the content you usually share, the brand – colours, fonts. At some point, if you didn’t mean it, you’ll be able to look at your social media and brand and see a clear personality.
I have two main businesses – the first, was set up 7 years ago and is the core business for me (Gwe Cambrian Web). We focus on providing great website designs, excellent customer service, honesty and transparency and basically being very helpful whereever we can. Alongside that, the main focus is to promote the use of the Welsh language online. Our tone of voice is usually professional and informative, but we do have a bit of fun if we’re at events.
The second business, Digida Marketing, was created literally to target a younger audience who want to make an impact on social media. So what we share, and how we speak is completely different for the most part. It can be tricky, but we have two very clear personalities.
How does this help when it comes to social media?
One of the ways I try and describe this is, you have to treat your business as it’s own entity. Imagine it as a person. What sort of things would this person share and say on social media? What sort of things is the person interested in? Will your target audience be interested too? Rather than thinking “what business things can I share on social media”, you can start thinking “what is my business interested in that I can share online/what would I share online?” based on the personality.
And always a good top tip, no matter what field you business is in, your audience will always love to see those behind the scene clips. Just don’t be too repetative!
