Social Marmalade

Social Marmalade We are a boutique marketing consultancy based in Berkshire specialising in helping small businesses

This is pretty much how I am during the day at the moment. .. lots of filming for the new season launches… then it’s bac...
18/09/2024

This is pretty much how I am during the day at the moment. .. lots of filming for the new season launches… then it’s back to my desk each evening for planning, editing, writing and sharing content for my fabulous clients. It’s a full on time of year, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Sadly, it does mean I have decided not to run any workshops this year. So sorry if you were waiting on dates. DM me if you’d like to talk 1:1, especially you’re thinking of starting a new business or need a steer with your socials. ❤️

When is it sensible to stop drinking coffee in the day?! 😉

Her first General Election! This little monkey has been keeping me busy over the past few weeks, but I’ll be back online...
04/07/2024

Her first General Election!

This little monkey has been keeping me busy over the past few weeks, but I’ll be back online over the summer once the children are in camps and I’m not so distracted by this gorgeous little face! 💕

Just a reminder from you fabulous women launching a new business or idea and are feeling the Insta-fear!It can be a bit ...
17/03/2024

Just a reminder from you fabulous women launching a new business or idea and are feeling the Insta-fear!

It can be a bit overwhelming navigating Instagram for your new business venture but don’t worry, I’ve got your back! 💪 With the right guidance, you can master this platform, impress even your children and shine ✨

Here’s a just gentle reminder if you’ve been comparing your account to others’: The algorithm is designed to show you the best content, so it can set unrealistically high standards in your mind. You don’t know how much time they spend in the day on Instagram or how long they’ve been on the platform and behind those flawless posts and videos often lies a professional team crafting them.

Embrace the imperfection, take the leap, and just start creating your own content, it’s so much better to just go for it and learn as you go. It’s okay if it feels awkward at first – we’ve all been there!

When you’re ready to raise your Instagram game get in touch with me as I can help you with a strategy and offer you honest, friendly feedback and advice. I offer workshops or one-on-one sessions tailored just for you, much quicker and more efficient than a course!

Drop me a message to learn more! 🚀✨

As a half Aussie I am so excited to share this event with you… come and see, and even buy some fabulous Aboriginal artwo...
12/03/2024

As a half Aussie I am so excited to share this event with you… come and see, and even buy some fabulous Aboriginal artwork by the lovely Jackson Baker who is living/working locally for a year.
This Sunday 17th March 2.30-8.30pm…

If you’re feeling the pressure to share more reels, but you just can’t, it’s ok, you can do both and still grow! 😉There’...
12/03/2024

If you’re feeling the pressure to share more reels, but you just can’t, it’s ok, you can do both and still grow! 😉

There’s no argument that Reels are helping small businesses, creatives and organisations grow their accounts, but there’s still a compelling case for sharing posts on here too…

Have a look at your professional dashboard to see what’s working, but more importantly try sharing messages in a different way to maximise your reach. Not everyone is watching Reels so I for one recommend a mixed approach with each piece of content serving a purpose.

My favourite types of posts have to be:
1. Inspiring photos (travel, interiors, fashion, lifestyle, art)
2. Storytelling (ten snippets from the week, behind the scenes, You, transformations, your journey)
3. Customer / Collaboration
4. Funny quote or meme (highly shareable!)
5. Look book (esp fashion & again interiors)
6. Educational / opinions (similar to this!)

Do share this to come back to as a reminder and let me know if you are either feeling a bit stuck with your content strategy or you need some fresh ideas you can actually implement. 🍊⚡️💥

Instagram (and business!) can be brutal can’t it! It’s really tough to admit this, but I really messed up last year. I h...
05/03/2024

Instagram (and business!) can be brutal can’t it!

It’s really tough to admit this, but I really messed up last year. I had been on a roll but took a few wrong turns, didn’t really keep up on my own Insta and have really paid the price this year…

I know Insta has changed, but I know that in all honesty I can’t blame the algorithm, it’s my content & strategy that needs to change! (Anyone else feeling this?!)

The good news is I have made ALL the mistakes so you hopefully don’t have to. That’s why I feel I’m your shortcut to getting ontop of your insta!

These include:
✔️Inconsistent content & frequency
✔️Not collaborating
✔️Weak hooks
✔️Loosing confidence on camera
✔️Relying on stories, as if was quick & easy but do t actually help you to grow
✔️Sharing the same old stuff and not enough storytelling
✔️Not having as much fun with it
✔️Post & running!
✔️Not having a proper funnel & newsletter
…. I could go on!

So why on earth am I sharing this? Well, I think there are too many creators & experts sharing their growth stories & successes and I hope a bit of reality might be nice change from the norm! Plus, I hope you know I get it when you are in a similar boat.

Plus, I think but putting it out there I’ll be forcing myself to do something about it!!
I want you to hold me accountable now 👊
I know it’s not a quick fix. So watch this space as I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet! 💥

It will actually be interesting to experiment more on here, follow my own advice and share what I learn with you if that’s ok? I would also LOVE to hear what kind of content you’re engaging with most, is it the tips, the stories, the comedy, ideas or all the above?

Just remember if ever you’re feeling a little overwhelmed just know, we’re all just figuring this all out! x

I’ve watched hours of videos, listened to podcasts and read a lot of blogs and articles recently and these are 5 of the ...
23/02/2024

I’ve watched hours of videos, listened to podcasts and read a lot of blogs and articles recently and these are 5 of the most commonly mentioned tips on how small businesses can grow on Instagram in 2024.

Personally, I’m working on number 3 as a priority this year as consistency was something I really failed at last year and it killed my growth. If I could add a 6th it would be collaborations.. but don’t worry I’ll talk more on this in the coming weeks, as it’s a huge part of any social media strategy!

I’d love to hear what you’re focused on to grow this year…

It’s a notoriously tough time of year, especially on the platform!! (No, it’s not just you!) ✨Why not sprinkle a few lik...
02/02/2024

It’s a notoriously tough time of year, especially on the platform!! (No, it’s not just you!)

✨Why not sprinkle a few likes and positive comments around to fellow small businesses you love today. 💕 They’ll get a little boost and you’ll hopefully see more of their content in your feed.

Keep doing what you do best, things will pick up again x

Hot topic! 🔥One of the most frequently asked questions that I think leads nicely into the second most frequently asked q...
30/01/2024

Hot topic! 🔥
One of the most frequently asked questions that I think leads nicely into the second most frequently asked question… How often should you share content!
Hopefully I’ve covered both. (Let me know if not!)

There really is no right or wrong here, you know your audience so if they’re on social media just choose the best place for you. Take into consideration the kind of content you like creating as an individual or team. If you hate video you really won’t get on with TikTok but if you love writing and are a witty sort, Twitter or Threads could be a good fit. Facebook might just be the place if it’s working for your business and you know how to use it. But, if you need more growth it might be you have to think Instagram or LinkedIn, depending on the type of business you have.

Personally I’d only jump onto more than one platform if you really have the time and resources to, as it’s not always as easy as just resharing content across. It’s no 5-minute job!

Let me know if you’re ready to ask these questions and you need some help answering them….

We all have those days when we’re stuck for ideas and don’t want to show up and be on camera. Luckily the there are lots...
18/01/2024

We all have those days when we’re stuck for ideas and don’t want to show up and be on camera. Luckily the there are lots of different content ideas that are still valuable and useful to your audience, but don’t require you to perform to camera!

I’ve spilt these into Product & Service but feel free to mix and match!

Let me know what’s your favourite type of content you enjoy sharing at the moment.

The predictions are in for Instagram in 2024.. You’ll be pleased to know that there are lots of new features coming that...
11/01/2024

The predictions are in for Instagram in 2024..

You’ll be pleased to know that there are lots of new features coming that we haven’t yet seen in the U.K 🤯For example, has anyone got a Broadcast Channel up and running?

Expect:
✨More messaging options and spaces for break out conversations for nurturing small communities
✨Shopping in the app (TikTok are doing it well)
✨ Longer videos so it won’t be so much about short, quick transitions and clips
✨ More monetisation options for Creators. Influencers are going nowhere and so why not work with them!!
✨ Live streaming to get bigger, the desktop version is now ‘Live Producer’ so it can be more like YouTube
✨ New editing features in Reels
✨ Help discovering more brands you’re interested in and new content ideas
✨ AI features (I’m still not convinced it can write a good caption!)
✨ Spammy Mail and Bot Accounts disabled, so don’t panic if you see a drop in followers this week after a break
✨ More features in stories, I’ve noticed the views have really picked up in the last 6 months , some better than the main feed!!

One thing that won’t change, have a strategy, be yourself, don’t overthink it or be afraid to just try out ideas! The best marketing tool is YOU so get in front of the camera this year if you can, and if you need any help or a refresher I’ll offer a workshop in Feb or I have 1:1 consultations available to make sure you’re on the right track and you have a solid plan and the knowledge to approach your Social Media Marketing. Just message me!

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Newbury
Newbury
RG20

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

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Do you have a LinkedIn page setup? When was the last time you shared content on it or reached out to connect with someone? Beth @sociallyoxford is a fellow marketeer and made the switch from Instagram to LinkedIn over 18 months ago and hasn’t looked back. Not only has it enabled her to lean into her content strengths, it has helped her connect with higher value clients to support her business growth. And she doesn’t have to create trending Reels, have a huge following or live her life on the screen. This is a revelation and might be just the right move for those of you who would like to connect with professionals, are B2B , or would like to build your personal brand, and are finding it challenging on Instagram. Killer stat : Reach from Lives like this is 12x on LinkedIn! What are we doing here 😂😂 Don’t worry Instagram, I still love you, however, I’m definitely going to book a 1:1 with Beth to sharpen up my LinkedIn as for my business it’s a bit of a no brainer. If you’re interested in a workshop please let either of us know, if there’s enough demand I’ll persuade Beth to run one in Hampshire. Otherwise any questions, thoughts, comments, please share below… ⬇️ Thank you Beth, loved this live! #socialmarmalade #marketingasmallbusiness #smallbusinesstipsforwomen #linkedinmarketing #socialmediaforsmallbusiness #oxfordshirebusiness #hampshirebusiness

Have you considered using jumping onto LinkedIn? Would you like to find out a little more about his platform? If so, please join me here tomorrow (Thursday 16th May) for a Live Chat with LinkedIn expert Beth @sociallyoxford 🎙️ We’re going to discuss how Beth has been helping businesses connect and build their network on LinkedIn, find out how the platform is working now, how much content you need to realistically share and some other useful tips. Hopefully this will be a great starting point for those of you interested in building your presence there. Particularly if you are a school, B2B business, freelancer, service provider of consultant. Please feel free to ask any questions in the live or send me any in advance (Dm me). Live will run 12.30-1pm Don’t worry if you miss it, I’ll share the video so just watch the replay. 🔂 Can’t wait! #socialmarmalade #linkedinforbusiness #socialmediamarketing #socialmediacontentideas #socialmediastrategy #socialmediaforsmallbusiness

If you’re feeling the half-term overwhelm, I hear you! Is it just me or is it particularly tough to show up at this time of year? I don’t know if it’s the weather, the pasty skin or the fact that Instagram just seems incredibly tough to get traction on this year, it’s not just you feeling that! ❓So what can we do? Take a step back from the noise and appreciate where you are, how far you’ve come and WHY you are doing what you do. Not all of us need thousands of followers or views, but what you do need is a strategy. And I promise you this doesn’t have to be overly complicated once your break it down. I think one of the BIGGEST issues on this platform is we are all seeing people in our industries smashing it daily. We then set unrealistic goals (mostly around views and followers) which leads to us feeling crap when Instagram isn’t delivering the results. Sound familiar? Before you go any further, maybe ask these questions: ❓WHY did you start your business in the first place? Was Instagram at the heart of it? ❓if you had the opportunity to talk in front of 500 people in a room about your business, wouldn’t you feel really proof of yourself? Why do we beat ourselves up so much when we only get a few hundred views? Maybe tweak your goals ❓Are you really focused on nurturing your existing audience? Have you been answering questions, responding to DM’s and engaging - that’s the biggest opportunity. ❓What can you do to make what you do a little better, do you look at your Analytics? ❓If you really want to pull that Instagram lever, are you ready to invest in it (time) and can you sustain it, can you monetise it? I’m working with a few retailers and service providers at the moment as they are ready to pull a few levers. I can’t sadly take any more clients on until after summer, but I can offer 2-hour consultations to help you formulate your strategy and offer support. Just get in touch if that’s you. ✨ #socialmarmalade #sm

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“To help small businesses make sticky impressions with a confident social media strategy”

Hi, I am Charlotte and I set up Social Marmalade as I wanted to work with small business owners and help them better use social media to market their products and services as it presents a really fantastic opportunity. I have a background in travel having worked across commercial roles in product, sales and marketing as well as having qualified as a social media consultant with Digital Mums so feel I have a good understanding of both marketing and running a business.

It is my goal to give businesses owners the skills, knowledge and confidence to nail their social media in order to grow their business. I offer a friendly tailored range of services, but most importantly always support small local businesses with ongoing tips, advice, collaborations, workshops and events.

Everyone knows they should be 'doing' social media, however, it can be difficult to know where to start and which platform is right for your business. That is where I can help! Want to ask more - just email me [email protected]