Simple Smart Social

08/11/2023

Say it with me... PRACTICE 👏 MAKES 👏PROGRESS 👏

Perfect is impossible to achieve, and it stops so many people with exciting ideas from taking action on them (even me).

For instance, here are some things I don't like about this post, but I'm posting it anyway, because if I don't do it now, it's just not going to happen, and you miss out on the important reminder that it's progress, not perfection that you're working towards.

1. I'm really not in love with the mint green text; it's a bit too pale. But it's my 'brand' colour and it saves me time figuring out what other shade it 'should' be.

2. Could the content have been better? Probably. Would it have seen the light of day if I didn't accept it was fine? Nope.

3. Could I have had more carousels to get further engagement, or created a Reel to get (perhaps) further reach? Again, yes, but this format works for me, when I'm about to take a yoga class and I'd prefer not to put makeup on today.

4. What if no one likes it? Well, again, it's better that something useful has been shared with the world, and they definitely won't get the chance to not like it if I don't post it.

I'd love to know what's going through your head while you create your content. Let me know. 💕

02/11/2023

Once upon a time, in the world of social media, there was a common myth among small business owners. They believed the more they posted, the better their chances of success. It was as if a high quantity of posts was the golden ticket to popularity.

However, there was a wise group of entrepreneurs who knew better. They understood that quality was the real king, and it trumped the sheer quantity of posts, especially when the real golden key was forgotten. 🎉

In this tale, the true key to social media success was not a relentless barrage of content but a thoughtful approach that resonated with the right people. So, they embraced a strategy that was more about connection and engagement than flooding their followers' feeds.

And as the story goes, these wise business owners reaped the rewards of their efforts, building a loyal and engaged audience of their ideal customers, who actually spent money with their business, one well-crafted post at a time. 🚀📈

The moral of the story? Quality and intention are the keys to future triumph. 💪

01/11/2023

It's the message on Facebook and Instagram that makes your heart jump into your throat for a second before you start to think, "Is this legit?"

No one wants to see their Meta accounts shut down for a violation, so do you click the link? NOOOOO!

If you want to be 100% confident that the message is a scam, check your Facebook Support Inbox. How?

1. Login to the Facebook account that received the message.
2. On mobile, scroll down to Help & Support.
3. Choose Support Inbox.
4. If the same message isn't in your Support Inbox, it's not legit.

Other giveaways that it's a scam include:
- Issues with Facebook normally appear in your notifications, but not as a 'message'.
- Not a legitimate Facebook-affiliated user name or a mistake in the spelling of the name.
- No profile image, an incorrect/old logo, or a person.
- Poor use of English and spelling mistakes.
- Shortened links and Facebook links that don't look quite 'right'.
- Threats.

Once you see the signs, it's much easier to not have a slight panic attack every time you receive one of these messages.

Was this helpful? Let me know what else you'd like to know.

31/10/2023

I wasn't going to share this. 😅 I love learning new things, but sharing things I know with others has always felt too scary.

Anyway, I've put on my big girl pants and started collecting everything I've learned from my years in social media marketing to share with everyone who likes to learn, too.

I was reminded of this copywriting technique recently, and I've been putting it to good use for my clients.

What are some other things you would like to know? Once you've started implementing these ideas into your business, you'll be glad you took a second to follow me, too. ✨

24/08/2023

How did I know this email didn’t come from Facebook?

Facebook phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated. This email DID NOT come from Facebook, despite everything looking like it did.

First, I was 99% sure this wasn’t legit because I hadn’t requested a recovery code and I have 2FA set up on my account.

Secondly, I double checked that Facebook didn’t send it, by checking my account emails. You can do this yourself by following these steps:

- Opened Facebook, via the app or desktop is fine.
- Clicked on my profile, then Settings (also the cog icon).
- Chose Accounts Centre.
- Chose Passwords and Security.
- Selected Recent Emails- it’s down the page.
- Chose the relevant Facebook account.

And unsurprisingly, the email wasn’t listed there. Please be ultra-vigilant for scams like these. You could lose access to your account.

20/03/2023

Thanks for stopping by✨ What's happening in your world? Tell me something you're looking forward to in the comments.

I'm looking forward to posting another Reel on IG tomorrow...look out world, two in a row! 😆

I'm working on NOT being the builder with the half-built house anymore. Wish me luck!

10/03/2023

Have you thought of a gazillion ideas to share on your biz social profiles...and never posted them? Same. 🤦‍♀️ Yoda is right (as always); there is no try.

Either you post, or you don't. You don't get seen if the ideas stay in your head.

Don't forget to like and share this post, either for the insight or for the Yoda; I'm not fussy. 😆

17/02/2023

Organic social media isn't dead (but it can be well supported with ads). ✨ Sure, it doesn't get the reach it did 5 years ago, but I promise, your ideal customers are still there, consuming social media and being influenced by what they see.

Organic social media continues to be a critical aspect of any successful business’ marketing strategy.

10/02/2023

Is anyone buying followers anymore? Please tell me this is a thing of the past.

03/02/2023

It's true.

Testing is an opportunity to test assumptions which come from experience and understanding of the platform and the ideal client.

It's not a free-for-all to just stick some random image in an ad, set some crazy targeting and 'see if it works'.

An ads manager will often test several creatives (or more) depending on budget, as well as targeting, conversion optimisations and more.

Even once we've decided on a winning combination for a client's objectives, we often need to adjust over time, especially if the offer is seasonal or the audience has seen the ad too often, as just a couple of examples.

If you have been DIY-ing your ads, you probably haven't tested as much as an ads manager, which is fine, we all have to start somewhere.

If it's time to stop DIY-ing your ads, or you want to take the first step towards a social ads campaign, I'd love to hear from you!

26/10/2022

You have no idea how long I debated about whether I needed to increase this text box size, so you could read it a little easier. 🤪 So please, do me a favour and tell me if this is easier to read than the image from earlier this week!

I opened up The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E Ge**er for a re-read and this quote starts the Introduction. I knew I had to share it because , right?!

Anyway, the goal of re-reading this book is to help me step more into my CEO role and look at my boutique social media agency with fresh eyes. Have you read it? I'd love to know your biggest takeaway from it.

Fingers crossed 🤞 I manage to keep the crazy at bay as we grow!

24/10/2022

I was speaking with a potential (hopefully soon to be new) client today about how valuable it is to keep showing up on social media.

It's undeniable that compared to five years ago, it's harder to get engagement on social media.

Pressing that little like button or giving a little ❤️ requires so much more effort than ever before, urgh!

Even so, showing up consistently is more important than ever. You rarely need to be on EVERY platform, so choose the platforms where your ideal clients are likely to be, and start turning up.

I promise ideal clients are still stalking social media profiles, learning about you and your brand, waiting for the right moment to reach out and start working with you.

14/10/2022

How is it 5 years since I got my first business cards for Simple Smart Social?! 🥲

They look a little different now, but TBH, I rarely give business cards out anymore. Do you?

14/10/2022

I'm guilty of falling into this trap too, especially when comparing someone's content, likes and follows to my business.

Social media can be an incredible place for inspiration, but comparisonitis can hit hard.

It's hard to 'brag' about what's happening in my business, and my content (or lack of it 😆) reflects that.

I know, in practice, that likes and follows don't directly reflect business success. In fact, I've seen businesses with less than 1000 followers land huge contracts from their consistent social media presence.

So, the next time you feel disheartened about how hard it is to get followers these days, remember you never know who's looking and waiting for the right moment to buy.

08/09/2022

If your Page has recently received a message like this 👇 it is NOT legit. DO NOT click the link. Simply report and block.

02/03/2022

In case you were wondering.

If you see a Facebook Protect notification - either via email or on your Facebook account - it's totally legit and needs to be turned on. 🔐

This is Meta's attempt to get us all to better secure our accounts. Even if you have a strong password, 2FA set up and any other 'advanced security protections,' you'll likely still get the notification that you have to turn on Facebook Protect or you'll be locked out of your account.

These are my own screenshots and this happened to me the other day. No biggee. Just follow the prompts and off you go.

Email is a little different because you want to make absolute 100% certain that the email you are responding to is for sure from Meta/Facebook. There's a boatload of scammers and phishers out there!!! Be careful.

Got questions? Let me know. Definitely join us in my FB group facebook.com/groups/marismithleaders/

17/02/2022

Technically it was 1149 when Canva sent through this certificate, but who’s counting?! 😆👌

28/10/2021

Happiness is…Instagram Story link stickers are coming for EVERYONE!

07/10/2021

The love affair is real. 😍

04/10/2021

Services are coming back online now…🤞

20/09/2021

I love this!

It's true that switching off digital devices to give yourself a break is good for you. But when we spend a lot of time online for work 🖥️, study 💻 and leisure 📱, managing the time and energy we spend in that space is important too 💪.

Whether you use the internet to connect with loved ones ❤️ or seek out inspiration 🌤️, there's lots of opportunities to enrich your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing online.

Today, we though we'd share some internet self-care tips 👇

08/09/2021

I'll be honest...this content came directly from a Canva template.

But they were all the ideas I would have shared anyway, so I wasn't going to completely reinvent the wheel!

Coming up with ideas for content, day-in, day-out can be tough when you're so close to your business. These tips are gold as a reminder that what's 'normal' to you can be interesting to your audience. 💪

Be sure to save this post for the next time you're stuck for content ideas. 🙏

31/08/2021

This needs to be my mantra when I spend time on Instagram, working on content and engagement for my own account. 🤦‍♀️

It's a vortex of comparison and distraction that just brings me down. I know what I 'need' to do, to develop a strong following of engaged people who care about what I post, but inevitably, I end up down a rabbit-hole of despair. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get my point...

Comparisonitis is a real thing and it's not helpful. I COMPLETELY understand why client's want to outsource it for their own businesses. 😆

Focusing on a client's account is fine, since they are in different niches, but when it comes to my own socials, I struggle.

Who else feels the same about this??? Perhaps I just need to set a goal and give myself a daily reward, haha. DM me your ideas for an effective reward .

19/08/2021

Aren't seeing the results you want on your social media channels?

Here are some reasons why you may not be seeing those results.

❌ you have no end goal

In order to have a solid strategy, the first thing that you need to do is to set a goal. What is the aim of your social media content? Who is your ideal client/customer and what do they need?

❌ you are not telling a story

You're not just selling on social media. Think about it this way, your audience won't buy from you if they don't know the story behind it and how your offer will transform them.

Sure, sometimes there are $19 purchases made online without much thought given to it, but often, there's still a trust factor that needs to be built first.

❌ you are not showcasing social proof

Ask for testimonials or reviews and use them! This will help you build authority around your niche. Make it easier for your ideal customer to decide they want to work with you by showing that others have had a great experience too.

Was this helpful? If yes, drop your favourite 'happy' emoji below. 💓

18/08/2021

Heard of the know, like, and trust rule?

It's the secret to content that converts.

Here are some ways you can use these factors in your socials. Let's get started.

👉 Credibility content - These are the posts that position you as the expert and makes it easy for others to find your content.

Examples: Educational, shareable, and savable content that helps you be seen as an authority in your field.

👉 Nurture content - This is where you set yourself apart and build the like factor with your audience.

Examples: Before and after, behind the scenes, and storytelling. This will help you get your audience's heart. Show your face, if it makes sense for your business. Even when you don't want to, haha!

👉 Sales content - Showcase your products or services and indicate the benefits of buying/working with you. But only AFTER you've built up the know & like components of your relationship.

This is the trust factor. Your audience needs to trust you before they buy from you. That's why it is important that you build rapport first before you sell.

Examples of this are posts highlighting their pain points and how you can help them solve those problems.

Give this post some love if you are ready to take your content to the next level. 💯💓

11/08/2021

So you're ready to face your fears and have decided to run Facebook ads. Now what? 🤔

There are a few things you should do before diving into Facebook Ads Manager. Doing this initially will help you achieve the best results for your ad spend in the long term.

Facebook ads provide the opportunity to test your creative options, along with your audiences. TBH, it's not as simple as just 'running an ad' and hoping for the best...sorry.

📌 Terms of Service

If you're going to DIY ads, please read the Facebook ads Terms of Service first. Really well. Remember, these rules will also apply to any landing pages you're sending people to.

Understanding the best practices for running ads will also help your ads perform better. Don't rush it.

📌 Set your goal and make a plan

Your main goal for running ads is to make sales, right? In order to achieve that goal, you need to create a roadmap or you won't be able to measure if your campaign is successful.

What is your average order value? What Return on Ad Spend is required? Have you set a realistic ad spend budget?

📌 Know your audience

This is also critical for any marketing endeavour. To be able to set up your ad campaigns to reach your target audience, you must first determine who your target audience is.

Knowing your target audience will allow you to more precisely target them and produce copy that appeals to them. Both of these factors boost your chances of achieving excellent results.

You may have multiple audience options available to test.

📌 Consider the User Experience Beyond Facebook Ads

Your initial Facebook Ads will be seen by a new and larger audience. Be sure to objectively look at your company's website, landing page and social media experience. Is your content relevant and useful? Is the website loading in a timely manner?

What's stopping you from running Facebook ads?

10/08/2021

When it comes to creating content for social media, I like to focus on 4 key elements. 💕

✔️ Entertaining content might mean taking the time become aware of the trends, and other interests your audience has. If you are brave enough to get in front of the camera, there are many different ways you can share entertaining content.

It doesn’t all have to be specifically ‘work related’. I know businesses that have created a strong, engaged audience, by sharing dad jokes (whilst in their work shirt, or at work) as a part of their marketing mix. They are relatable and result in content well-shared across Facebook.

✔️ Educating content is often the type of content many service businesses tend to focus on. Infographics can be a great way to share information, as can 'how to' videos.

Education can also include sharing facts about your industry, what’s happening in your local area and more. A good reminder for Educational content is to remember the phrase ‘how do we…?”

✔️ Creating Emotion is probably the most challenging for many businesses who like to stay 'professional'. An emotional connection with your audience builds loyal followers.

Creating an emotional experience is also about truly understanding what your customer values. Importantly, please don't 'fake' emotion to get engagement.

✔️ When it comes to engagement, creating ‘false’ engagement, by running competitions for people to ‘like, comment and share’ will reduce engagement, as the Facebook AI recognises this type of content and demotes it in the feed.

If you have the option, invest the time and small amount of resources in creating videos. Videos can be used on both Facebook and Instagram, including in Stories and Reels, (as long as they aren’t too long).

If video is outside your comfort zone, use clear, focused images rather than not creating content at all.

For Instagram, investing time on the platform to engage with other relevant profiles, will help boost your own engagement. You can find relevant profiles to engage with, or search local Places tags, or relevant local hashtags. Ideally, spend the time to like and provide a genuine comment, not just an emoji.

😁 Be sure to save this info!

03/08/2021

You've heard of Reels, right?

They are super short videos on Instagram, very similar to TikTok videos.

You can include music, text, and effects in your video. On Instagram, reels provide users with an INSANE amount of exponential growth.

It's not just for dancing and singing (although, if you're up for that, go for it!)

Social platforms are prioritising video content, and Reels are no execption.

Here are 10 Reels ideas you can implement your business, which I will too, just as soon as I shake this stupid head cold! 🤧

1. Day in a life of a business owner
2. Things you wish you knew before
3. Share your favorite productivity tools
4. Worst advice from experts in your industry
5. Show behind-the-scenes
6. Answer a FAQ in your niche
7. Fun facts about you
8. Share 3 resources you love
9. 3 editing apps for reels
10. Expectations vs. Reality

Which idea will you try first? I would love to know. 😁😍