The Content Cottage

03/07/2023

💭 “How often should I be posting on Social Media?” | This is the question that gets asked A LOT, and here is the answer…

Creating quality content (backed by strategy) and posting content weekly can be a struggle. I always tell people, if they are going to do it alone, find a posting schedule that works best for them and remain consistent.

Post frequency is different for every business and is dependent on many factors, but I can tell you, posting everyday is not always necessary. For most, I recommend posting at least 3x weekly.

You want to make sure that you are remaining active so that when people search for your business or come across it on social media, you don’t look dormant.

🤞 Keep in mind: Platforms that are chronologically structured, high-frequency posting is better, while those that are algorithmic-based, posting too much can drag down the performance of your page.

⭐️ FOLLOW FOR MORE SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS

👉 Overwhelmed with running your social media pages on your own and need extra help? Let us help! Click the link to schedule a ⚡️FREE⚡️ Consultation >>> https://bit.ly/3jZhWxY

02/19/2023

👋 Hey, business owner! Are you overwhelmed with running the day-to-day of your business while also trying to stay consistent on social media? Let us help! 👇

The Content Cottage is now accepting new clients for Social Media Management, Social Media Strategy and Content Creation.

We know that running a business is hard work and we are focused on helping small-businesses succeed. Let us take some of the responsibility and keep your social media pages current and fresh along with a strategy that is customized for your business goals.

We understand the importance of having a strong social media presence and how it can affect your business. We also know that as a business owner at the end of the day creating and writing content backed by data and research can be the last thing you want to think about. That’s where we come in. 😉

🗓 Spots are limited - book your FREE consultation now >>> http://bit.ly/3jZhWxY

We look forward to learning more about the services and products you offer, success stories you may have, your pain-points and how we can best serve YOU.

02/16/2023

🗓 2022 was a wild ride for social | Here are a few trends to look out for this year 👇

1️⃣ LESS TRENDY - MORE ORIGINALITY: In 2022, we saw success with reels as Instagram was desperate to compete with TikTok. This meant we saw a lot of creators and businesses jumping on trends for the sake of the trend without really making it relevant to their niche or business.

And for the most part, this worked, but this year, we expect to see this fade out and platforms will start to favor original content over trending content.

2️⃣ LINKEDIN CREATORS: LinkedIn Creators will be HUGE. This began to happen over the last half of 2022, and I fully believe that 2023 will be the year for LinkedIn Creators. By becoming a thought-leader in your field, let other professionals see how valuable your knowledge, skills, and services are!

(P.S. Although LinkedIn is a professional platform, don’t be afraid to let your creativity show!)

3️⃣ SOCIAL SEO: Yep, SEO has made its way to social, it’s no longer just for websites. What does that mean for you? Fill your copy full of keywords so that when people are searching for your product or a specific service, your content ranks first.

FYI: According to Google itself, nearly half of Gen-Z search Instagram or TikTok BEFORE using Google.

Keep these trends in mind when it comes to deciding on your 2023 Social Media Strategy. Let me know in the comments which trends you expect to see, or which you think will fade! 👇

07/23/2022

👑 *Little Miss Couldn’t Resist*

07/20/2022

🤔 Wondering if your business should utilize social media as a marketing tool? Here are 3 reasons why you ABSOLUTELY should be!

✅ Your customers + your audience are more than likely on social media. Why wouldn't you be there, too?

✅ Advertising on social media is substantially less expensive than traditional advertising. If you're target audience are Millennials or Gen-Z, we stream the majority of our television and music ➡️ if you're pouring your advertising budget into Radio and TV Ads... we aren't seeing your product.

✅ Build Brand Awareness: Show people who you are, what you offer and what you're about.

✅ Use social media not only to promote your business, but humanize your brand. Have fun + build trust amongst your followers.

05/26/2022

☘️ Let's Talk Content Creation:

•STEP 1: RESEARCH
Think: Who are you selling to?

What problem does the consumer have that your product/service can provide the solution to?

Where are they more likely to be hanging out at on social? (PS, you don’t need to be on every platform to be successful. Your audience more than likely WILL NOT be on all of them.)

•STEP 2: BRAINSTORM IDEAS.

•STEP 3: CREATE
Content can be Written, Visual + Audible
- Blogs
- Podcasts
- Graphics
- Photo
- Video (long-form + short-form)

•STEP 4: EDIT
Once I finish creating, I like to step away for a bit.

Once I come back, I look to see if there are any changes I want to make or any errors I need to correct. *Getting a second pair of eyes to double check spelling is always a good idea*

• STEP 5: PUBLISH
Publish your content based on data. What are your best days/times to post? Use that as a guideline when scheduling.

💭Need help kick-starting your content? I have Content Creation Packages available!

WHAT YOU GET:
⚡️ Content Pillars That Best Suits Your Brand
⚡️ 1 Month’s Worth of Content
⚡️ YOURS TO KEEP. Re-Use + Repurpose

💌 Send me PM, drop a comment, or send me an email.

04/26/2022

🌾 Six Seasons Why Hiring a Social Media Manager Could Be Your Next Power Move as a Business Owner. The latest blog post is live now! https://thecontentcottage.co/blog/sixreasonstohireasocialmediamanager

🌿 Welcome to The Content Cottage (formerly Cassidy Beck | Social Media Manager) You can find me on both Facebook + Instagram under @ the.contentcottage and online (will link in the comments)
💭Thinking about hiring someone to help you out with your social media?
I have services and offers specifically for:
🌱Social Media Management
🌱Strategy
🌱Content Creation

💌 Send me a PM or send me an email at [email protected]

Six Reasons Why Hiring a Social Media Manager is your Next Power Move as a Business Owner

01/24/2022

💎Shout out to Ryan Reynold's SMM for this gem. ⁠
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📻 I began freelancing in 2020, after working at a radio station, trying to sell radio ads to small businesses who could barely afford to keep their doors open because of the pandemic. ⁠
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I didn't believe in what I was selling, I truly hated selling (I still do) and I ended up leaving my job after a couple months.👋⁠
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I have been working with small businesses in North Alabama and companies out of state to build up their digital presence on social media platforms. ⁠
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💻Typically, I work mornings before my 9-5, afternoons after my 9-5, and on weekends.⁠
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I spend most Saturday's in front of my computer (easily 10+ hours) creating + scheduling content, and researching trends within this industry or the industries of my clients, and some days it truly does feel like I am neck deep in a digital 💩 storm-it's a constant learning curve.
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01/18/2022

💭By the end of 2021, TikTok surpassed Google + Facebook as the world’s MOST popular website. Are you on the app? Do you use it for your business or for entertainment? Let me know👇

If you’re a business owner and you’re on social media, you may want to consider implementing TikTok into your social strategy this year + adding more video content on Instagram as well. (More updates are happening to IG to keep up with TikTok as we speak) 📲

I’ve complied a breakdown of how the algorithm on TikTok works as of now. Hope this helps! 🖤

11/09/2021

Last night, I completed my 8-week, hands-on, Social Media Management Accelerator course & received my first certification through Latasha James !✨ I currently work full-time at a 9-5, and this course was designed to work around those who have full-time jobs, and freelance on the side (I signed on two new clients while taking this course!🎉) If you're new to Social Media Management, or have been in the game for a while, I would highly recommend taking Latasha's courses & checking out her youtube channel-all of which are focused on navigating the world of freelancing, and helping freelancers continue their education + grow their skillset. Thank you, Latasha James ❤️

09/13/2021

👋🏼This month is about to be a whirlwind for me. I’m moving 🏡 starting an 8 week extensive, hands-on Social Media Management certification course that will take up any personal time, on-boarding new clients & building multiple websites-therefore, my social channels will not be given much love over the next month, but once I come back, I will have things to share so that’s exciting! 🖤 Until then, let me know what you have planned for this month in the comments. ⬇️
Talk soon!

09/08/2021

Freelance SMM's 🤝 Small Businesses
🌱I'm so thankful that they have chosen to trust me with their social media and online needs - THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
🌱A lot of people hear the term "Social Media Manager" and roll their eyes and say it's the most "Millennial" job ever - which I get how people can say that, but it's no easy task when we work in an industry that changes EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Keeping up with all of the changes is incredibly stressful at times, but I genuinley love seeing small business thrive.
📧 For inquiries, hit the contact link in my bio.

09/07/2021

🌿 A quick guide to Social Media Bio-Optimization: What it is + how to properly utilize your bio to increase your presence in social search.

08/30/2021

🌟2021 HASHTAG UPDATE // When Instagram first came on the scene in 2010, the majority of us ALWAYS used hashtags. I just thought it was something you did on Instagram + never really gave it much thought as what the reason was behind it. 👋 But, GUESS WHAT - THEY MATTER + HAVE A PURPOSE.
🌿 Hashtags help increase your reach, engagement and help your ideal followers find your account.
🌿 Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags in each post - USE THEM ALL. Why wouldn't you give your content the best chance to be viewed by using all 30 hashtags?
🌿 I would suggest for smaller accounts (anywhere under 1000 followers) to not use hashtags that are over saturated with content- that means I would stay away from using hashtags with 500K and over pieces of content under them. Chances are you won't be seen.
🌿 Be specific to your niche + use relevant hashtags to your post.
🌿 As of August 25, 2021 Instagram announced that hashtags in your caption is the BEST way to show up in search. I guess that settles the debate of hashtags in captions vs. in your comment section.

08/24/2021

🧐Out of curiosity, what is your opinion on this or on short-form video content in general?

🗣 announced last week that they will be testing out the Reels feature within their app.

❓Do you think Facebook users will adapt to this feature and use it in their content?

08/18/2021

📱A brief intro on what Facebook Reach actually means + although Facebook reach has been on the steady decline for the last few years, there are still a few things you can do to help boost your reach organically.
✔ Reply to your audience
✔ Find the best times to post
✔ Post on your stories - stories have nothing to do with the algorithm.
✔ Try going live on your page

08/14/2021

🌱 THANK YOU FOR 100 FOLLOWERS! This was a goal I had set when I created this account two-weeks ago. It has only been active for five days + did not expect to reach this goal THIS soon.
📱For an Instagram business account, reaching 100 followers allows you to view you insights and data to better track how/what content is performing the best.
✨ As mentioned in the previous post, follower count is a vanity metric-but this is a very reasonable "want" when it comes to creating an Instagram account for your business.

🖤 A lot of my following is largely credited to some amazing friends of mine who shared + encouraged others to follow this account and I'm very thankful to have friends that are THAT supportive. Thank you.

08/13/2021

It's a common misconception in the world of social media that having more followers inherently means more success for your business, but is that really the case?
❌ ABSOLUTELY NOT!
✔️Yes, you can actually buy followers to make your account look more successful than what it actually is, but having fake followers (bots) who are NOT in your target audience, doesn't engage with your content or buy your products does absolutely nothing positive for your business. & here is why:

1. It hurts your engagement
2. You cannot track any data or examine your analytics to see what is actually working amongst the legitimate accounts (who are real people) that follow you.
3. It hurts your credibility + legitimacy to those who follow you and potentially buy from you.
4. People can tell when you have purchased fake followers. When you see an account who has thousands of followers, but incredibly low engagement (likes, comments) on posts, that's your first 🚩 RED FLAG.

✨WHAT YOU CAN DO ✨
1. Focus on your research. Follow real people who are in your target audience. Follow them, engage with them + build a relationship with them.
2. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Focus on building relationships + trust with your EXISTING following.

☝️+ REMEMBER: Followers are only a vanity metric - and having thousands of followers DOES NOT equal thousands of customers.

📱Where to find me:
LinkedIn: Cassidy Beck
Instagram:
Facebook: Cassidybecksmm or Cassidy Beck - Social Media Manager

08/11/2021

🌿 A little about me | Drop your go-to coffee order in the comments! ☕️
I'm an AL based Freelance Social Media Manager. I graduated from the University of North Alabama with a B.S. in Mass Communications + Digital Media. My dog is my world (everyone meet Cash in the next slide🐺) + whether or not I have my morning coffee plays a HUGE role in my mood for the day.

08/09/2021

👋 Hi everyone - Welcome to my page! I'm Cassidy | Freelance Social Media Manager.
👩‍💻I have been freelancing since 2020 and specialize in Social Media Marketing Services: Social Media Management, Social Content Creation + Social Copywriting for Facebook and Instagram.

This account is designated primarily to my services, SM Tips + Tricks, and building a tight-knit community with other Social Media Manager's and Digital Marketers.
☕️ Come hang out for a while.

🌱 "Start Small-Grow Tall" - Roo Panes

08/08/2021